The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-27
SENTIMENT ONLY
CAUSED DIVISION
IN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
as FAR AS NORTHERN AND SOUTH
ERN ARE CONCERNED.

Chu riches Separated in 1S6I-Was
Purely Territorial Division.
The CUMBERLAND Presbyterian split
on Education Requirements for
Ministry-Its Doctrine Is Now
About Midway Between CalVinism
and Armenia nism-Union of the
Cumberland and Northern Church.
Objections to Northern and south
ern Reunion.
BY the union of the Presbyterian
Church, North, and the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, it is believed
that another difficulty has been inter-
posed toward the union of the North
and South Presbyterians. 1t is not
probable that any aggressive action
toward union will be taken at the
General Assembly now in session at
Mobile, Ala, according to Rev. w. A.
Nisbet.
Public interest in the differences be-
tween the Presbyterian Church, North
and the Presbyterian Church, South
and the difference between the North
ern Presbyterian Church and the Cum
berland Presbyterians. has been re-
vived by the dispatches concerning the
union of the latter two and efforts to-
ward union by the first and last two.
These differences We're explained yes
terday by Rev. w. A. Nisbet, pastor of
In speaking of the differences, Mr..
Nsbet said:
Does Not Mean Doctrine.
1T must first be understood that the
word Presbyterian does not in any
way mean a doctrine 1t is a term ap-
plying only to government. Those
who believe in government by a pres
bytery are Presbyterians. Calvinism
is a doctrine, and because it is held by
Presbyterians generally, in the COM
mon mind it has become almost syn
onvmous with Presbyterian. One
however, is doctrinal, and the other
governmental.
The division between the Presby
terrain Church, North. and the Presby-
terrain Church, South, occurred in 1861.
The division was territorial, and not
doctrinal. Churches north of the Ma
son and Dixon line formed the. North
ern Presbyterian Church. Those
south of it formed the Southern
Church
Both of these large divisions re-
tanned the name of the church, The
Presbyterian Church of the United
States This name was followed by
the word North or South, indicating
the section. The Northern church has
drifted somewhat away from Calvin
ism, and this made its union with the
Cumberland Church easier.
The Cumberland Presbyterians.
THE Cumberland Presbyterians,"
continued Mr.. Nisbet, Separated on the
questions of educational requirements
for ministers. The Presbyterian Church
required both a college and seminary
course. or the passing of an examina-
ton that covered the same ground. The
churches of the Cumberland Valley
wished to lower the requirements and
when this course was not allowed, they
split.
Gradually they, too, have changed
in doctrine, until to-day they stand
about midway between Calvinism and
Armenianism Since their separation
their educational requirements have
also been raised. The remove from
Calvinism of the Northern Church and
the Cumberland Church increase in
educational requirements, show why
it was easy to effect union between
them and the Northern Presbyterians.
Objections to Union.
THE question of uniting the North
and South Church came up in 1876. Two
things stood in the way; the asper-
sions that had been cast on the South
ern Church at the time of separation,
and the divergence from Calvinism Of
the Northern Church. The Southern
Church has firmly retained the CAL
whistle doctrine.
Recently the Northern Church with
drew the aspersions and the chief diff
fculty seems to have been removed.
The union with the Cumberland
Church, however, practically shuts off
the union, as the Southern Church
would be compelled to make too many
doctrinal sacrifices to effect it.
THE status of affairs is now about
as follows: The Southern Church re-
mains in doctrine as ever. By the
union with the Cumberland Church the
Northern Church has moved little
further from Calvinism BY the union
with the Northern Church, the Cum
berland Church has moved a little
nearer Calvinism. All these must be
reconciled if union is effected.
II do not believe the General As
sembly will do more than name COM
mittee to discuss the question of union
with a committee from the Northern
Church. I look for no aggressive move
~