The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-30
Presbyterian Union.

There are indications that the
Presbyterian church is entering upon
a period of union and reunion. The
"split P.'s'' may yet blossom into
fragrant garden Of sweet P.'s. The
heartiness with which the general as
sembly at Buffalo last week voted to
close the Cumberland gap" in the
church augurs we'll for the general
movement for unity between all
branches of the Presbyterian family.
Nearly a hundred years ago the
Cumberland presbytery in Kentucky,
at q time Of great religious interest,
finding itself in need of ministers,
pressed into service several young men
who had not the educational qualid-
cations required by the Presbyterian
church, nor the mental fortitude to
accept all the hyper-logical deductions
Of Calvinism.
The majority were suspended for
their irregularity and in 1910 organ
lied a separate church which has been
| known as the Cumberland Presby-
terrain church. Suoh an unfortunate
schism could not now occur in the
| church with its broadened outlook
and with sectionaHsm largely elimin-
ated.
| The bringing about of conditions IA
vorable to the reunion of the two
| churches has been one of the happy
and unforeseen results of the revision
| Of the creed which the Presbyterian
|
unity and relief last year. The re-
vised confession showed the Curnber-
| land church that the Presbyterian
church did not hold to certain hard
logical deductions imputed to her,
and that in all essential matters there
was practical confessional unity be-
tween the two churches. So far as
the stand on educational qualifca-
| lions are concerned, time and general
! growth along all educational lines
have brought the Cumberland church
into alignment with the northern
| body.
The doctrinal basis of union pro-
| posed by the conferees Of the two
churches, whose report was so heart
lily received by the assembly last week,
is to be the confession of faith as re-
vised in 1908. Whatever differing
shades Of belief the Cumberland
church may have held, it is ready for
organic union on the basis of the re-
vised creed and "the scriptures Of the
Old and New Testaments as the in
spired word Of God, the only infalli-
BILE rule of faith and practice.
According to the constitution of the
Presbyterian church the deciding vote
on union lies with the prebyteries.
The present general assembly will
submit the question to them and the
next assembly, on receiving favora-
Il BILE return from two-thirds Of the
! presbyteries, will take steps to effect
the union.
:, With this reunion In fair way to
he finally accomplished, the hope
/ brightens for the speedy reunion of
the northern and southern branches
;. of the church which was sundered by
the civil war. The southern church
, manifested some uneasiness, DURING
the revision agitation in the northern
/ church, lest that body should prove
to be drifting away from the doctrin.
al standards which the southern
. church feels need no revision. Blu,
the moderation Of the revision and
, the undoubtable loyalty OF the north.
ern church to the reformed faith
must allay the doctrinal uneasiness
on the part of the southern church
The animosities engendered by the
> war have been largely laid aside and {
! spirit Of Christian fraternity ha.
( grown up between the sunderee
. churches which is willing to accor5
Ito each sincerity Of motive in pas
!, actions. Essential unity in doctrin,
E and policy, with aggravating condi
s tons removed, must eventually LEAF
a Ito organic unity. The consummatiol
: OF this earnest hope Of both churche