USA > Ohio > The plan of union: or a history of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches of the Western Reserve; with biographical sketches of the early missionaries > Part 14
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17. Every church belonging to this Presbytery, shall be represented at the meetings of the Presbytery by one delegate.
19. Each church shall at the stated meeting in April, exhibit their records to the Presbytery for examination.
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
22. These regalations shall be read to the Presbytery annually at the sessions in which the officers are chosen.
23. (Provides for altering the constitution by a vote of two-thirds, after four months notice.) But the twelfth article shall never be af- fected by any additions or alterations which these regulations may receive.
SYNOD OF THE WESTERN RESERVE.
In May, 1825, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, "after hearing the papers relating to the erection of a new Synod," and duly considering the subject,
Resolved, That the Presbyteries of Grand River, Portage and Hu- ron, be, and they hereby are detached from the Synod of Pittsburg, and constituted a new Synod, to be designated by the name of Synod of the Western Reserve ; that they hold their first meeting at Hudson, on the fourth Tuesday of September next, at 11 o'clock A. M .; and that the Rev. Joseph Badger preach the Synodical sermon and act as Moderator, till another be chosen; or in case of his failure, then the oldest minister present shall officiate in his place.
Sept. 25th, 1825. The Synod of the Western Reserve, agreeably to appointment by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, met in the Presbyterian Church in Hudson, at 11 o'clock, and was opened by the Rev. J. Badger, with a sermon on 2 Cor. iv : 5-" We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord."
After prayer the following persons were recognized as members of the Synod, viz :
FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF GRAND RIVER.
MINISTERS - Rev. J. Badger, G. H. Cowles, D. D., E. T. Woodruff, N. B. Derrow, J. Leslie, H. Coe, L. Humphrey, J. W. Curtis, R. Stone, U. Palmer, P. Pratt.
ELDERS AND MEMBERS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE - A. Griswold, L. Tomlinson, J. M. Martin, S. Witter, S. Atkins, F. Proctor, 'R. Bee- man.
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ORGANIZATION OF PRESBYTERIES.
FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF PORTAGE.
MINISTERS - Rev. R. J. Keys, C. Pitkin, J. Seward, W. Hanford, J. Treat, C. B. Storrs, J. Merriam.
ELDERS, &c. - O. Norton, B. Spencer, G. Kilbourne, T. Conant, W. Dickinson, D. Williams, A. North, E. Bostwick.
FROM THE PRESBYTERY OF HURON.
MINISTERS - Rev. S. Woodruff, J. Shailer, L. B. Sullivan, S. S. Bradstreet, D. W. Lathrop.
ELDERS, &c. - S. Bixley, J. D. Crocker.
Absent from the Grand River Presbytery - Revs. A. Jones, W. L. Strong, G. Sheldon, A. Morse, J. Winchester, D. Miller.
From the Presbytery of Portage- Revs. J. Field, B. Fenn.
. From the Presbytery of Huron - Revs. A. Coe, A. H. Betts, J. Mer- cer, E. Congar.
Rev. G. H. Cowles, D. D., was chosen Moderator; Rev. W. Han- ford, Stated Clerk; Rev. J. Treat, Permanent Clerk; Rev. S. Brad- street, Temporary Clerk.
The Presbytery of Grand River reported that they consisted of fif- teen members, and had under their care thirty-six congregations, and two licentiates, viz: D. Miller and J. Pepoon. Of the fifteen minis- ters, eight were settled pastors. The membership of the churches in Grand River Presbytery, numbered at that time thirteen hundred and thirty seven.
The Presbytery of Portage consisted of nine ministers and twenty congregations. Seven of its ministers were pastors. Membership, seven hundred and forty-three.
Presbytery of Huron numbered nine ministers and twenty-nine congregations ; five of the ministers pastors; membership of the churches, six hundred and five.
Thus was completed the organization of the Presbyterial Ec- clesiasticism of the Western Reserve. And here was offered
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
the gratifying spectaele of a vigorous, harmonious Synod, built up, from the very first, upon the Plan of Union. As a Synod, it was, what it ever continued to be, Calvanistic in doctrine, or- derly in its polity and practice, devout in spirit, and efficient in laboring for all the higher interests of the Kingdom of Christ on earth.
Seldom, if ever, were the majority of churches and minis- ters united in one body, more contented and gratified with their institutions, or more attached to each other, than were these, during several years after the organization of the Synod.
It was not discovered by the better portion of the ministers and churches embraced in the Synod, that either Presbyterians or Congregationalists had surrendered aught that was vital and valuable in their respective systems ; or that either was dis- posed to make a gain of the other.
A few jealous persons and restless agitators there were, who at times expressed dissatisfaction with the Union ; but happily, for many years, they were few, and not zealous or influential enough to breed a schism.
Of the healthy, constant and rapid growth of the Synod and Presbyteries, we need not delay to speak at length.
The Table, prepared in 1836, by Rev. A. R. Clarke, shows the great increase of churches and ministers up to that date.
Had the entire Presbyterian and Congregational interests of the Reserve continued until the present time, to prosper, as they did up to about the year 1836, the happy consequences would have been perhaps too gratifying.
But "it must needs be that offenses come"; and come they
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ORGANIZATION OF PRESBYTERIES.
did. We will not, however, add the other clause of the Sa- viour's remark ; to him belongs judgment and recompense. Suffice it to say, that for the churches and ecclesiastial bodies of the Reserve, troubles, agitations and perils were in store, above what fall to the lot of most sections of the church, at the present day. The beginnings of these things must next engage our attention.
As we advance, the reader will perceive, that dissatisfaction at length arose on both sides, and that the Synod has for many years been situated between two hostile forces, each in- tent upon its demolition. If, under these circumstances, it has not always enjoyed an enviable reputation, who can won- der ? That, amid all its trials, it has carried itself commend- ably, and preserved, in the main, an orderly and Christly spirit, only its enemies will deny. And it is probable that it has been as fruitful in all good works, as any branch of the church, similarly circumstanced, could be. Dig away the soil from the best tree, - belabor it yearly with clubs and stones, and graft upon it scions of the crab and thorn, and its fruit- fulness must be diminished.
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CHAPTER III.
CONGREGATIONALISM AGAINST THE PLAN OF UNION.
The fraternal communion and harmony of the Churches on the Reserve, were not seriously interrupted, nor the existing order of things often spoken against, before the year 1832. Occasionally, even from the time when the first Presbytery was organized, a zealous sectarian, generally but recently arrived, and ignorant of the origin and natural growth of religious or- ganizations on the Reserve, would put forth a feeling plea for the ecclesiastism of his "fathers." A few hoped, in time, to see the Union system give way to exclusive Presbyterianism, or pure Congregationalism.
But the true fathers of the church of the Reserve, the lib- eral, judicious and godly men, who had by their toil and sac- rifices, and God's blessing, changed the wilderness into a fruitful field, still swayed an influence, which easily neu- tralized the complaints of such malcontents. So beautifully and efficiently did the existing order subserve the purposes of
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OPPOSITION OF CONGREGATIONALISM. 187
a Church polity, that it was difficult for even an enemy to wag his tongue against it.
But there never was, on earth, an Eden into which a ser- pent did not creep. When the devil cannot harass the people of God by foreign enemies, it is his common policy to create dissension, and array them against each other. Whether for good or evil in the end, prosperity and peace, in time, breed discontent and schism, as surely as the calm breeds the hur- ricane.
About the years 1831-2, the Congregational element on the Reserve, was much increased by the arrival of zealous minis- ters and laymen, from the east, who had little knowledge of, and as little regard for, the origin and history of the churches and Presbyteries of the region. Eager to make their mark, and to reproduce the ecclesiasticism of the older States ; and having no adequate apprehension of the evils, agitations and strifes that must attend reorganizations and the transformation of indigenous institutions ; ignorant of the attachment of the churches and people generally to their ecclesiasticism, and confident of their own ability speedily to correct what they considered the absurdities and irregularities of the West ; these persons began to stir up the more mobile and disaffected ele- ments, that were scattered through the churches, and agitate the subject of a change in church order and connections.
Cognizant of these movements and tendencies, the Rev. J. Seward, ever a Congregationalist in sentiment, but ever the fast friend and guardian of the Church of the Reserve, sought to forestall the evils of agitation and schism, by publishing a series of articles in the Ohio Observer, in the year 1831, en-
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
titled "Brief Statements upon the History of the Churches on the Western Reserve." These "Statements," clear, can- did and explanatory of the origin and growth of the Churches and Presbyteries, under the Plan of Union, served to enlighten and satisfy many of the more recent immigrants, and repressed, though they could not entirely prevent, the rising disaffection. The leaven of sectarianism, having got into the mass, true to its evil nature, would work.
In April, 1832, a communication appeared in the Observer, signed A- S-, advocating pure Congregationalism. This A. S. enjoys the equivocal honor of commencing, through the press, a discussion of Western Reserve Ecclesiasticism, which has been " both long and loud ", and fertile in bitterness.
The writer said -" As there are a variety of opinions on Church Government, I have thought proper to give mine ; which I think accords with the Bible and the practice of the Puritans." His opinion was, that each church is a sovereign, independent body; and that there can be no ecclesiastical con- trol exercised over the churches, without infringing upon their rights, and the rights of the great head of the church.
The Editor of the Observer remarked, relative to the publi- cation of the article -" We have come to the conclusion that a fair discussion of the subject, pro and con, will do more good than hurt. We shall therefore open our columns to the dis- cussion for a time. There is no danger of too much investi- gation."
Probably posterity will differ with the Editor relative to the resulting proportions of good and evil, from this discussion. There is no danger of too much "investigation " properly
OPPOSITION OF CONGREGATIONALISM. 189
conducted; but much danger of "too much" partizan zeal and uncharitable denunciation and discontent; as time has shown. The good to result from that discussion seems to be, as yet, mainly a matter of faith ; the evil has been obvious these many years.
About the same time that the Congregational opposition to the Presbyteries began openly to operate, disaffection began to be expressed also by the Presbyterian relations, at a distance. It is but just to say that the Presbyterians of the Reserve, never much disturbed the existing order. We have seen that Mr. Barr, the most disaffected of the ministers, left the field to seek a stronger Presbyterianism elsewhere. Would it not have been better, if certain Congregationalists had imitated his example ? But the disaffection which grew up, in other parts of the Presbyterian Church, toward the Synod of the Reserve, may have stimulated the opposition of the Congregationalists ; and certainly, greatly increased the embarrassments of the Synod. Of this, more hereafter.
In January, 1833, an article, signed "Timothy," was pub- lished, warning the churches against dissensions and the influ- ence of an agitating oligarchy.
In April of the same year, the Presbytery of Portage issued a Circular to the churches under their care, designed to coun- teract the growing discontent. From that paper the following extracts are taken :
Individuals in several of the churches under our care, have ex- pressed a measure of solicitude in regard to the form of government which we have adopted, and desire that a change may be effected. While such has been the fact in regard to some, we apprehend that
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
the great body of members in our churches are satisfied that any change in our present organization would occasion divisions, be at- tended with consequences very undesirable, and produce a breach among brethren which we should all deplore. Under this organiza- tion the great Head of the church has favored us with his approbation. A degree of union and love, seldom experienced, has been enjoyed ; which we desire to see perpetuated, that our united efforts may be directed, free from diverting causes, to the future prosperity of our Zion.
The Circular points out the Union features of the Presby- tery, so happily adapted to all the churches, and proceeds -
The Presbytery has never sought to dictate, nor to change the form of organization, adopted by any of the churches. When a church has been formed by members of the Presbytery, the individuals comprehended in the church have decided as to its form of govern- ment. If a majority of the male members were Congregationalists, the church adopted the Congregational mode of government and dis- cipline. If a majority were Presbyterians, the mode of government and discipline adopted corresponded with their views. The minority acquiesced in the decision, and lived harmoniously with the majority. Nor are we acquainted with a single instance in which the minority in a church has attempted to affect a change in the form of govern- ment, or to make difficulties on the subject. Nor are we acquainted with any instance in which such attempts have been made by minis- ters belonging to this Presbytery.
To the Congregational churches, the Presbytery is a standing coun- cil, to which they may come with their difficulties, and receive the advice needed. As a bond of Union, and a guardian of the purity of doctrines and order in the ministry, the Presbytery also stands to the Congregational churches in the relation of a Consociation; while to the Presbyterian churches it is strictly a Presbytery.
The article further stated the origin of the Presbyteries, and
OPPOSITION OF CONGREGATIONALISM. 191
the improbability, at that time, of otherwise uniting the feeble churches, so much in need of co-operation and care.
This Circular was signed by Rev. Wm. Hanford, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery; and bears the mark of his clear, candid, Christian spirit and sentiment in its composition. Had such of the New England brethren as Messrs. Hanford and Seward, opposed the existing ecclesiasticism, it might soon have been demolished. But that class of ministers too well knew its value.
Portage Presbytery had now become the leading Presbytery in the Synod; and this circular combined, with other influ- ences, to allay somewhat the spirit of revolution.
A new importation of eastern denominationalists was needed to revive the agitation ; and in due time they appeared.
Prominent amongst the first disturbing elements in the re- gion, about this period, were a class of itinerant evangelists, who introduced much novel machinery in promoting set revi- vals, which were, no doubt, well intended, but which so far ignored divine agency in conversion, and so worked upon the mere emotions of unindoctrinated people, particularly youth, as to become suspicious and even odious to those who had confidence in the usual means of grace.
About the same time, a crusade was preached against all denominationalism, and in favor of what was named Union- ism ; which was in fact an effort to destroy all true union and co-operation, and abolish all denominations, in order to collect all nominal Christians into one hetereogenous mass, - a kind of Socialism, that is only practicable under anarchy or Popery.
In July, 1835, the movement in behalf of Congregational-
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
ism was revived ostensibly by the church at Hudson. Messrs. D. Hudson, O. Brown and G. Kilbourne, having been ap- pointed by that church as a committee of inquiry and corresl pondence, relative to the formation of a new ecclesiastica- organization, published an article to the churches, to the effect, that the union of Congregational churches with the General Assembly, was both undesirable to Presbyterians, (as the efforts made to secure a separation indicated,) and un- profitable to Congregationalists. " They are dissatisfied with us; and we do not want to share their agitations." The committee "believe that the union should be dissolved ;" and therefore make suggestions relative to the formdation of a Congregational Association. The movement aims at the union, " so far as possible, without the sacrifice of fundamen- tal principles "of all those churches" which now constitute the Synod of the Western Reserve," and also a Union "to a wider extent, with all such churches as shall approve of our principles," - (a union to be effected by universal disunion !) Although the Hudson Committee were the ostensible leaders in this movement, it was claimed that it did not originate there ; and a plan of organization was published, purporting to have been furnished to the committee by a minister in an- other part of the Reserve.
To show what shape the effort assumed at this period, we condense and extract from the proposed basis as follows :
Each church shall be independent in its government, subject to no ecclesiastical authority, possessing the right to manage its internal affairs either by a bench of elders, a standing committee, or by the whole body of the church.
OPPOSITION OF CONGREGATIONALISM. 193
There shall be an annual meeting of the associated Pastors and Churches, which may examine and license candidates ; ordain, install and dismiss pastors ; exercise original jurisdiction in all cases of com- plaint or discipline, against ministers, members of their own body ; give advice on questions of faith, practice, or discipline, referred to them by the churches; and consult respecting the best means of ad- vancing holiness in the churches and communities.
Each church may bear such name as it may choose, or as may have been given to it at its incorporation.
The body composing the annual meeting may adopt such name as shall be mutually agreed upon, perhaps Consociated Presbytery.
The Consociated Presbytery did not, however, get itself con- sociated as readily as was hoped.
A communication soon appeared, signed "S. J. B." (Brad- street,) maintaining that Presbyterianism " is a thousand times better than Congregationalism," yet anticipating a rupture with the General Assembly, and discussing the propriety of a se- cession on the part of the Western Reserve Synod and the en- tire New School party, from the General Assembly. S. J. B. believes that "the Western Reserve Synod are unanimous enough in feeling safely to take the lead in such a move- ment ;" yet deprecates the step as one that would be ruinous in its influence upon other Synods, and the general interests of the church. Nor does he believe that the Western Reserve churches could agree upon any thing else that would satisfy them as well as the present arrangement.
To this communication Esq. Hudson replied, in behalf of Congregationalists ; maintaining that the people and churches on the Reserve were mostly Congregational ; that in their in- fancy they were taken under the care of Presbytery, expecting
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
to be dismissed as soon as they were able to go alone ; declar- ing further that "they do not enjoy their rights in the pres- ent connection, and will not long submit to the control of Presbytery."
A convention was called at Hudson Sept. 3, 1835, immedi- ately after Commencement in the Western Reserve College, to consider the subject of a change in ecclesiastical institutions. Addresses were made by Rev. Messrs. Lyman, Beecher, who was in attendance at the Commencement Exercises, Hanford and Palmer, and Messrs. Kingsbury, Hudson and Baldwin. After discussion, Messrs. Hanford, Keep and Baldwin were appointed a committee to state to the churches the reasons why the con- vention " deem it inexpedient to take measures, at this time, for altering the present system of church government."
The committee appointed to make the statement, for some reason, failed to co-operate; and at length Mr. Hanford, in behalf of the committee, addressed a model letter to the churches, setting forth, in substance, that, (1 ) No adequate reasons exist for making a change. The churches now enjoy their rights, and conduct their government in the manner pre- ferred by them, without restraint or compulsion by Presbytery. They could gain no privileges by a change which they do not now enjoy. Under the present arrangement they have pros- pered and grown rapidly for many years. Twenty years be- fore, their membership numbered but a few hundred; now there were as many thousands; the ministry meantime had increased nearly ten-fold ; and the benevolent contributions had increased from almost nothing to nearly ten thousand dollars per year. (2) Moreover, circumstances imperative )
OPPOSITION OF CONGREGATIONALISM. 195
forbade any such action at that time. No other plan was pro- posed which could unite the churches. No evidence existed that any considerable number, out of the one hundred and fifty churches, desired a change. A change, to accommodate the few dissatisfied, would be unwarrantable.
A break-up would divide the churches into three parties,- ultra Presbyterians, Unionists, and ultra Congregationalists. Churches would split and be unable to support their minis- ters ; jealousies would be fermented, and the church generally diverted from its proper aim. Moreover, great questions were coming up in the Presbyterian Church, relative to co-operative benevolence, and kindred subjects, and it was the duty of this Synod to bear its part in deciding them. Should it now se- cede, its example would be imitated, and God alone could foresee where the schism would stop.
At this time another valuable series of articles appeared from the pen of Rev. J. Seward, entitled, " Brief. Considera- tions on Congregationalism," exhibiting the multiplicity of forms and indefinitness of Congregationalism, and illustrat- ing, from history, some of the difficulties attending the admin- istration of church government by this method ; and exhorting the churches to be content with their present comfortable po- sition, and not incur the evils of division, for uncertain and doubtful gains.
Thus the Congregational movement was again checked, and, so far as the organization of the " Consociated Presbytery" was concerned, suppressed.
Meantime, however, a small organization had got into nom- nal existence under the name of "Independent Congrega-
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THE PLAN OF UNION.
tional Union of the Western Reserve ;" but of the manner of its birth, or its history, the present writer has learned nothing definite. At a meeting held at Palmyra, August 27, 1835, the following churches were represented, viz : - the churches in Williamsfield, Wayne, Greene, Andover, Pittsburgh, Akron, Copley, Shalersville, Northfield and Elimburgh, Pa.
THE OBERLIN MOVEMENT.
Congregationalism had now secured another company of brave recruits from abroad, ready to do battle for her inter- ests, with all the zeal and confidence of former pioneers. The next year, 1836, another convention was therefore called at Hudson, to accomplish the task in which last year's conven- tion failed. The Observer, then edited by Rev. A. R. Clark, remonstrated, as usual, against needless agitation, believing that, " under present circumstances, the existing organizations harmonize and satisfy all parties better than any new organiz- ation could do."
The convention, however, met August 25, 1836, and was attended by about thirty ministers and delegates, from nearly as many churches. Amongst the advocates for organizing a Congregational Union, were President Mahan and Professor Cowles, of Oberlin ; Rev. Messrs. Rockwell, Austin, Porter, and several laymen. Amongst those who opposed the move- ment, were Rev. Messrs. S. C. Aiken, Hanford, Sheldon, Parmelee, Eells and Clarke; Harmon Kingsbury, S. Baldwin, and others.
After discussing the resolution that, "It is now expedient to form a Congregational Union for the Western Reserve," it
OPPOSITION OF CONGREGATIONALISM. 197
was passed, with the understanding that the vote was only advisory.
Rev. Messrs. Prof. Cowles, J. Poole and D. Rockwell, and Deacons Elizur Wright and A. Kilbourne, were appointed to draft a Constitution.
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