Year: 1877




Among the most serious and significant
precursors Of our civil war was the schism
and separation in some of our principal
evangelical Christian churches. Itwould
be difficult, perhaps, to describe the pre-
else mode in which the spiritual belief Of
men Actuate their political deeds, but
deep in the heart of all civilized people,
overlaid it may be by carnal motives, and
even by lawless life, there lies prefer
ence for some faith or other. To this faith
or to the people that profess it, men
unanimously turn in any event which rem
ders its vindication even incidentally
essential


The drunken sailor who in the sacche-
verel rite patted the church building
against which he had staggered, and
pledged himself to sustain, affords an ex-
ample Of this innate and eccentric devo-
ton. 1t thus occurs that the divisions of
opinion in the great Protestant churches
of the Union, have passed into tie con-
science Of the soldier, and even Of the
politicians, when the latter are compelled
to respond to any emotional sentiment.


We regret to find that the ecclesiastical
divisions in the great Presbyterian Church
have not been healed by the amend
ment or acknowledgment Of the constitu-
ton. The Southern Presbyterian Church
never admitted thatthe question of slave
ry- was theological tenet, and was dis
posed to accept the existence of that in
stitution as the Saviour had done the
Roman authority which ruled His coun-
try. The Presbyterian Church Of the
North regarded opinion on this subject as
a doctrinal duty, and took decided ground
accordingly. It was natural that from
this difference there should have been
dissension and even acrimony in the rela-
tions of the two churches. Since the war
these dissepsions have never been ad-
justed, and seem now about to become
more aerid and indurated than ever
The Assembly which lately met in New
Orleans proposed union on the basis Of
withdrawal by the Northern Church of
certain phrases applied by that body to
the opinions Of the Southern Church.
This the Assembly at Chicago refused to
do, and upon discussion of the question
arrived at the following conclusion:


Inasmuch as the letter from the gen
eral assembly of the Presbyterian Church
recently holding its sessions in the city of
New Orleans presents no suggestions not
considered by previous general assemblies
of this body, and makes no advance to-
ward the attainment of fraternal relations
between the two bodies, and indicates no
disposition TO forget the past or pass it
over save upon conditions impracucable
to this assembly: therefore,


Resolced, That this general assembly is
ready at any time to enter into fraternal
relations. No further action OF,
the part Of this general assembly is called
for at present


Negotiations are thus broken of for the
present, though it may be hoped that be-
fore the adjournment of the assembly
some measures may be adopted to allay
the bitter feeling manifested in the de-
bates.


We could not escape the impression
that the conservatives in this case, as iu
our political history, have received very
little consideration from either section.
Several ministers gave testimony of their
exertions in this cause, and seemed, in
most cases, to have lost hope of restored
harmony. The address of Rev. DR..
Plummer, OF Charleston, South Carolina,
was an especially impressive exhortation
to peace, but, beyond respectful admira-
ton for bis age and character, produced
little effect


We can not estimate the extent to which
decide of popular violence against North
ern people, perpetrated since the war,
may have unconsciously excited the feel
ings of the assembly, but there seems
little disposition at present to renew the
ecclesiastical unity which once existed
between the churches of the North and
South