Year: 1870

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While these circumstances developed the dis
cordances In our Church, they did not rank the same
contestants together and in antagonsm, and there
was not unanimity Of sentiment in regard to them
was our discordancs from our diverse constituency
that divided us on them.


1t wohld be presumptuous, especially In this pres
ence, and most opportune on this occasion, TO dis
tribute the fault In the case. Let that lie buried
beneath the obscurity by which 1t is hidden, and let
II sink deeper and deeper in impenetrabls darkness


And IL is not necessary to detail the proceedings
in which the division transpred. They are familiar
to us all and agreeable to none, and we would ex-
punge the record rather than freshen It The
OF the division have been mentioned for the
they serve. They establish the Legitimacy OF our
reunion and demonstrate it's hopefulness. An
tagonisms have ceased, and there is nothing to


fhe amaesmation of its elements, so remarkable
in the State, is complete in our Church. We do not
reject, nor repeal, nor disown New England. Ten
we glory in her. Bat the Congregationasm OF New
England that antagonized Presbyterianism, and
Wn from roH ad eject Il c dsn 4
thrust itself out or was pucked from us. Becoming
sectarian and proselyting.Id do not mean to speak
oensvely and mention the fact only because it is
essential to my notwithstanding sectariaH and
proselyting, whatever might have been our wish In
the matter, and whatever our interest it has in
sisted on departing from and on leaving nothing
Of its relationship with as We are thus one spirit
Presbyterian; Of various nativity, education, and
descent, but in complete accord; with that portion
Of New England removed from us that could not be



parcel of us, and with heart and q place for the
much more that can be accommodated to us.


All is quiet about voluntary societies and ecclesi-
astical boards. None OF us doubt that the Church
is constituted fer the evangeiiZaton OF the world
and that it cannot lawfully and wisely dsmit the
poemics that fired us have burned out and II we
would, We could not rekindle them. American
slavery is dead and buried, and without mourner
at its grave. 1t the evil spirit of the country
and OF the Church, inspiring aRmostes among
brethren and stirring up strife but it is exercised
uo an
what true American, what genuine man but rejoces
at it I? And while this demon OF discord can never
the South remain separate? We belong together,
and the violence that sundered us has spent its
force. The message Of our hearts to them is, "Let
us be one again. Let the closing OF the grave of
slavery be the filling up of the chasm between u.s. :"
No terms OF reunion are necessary no conditions Of
any kind, no confessions or pledges. We have none
to offer and none to exact We cannot be deprived
of satisfaction in the remembrance OF our opposition
to slavery though we regret much In its methods and
spirit and we must raise the shout OF victory over it.


Wea more confident OF the legitimacy OF our
reunion and OF the blessings expected from it, be-
cause the divine hand is SO manifest In it. There
were human aspirations for It, but no human labor
ing in the inception Of 1t and no human leading in
the conduct OF it And when barriers were levelled
and repusions abated, how signally divine were the
forces that mpelled us together!


nan tSe wnrkng ~ Gods providenno iore .h
else can explain our disposition to unite. 1t arose
independently OF us, and to our surprise. We were
scarcely aware OF its existence before it unver-
sal And how much 1t vanquished and bore away !
Those active in the separation have been earnest
for the reunion. The NOderatOr who presided at
the divorce declares that there is NO hindrance to
the m marriage. And was ever such unanimity known?
With perfect freedom to express our Judgment and
choice, all but three presbyteres out OF hundred
and all the presbyteries and every Individual but
And since the consummation, the few who were
doubtful about it assent to it, and not a minister,
not an elder not church member has LETT us be-
cause OF 1t.


We look almost in awe upon union so manifestly
divine. 1t is sacred in our eyes, God Is identified
with it and gives sanctity to-


Connected with our union is a responsibility. II
rejoces hearts and evokes praise and excites
our hopes, but 1t also imposes duties upon us we
must not neglect There is a caution to heed-a
caution against pride and self-suiciency and indo.
lence. Let us not glory in our numbers and re-
such occasion for humility and solemnity-for so
deep sense OF unworthiness and nothtngness, and


There is a lesson to study, and a costly lesson,
and that sends bushes to faces and pangs to
our hearts. Mortfying and distressing as it is we
must address ourselves to it. We must learn how
foolish and wicked We have been. 1t Is not the time
for elimination and recrimination, but of general


self lf-convction. 1t is not the time for condemning
these there, nor for distributing blame 1t is the


time for recognizing and deplering our faults as a


Church. We must not hide them from ourselves.


We must not deny them to each other and to the


world. We must net bury them in oblivion. Fathers


and brethren, we sinned in our disruption and we


ought to mourn 1t. Apd let us not lose the in


struction OF the lesson. Let us guard against the


mistakes and wrongs we have committed. Particu-


lary let US cherish affection and confidence, and


practise federation. We can safely love and trust
each other.


given to us and for learning the lesson set fer
The cause Of Christian union 10 at stake upon us.


we shall % s lts sa or mprast


scale. Its success or failure with us, its happy OF


unhappy workings, hastens It through the world, or
indefinitely postpones it, Divided denominations
are coming togetaer, and we must draw them on OF
drive them back. Assmilating Chrstendom is
yearning for unity, and our pride, or conceit OF
idleness, or discord must keep it divided. v


There Is work Tor us to DO, as well as caution
| parts, reconstruction and evangelization.


First, the reunion lays upon US a work Of recon.


struction. Committees appointed to report TO this


cessary charges In the boundaries OF our judicato
ries, and with the combination OF our two sets Of


Eysrything distinctive in our polity is beyond in
quiry Of course. As none OF us entertain thought
so none OF US could present proposition looking
the most remotely to the least alteration OF oui
Presbyterianism. We fully approve it. We ardent
iy love it, We denne Presbyteranism as "a series
OF courts OF review and control" But ours is


supervision by synods and the
General Assembly exercise it. Is there not


be entrusted to individuals, and that would be use
full to the Church? None OF us could be reconceC
to an episcopacy-teshnically so called
The parity OF the ministry is inviolab,
among as, and imperiousness and inQusitiyenes
are intolerable by us. We must be freemen anC
peers. And we would not sacrifice self-training


seJf-Ecitement sef-resrant for the quickening ant
check OF bishops crook and eye. We must be, W,
will be, laws 10 ourselves. But cannot individual
ism be reconcled with supervision by individuals
and would net eur Presbyteranism be helped by il


Prelacy and Meth0djsm largely owe their eficiency


to it, and guarded against excess and abuse, and al
appendix to supervision by judicatories, might i
not add to our force?


This would be no novelty in Presbyteriansm, a
II would be no intrusion upon IL. John Knox esta


bshed il in the Scotch Kirk, which he divided int
ten dioceses for each OF which superintendent
was appointed. The trHt Book OF Discipline directed
that these superintendents should have their Owl
speeial kirks besides the common charge of Others


and that they should not ''reman in their own kirk


above three or four months, but should pass agaiT
20 YiaiIatinnE.n Their duty descrihed a