Year: 1869

From the New York Observer tOld School Presby-


terlanl, May 27.l


Going TO press. as we do in the middle OF the
week. ana unable TO make report OF the progress Of
events In the Assemblies beyond Tuesday we can
nothing c m sns greas sn WORK e
and wei done, so far and the prospect oil glorious
result Is, st this moment OF our writing. bright and
cheering. IL has, to our minds, the appearance OF
being Heaven-guded movement. and we are Will
ing to abide the result


In the Old School Assembly the newly elected Mod.
orator hardly firm In his seat before the retiring
Moderator, Dr. niusgrave, not having yet left the
platform, offered a resolution tnat a cOmmittee OF
conference on reunion be appointed to meet similar
committee If appointed by the other Assembly. This
was unanimously adopted without word OF debate:
The body soon adjourned Tor the night and several
members, going over to look IN at the other house.
mentioned to members what had been done IN the
for any ofcial notification the New School Assembly
appointed similar committee. Five ministers and
mittee OF twenty, were thus charged with negotia-
tOns, and tins measure was adopted within two
hours after the organization Of the Assemblies


The constituent clements of these committees re-
present oil shades OF sentiment on the reunion que5
ton. Among the OLD school &aEa-aT6A som1> who
have. BEEN -reckoned advanced reuniOnists, some
msderate friends ana some doubtful Perhaps the
same words would define tue New school commit
tee At rate the whole eXos n scn nen
would be an indication OF unanimity IN the Assem-
blies.


very properly regarded as confidential until their
report Is ready But we are able to say that the pro
gre3S tnuS lar maze Is 6uCE ~ w give 5trOuB uOPc
that ali difficulties viii give way to counsel confer
en0e and prayer. As the basis sent down by the
two Assemblies last year to tho presby teries, was
approved by the New School prcsbyteries, and re-
ected by the Old School presbyteries, 1t was proper
for the New School conference Committee to ask for
u new proposition on the part OF the OLD school.
And this was oil the more proper, as the Old school
presbyteues had, with almost entire unanimity,
voted In favor OF reunion On the basis OF the stand
ards alone.


The cd School committee, with all its varied
views OF what ought to be done, first met by them
roI MIR al e.
ness as TO union and the plan. This was more tnan
the sanguine could nave expected at the outset,
and 1t was u matter for dcv0ut thanksgiving When
the two committees met for the ff5t time the plan OF
reunion proposed by the Old School was aid before
them and taken into consideration la spirit OF can
dor and brOncry Kindness that gives hope Of q Ia
yorable result.


What this plan Is we are not now able to say. But
we feel very confident that the basis OF union finally
agreed upon will be no more and no less than the
standards OF the Church. which, indeed, must be the
only f0undat on for the union OF any two churches
shall be the legal successor OF both. 10 add to, or
take r0m those standards Or by any gloss or rule
to modify The so In whoa they are to be receive
IL to establish basis differing from that which
either Churoh held before the union was formed.


To this CONCLUSION all negotiations have tended,
to be c0nsummated on any other basis; and we
have strong confidence that before we publish an
other number Of this paper the great question Will
be decided, so far as the Assemblies can decide It,


As O matter OF prudence it may be sent dow n to
the presbyterles Tor their ratification Such course
Is not required by the constitutions; but the Assem-
blies are Unanimous or nearly 80, the confirmation
OF their action by the presOytere5 Is certain, and
there will then be no dsputing the ilnauty OF the
''consuminaton devoutiy to be wished"