PRESBYTERIANS, 



m 



Presbyterian Churches in England and 

 tin* KnglUh rrtcfatvitfl (.'hurdi, which had 

 beon agreed upon l.y both parties conditionally 

 upon tho consent OI the Synod being given to 

 it. A resolution was passed by a vote of 171 

 to 178, declaring that "the Synod judge it un- 

 and unsafe to press the scheme on their 

 in England, and agree to sus- 

 tor a time negotiations for an immediate 

 union." 1 )r. Cairns, who had offered a motion 

 committing tho Synod to the acceptance of the 

 scheme of union, which was rejected, entered 

 IMS dissent to this action. The Synod declared 

 anew its desire for union with the Reformed 

 Presbyterian Church, and reappointed its com- 

 mittee to router on the subject of an incorpo- 

 rating union with that body, and "to watch 

 over tho interests of Christian union among 

 the Churches of the land." 



IX. FEDERAL UNION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN 

 CHURCHES. The following report upon this 

 subject, prepared by a general committee rep- 

 resenting various Churches of the Presbyterian 

 family, was laid before all the General Assem- 

 blies and General Synods of the several Pres- 

 byterian Churches in the United States and 

 < iivat Britain in 1874, and acted upon by them. 

 It is referred to in the reports of the proceed- 

 ings of these bodies as the plan of Presbyterian 

 Confederation, or the scheme of an (Ecumeni- 

 cal Council of Presbyterian Churches : 



To the Ckurchet of Christ, organized on Presbyterian 

 Principles, throughout the World : 



Churches of the Presbyterian family are found, 

 though under a variety of names, in Europe, in 

 America, in Australia, and in the mission-fields of 

 Asia and Africa. If these could be regarded as one 

 communion, they would constitute, perhaps, tho 

 largest Protestant Church in the world. But, at 

 present, they are united by no visible bond, either 

 of fellowship or of work. Of late, however ? it has 

 occurred simultaneously to a number of minds in 

 different countries that those who hold to the Pres- 

 byterian form of Church government may, in perfect 

 consistency with their well-known and general in- 

 terest in all the branches of the Church Universal, 

 inquire for some way of coming into formal com- 

 munion with each other, and of promoting great 

 causes by joint action. 



It is not proposed to form an organic union of all 

 tho Presbyterian Churches throughout the world. 

 It is evident that one General Assembly could not 

 regulate, with advantage, the internal economy of 

 Churches in such widely -separated countries as 

 Switzerland, Germany, France, England, Scotland, 

 Ireland, Wales, Australia, United States, and Canada. 

 Gieat injury might arise from any attempt to inter- 

 fere with these different Churches in the manage- 

 ment of their own affairs ; for all ecclesiastical history 

 shows that serious dangers are to be apprehended 

 from the establishment of any central power, which 

 would be almost sure to interfere with tho liberty of 

 local Churches and of individuals. Some denomi- 

 nations, moreover, have grand historical recollec- 

 tions which they wish to cherish ; and some regard 

 it as their duty to bear a testimony on behalf of 

 truths which others seem to them to overlook. In 

 these circumstances, tho Churches will not be asked 

 to merge their separate existence in one large organi- 

 zation, but, retaining their self-government, to meet 

 with the other members of the Presbyterian family 

 to consult for the good of the Church at large, and 

 for the glory of God. 



In order that a Church be entitled to join this 



union, it should hold to the Presbyterian form of 

 government, and have a creed In accordance with 

 the oontnuiu of the Reformed Churches. No new 

 creed or formulary of any kind U oonteinplu' 



Several formal steps nave been Uken with the 

 view of effecting this Presbyterian union. The sub- 

 ject was specially brought before the great meeting 

 held in Philadelphia in 1862, to celebrate the tercen- 

 tenary of the Scottish Reformation. The General 

 Assembly of 1878 of the Presbyterian Church in the 

 I niti-d States of America unanimously al-.;.;. 

 olutiont in favor of an (Ecumenical Council ..?' 

 Presbyterian Churches, and appointed a coimnitti 

 to have Its resolutions carried into effect. In the 

 same year the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 

 Church of Ireland passed a scries of like resolu- 

 tions; and it is ready to join with other Churches in 

 seeking tho same great end. 



Having respect to this concurrent expression of 

 feeling, tho Committee of the General Assembly of 

 til.: Presbyterian Church in the United States of 

 America availed themselves of the presence of so 

 many Presbyterian ministers and elders at the Con- 

 ference of the Evangelical Alliance in New York, in 

 1873, to hold a meeting for a comparison of views on 

 this subject. The meeting was held on October 6th. 

 About one hundred and fifty persons attended, com- 

 ing from various Presbyterian denominations in 

 widely distant countries; from the principal Pres- 

 byterian Churches in the United States ana the Do- 

 minion of Canada, from England, Scotland, Wales, 

 and Ireland ; from Italy and Germany. The utmost 

 cordiality was shown at the meeting, and the fol- 

 lowing resolutions wete adopted unanimously : 



1. That whereas the General Assembly of the Pres- 

 byterian Church in the United States of America, and 

 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 

 of Ireland, at their last meetings passed resolutions 

 in favor of an (Ecumenical Council of Presbyterian 

 Churches, we, providentially brought together at 

 this time, and belonging to various branches of the 

 Presbyterian family, cordially sympathize with these 

 movements toward a General Council of the Presby- 

 terian Churches in various lands. 



2. That the following gentlemen be a committee 

 to correspond with individuals and organized bodies 

 in order to ascertain the feeling of Presbyterians in re- 

 gard to such Federal Council, and to take such meas- 

 ures as may in their judgment promote this object. 



8. That this committee be authorized to cooperate, 

 as far as possible, with the General Assembly of the 

 Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and with the com- 

 mittee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 

 Church in the United States or America. 



The committee thus appointed have a deep sense 

 of the responsibility laid on them. "While tney be- 

 lieve that the cause is good, and that there is suffi- 

 cient popular opinion in its behalf to secure, with 

 the blessing of Almighty God, its ultimate success, 

 they fear lest they should take any step that might 

 injure so noble an undertaking. They, therefore, 

 desire to begin and carry on all their measures under 

 the guidance.of the wisdom that is from above. All 

 that they propose at present is to ask, as they now 

 do, every Presbyterian organization in tho world : 



1. To express in a formal manner its approval of 

 tho object ; and 



2. To appoint a committee to meet or correspond 

 with committees from other Presbyterian denomina- 

 tions, for the purpose of arranging for a meeting or 

 convention of representatives to be appointed by the 

 denominations, which meeting may effect an organi- 

 zation, and determine its character and practical 

 modes of action. 



Meanwhile they solicit attention to the following 

 benefits, which, by the grace of God, may be expected 

 to flow from the proposed union : 



1. It would exhibit before the world the substan- 

 tial unity, quite consistent with minor diversities, 

 of the one great family of Presbyterian Churches. 



2. It would greatly tend to hold up and strengthen 



