USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 59
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A fruitful subject of discussion was now opened, involving deep feeling, and important consequences to the Presbyterian Church. in 1832, a motion was made to cite the Western Reserve Synod, to appear before the next Assembly to answer to the charge of neglect- ing the Confession of Faith; that persons were licensed to preach, and were ordained as pastors and evangelists without being required to receive the Confession of Faith ; - and for suffering the office of Ruling Elder to go into disuse to a great extent throughout the bounds of that Synod. " The Assembly directed that Synod to review and examine the state of the Presbyteries and churches un- der its care, and make a report to the next General Assembly, with a special reference to these points." The Synod reported next year
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that there was no ground of complaint. In 1834, the Report of a committee, on a memorial declaring, " that it is deemed inexpedient and undesirable to abrogate or interfere with the plan of union be- tween Presbyterians and Congregationalists in the new settlements entered into in 1801," was adopted. And with regard to the habit of sending out young men to the west and other places, to labor in the bounds of existing presbyteries, with ordination sine titulo, the Assembly recommended earnestly to the presbyteries to refrain from such procedure; and the ecclesiastical bodies in connexion with the Assembly were respectfully invited to concur.
In 1835, the committee on a memorial, Dr. Miller, of Princeton, , chairman, proposed, that-"This Assembly deem it no longer desi- rable that Churches be formed in our Presbyterian connexion, agree- ably to the plan of union of 1801 .- Wherefore Resolved, That our brethren of the General Association of Connecticut be, and they hereby are, respectfully requested to consent that said plan be, from and after the next meeting of that Association, declared to be an- nulled. . And Resolved, That the annulling of said plan shall not in any wise interfere with the existence and lawful operation of Churches which have been already formed on this plan."
3d. THE CASE OF REV. ALBERT BARNES.
In the spring of the year 1830, the Rev. Albert Barnes, pastor of the Church in Morristown, New Jersey, was elected pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, to succeed Dr. J. P. Wil- son, resigned.' The commissioner of the Congregation appeared before the Presbytery of Philadelphia, on the 30th of April, and asked leave to prosecute the call, in the usual way. Dr. Ashbel Green declared that before he could give consent, he must have some satis- factory explanation. He' had read a sermon recently published by Mr. Barnes, entitled "The Way of Salvation," and to the views of the doctrines of Original Sin, and of Atonement, he objected; and also to the want of the doctrine of Justification by Faith, in a ser- mon which professed to show the whole scheme of Salvation. The discussions that followed were, in various forms, protracted through four days. Leave to prosecute the call was finally granted, by a vote of 21 to 12. On the 18th of June, Mr. Barnes was present at an intermediate meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and pre- sented his certificate of good standing, and dismission, and recommen- dation, from the Presbytery of Elizabethtown. A protracted discussion on his reception, embracing various points of order and opinions, as to the proper method of procedure in the present case, was decided by yeas 30, nays 16; the charges presented against the soundness of faith of the applicant, intended to arrest his entering on the proposed pastoral office, being pronounced out of order, at a meeting of Pres- bytery called for a special purpose ; and a time was appointed, and preparations made for Mr. Barnes' installation. At the appointed time he was inducted to the pastoral office.
The minority complained to the Synod of Philadelphia, of the
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proceedings of the Presbytery, particularly in refusing to hear the charges against Mr. Barnes. The Synod directed the Presbytery to hear and decide upon the objections which the minority had to the orthodoxy of a sermon of Mr. Barnes. In obedience to the order of Synod, the Presbytery met on Tuesday, the 30th of November, 1830. After much discussion, a minute condemnatory of the senti- ments of the sermon was passed by a small majority ; and a com- mittee appointed to converse with Mr. Barnes on the subject matter of the sermon. The whole case was carried up to the General Assem- bly of 1831, by appeal, by reference, and by complaint. On Thurs- day, the 26th of May, Mr. Barnes' case came before the Assembly, on the 27th-" the whole proceedings of the Presbytery, in the case com- plained of, and the printed sermon of Mr. Barnes, entitled "The Way of Salvation,' which led to these proceedings, were read. In the P. M .-- the considerations of the complaint of the minority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia was resumed; and their complaint was read. The parties then agreed to submit the case to the Assem- bly without argument, when it was Resolved, to refer the whole case to a select committee." Dr. Miller, of Princeton, was chairman ; and on Monday, 30th, in the afternoon, the committee made report- " that after bestowing upon the case the most deliberate and serious consideration-they would recommend the adoption of the following resolutions :"-In the first the committee say-"While it judges that the sermon by Mr. Barnes, entitled 'The Way of Salvation,' con- tains a number of unguarded and objectionable passages ; yet is of the opinion, that, especially after the explanations which were given by him of those passages, the Presbytery ought to have suffered the whole to pass without further notice." The second suspends further action in the case-and the third recommends a division of the Pres- bytery. These resolutions adopted by the Assembly, appeared satis- factory to both parties generally :- on the one side, it was thought the rebuke of the erroneous passages in the sermon was sufficient ; and on the other that the main bearing of the sermon was sustained, and the reproof fell on unguarded expressions. "And such was the harmony, that the minutes say-" The Assembly having finished the business in relation to Mr. Barnes, united in special prayer, return- ing thanks to God for the harmonious result to which they have come; and imploring the blessing of God on their decision." The division of Presbytery which followed, gave rise to the vexed ques- tion of, "Elective Affinity," which in succeeding years found its way to the Assembly in various forms.
Mr. Barnes, in the course of his pastoral labors, prepared and published, for the use of Bible Classes and Sunday-schools, a short Commentary on the Gospels in succession, and on the Acts of the Apostles. These were popular, and widely circulated. No particu- lar objection was made to the doctrine of his commentaries, until the volume on the Epistle to the Romans appeared. Great dissatis- faction was speedily expressed from various quarters, and the pro- position was earnestly discussed in every direction, whether a book
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containing objectionable doctrine should be condemned as unsound, before the author was arraigned for unsoundness ; or whether, on the other hand, the author should be judged by the sentiments of his book, and should alone be condemned or acquitted. After much had been said and written on the subject of the sentiments con- tained in the Commentary on the Romans, Rev. George Junkin, President of the College in Easton, Pennsylvania, under date of March 18th, 1835, sent to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia a letter, stating his feelings and views generally, on the subject of difference between the opinions of Mr. Barnes, and what he under- stood as the orthodox meaning of the standards of the Presbyterian Church, and with it a series of charges against Mr. Barnes, as teaching false doctrine ; having previously invited him to a friendly discussion on the subject, and adjudication by Presbytery, which invitation had been respectfully declined. The charges were ten : First. What he teaches wrong. "Rev. Albert Barnes is hereby charged with maintaining the following doctrines, contrary to the standards of the Presbyterian Church. That all sin consists in voluntary action ; that Adam, before and after his fall, was ignorant of his moral relations to such a degree, that he did not know the consequences of his sin would or should reach any further than to natural death; that unregenerate men are able to keep the com- mandments, and convert themselves to God; that faith is an act of the mind, and not a principle, and is itself imputed for righteous- ness. Second. The doctrines he denies, which are taught in the standards of the Church : he denies that God entered into covenant with Adam, constituting him a federal or covenant head, and repre- sentative of natural descendants; that the first sin of Adam is imputed to his posterity ; that mankind are guilty, i. e. liable to punishment, on account of the sin of Adam; that Christ suffered the proper penalty of the law, as the vicarious substitute of his people, and thus took away legally their sins, and purchased pardon ; that the righteousness, i. e. the active obedience of Christ to the law, is imputed to his people for their justification, so that they are righteous in the eyes of the law, and therefore justified; and Mr. Barnes also teaches, in opposition to the standards, that justifi- cation is simple pardon." Mr. Junkin gave specifications from the work on the Romans, and added that Mr. Barnes taught the first, second, third, fourth and tenth, contrary to the Scriptures, and denied the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, contrary to the word of God.
The Presbytery declined acting on this letter and the charges, in the absence of Mr. Junkin; and an adjourned meeting was com- menced, June 30th, for the purpose of disposing of the business. After many preliminary discussions, the case was argued in full, by Mr. Junkin and Mr. Barnes; Mr. Junkin arguing that Mr. Barnes was culpable, for publishing in his book errors on those ten particu- lars ; and Mr. Barnes explaining some things as having a very legitimate meaning, in consonance with the standards; defending
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others, as having no departure from sound words; and on the sub- ject of imputation, explaining and showing that he had made some alterations in his book, which removed all mistake or misapprehen- sion. The decision of the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia was in favor of Mr. Barnes, eighteen voting him not guilty on any of the charges, and three voting him guilty on part, or all. "The Presbytery therefore judge, that the charges have not been main- tained ; and they moreover judge that the Christian spirit manifested by the prosecutor, during the progress of the trial, renders it inex- pedient that the Presbytery should inflict any censure on him."
From this decision, Mr. Junkin appealed to Synod. In October of the same year, the case came up regularly, and, after much preliminary discussion, the whole subject of error and defence was gone over before Synod. The decision of Synod was against Mr. Barnes ; and consequently he was suspended from the office of the ministry.
The case came before the General Assembly in May, 1836, at Pittsburg, by appeal and complaint of Mr. Barnes, and also by appeal and complaint of some others; all of which were taken up together, as requiring but one discussion. The trial was protracted through a large portion of the session, being discussed, more or less, eleven days. The appeal was sustained by 134 to 96; and the decision of the Synod of Philadelphia, suspending him from the office of the gospel ministry, was reversed - 145 to 78. The Rev. Dr. Miller, of Princeton, proposed a resolution, the purport of which was, that Mr. Barnes' Notes on the Romans were at variance with the Confession of Faith, on the subjects of original sin, the relation of man to Adam, justification by faith, and the atoning sacrifice and righteousness of the Redeemer; that he had controverted the language of our standards in a reprehensible manner ; that, although he had removed from his book, or modified many reprehensible passages, Mr. Barnes be admonished to review the book, to modify still further the statements which have grieved his brethren, and be - more careful, in time to come, to study the purity and peace of the church. This resolution was rejected by 122 to 109 : three declined voting.
During the progress of Mr. Barnes' case before the different tri- bunals, the trial of Dr. Beecher before the Presbytery of Cincinnati, on the , charges brought by Dr. J. L. Wilson, of Cincinnati, for heresy, slander, and hypocrisy, took place, and the same general ground of doctrine was gone over there in an extended discussion. Reports of these trials were widely circulated and carefully read, and' the community was deeply agitated, if not fully informed on the doctrines involved. . In the course of these trials all the ques- tions of order, or discipline, or doctrine, that agitated the church, were involved, either as circumstantials or essentials. The spirit of discussion and division, of excitement and jealousy, spread over the whole church with more or less bitterness, and were found in the prayer-meeting, the lecture-room, the pulpit, and the revival. It
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THE CAUSE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.
began to be apparent to all that there must be a cessation of hostili- ties by compromise and concession, or by triumph in debate, or by division. Of the first there was little prospect; of the other two, the latter was more probable, though difficult. Compromise, with thanksgiving to God, in the Assembly, had been tried in vain ; deci- sion, after debate, in Synod, had been followed by a counter de- cision in Assembly, and in that highest judicatory the decision of one year, by the delegates of the church, was followed by a counter decision, by other delegates, in a succeeding Assembly. The discussions seemed to be ended, or continued only in vain repetitions, and peace was looked for in vain except in the submission of one party, or by elective affinity divisions.
4th. THE CAUSE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.
From an early period of her existence the Presbyterian Church was engaged in preaching the gospel to the heathen tribes in America. At times she had cause to rejoice greatly over the mea- sure of success granted to her efforts, which were never equal to the importance of the cause or her own dignity. The Presbyteries, Synods, and General Assembly, particularly the Synod of Virginia, had taken order on the subject, and pious individuals had come cheerfully to the work. There are many names on the list of Indian missionaries that ought not to pass from the memory of the church. Private associations had been formed, embracing churches, and members of churches, of the Presbyterian denomination, in some of its numerous divisions, whose efforts to evangelize the Indian tribes were energetic, but not under the supervision of any judicatory of the Presbyterian Church. The formation of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, by the Congregationalists of New England, was an epoch in the history of the Church of Christ. It was the first organized effort of the American churches to send the gospel to the heathen of the eastern continent. It met with great favor. . Some felt their obligations to preach the gospel to every creature, and made donations to the Board that was sending messengers to the land of darkness; others sympathized with what seemed a heroic effort of benevolence for the civilization of the race, and gave money. The operations of the Board were enlarged, and the feelings of the church were more deeply'enlisted. The united efforts of Christian people were called for, and given cheerfully, to ' carry on the annually enlarging labors of that active and prudent Board. Wisdom in council, and energy in action, and success in effort, marked the progress of the foreign missionary enterprise, and won the confidence of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches. In a series of years, there was so much to admire, and so little to blame, in the management of the Board, that all contributions from the Presbyterians, or nearly so, made for the spread of the gospel in heathen nations and tribes, were sent to the American Board. The children of the Presbyterian Church that desired the life of a missionary, were sent forth under her direction. The different for-
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eign missionary associations were either dissolved or had become its auxiliaries, and the missions among the aborigines generally com- mitted to its supervision.
The spirit of nationality pervaded the Presbyterian Church in all its benevolent efforts. She united heartily in the Bible Society, and hailed every association formed for its aid, and shared with entire confidence the management of its concerns with all denominations that desired to be engaged. She took a leading part in the Colo- nization Society, and united on the broadest principles with all associations for its support. She did the same with the Tract Society, and the Sunday School. For some years this union of effort added strength to the cause, and was a blessedness to all engaged. The question was proposed, Could there not be a union, at least with the Congregational and Presbyterian churches, in the cause of education' for the ministry, and in domestic missions ? There were many advocates. There were many objectors. The Assembly never relinquished the oversight of those Christian labors, though she pursued them languidly for some years. The American Education Society, under its admirable secretary, Cornelius, had many warm supporters in the Presbyterian Church ; and the Home Missionary Society, under the skilful management of an able Board in New York, aspired to be the channel of domestic missions, as the American Board was of foreign missions. After full discussion, the General Assembly resolved to pursue the education cause and the domestic missionary effort with renewed zeal, and took the proper steps to ensure success. In both these causes her progress has been in some measure becoming the magnitude of the interests involved,, and other names besides the departed Breckenridge and M'Dowell are embalmed in the heart of the church for everlasting remembrance.
In the progress of events the enquiry arose, Ought not the Pres- byterian Church, with her extensive borders, her strength of num- bers, and her abundant resources, to engage in the work of preaching the gospel to every creature, in a manner more fitting her accounta- bility ? and the universal answer from every quarter, within and without the church, reproved her sluggishness. The next enquiry was, Could she ever accomplish as much through the American Board, with all its acknowledged excellences, as by an independent organization ? This question was debated, with intense earnestness, by the best, the wisest, and the weakest in the church. It became intermingled with the excitements about doctrines, and practice, and revivals, which were agitating the Christian community every- where. And the discussion about foreign missions was carried on with a temper and spirit sufficiently energetic, but not always be- coming the gospel of love.
The Rev. John H. Rice, Professor in Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, a man by the habits of his mind, and his opportunities of observation while agent for the seminary, the best qualified to understand the geographical and doctrinal divisions prevailing, or commencing in the church, felt it necessary to do something for the
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peace and unity of the professing family of Christ. Writing to Dr. Wisner, of Boston, under date of November 22d, 1830, he says - " But the most fearful sign of the present times is the rising of the spirit of controversy and disputation, much like that which broke out in the time of the Reformation. In all the strong parts of both the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches we see the existence of the evil. My last journey made me sick at heart. Both in New York and Philadelphia I was in continual pain and mortification. I regard the human race as at this moment standing on the covered crater of a volcano, in which elemental fires are raging with the intensity of the Tophet ordained of old. What shall we do ? Nothing but one strong feeling can put down another. The church is not purified by controversy, but by love. By knowing Christ crucified we know enough to kindle up holy love. I have therefore brought my mind to the conclusion that the thing most needed at this present time is a revival of religion among churches, and espe- cially a larger increase of holiness among ministers." > He thus ex- presses his desire of accomplishing something at the next Assembly, May, 1831, and desires his friends from Boston to be there not to argue, but to strive to kindle a flame of love. He proposed that something should be done in the cause of missions to get the whole Presbyterian Church engaged. He passed through a suffering win- ter, and as the time of the Assembly drew near he felt himself approaching the grave. Turning all the energies of his mind, in his position of solemnity and interest, to devise something for the peace and welfare of the Presbyterian Church, as preparatory to preaching the gospel to every creature ; and believing that hearty engagedness in that blessed work would do wonders in promoting the peace and extending the borders of the church, he dictated his memorial to the General Assembly on the subject of foreign missions ; a paper becom- ing the closing pages of the history of his life -his last effort of thought and affection for the church he loved, and worthy of a place in any history of the Presbyterian Church. The fate of this memo- rial was unknown to its author : he had passed to a better world. He knew that it was read before the Assembly, and sent forward for con- sideration to the American Board ; but hovering on the confines of two worlds filled with immortals that he loved, he could not ask its fate.
On the third day of the session, May 21st, 1831, the memorial, having received the approbation of the brethren in Princeton, was read and committed to Rev. Messrs. Armstrong, of North River, Calvert, of West Tennessee, Goodrich, of Orange, J. M'Dowell, of Elizabethtown, and Dr. Agnew, Elder, from Carlisle. . On Tuesday, the 31st, a committee was appointed "to attend the next annual meeting of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Mis- sions, and confer with that body in respect to measures to be adopted for enlisting the energies of the Presbyterian Church more exten- sively in the cause of missions to the heathen ; and that said com- mittee report the results of this conference, and their views on the
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whole subject to the next Assembly." The gentlemen chosen by ballot on nomination were - Rev. Messrs. John M'Dowell, of Eliza- bethtown, Thomas M'Auley, of Philadelphia, and James Richards, Newark, the principals ; and Rev. Messrs. A. Alexander, John Breckenridge and Elisha Swift alternates. When Dr. Rice heard the names of the committee read to him on his sick bed, he said smilingly, that some of the alternates he thought understood his views better than some of the principals.
This memorial, from its source, its author and its weighty thoughts, made an impression upon the Assembly. The person, manner, voice and spirit of its author were wanting to give it the thrilling influence. One expression in the memorial -" the Presbyterian Church a Mis- sionary Society," fixed upon in the study of Mr. Nevins, in Balti- more, the last visit made there by Dr. Rice, has, from that Assem- bly, been the rallying call to the church. The active young brethren of Baltimore Presbytery had resolved their Presbytery into a foreign missionary society. And about the time the memorial was sent to Princeton for consideration, a circular from the Presbytery of Bal- timore called the attention of the Presbytery of Lexington to the same subject. The records of the meeting at Fincastle, April 29th, 1831, say -" whereas this Presbytery has received a communication from the Presbytery of Baltimore informing us of their purpose to engage more efficiently in the promotion of foreign missions ; and likewise urge a number of weighty considerations to show that the Presbyterian Church generally, and Presbyterians individually, should unite with them in this good work, in which this Presbytery fully concur, Therefore, Resolved, That this Presbytery highly ap- prove of the resolutions adopted by the Presbytery of Baltimore. 2d. Resolved, That as soon as practicable this Presbytery will engage in foreign missions."
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