USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I > Part 90
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1. The appointment of domestic missionaries to be made only on satisfac- tory evidence of their " cordial sympathy with the Assembly in her testimony on doctrine, loyalty, and freedom.'
2. All ministers from the Southern states applying for membership in any of the presbyteries, to be examined as to their participation in the rebellion, and their views on the subject of slavery; and, before admission, to confess their sin and forsake their error, if their actions and views did not accord with the Assembly's testimony.
3. Ordering church sessions to examine all applicants for church member- ship from the Southern states, concerning their conduct and principles on the points above specified, and to refuse thein admission on the same ground.
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4. Requiring presbyteries to erase from their rolls, after the expiration of a certain time, any minister or ministers who may have fled or been sent by civil or military authority beyond the jurisdiction of the United States, unless they give satisfactory evidence of repentance.
By these acts of enforcement the test was now made in the church of sub- mission against conscience, or open abnegation of usurped authority.
This action of the Assembly to bind the conscience by its dogmas, occa- sioned the issue of a "Declaration and Testimony against the erroneous and heretical doctrines and practices, which have obtained and been propagated in the Presbyterian Church in the United States, during the last five years." This "Declaration " was an earnest protest against the whole "testimony on Doctrine, Loyalty and Freedom," which the Assembly ordinances of 1865 were intended to enforce. The paper was adopted by the Presbytery of Louisville, at Bardstown, September 2, 1865, and was also signed by a number of minis- ters and elders in other presbyteries and portions of the church. When the synod met at Louisville in October, 1865, "a paper was introduced by Dr. Robert J. Breckinridge, calling in question the right of those members of the Presbytery of Louisville and others, who have endorsed and adopted the paper styled the " Declaration and Testimony," to sit and act as members of the synod of Kentucky." After a discussion extending through four days between Dr. Breckinridge and Dr. Samuel R. Wilson and others, the synod, by a ma- jority of 107 to 22, refused to adopt the paper offered by Dr. Breckinridge, thus deciding the question of the right which had been challenged. Dr. Breckinridge, in behalf of himself and others, entered an appeal and com- plaint against this action of the synod. On a subsequent day a paper was in- troduced, and considered, item by item; one portion expressing disapproval of the acts of the Assembly of 1865 above mentioned, " as tending to destroy the peace and harmony of the church, and in some of their provisions uncon- stitutional and unscriptural;" another portion disapproving "the terms" of the "Declaration and Testimony " and ""its spirit and intent indicated on its face, as looking to further agitation of the church, if not its division." The first portion was adopted by a majority of 76 to 22; the other of 54 to 46.
In the Assembly of 1866, which met at St. Louis, the commissioners from the Presbytery of Louisville were, without a hearing, excluded from seats, be- cause that presbytery had adopted the " Declaration and Testimony," in which paper the presbytery " defied the authority of the Assembly" by refusing to ex- ecute the ordinances of 1865. Other presbyteries of the synod had made de- clarations of the same import. But the purpose of the Assembly was to make a test case of the Louisville Presbytery and the signers of the "Declaration," with the view of silencing all opposition or cutting off troublesome consciences. This Assembly had before it the opportunity of disposing of the Subject of the "Declaration and Testimony," and of ordering process against the signers thereof, in a regular judicial manner, through the appeal and complaint of Dr. Breckinridge and others. But the constitution of the church did not provide such summary proceeding as usurped authority could make available, and made no provision for process against those who would maintain its integrity. To punish disobedience to the usurpations of 1865 and the years previous, re- quired the usurpations of 1866. Hence the adoption of what is known as the "ipso facto" decree, which summoned the signers of the "Declaration and Testimony " and the members of the Presbytery of Louisville to appear and answer at the bar of the next Assembly; and which prohibited such persons being admitted to sit in any church court higher than the church session until their case was decided, upon the penalty of the "ipso facto" dissolution of any presbytery or synod disregarding this decree. The appeal and complaint of Dr. Breckinridge and others against the decision of the synod in the case of the Louisville Presbytery and others adopting and signing the "Declaration and Testimony," went by default, on account of failure to prosecute-which, according to Book of Discipline, Chap. vii, Sec. 3, p. 11, established the decision of the synod as final. When, therefore; the synod met at Henderson in 1866, it was brought face to face with the unconstitutional "ipso facto" decree of the Assembly, commanding one course of action in a matter, which had been constitutionally and finally decided in a sentence precisely opposite. The
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synod simply ignored the order of the Assembly; and the following is the minute giving the history of its opening session, October 10th, 1866:
" After the sermon, the moderator, Rev. Robert L. Breck, proceeded to consti- tute the sessions of the synod with prayer. The stated clerk being directed to call the roll, proceeded with it in an unusual order, omitting the names of a large majority of the members of the first presbytery selected by him; he was directed by the moderator to call the roll of all the constituent members and churches of the synod. Declaring his unwillingness to do this, he was ordered by the moderator, in the name of the synod of Kentucky, to perform this duty -which he again refused to do. The moderator then announced that he was charged with the duty of directing all proceedings to the organization for business; that though the synod was present, its members were unknown" until the roll should be called; he, therefore, could not relieve himself by the submission to the house of the question as to the mode of procedure. That, in the nature of the case, in view of the difficulties of any other course, and ac- cording to our rules, the first and only thing at that time in order, was the call- ing of the roll; that, as the stated clerk had refused to call it, and there was nothing in our book making it essential that this should be done by the clerk, since the necessity was put upon him, he would proceed to call it himself. That, as it was not competent for him to decide concerning the membership of the synod, as affected by any thing that may have transpired in the recess of the body (it being a question, not of order, but of substance and vital principle), he could only recognize the synod as it was and is, unaffected by any thing not its own act, and leave the question of membership to be de- cided by the body when it should be organized. He would, therefore, call the roll according to the official rolls of the presbyteries furnished to the last Gen- eral Assembly, and printed in the minutes of the Assembly. He requested Dr. W. W. Hill to assist him by taking down the names.
"Dr. R. J. Breckinridge protested against .this whole procedure. Dr. E. P. Humphrey, in justification of the course of the stated clerk, called attention to the 6th standing order of the synod, which requires 'that, previous to each meeting of the synod, the stated clerk procure from the stated clerks of the several presbyteries recent and correct lists of the names of their members.' The moderator decided that the stated clerk had not complied with the order -as it was within his personal knowledge that the clerk had not applied for rolls to the stated clerks of presbyteries. The question was asked: Can the moderator appoint a clerk ? Dr. Wilson said the moderator had not appointed a clerk; but as the stated clerk had refused to call the roll, the moderator- who was the only officer who could organize the house-was himself about to call the roll, and had merely asked Dr. Hill to assist him by noting the names. The moderator concurred in the statement.
"Rev. Rutherford Douglas moved, Rev. Gelon H. Rout seconding the motion, that the House sustain the decision of the moderator. The moderator decided the motion out of order; but that he might avoid all appearance of severe or partial ruling and give the largest liberty to all, he would-contrary to his clear conviction as to order-put the motion and take the vote, if there was evi- dence of general desire for a test of the sense of those present. There being no further expression of such desire, and Dr. R. J. Breckinridge having given notice to all agreeing with him not to vote upon it, if put-the moderator allowing no further interruptions, proceeded to call the roll. Dr. R. J. Breckinridge called on those agreeing with him and adhering to the General Assembly not to answer to the call."
Forty-four ministers and fifty-four elders answered to the call of the roll, and the synod proceeded to business with ninety-eight members enrolled. Those who adhered to the order of the Assembly declined to answer to the call, and afterward withdrew and constituted themselves into a separate body.
The views and purposed action of the synod at this juncture are presented in the following paper, adopted at Henderson :
" The refusal of this Synod to recognize the validity of certain acts of the General Assembly, hitherto held, by men of all parties among us, to be unconstitutional, and, therefore, null and void, having led to the secession of a number of ininisters and a few of the churches from this body, it seems not only proper, but an imperative duty to set
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forth-for the information of our own churches, and of all who have held ' like precious faith with us ' concerning the sphere of the church-the views and purposed action of the synod in this emergency.
"First of all, it is not the purpose of this synod to make any change of its formal ecclesiastical relations, but to continue to stand in its present position of open pro- test and resistance to the enforcement of the acts of the General Assembles of 1861- '66, concerning ' Doctrine, Loyalty, and Freedom,' as unconstitutional, and, therefore, null and void.
"Nevertheless, as this synod did, in 1865, declare its prayerful trust 'that in the good providence of God, a way be opened for a re-union under the General Assembly, of all who profess the faith and adhere to the standards and love the order of the Presbyterian Church,' so now it is the purpose of this body to shape its action with reference to that desire and to the fact that, in the providence of God, this body stands in a position toward both sections of the church, which specially qualifies it for the work of mediation between them. On the one hand, it stands in full sympathy with a large body of conservative ministers and people in the Northern Assembly, and with the Synod of Missouri, who, like ourselves, have protested against the same unconsti- tutional acts. On the other hand, this synod has held that the Southern churches, being driven into a separation from us by the unwise and unconstitutional acts of our General Assembly, and, by circumstances beyond their control, are, therefore, not schismatical ; and those churches are understood to sympathize fully with this synod in its principles concerning the sphere of the church. These facts make it very appar- ent that this body has a special duty to discharge in the way of promoting re-union. And, therefore, while it proceeds with vigorous action to sustain its views of truth, will not forget its relations to the brethren of the Lord on either side. In accordance with these general views, the synod will at this time take the following action :
"1. Appoint a central committee of missions, to which shall be intrusted the work of supporting missionaries within our bounds, and sustain such feeble churches as, by reason of sympathy with the views of this synod, are cut off from support by the Board of Missions at Philadelphia.
"2. The synod will make an effort to raise, if needful, the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), to be expended by this committee during this year. It will appor- tion that sum to be raised among our churches, according to their number and ability, and authorize the committee of missions to send a messenger or messengers to the churches to collect it.
"3. The synod hereby invites all Presbyterian ministers and people who concur with us in protesting against the present course of the Board of Domestic Missions at Philadelphia, to co-operate in the missionary work through the synod's committee ; and will instruct its committee to deal with the utmost liberality, that its means and the rights of our own churches will admit of, toward missionaries and congregations with- out our bounds who may desire aid. The synod will also instruct its committee in carrying forward its work to render such incidental aid as may be within its power to ministers and congregations in the Western and Southern States, especially such as are suffering from the present distress ; and to act as agents for forwarding such funds as may be contributed specially for that object.
"4. The synod, in addition to a pastoral address to the churches, hereby requests its ministers to act as evangelists, to visit all the congregations within our bounds, and expound to the people our present position and purposes, and secure their cordial co- operation in this action.
"5. This synod also hereby expresses, on the one hand, its sympathy and its readi- ness to co-operate with such conservative brethren in the Northern Assembly as desire to return to the old paths ; and, on the other hand, its sympathy with, and readiness to assist to the utmost of its ability, the brethren of the southern churches; and, at the same time, expresses the hope that they will evince a readiness to co-operate with all conservative men, north and south, in a common effort to restore the General Assembly as it was before the war-on a basis of those ancient conservative principles of Presbyterianism for which this synod is contending."
The commissioners to the General Assembly of 1867, from the presbyteries under the care of the synod, were refused seats in that body; and the synod and presbyteries were declared to be " in no sense true and lawful synod and presbyteries in connection with, and under the care and authority of, the Gen- eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." By the Assembly's own act, its unconstitutional enactments resulted in the final separation of the synod.
In the synod of 1867, at Lebanon, a letter, containing "a statement of doc- trines and principles for which the synod of Kentucky and its presbyteries have been contending in the controversies with the General Assembly during the past seven years," was addressed, by the hands of delegates appointed, to the [Southern] General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United
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States, at Nashville, Tennessee, in November, 1867. This statement pro- posed "to be, substantially, the basis of a covenant upon which the synod of Kentucky may form an organic union " with that Assembly. The Assem- bly at Nashville received the delegates, admitted the letter to record, assured the synod of its substantial agreement in the doctrines and principles stated, and instructed the standing committee on commissions to receive and enroll, without further order, commissioners properly accredited from the presby- teries of the synod. According to the action of the synod in 1868, the sev- eral presbyteries appointed commissioners to represent them in the Assembly, which met in Mobile, Alabama, in May, 1869.
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After this division of the church we have not the statistics of the portion commonly known as the Declaration and Testimony, or Independent, synod of Kentucky, until after its union with the (Southern) General Assembly. In 1869 the whole number of ministers reported was 71, and of members 4,466; in 1870, ministers 75, members 5,353; in May, 1871, ministers 78, members 6,600. To those should be added fully 1,000 members of small and scattered churches from whom no report was received, making 7,600 members in 126 churches. Besides the six presbyteries of Transylvania, West Lexing- ton, Ebenezer, Louisville, Muhlenburg, and Paducah, whose statistics are thus given, the synod embraces the new presbytery of Central Ohio, constituted in October, 1868, which has six ministers and some 450 communicants.
One of the most prominent and important features of the present and future prosperity of this synod, should be mentioned the plan of sustentation, in successful operation since the fall of 1869-by which the ministry is much more adequately supported and more of the feeble churches provided with the ordinances of the gospel.
Another noticeable indication of prosperity is that in the years 1870 and 1871 more new and tasteful houses of worship have been erected than in any previous ten years of the synod's history.
The " True Presbyterian," the only Presbyterian newspaper at the time in Kentucky, was suppressed in 1862 by the military authorities-on a represen- tation or charge that its editor, Rev. Stuart Robinson, D.D., was disloyal. He was arrested and released, and again about to be arrested-which was avoided by his escape to Canada, and residence there until some time after the close of the war.
The following Kentucky ministers have presided as moderators over the General Assembly of the (O. S.) Presbyterian church, viz. : Rev. James Blythe, D.D., in 1816; Rev. James Hoge, D. D., in 1832: Rev. Joshua L. Wilson, D.D., in 1839; Rev. Robert J. Breekinridge, D.D., LL.D., in 1841; Rev. John T. Edgar, D.D., in 1842; Rev. Edward P. Humphrey, D. D., in 1851; Rev. John C. Young, D.D., in 1853; Rev. Nathan L. Rice, D.D., in 1855; Rev. Win. L. Breckinridge, D.D., in 1859. Rev. Thornton A. Mills, D.D., was moderator of the (N. S.) General Assembly in 1860; and Rev. Stuart Robinson, D. D., of the (Southern) General Assembly in 1869, elected unanimously. Half of these had removed from Kentucky, and were citizens of other states, when thus hon- ored by the church.
In 1860 the total number of Presbyterian churches in Kentucky was 164; total number of sittings or accommodations, 67,440-an average of 397 to each church; total value of Presbyterian church property, $607,225-making the average cost or value of each church $2.883.
Jedidiah Morse, in his "American Geography, or View of the Present Situ- ation of the United States of America," published at Elizabeth Town, New Jersey, in 1789, p. 109, says that "in June, 1780, a large body of the enemy, commanded by General Kniphausen, landed at Elizabeth Town point, New Jersey, and proceedled into the country. They were much harassed, in their progress, by Colonel Dayton and the troops under his command. When they arrived at Connecticut Farms, according to their usual but sacrilegious cus- tom, they burnt the Presbyterian church, parsonage house, and a considera- ble part of the village. But the most cruel and wanton act that was perpe- trated during this incursion, was the murder of Mrs. Caldwell, the wife of the Presbyterian minister. Rev. Mr. Caldwell, of Elizabeth Town-done to intimi- date the populace to relinquish their cause"-and followed, in a few months,
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by the murder of Mr. Caldwell himself, so outrageous and inexcusable, that the villainous soldier who shot him was seized and executed. "Presbyterian churches were called nests of rebellion ; and it appears by the number that were burnt, in every part of this continent where the British had access, that they were particularly obnoxious."
PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF KENTUCKY, (Northern) .-- After the division of the synod was effected at Henderson, October 10, 1866, that part which deter- mined to adhere to the "General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America" proceeded to the work of reorganization. An adjourned meeting was held in Lexington, November 20, 1866, and another in Covington, October 9, 1867, to perfect its plans.
At the adjourned meeting at Lexington, the proceedings of Louisville Pres- bytery in reference to the ministers, elders, and churches, who had renounced the authority of the General Assembly [i. e., the signers of the Declaration and Testimony, and those upholding them], was declared "constitutional and regular, entirely within the power of presbytery, under the Form of Govern- ment and the orders of the General Assembly." Those proceedings "recom- mended that the pastoral relations be dissolved and the pulpits declared va- cant; that the stated supplies and missionaries be declared to have forfeited their commissions, and all right to occupy their pulpits or labor among the people under presbyterial sanction; that the ruling elders be suspended from the exercise of their functions; that when the majority of the session of any church remains faithful, they treat all who renounce the authority of the church as if they had joined another denomination, dropping their names from the roll of members ; that when a majority of any session has gone into the schism, the minority, if sufficently numerous to act, be recognized as the session; that when the whole session adheres to the schismatical party, it being dissolved by a previous provision, the members who adhere to the church be directed to choose new elders, who, after ordination and installation, shall be regarded as the true session of that congregation, that where the minority is so small as to render it impossible to perpetuate their organization, and desire further relief, they be requested to protest against the schism, and make a full report of the facts to the presbytery."
During the same meeting the synod, in the report on the minutes of the General Assembly, under the head of "Organic Union of the Old and New School," says: "There is much evidence going to show that the causes which led to disruption thirty years ago do still exist. This synod does not see that the way is prepared for organic reunion; and regards with grave apprehen- sion the posture in which the business now stands; the zeal with which the measure is pursued is not, in our judgment, according to knowledge; it is hasty, untimely, not regardful enough of sound doctrine and scriptural order, and if concluded will lead to incalculable mischief. Should this measure be precipitated, instead of subserving the cause of Christian union, it would most assuredly promote dissension." In October, 1867, at Covington, the synod "expressed its decided opposition to said union upon the basis proposed by the joint committee of the General Assemblies of the two bodies, which is particularly objectionable."
The following statistics are from the official reports to the General Assembly :
1868.
1869.
1870.
1871.
PRESBYTERIES.
Min'rs.
Memb.
Min'rs.
Memb.
Min'rs.
Memb.
Min'rs.
Memb.
Ebenezer
11
1727
9
1700
12
1711
20
2600
Louisville
13
1398
10
1560
16
1262
20
1819
Transylvania.
13
1886
13
1059
10
1233
10
1302
West Lexington
5
440
5
514
6
721
Muhlenburg
9
8341
3
248
4
244
Paducah ... ..
4
526
3
355
339
Total
55
6811
43
54:36
51
5510
50
5721
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
The returns for the year 1868 probably include some churches which, har- ing decided to unite with the other branch of the church, were afterwards omitted. The number of churches reported in 1871 was 119; and about $100,000 was raised for their support, and for the work of missions.
Rev. WILLIAM L. MCCALLA was, in some respects, one of the most eccentric and talented men in the Presbyterian ministry in Kentucky. Licensed to preach in 1814, he was settled a few years afterwards at Maysville, then at Philadelphia; next became a chaplain in the Texan navy about 1842; re- turning again to Philadelphia. He held public debates with Alexander Camp- bell, with the Christ-ians of Milford, the Roman Catholics, and the New School . Presbyterians. He was every way remarkable as a polemic.
The Rev. ROBERT STUART came to Kentucky in 1798. In December of the same year, he was appointed Professor of Languages in Transylvania University, but resigned in the year following. During the year 1803, he preached to the church of Salem; and in 1804, took charge of Walnut Hill church, about six miles east of Lexington, which he continued to retain for nearly forty years. He had performed much laborious service in the church, was a man of rare pru- dence and discretion-and esteemed by all who knew him, as "an Israelite indeed,"
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