CHAPTER XLI. THE CLERICAL CONFERENCE.

ianChurchofAmericaisdividedintotwopartiesinrelationtocertaintheologicalpoints,andthattheadherentsoneithersidecallthemselvesoldornewschool.Someyearssince,thesetwopartiesdivided,andeachofthemorganizeditsowngeneralassembly. Itsohappenedthatalltheslaveholdinginterest,withsomeveryinconsiderableexceptions,wentintotheoldschoolbody.Thegreatmajorityofthenewschoolbodywereavowedlyanti-slaverymen,accordingtoasolemndeclaration,whichcommittedthewholePresbyterianChurchtothosesentimentsintheyeareighteenhundredandeighteen.Andthebreachbetweenthetwosectionswascausedquiteasmuchbythedifferenceoffeelingbetweenthenorthernandsouthernbranchesonthesubjectofslavery,asbyanydifferencesofdoctrine. Afterthefirstjarofseparationwasover,thoughtsofreunionbegantoariseonbothsides,andtobequietlydiscussedamongleadingminds. Thereisapowerinmenofacertainclassofmakinganorganizationofanykind,whetheritbepoliticalorecclesiastical,anobjectofabsorbingandindividualdevotion.Mostmenfeelemptyandinsufficientofthemselves,andfindaneedtoballasttheirowninsufficiencybyattachingthemselvestosomethingofmoreweightthantheyare.Theyputtheirstockofbeingoutatinterest,andinvestthemselvessomewhereandinsomethingandtheloveofwifeorchildisnotmoreabsorbingthantheloveofthebankwherethemanhasinvestedhimself.Itistrue,thispowerisanobleonebecausethusamanmaypassoutofself,andchooseGod,thegreatgoodofall,forhisportion.Buthumanweaknessfallsbelowthisand,astheidolaterworshipstheinfiniteandunseenunderavisiblesymboltilliteffacesthememoryofwhatissignified,somenbeginbylovinginstitutionsforGod'ssake,whichcomeatlasttostandwiththemintheplaceofGod. SuchwastheRev.Dr.Calker.Hewasamanofpowerfulthoughnarrowmind,ofgreatenergyandefficiency,andofthatcapabilityofabstractdevotionwhichmakesthesoldierorthestatesman.Hewasearnestlyandsincerelydevout,asheunderstooddevotion.HebeganwithlovingthechurchforGod'ssake,andendedwithlovingherbetterthanGod.And,bythechurch,hemeanttheorganizationofthePresbyterianChurchintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Hercause,inhiseyes,wasGod'scauseherglory,God'sgloryhersuccess,theindispensableconditionofthemillenniumherdefeat,thedefeatofallthatwasgoodforthehumanrace.Hisdevotiontoherwashonestandunselfish. OfcourseDr.CalkerestimatedallinterestsbytheirinfluenceonthePresbyterianChurch.Heweighedeverycauseinthebalanceofhersanctuary.Whatpromisedextensionandpowertoher,thathesupported.Whatthreateneddefeatorimpediment,thathewasreadytosacrifice.Hewould,atanyday,sacrificehimselfandallhisintereststothatcause,andhefeltequallywillingtosacrificeothersandtheirinterests.Theanti-slaverycauseheregardedwithasimpleeyetothisquestion.Itwasadisturbingforce,weakeningtheharmonyamongbrethren,threateningdisruptionanddisunion.Heregardedit,therefore,withdistrustandaversion.Hewouldreadnofactsonthatsideofthequestion.Andwhenthediscussionsofzealousbrethrenwouldbringfrightfulandappallingstatementsintothegeneralassembly,hewastoobusyinseekingwhatcouldbesaidtowardofftheirforce,toallowthemtohavemuchinfluenceonhisownmind.Graduallyhecametoviewthewholesubjectwithdislike,asapertinaciousintruderinthepathofthePresbyterianChurch.Thatthewholetrainofcars,ladenwiththeinterestsoftheworldforalltime,shouldbestoppedbyaragged,manacledslaveacrossthetrack,wastohimanimpertinenceandabsurdity.Whatwashe,thatthePresbyterianChurchshouldbedividedandhinderedforhim?SothoughttheexultantthousandswhofollowedChrist,once,whentheblindbeggarraisedhisimportunateclamor,andtheybadehimholdhispeace.SothoughtnotHE,whostoppedthetideoftriumphantsuccess,thathemightcalltheneglectedonetohimself,andlayhishandsuponhim. Dr.CalkerhadfromyeartoyearopposedtheagitationoftheslaveryquestioninthegeneralassemblyofthePresbyterianChurch,knowingwellthatitthreateneddisunion.When,inspiteofallhisefforts,disunioncame,hebenthisenergiestothetaskofreunitingandhewasthemostimportantcharacterinthepresentcaucus. Ofcoursealayman,andayoungmanalso,wouldfeelsomenaturalhesitancyinjoiningatonceintheconversationofthoseolderthanhimself.Clayton,therefore,satatthehospitablebreakfast-tableofDr.Cushingratherasanauditorthanasaspeaker. "Now,brotherCushing,"saidDr.Calker,"thefactis,thereneverwasanyneedofthisdisruption.Ithascrippledthepowerofthechurch,andgiventheenemyoccasiontospeakreproachfully.OurdivisionsareplayingrightintothehandsoftheMethodistsandBaptistsandgroundthatwemighthold,united,isgoingintotheirhandseveryyear." "Iknowit,"saidDr.Cushing,"andwesouthernbrethrenmournoverit,Iassureyou.Thefactis,brotherCalker,there'snos