When the General Assembly met a year ago the Church had been somewhat stirred up, though the leaders and editors generally seemed so anxious for a proud reunion that they were ready to forget the wrong proposed to the colored brothers.  Indeed, a volunteer commission of editors and managers had gone all through the South visiting the synods of the Northern Church where the Negroes were in the majority, persuading them that it would be better for them to go by themselves and get their share of the honors.  Not willing to be an obstacle, the Negroes had very generally yielded to the persuasions of their kind visitors.

But there were a number of earnest men who were not willing to yield the principle, and who would make a fight.  It was the Centennial year, and the two Assemblies were meeting at the same time and in neighboring cities, ready to consummate the union if desired.  But the previous discussion had stirred up the Southerners also, and they had discovered that the temper of the North was not all that had been represented.  They were not at all sure that the color-line could be peacefully drawn.  They had decided, therefore, not to unite.  The report of the Committee of Conference was accordingly withdrawn, and the matter referred to another committee, which praised the fidelity of the Committee, declared it premature to act on their report, and approved “the general principles enumerated in the replies of the Committee,” and recommended that the committee of thirteen be enlarged by the addition of five more men, and continued to devise methods of co-operation with the Southern Church.  In fear of acrimonious discussion this was railroaded through in two minutes.

Well, the General Assembly has met again and the action taken by an overwhelming majority of the Assembly fills us with gratitude to God.  The ticklish part of the report on co-operation was that, of course, on colored evangelization.  Here the report first stated what had been the policy of the Southern Church for a separate Negro denomination, and then gave that of the Northern Church: 

“The Northern Assembly, on the other hand, has pronounced itself as not in favor of setting off its colored members into a separate, independent organization; while by conceding the existing situation, it approves the policy of separate churches, presbyteries and synods, subject to the choice of the colored people themselves.”

Only one of the seventeen, Elder S.M.  Breckinridge, of St. Louis, signed a minority report.

It was fully expected that this report, so overwhelmingly recommended, would go through with a rush.  The managers had so planned.  The ex-Moderators, Smith, Crosby and Thompson, were in its favor.  Dr. Crosby said he would as soon be in the Southern Church as in the Northern.  All the prestige of good fellowship was in favor of the report as it was presented, and the Southern Assembly had adopted it by a large majority the day before.