148 CUURCII UNITY 



cipline. On this basis we may reunite, mutu- 

 ally regarding and treating the office-bearers 

 and church courts of each branch as co-ordi- 

 nate elements in the reconstruction. There 

 are difficulties in the way of repairing the 

 breaches of Zion, which must be met and 

 overcome by well-considered methods, and in 

 a spirit of forbearance and prudence. Re- 

 union cannot be accomplished, nor is it to be 

 desired without the restoration of a spirit of 

 unity and fraternity. We believe this spirit 

 exists and is constantly increasing. That 

 which should first engage the attention of the 

 friends of reunion should be to find out how 

 far unity of sentiment and kindness of feel- 

 ing prevail." 



The same" year at Dayton, Ohio, that 

 great scholar and irenic spirit of whom not 

 only Union Seminary bnt the whole Amer- 

 ican Church has reason to be proud, Dr. 

 Henry B. Smith, as retiring Moderator of 

 the New School Assembly, preached a ser- 

 mon in which he presented the subject of 

 organic union "with singular felicity and 

 power." In 1866 both assemblies met at 

 St. Louis. There they mingled together 

 in religious worship and in the sacrament 

 of the Lord's Supper. Nothing could with- 

 stand the spirit that made for fraternity. 



