USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 60
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The memorial of Dr. Rice was laid before the Board of Commis- sioners, that held its annual meeting, in October of that year, in New Haven, Connecticut, by Messrs. M'Dowell, M'Auley and Richards. A committee of conference was appointed by the Board consisting of Rev. Messrs. Jeremiah Day, Lyman Beecher and B. B. Wisner. Their joint report was adopted and sent to the As- sembly of 1832. The final action of the Board, as expressed in Dr. Miller's notice, was not known at the South, or generally any where till some years after.
In November of the same year, the ministers of the Synod of Pitts- burg organized the Western Foreign Missionary Society. The move- ment seemed to many East of the mountains as hasty and uncalled for. To others it appeared a work of Christian prudence and decision. Leading men in the Church East and West of the mountains favored the formation of the Western Society, and gave liberally to its funds ; among the contributors were the Professors of the Theological Semi- nary at Princeton. The reasons given by the Western brethren for their speedy action were, that they received the great truth, " The
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Presbyterian Church a Missionary Society," and that the General Assembly had not entered upon the work; that the American Board discouraged, both in principle and in action, a separate organization for the Presbyterian Church; and besides, that Board would not promise " to regard with fraternal feelings," any association formed by the Assembly or any inferior judicatory to carry on the work of Foreign Missions ; and the churches of that Synod, and many other churches would not any longer act cheerfully, if at all, through the American Board. The Rev. E. P. Swift entered with great activity upon the duties of Secretary of the new Society ; and the churches West of the Alleghany commenced making collections and dona- tions more liberal than those made in the early days of the American Board.
In May 1832, the joint report adopted by the American Board was laid before the. Assembly ; and after discussion, resolved, "That while the Assembly would express no opinion in relation to the prin- ciples contained in the report, they cordially recommend the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the affection and patronage of the churches." This report was widely circulated both in the annual report of the Board, and in other ways; and was generally read. An able document, it presented in clear, strong language the principles of the American Board, and the reasons why they discouraged a separate organization by any ecclesiastical judica- tory. The main points of the report were, 1st. That the Ameri- can Board is, in the opinion of the committee, properly a national institution ; 2nd. The board sustains the same relation to the Con- gregational, Presbyterian and Reformed Dutch Churches ; and fairly represents each of these religious denominations ; 3d. The proceed- ings of the board and of the prudential committee have uniformly been in strict accordance with that relation; 4th. There are very high responsibilities, securing the purity and efficiency of the board and its missions. These responsibilities are 1st. The prudential com- mittee is responsible to the board; 2nd. It is also responsible to the public ; 3d. The board is under obligation to supply the highest ecclesiastical bodies of the three denominations with copies of its annual report; 4th. Missionaries in connection with presbytery, classis, or association, are not affected in their ecclesiastical rela- tions by coming into connection with this Board; 5th. In raising funds, regard is had to the ecclesiastical habits of the people. Also previous to the union of the United Foreign Missionary Society with the American Board in 1826, an address was sent forth giving reasons why there should be but one institution for foreign missions for the three denominations, Presbyterian, Reformed Dutch and Congregational. They were, 1st. It will save time and labor ; 2nd. It will save expense; 3d. There is no necessity for more than one institution ; 4th. It will remove the danger of collision ; 5th. A single institution will greatly promote Christian affection; 6th. A great saving of toil, expense and life, in the research and explo-
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rations indispensable to a successful prosecution of the work ; 7th. In missions as in every important concern, experience is the safest guide, often leading to modifications in methods of procedure, and greatly augmenting the efficiency and success of the enterprise ; 8th. To which may be added that constitution of human nature by which interest and motives and effort and reward correspond with the magnitude and sublimity of the object presented.
In view of these facts the committee of conference, "are fully. satisfied that it is wholly inexpedient to attempt the formation of any distinct organization within the three denominations, for con- ducting foreign missions ; and that it is of the highest importance to their own spiritual prosperity, and to the existence of the Re- deemer's kingdom on the earth, that the ecclesiastical bodies and the individual churches in these connections should give to the American Board their cordial, united and vigorous support." And in regard to "measures to be adopted for enlisting the energies of the Presbyterian Church, but two things are wanting to secure the desired results-1st. That the prudential committee of the American Board should take prompt and effectual measures by agencies and in other ways to bring the subject of foreign missions, in its various relations, before the individual congregations and members of the Presbyterian body; and 2nd, that the General Assembly and sub- ordinate judicatories of the Church, give their distinct and efficient sanction and aid to the measures that shall be adopted for that pur- pose." In consequence of this report and the recommendation of the Assembly, Rev. B. B. Wisner, Secretary of the Board, in the fall of 1832, visited the Synods of Virginia and North Carolina, and was instrumental in forming the Central Board of Foreign Mis- sions, embracing the two Synods. Rev. Wm. J. Armstrong, suc- cessor of Dr. Rice as pastor of the Church in Richmond, was made the corresponding secretary and general agent. By his zealous la- bors the churches were awaked to their duty with the happiest re- sults. : Mr. Armstrong became a secretary of the American Board, and was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Mitchell ; he, retiring to a pastoral charge in a few years, was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Henry Foote, on whose resignation, after seven years' service, the Central Board was dissolved and the churches commenced acting directly through the Assembly's Board.
The Western Board of Foreign Missions pressed on with vigor. An African mission was speedily organized with two missionaries, Messrs. Barr and Pinney. Mr. Barr, while making the necessary preparations for departure, suddenly died in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Pinney proceeded on the mission, and still lives, having done good service for the Board, and conferred immeasurable benefits on Africa. In 1833, the Lodiana mission embarked. One of the members of that mission, Dr. John. C. Lowrie, is now a secretary of the Assembly's Board, having returned from India on account of ill- health, after some years of service in heathen lands. .. The sympa- thies of the public were enlisted, and Presbytery after Presbytery
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sought connection with the Western Board; and the Synod of Phila- delphia united with the Synod of Pittsburg in its management. Its prosperity in collections, and usefulness in ·labor went on hand in hand, and every annual report gave richer and, richer evidences of divine favor, and the necessity of the institution became as apparent as its success. In 1834, the advantage of having the seat of its operations on the seaboard became apparent. And in May, 1835, the General Assembly appointed a Committee to negotiate a transfer of the Western Board to the Assembly. Before the close of the session, the Assembly empowered the Committee to conclude the transfer should the way be clear,' and the terms satisfactory; and make report. At the meeting of the Synod of Pittsburg in the fall, the terms were negotiated, and the transfer completed according to act of Assembly. The missionaries were informed of the transfer, and directed to expect their supplies from the Assembly's Board after May, 1836. All necessary preparations were made for remov- ing the seat of the Board; and Mr. Swift resigned his office as secretary, choosing to remain with his congregation. At this time there were about twenty missionaries connected with the Board; and the treasury was entirely unembarrassed.
The anticipations of the friends of the new Board were overthrown at the meeting of the Assembly, in 1836. When the transfer was reported, it was committed to Rev. Messrs. Phillips, Scovil, Skinner, Dunlap, and Mr. Ewing, "who were authorized to review the whole case, and present it to the consideration of the Assembly." The majority reported in favor of accepting the transfer, appointing a Missionary Board, and making New York the centre of operations. The minority reported, that in consideration of the intimate union existing between the American Board and the Presbyterian Church, and to avoid collision - "it is inexpedient that the Assembly should organize a separate Foreign Missionary Association." The yeas and nays were, for majority report, 106; for minority report, 110. This result, connected with the agitations and discussions then afflict- ing the church, was less surprising than arousing. The Western, Board was immediately reorganized ; and preparations were made to carry on the work of missions with increased vigor. Walter Lowrie, Esq., Secretary of the United States Senate, the father of one of the missionaries to Lodiana, was elected Secretary of the Board, and on becoming free from the obligations of his office in Washington, entered on his duties in Pittsburg.
Some extracts from a letter from Dr. Miller, of Princeton, are pertinent in this case. The letter is dated, April 15th, 1837, and appeared in the Presbyterian of the 22d of that month, and is in reply to a communication from Rev. John M'Ilhenny, of Lewisburg, Virginia. After saying that he had been charged with inconsistency in maintaining, in 1833, that it was better for the Western Society not to be under the care of the Assembly, and, in 1836, in defending the contrary opinion, he says, "These brethren themselves, (the New School), have had more agency in bringing about the change
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of opinion of which they complain than all others combined." In reply to some enquiry respecting matters in which he had taken a part, he says further, " The overture of Dr. Rice has been grievously misrepresented. It is well known that excellent and lamented man was a warm friend to the American Board, and yet it is manifest from the overture itself, that he wished and expected the General Assembly as such, in some form, to undertake and conduct Foreign Missions. I so understood the paper when it reached Princeton, and so understanding it, gave it my hearty support in the General Assembly of 1831, of which I happened to be a member, and to which it was presented. It was that overture, no doubt, which gave rise to the appointment of a Committee on the part of the Assembly, to confer with the American Board, at New Haven in the autumn of the same year. I was present as a member of the Board, when the Joint Committee of the Assembly and the Board laid before the latter a report, expressing the opinion that the General Assembly ought not to undertake any separate action in the missionary field. When the question on this report was about to be taken, I arose and remarked, that I could not give an unqualified vote in favor of that report; that I was persuaded there was a large portion of the Presbyterian Church that earnestly wished a Board of Missions of our own church to be formed, and that, in all probability, would ultimately form one. But that, I would cheerfully vote for the original report, provided the following addition to it could be made, which I moved as an amendment, viz., ' While this Board accept and approve the foregoing report, as expressing their firm opinion on the subject referred to the Committee of conference : - Resolved, That if the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, or any of its subordinate judicatories, shall eventually think proper to form any association for conducting Foreign Missions separately from the American Board - this Board will regard. such associations with fraternal feelings, and without the least disposition to interfere with its organization or proceedings.' This amendment, however, was very unceremoniously negatived, two other members of the Board only, as far as I recollect, viz., Dr. Spring, of New York, and Dr. Carnahan, of Princeton, rising in its favor.'
5th. THE ACT AND TESTIMONY.
One other event, caused by the divisions and distractions in the church, gave intensity to the discussions that for about four years convulsed the church, and made its division inevitable, the issuing of the Act and Testimony in May, 1834. A memorial had been presented to the Assembly of 1834, signed in whole, or in part, by about nine Presbyteries, and eight Sessions, eighteen ministers, and ninety elders; "asking of this Assembly to apply such reme- dies as may be necessary to correct the evils of which they com- plain.". The committee for consideration made report nullifying the positions of the memorial and affirming the contrary, which was
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adopted by the Assembly. In consequence of this act of Assembly, which affected many minds in a similar manner, it was thought best to address the churches in a solemn and decisive manner. Mr. Engles proposed the laying the matter before the ministers, and calling upon the friends of truth to rally. Mr. Hodge, of Princeton, drew up the list of errors. Mr. R. J. Breckenridge drew a paper which he named the Act and Testimony, embracing his own views often expressed, and the suggestions of Mr. Engles, and the list of errors presented by Dr. Hodge. No paper since the protest, drawn up nearly a century before, addressed the judgment of men with equal power to fasten attention and lead to decision.
The following extracts contain the substance of the paper- "We adopt this Act and Testimony first as it regards doctrines. 1st. We do bear our solemn testimony against the right claimed by many of interpreting the doctrines of our standards in a sense different from the general sense of the church for years past, whilst they still con- tinue in our communion ; on the contrary, we aver that they who adopt our standards are bound by candor, and the simplest integrity, to hold them in their obvious accepted sense. 2d. We testify against the unchristian subterfuge to which some have recourse when they avow a general adherence to our standards as a system, while they deny doctrines essential to the system, or hold doctrines at complete variance with the system. 3d. We testify against the reprehensible conduct of those in our communion who hold, and preach, and publish Arminian and Pelagian heresies, professing at the same time to embrace our creed, and pretending that these errors do consist therewith. 4th. We 'testify against the conduct of those who while they profess to approve and adopt our doctrines and order, do nevertheless speak and publish, in terms, or by necessary impli- cation, that which is derogatory to both, and which tends to bring both into disrepute. 5th. We testify against the following as a part of the errors which are held and taught by many persons in our church."
ERRORS.
" 1st. Our relation to Adam. - That we have no more to do with the first sin of Adam than with the sins of any other parent. 2d. Native Depravity. - That there is no such thing as original sin ; that infants come into the world as perfectly free from the cor- ruption of nature as Adam was when he was created; that by original sin nothing more is meant than the fact that all the pos- terity of Adam, though born entirely free from moral defilement, will always begin to sin when they begin to exercise moral agency, and that this fact is somehow connected with the fall of Adam. 3d. Imputation. - That the doctrine of imputed sin and imputed righteousness is a novelty, and is nonsense. 4th. Ability. - That the impenitent sinner is by nature, and independently of the aid of the Holy Spirit, in full possession of all the powers necessary to a compliance with the commands of God; and that if he labored under
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any kind of inability, natural or moral, which he could not remove himself, he would be excusable for not complying with God's will. 5th. Regeneration. - That man's regeneration is his own act ; that it consists merely in the change of our governing purpose, which change we must ourselves produce. 6th. Divine influence .- That God cannot exert such an influence on the minds of men as shall make it certain that they will choose and act in a particular manner without destroying their moral agency; and that in a moral system God could not prevent the existence of sin, or the present amount of sin, however much he might desire it. 7th. Atonement. -- That Christ's sufferings were not truly and properly vicarious. Which doctrines and statements are dangerous and heretical, con- trary to the gospel of God and inconsistent with our Confession of Faith."
After bearing testimony against disorders in discipline,-and dis- orders in the government of the Church, it proceeds to Recommen- dations to the Churches. "Dear Christian Brethren, you who love Jesus Christ in sincerity, and in truth, and adhere to the plain doc- trines of the cross as taught in the standards prepared by the West- minster Assembly, and constantly held by the true Presbyterian Church, to all of you who love your ancient and pure Constitution, and desire to restore our abused and corrupted Church to her simplicity, purity and truth, we, a portion of yourselves, ministers and elders of your churches, and servants of one common Lord, would propose most respectfully and kindly, and yet most earnestly :- "1st. That we refuse to give countenance to ministers, elders, agents, editors and teachers, or to those who are in any other capacity engaged in religious instructions or effort, who hold the preceding or similar errors. 2d. That we make every lawful effort to subject all such per- sons, especially if they be ministers, to the just exercise of discipline by the proper tribunals. 3d. That we use all proper means to re- store the discipline of the Church, in all the courts, to a sound, just, Christian state. 4th. That we use our endeavors to prevent the introduction of new principles into our system, and to restore our tribunals to their ancient, purity. 5th. That we consider the presbyterial existence, or acts of any Presbytery or Synod, formed upon the principles of Elective Affinity, as unconstitutional, and all ministers and churches voluntarily included in such bodies as having virtually departed from the standards of our Church. 6th. We recommend that all ministers and elders, Church sessions, Presby- teries and Synods, who approve of this act and testimony, give their public adherence thereto in such manner as they shall prefer, and communicate their names, and when a Church court, a copy of their adhering act. 7th. That inasmuch as our only hope of improve- ment and reformation in the affairs of our Church depends on the in- terposition of Him who is the King in Zion, that we will unceasingly and importunately supplicate the throne of grace for the return of that purity and peace, the absence of which we now sorrowfully de- plore. 8th. We do earnestly recommend that on the 2d Thursday of
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May, 1835, a Convention be held in the city of Pittsburg, to be com- posed of two members, a minister and ruling elder from each Pres- bytery, or from the minority of any Presbytery. who may concur in the sentiments of this act'and testimony, to deliberate and consult on the present state of our Church, and to adopt such measures as may be best suited to restore our prostrated standards.
" And now, Brethren, our whole heart is laid open to you and to the world. If the majority of our Church are against us, they will, we suppose, in the end, either see the infatuation of their course, and retrace their steps, or they will at last attempt to cut us off. If the former, we shall bless the God of Jacob; if the latter, we are ready, for the sake of Christ, and in support of the testimony now made, not only to be cut off, but, if need be, to die also. If, on the other hand, the body be in the main sound, as we would fondly hope, we have here, frankly, openly, and candidly, laid before our erring brethren the course we are, by the grace of God, irrevocably deter- mined to pursue. It is our steadfast aim to reform the Church, or to testify against its errors and defections, until testimony will be no longer heard, and we commit the issue into the hands of him who is over all, God blessed forever, Amen."
This paper produced great excitement, or rather directed existing excitement into a new channel. In some sections' of the Church it received numerous signatures. Very few names were given in Vir- ginia. The general feeling in the Synod was, that however true the paper might be in principle, it was not required in the circumstances. It however called all men to thought and reflection.
· The Convention met in 1835, and was fully attended : no delegate from Virginia or North Carolina appeared. A strong memorial was prepared for the Assembly, and handed in the 2d day of the session. The committee, of which Dr. Miller was chairman, with Messrs. Hoge, Edgar, Elliot, McIlhenny, Stonetreet, and Banks, reported; and eight resolutions, after long discussion, and some amendments, were adopted by the Assembly :- The 1st, affirming the right of a Presbytery to be entirely satisfied of the soundness of faith of those applying for admission ; 2d, affirming the right, and, in some cases, the duty of a judicatory of the Church, to bear testimony against any printed publication, whether the author be living or dead ; . 3d, affirm- ing that the erection of Presbyteries, or other courts, not on geogra- phical principles, but by diversities of doctrinal belief, is contrary to the constitution ; 4th, the Church courts thus formed in and around Philadelphia to be dissolved ; 5th, that the first duty of the Presby-
terian Church is to sustain her own boards, without prohibiting the action of voluntary boards in her bounds ; 6th, that the annulling of the plan of union of 1801 is desirable; 7th, that correspondence with the associations of the Congregational Churches ought to be preserved ; and 8th, that all such opinions as are not distinguishable from Pelagian or Arminian, ought to be condemned.
The same Assembly proposed the transfer of the Western Foreign
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Missionary Society, and that efforts ought to be made to supply the world with the Bible in twenty years.
The Assembly of 1836, also held in Pittsburg, was of a different complexion from its predecessor, and proceeded to enactments con- trary in spirit and letter to the doings of 1835. . The decisions of the Synod of Philadelphia, in the case of Mr. Barnes, were reversed, and he was restored to the ministry; the proposition of Dr. Miller to condemn parts of Mr. Barnes's book was rejected; the transfer of the Western Foreign Missionary Society was set aside; and the principle of carrying on missions in a church capacity voted down. Dr. Wilson withdrew his appeal from the decision of the Synod of Cincinnati, believing a trial would be a needless consumption of time.
The minority appointed a committee of correspondence to act till the next Assembly, with powers to call a convention to be held in May, 1837, should a convention be thought desirable. Such con- vention was called ; and the anxious question in Virginia was, Shall we go into it ? Can we keep back any longer from the contest waging ? Can neutrality be preserved ?
6th. THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY.
In some form, this vexed question was before the Assembly and in public prints : an annual firebrand, in form of memorial, or peti- tion, or reference, was thrown into the highest court of the Church. The Southern members could not avoid voting upon it, after hear- ing much that was offensive. The whole subject was discussed in the various forms and attitudes it might be made to assume -the right to hold slaves politically -the right to do so religiously + the advantages and disadvantages, both politically and religiously - the right of slave-holders to church fellowship, as ministers or as private members, and, finally, the necessity of discipline, even to excommu- nication, of all slave-holders, minors excepted. This exciting subject was mingled with the other causes of irritation, from year to year, till it became exasperating. Neither the attack nor defence could be cool. On the one side was assault, without offer of quarter ; and, on the other, a resolute and fiery defence, without compromise. This question alone would have brought the Presbyterian Church to the verge of disruption, as it has done the Methodist Episcopal ; and, unless the assailants paused, would have rent it asunder. The Presbyterian Church is but a fraction of the South; and, of that fraction, many are females and minors. The few Christian men, were they convinced of the necessity of such a move as abolition, could do nothing in the body politic. They must let the subject rest, or emigrate.
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