Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-11-19
FRUITLESS FILTRATION.
They'll Be Good Friends, but Marriage
Is Unlikely.

FRUITLESS FILTRATION.
They'll Be Good Friends, but Marriage
| Is Unlikely.
The following from The News and
Courier's report of the proceedings of
the recent meeting of the Associate
Reformed synod is interesting:
Last spring the general assembly of
the Southern Presbyterian Church ap-
pointed a committee to confer with
committee from the Associate Reformed
Church, looking towards organic union
between these two churches. The Rev.
Alexander Sprunt, of Rock Hill, a
member of the committee, appeared
today as their representative. After
speaking of the growth and progress
of his own denomination for the last
10 years, DR.. Sprunt gave some of the
ideas his church had in mind in sug.
gesting the matter of union. He said
that between his church and some
others there were great differences in
theological doctrine and in church
government, but we are practically of
the same faith. I would like to sug-
gest to you that, though there is In the
north denomination of like faith as
ourselves, yet there is no movement
looking toward union with them, nor
is there likely to be, 80 far as it now
appears. And, then, too, the same
view in regard to the spirituality of
the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ
is held by your church and ours. The
relation of church and state, about
which there is such a difference of
opinion, is regarded in like manner by
the two denominations. On other
matters there are divergent views held
by our people and those of another
section. On some matters we believe
that there are marks of separation of
the deepest dye and that it is as wrong
to bring together what God has sepa-
rated as to separate what He has join
ed together. Again, there ought to be
as little division as possible among
Gods people. The followers of the
Lord Jesus ought to come together
wherever it is possible. There is now
combination of all the forces of evil
against the Kingdom of our Lord
Jesus. They are strong and numerous
and combined, and are throwing them
selves against the Kingdom of God,
and there is needed the greatest econ
omy of men and measures. We have
none to spare and we ought to see that
they are judiciously placed. Espe-
cially when we see that here about US
there are churches for every few hun
dred, when in the unevangelized part
of the world there is only one ordained
minister to million hearers. recog-
nize that there are differences between
US in the matter Of praise. We do not
look upon this as insurmountable. 1t
may be that in this we are not alto
gether divergent. There have been
men in our church who have not sym
pathized with all the practices of the
church-for instance, in the matter of
instrumental music-and yet they re-
mained in the church and were part
of it. The question I bring to you is
whether or not you will appoint
committee to confer with our commit
tee in reference to organic union.
DR.. J. G. Galloway replied:
As presiding officer of this synod, l
have great pleasure in responding to
your salutations. For you personally
and the great church which you repre-.
sent, we have the greatest respect and
esteem. Of all the churches occupy
ling our broad Southland, yours and
ours are the most in common. As you
have said, our catechisms and confess
sions of faith are substantially the same.
Among all the Presbyterian churches
in our country, your church and ours
are universally regarded as among the
most conservative-as standing most
closely by old Presbyterian landmarks
and going in the old ways.
Some years ago while in the city of
Philadelphia, prominent minister OF
that city, speaking of union between
the Northern Presbyterian church and
yours, strongly deprecated such union,
saying the Presbyterian church, South,
was more conservative, stood more
closely by the old traditions and ways,
and was cursed with far fewer Of the
new isms and notions Of theology
which pervade the Presbyterian church
of the North. For these reasons he
thought a union would be disastrous
to the Southern church. Because, then,
of this-your conservatism in doctrine
and practice-we are attracted to you.
AS you have already intimated, the
great reason for the separate existence
of the Associated Reformed church, is
her exclusive use of an unpaid psalmo-
dy. She believes in reading the
Word, preaching the Word and sing
ing the Word. 1t has been said that
the existence of every true church of
Christ emphasizes some special phrases
of Divine truth. I think this is true.
The special truth which is particu-
larry emphasized by the separate ex-
istence of the Associate Reformed
church is loyalty to Gods Word-read
the Word, preach the Word, sing the
Word.
In this day, when so many enemies
are directing their deadliest shafts at
the integrity of the Divine Word, is it
not we'll that the voice and testimony
of the Associate Reformed church be
heard in utmost loyalty to that Word
and in adhering to that which we think
can be found nowhere else in all the
world, hymnology that is absolutely
without human error and frailty, and
faultless in its Divine perfection ? The
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