USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 65
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CHAPTER XLII.
THE DIVISION OF THE SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.
THE action of the Assembly respecting the four Synods, the Western Reserve, Utica, Genesee, and Geneva, by which they were declared not to be a part of the Presbyterian Church, was an ab- sorbing subject in Virginia. Was this action right, or was it wrong ? Was it an executive, or judicial, or tyrannical act ? What were the grounds of procedure ? Were they in the ordinary course of Pres- byterial government, or were they revolutionary ? And finally, would the churches in Virginia sustain the act of the Assembly ? Every sort of discussion was carried on during the summer - the calm and the fiery, the cool and the passionate, the dignified and the common-place, the argumentative and the declamatory; with every
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grade of Christian deportment, from the pure, and elevated, and gentlemanly, and kind, down to the coarse and vulgar and hard ; and in every form of communication, verbal, and by the press ; in assemblies, large and small; and by pamphlets and newspapers, and monthly and quarterly periodicals.
Dr. Baxter, on his return to the Seminary, found the gentlemen, composing with him the faculty of instruction, Messrs. Goodrich and Taylor, professors, and Mr. Ballentine, assistant teacher, not pre- pared to approve of his course in the Assembly. The President of the College in the immediate vicinity openly declared himself in opposition to the doings of the Assembly in the general, and of Dr. Baxter in particular. The pastor of the church embracing the College and the Seminary, Mr. Staunton, sustained the action of the Assembly, and defended the course of Dr. Baxter. The relations of these brethren had previously been of the most harmonious kind ; and the opposition, so far as known, was free from personality, and unmixed with jealousy. The Southern Religious Telegraph, edited by Mr. Converse, took decided ground against the action of the Assembly, and commenced the discussion before the delegates re- turned to their homes. Its columns, however, were open to the defence of the Assembly and its acts, and the Commissioners and their course. Dr. Baxter was requested by the students of the Seminary to deliver in the hall a lecture explanatory of his course. This lecture appeared in the Telegraph. Comments and replies followed. Dr. Carroll chose to express his opinions in pamphlet form. Professors Goodrich and Taylor became decided in their opposition. Dr. Baxter looked round for his associates in the min- istry, whose hearts had beat with him in his youth ; and of the few spared by death, Houston, and M'Ilhenney, and Calhoon, and Mitchel, one after another came to his aid, cheering him with the friendship of age. One only was wanting, Dr. Hill. He took his pen, early and vigorously, against the acts of Assembly in reference to the four Synods. His convictions of wrong done by the Assembly were deep, and he embarked in the opposition with the energy of his youth. He considered the constitution of the church invaded, and he stood for its defence ; and for his construction of it he spoke and wrote unremittingly. From his age, influence, activity with the pen, readiness for popular address, he became, if not absolutely the leader of the opposition to the acts of Assembly, in Virginia, at least the foremost amongst equals, the presiding presbyter. He prepared some historical criticisms and essays for the weekly papers, which were widely circulated. In this kind of writing he early took the lead of those opposed to the action of the Assembly of 1837 ; his memory reached back to the splendid era of the two Smiths and Graham in their prime, and was enriched with traditions respecting Davies and Robinson.
On the last day of summer the Watchman of the South made its appearance, the Rev. William S. Plumer, the proprietor and editor, Richmond. It became, according to its design, the vehicle of the
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thoughts and purposes of those who sustained the acts of the As- sembly, individually and generally. The ability of the articles in attack and defence of the Assembly, that appeared in the Virginia papers, was not surpassed in any section of the church. The Watchman became a leading paper, and in the course of the first year of its existence the only Presbyterian paper published in Vir- ginia. Mr. Converse removed his press to Philadelphia, to become the organ of opposition to the acts of the Assembly of 1837 on a larger scale than could be attempted in Richmond.
At the fall meeting of the Presbyteries the acts of Assembly became the fruitful subject of discussion by the members assembled. In Winchester Presbytery the action of the Assembly was sustained by a small majority. In Lexington the unanimity was almost com- plete. In the other Presbyteries the minorities were large. The Synod held its annual meeting in October, in Lexington. The attendance was large. The subject was discussed with great ability. The majority to sustain the Assembly was decisive. The minority was numerous and able. Division in sentiment in the Virginia Synod, to any extent producing excitement, and threatening aliena- tion, had never before been known. A division of Synod into two bodies, to be connected with antagonistic bodies, was not yet seri- ously thought of. By far the greater part, if not the whole, fully believed that the integrity of the Synod would be preserved com- pletely, notwithstanding the commotions that agitated her bosom. Some had fears lest there might be secessions to other denominations. But a division on the principles of elective affinity was never men- tioned. The majority expected the minority to coalesce; and the minority expected the majority to relax somewhat, and that the Assembly of 1838 would abate the severity of the decisions of 1837. The winter was passed in discordance. The two parties seemed to be gradually diverging in sentiment and feeling.
At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Union Theolo- gical Seminary in April, 1838, the determined purpose of the two parties in the church became manifest, beyond further dispute. In the ordinary course of business, the report of the Faculty of Instructors, Messrs. Baxter, Goodrich, Taylor and Ballentine, came under con- sideration. In that report was this sentence : "We think we ought to urge upon the attention of the Board the state of the funds, and the small number of students who are now in the seminary, or who are preparing for the ministry, within the bounds of the Synods.". It was the opinion of the Board, that much of the difficulty alluded to, both in respect of students and of funds, was to be attributed to the fact that neither of the parties, into which the church was now divided, had sufficient confidence in the instructions of the seminary, as conducted by the faculty. It was understood that the present students were generally prepared to leave the semi- nary ; and it was also the general opinion, that new ones would not come, until the course of instruction on certain subjects was better understood. The reading of the resolutions of the Synod of North
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Carolina, at her regular meeting at Shiloh, Granville County, Sep- tember, 1837, was called for.
"WHEREAS the Synod of North Carolina has, by a large majo- rity, voted to sustain the measures which were adopted by the last General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, believing them to be happily calculated to restore purity and peace to our churches : Resolved, 1st. That in order to secure the confidence of this Synod, and its cordial co-operation in building up and sustaining the Union Theological Seminary, it is very desirable and important, that the sentiments of the professors in the seminary should, in relation to the measures aforesaid, harmonize with those of this Synod and its Presbyteries, in sustaining the action of the Assembly. 2d. But, should any of the professors, on examination of this subject, arrive at the conclusion that they cannot consistently, with their views of truth and duty, concur with the Assembly in the measures of reform which were adopted, Synod will not deem it necessary or expedient for such professors, on that account, to dissolve their connexion with said seminary, provided they can, with a good conscience, refrain from all attempts to exert over our churches, and over the minds of their theological pupils, an influence tending to contravene the decisions of the General Assembly and of this Synod." > The Synod of Virginia, sustaining the Assembly, had passed no resolutions respecting the seminary.
After the reading of the resolutions of the Synod of North Caro- lina, it was resolved, "That this Board cordially approve of the above resolutions of the Synod of North Carolina ; and hereby adopt them, as expressing their own sentiments." The professors were present during the deliberations of the Board, and were per- sonally inquired of by the chairman of the meeting, whether they would comply with the expressed will of the Synod of North Caro- lina, now adopted by the Board. Mr. Goodrich said, " he could not hold his sentiments in silence, but must disseminate them." Mr. Taylor said, " the resolutions of the Synod of North Carolina had induced him to express through the press his sentiments, that neither they nor his positions might be doubtful; and that he thought the churches would not sustain the course of the Synods." After some desultory conversation, the two professors declined acquiescing in, or harmonizing with, the expressed sentiments of the Board and one Synod. After conversation on the propriety of resignation, Mr. Goodrich said, that, in present circumstances, he could not feel at liberty to resign, unless he were requested to do so by the Board. Mr. Taylor united in this determination. After some further con- versation, Mr. Goodrich declared that his resignation could not depend upon the departure of the students, in the present circum- stances, even if all departed, but only on the request of the Board. Both professors declared, that, in the present state of the church, they were pursuing the course which appeared to them the line of duty. After deliberation, a motion was made and adopted : "That inasmuch as the Rev. Hiram P. Goodrich and Stephen Taylor, pro-
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fessors in the Union Theological Seminary, do hold opinions opposed to the action of the General Assembly, in disowning the four Synods; and that, notwithstanding the expression of the Synod of North Carolina, they consider themselves bound to express said opinions, and extend the influence of said opinions in our churches, and are determined so to do : Therefore, Resolved, That this Board do solemnly declare it as their judgment, that the said professors, holding and propagating said opinions, in opposition to the acts and doings of the General Assembly, ought forthwith to resign." In consequence of this resolution, the professors tendered each bis resignation, which was accepted, and the treasurer was directed to pay each, in addition to the salary due, three months' salary from the first of May ; and the professors were invited to retain, for the accommodation of their families, the houses they then occupied, till they could make suitable arrangements elsewhere. Mr. Ballentine, after full and free conversation, was employed as assistant teacher, at nine hundred dollars per annum, for the succeeding year. It was understood, that, if Mr. Ballentine felt himself, at any time, bound to pursue a course not consistent with the resolutions of North Carolina and of the Board of Directors, and different from the one he had pursued, he would feel it his duty first to retire from the seminary. Neither of the professors were personally obnoxious to the Board; and their course of procedure, in relation to the acts of Assembly, was the cause, and not the occasion of their resig- nation.
Dr. Hill admitted the thought of final separation from his brethren with great reluctance. He was indulging the hope of modification of the action of the Assembly, or the formation of a Southern organi- zation. A Commissioner to the Assembly of 1838, he was active in procuring a meeting of those Commissioners opposed to the acts of 1837, in the lecture-room of the First Presbyterian church, on the evening previous to the meeting of the Assembly. At the same time a meeting of those favorable to the doings of the last Assembly, was held for consultation. Those that met with Dr. Hill, proposed three resolutions respecting the present crisis, the first expresses "a hope that there are no insurmountable obstacles in the way of avert- ing the calamities of a violent dismemberment. 2d, That we are ready to co-operate in any efforts for pacification which are constitu- tional, and which shall recognise the regular'standing, and secure the rights of the entire church, including those portions which the acts of the General Assembly were intended to exclude." The third named a Committee of three, Hon. William Hall, Rev. Dr. Hill, and Dr. Fisher, to convey these resolutions to those Commissioners who were favorable to the action of the Assembly of '37, then in session in the city, "for the purpose of ascertaining some terms of agree- ment." To these resolutions, the Commissioners addressed, replied by a Committee, Dr. Baxter, Professor M'Lean, and William Max- well, Esq. - "Resolved, unanimously, that the Convention regard the said overtures of the meeting, however intended, as founded upon
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a basis which is wholly inadmissible, and as calculated only to dis- turb that peace of our church which a calm adherence to those con- stitutional, just and necessary acts of the last General Assembly can, by the blessing of divine Providence, alone establish and secure." Thus ended all hope of pacification grounded on a repeal of the past obnoxious acts.
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Drs. Baxter and Hill discovered their diverging tendencies at the inauguration ; they had fully expressed their difference in the columns of the Telegraph, and at the Synod in Lexington, in the fall of '37; and now they met in Philadelphia, Dr. Hill denouncing the course of Dr. Baxter, and demanding a retraction; and Dr. Baxter affirm- ing the propriety of his previous course, and rejecting all proposals looking towards retraction. It was not a wordy meeting. They knew. each other. They parted never more to meet in council or negotia- tion on earth. Dr. Hill now lost all hopes that the Assembly about to meet, would retreat from the position taken the previous year, and he prepared himself for a step he had not desired to take. On the next day the assembled delegates, when in the act of constitut- ing the Assembly, separated and formed two Assemblies, which were known for a length of time technically by the names of Old and New School. Dr. Hill went with those who formed the New School Assembly, now called by the chosen name of Constitutional Assem- bly .. Dr. Baxter remained with those that formed the Assembly called the Old School.
A Southern organization was a subject of conversation and corres- pondence. Dr. Hill desired one that should embrace all the South. How far he would have been willing to go, in withdrawing from all the North, is inferential rather than documentary. Dr. Baxter thought that, in present circumstances, division would be increased by such a movement, and three Assemblies would be formed instead of two; and that it was not, by any means, evident that the Southern body formed geographically would be free from the disagreement about doctrines, and the benevolent operations of the church, which had dissevered the Assembly of the whole Church; and that, the vexed question of slavery could be more satisfactorily and easily dis- posed of by and among the Old School north, if they held connec- tion with the Old School south, than if they stood alone. These two brethren never doubted each other's sincerity of conviction or of pur- pose ; they distrusted each the other's soundness of principle, and the correctness of his conclusions. The expectation of a Southern organization was not abandoned till the fall of 1838; it then gave way to the fixed purpose, that if there were more than one General Assembly, there should be but two, each embracing the North and the South. Both of these brethren greatly desired that the Synod of Virginia, or at least the majority of it, should unite on the princi- ples they advocated ; and in defending and promulgating their prin- ciples and views, each pursued his course with diligence, activity, and ability; Dr. Hill with more enthusiasm, and Dr. Baxter with
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more caution and coolness ; both with intense earnestness in efforts, perfectly characteristic of the men.
The work of division in the churches commenced in the Presbytery of the District of Columbia. The majority being opposed to the action of '37, their delegates took their seats in 1838, in that Assembly known as the New School. The minority applying to the Synod in Staun- ton for advice, were requested "to declare distinctly before the next meeting of the General Assembly, whether they do or do not adhere to the said Assembly on the basis of the acts of Assemblies of '37 and '38; that is to say, adhere to the Assembly and churches under its care, as they now stand separated from the disowned Synods, and the party who seceded from the last Assembly. The Presby- tery at its next meeting, April 2d, 1839, in Alexandria, resolved to disregard the order of Assembly and the Synod, to send delegates to the Assembly of 1839, (known as the Old School) ; whereupon Rev. Messrs. Laurie, Harrison, and Bosworth, with an elder from the first church of Alexandria, retired from the Presbytery in an orderly manner, and were constituted as the Presbytery of the district, and held their connexion with the Old School.
The Presbytery of Abington held a called meeting at Wythe Court House, on July 7th, 1838. A Committee on the state of the Church brought forward resolutions declaring the Assembly holding its sessions in Mr. Barnes's church, was the true Assembly; also, disapproving the course of the Commissioner, Mr. Hoge, who took his seat in the Assembly over which Dr. Plumer presided. These reso- lutions were rejected, and the report of the minority approving the course of the Commissioner adopted. The Moderator and Tempo- rary Clerk, though opposed to the action of the Presbytery, con- tinued in their places till the business of the meeting was closed, signed the records, and delivered them to the Stated Clerk. The minority then respectfully informed the Presbytery, they expected never to meet with them again, and took their leave.
The Presbytery of Lexington held a called meeting on the 28th day of December, 1838, in Harrisonburg, to consider and decide upon the condition of the church of Cook's Creek and Harrisonburg, and their pastor, James W. Phillips, lately installed. Upon being organized in the Court House, the Presbytery received a communi- cation from Mr. Phillips, renouncing the jurisdiction of Lexington Presbytery and the Synod of Virginia, on account of their adher- ence to the Assembly of 1837, and the Old School Assembly of 1838. A communication of a similar nature was received from the session of the church of Cook's Creek and Harrisonburg. The Pres- bytery adopted resolutions fitting the emergency. Mr. Phillips' name was erased from the roll. The elders and members not seced- ing were organized as the regular church, and provision was made for their instruction. No other pastor or church seceded from Lex- ington Presbytery.
The Presbytery of Winchester held its spring sessions April, 1839, in Charlestown, Jefferson County, about three weeks after the deci-
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sion of Judge Rodgers, in the suit involving the right to the name, records, and property of the Presbyterian Church, pronounced March 26th, in favor of the New School. Immediately after the organization, the records are as follows, viz. - "The Rev. J. J. Royall offered the following preamble and resolution - Whereas, two bodies were organized on the third Thursday of May, 1838, in the city of Philadelphia, each claiming to be the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States; and, whereas, the body over which Dr. Fisher presided has been declared by the com- petent civil authority to be the constitutional Assembly ; therefore, Resolved, That the Presbytery of Winchester do recognise and ad- here to said body as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Which resolution being seconded, the Rev. J. J. Royall moved the previous question, which was taken by yeas and nays; ayes 14, nays, 15. Rev. Mr. Har- grave obtained leave of absence from the sessions of Presbytery till to-morrow morning. The Rev. William Henry Foote appeared and took his seat. The preamble and resolution of Mr. Royall were discussed and decided by ayes and nayes - ministers, John Lodor, J. J. Royall, A. W. Kilpatrick, and Silas Billings ; elders, William M'Coy, Robert Slemmons, Dr. Voorhees, William G. Glassell, John Gilkerson, James Allen, William Hinning, J. T. Barrett, and Ishmael Vanhorn, 13; nays, ministers, S. B. Wilson, D. D., Wm. H. Foote, S. Tuston, T. B. Balch, P. Harrison, R. B. White, Wm. M. Atkinson, and T. W. Simpson; elders, W. H. White, George Tabb, Thomas Hyatt, A. Cooper, David Gibson, Z. Sheetz, Robert Turner, and Moses Hoge, 16. Whereupon, the Rev. John Lodor arose, and addressing the Moderator, said, that 'by the unanimous request of the New School party, he now announced to Presbytery that they could now no longer engage in its deliberations, and that they would now retire in a respectful manner to the Court House, which has been prepared for their use ;' and, therefore, bidding the Presbytery an affectionate farewell, he left the house, attended by the following ministers, Messrs. Royall, Kilpatrick, and Billings ; elders, Slemmons, Voorhees, Glassell, Gilkerson, Henning, Barrett, and Vanhorn, 11. Messrs. Allen and M'Coy obtained leave of absence from the further sessions of Presbytery. On Saturday, Rev. Messrs. William Williamson, William N. Scott, and L. F. Wilson, Moderator, and David Vanmeter, elder, obtained leave to record their votes on the resolution of Thursday. The numbers stood thus, for Royall's resolution 14, against it, 20." Mr. Hargrave, on his return from visiting his sick child, took his seat with the brethren organized in the Court House. The Presbytery that remained in the church, held the records, and claimed the funds, and the name, as being the majority, whilst the others were seceders. The Presbytery organized in the Court House, took the name of Winchester. The churches represented by the delegates, were enrolled in the Presby- tery of which their delegates were a part. Five ordained ministers, Messrs. Royall, Kilpatrick, Hargrave, Lodor, and Billings, with six 35
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churches, and parts of two others which were speedily formed into separate churches, formed the New School Presbytery; ten ordained ministers, Messrs. Williamson, Wilson, Balch, Scott, Foote, Tuston, Atkinson, Harrison, Simpson, and White; and 24 churches con- tinued the Presbytery of Winchester, known as Old School.
The Presbytery of East Hanover met in Richmond, April, 1839, on the same day the Presbytery of Winchester met in Charlestown, and with similar purpose and effect as far as the agitating questions were concerned ; the brethren separated. The greatest excitement felt in Virginia, on the subject of the Assembly of /37, and '38, was. probably in Richmond. Mr. Plumer, pastor of the First Church, successor of Mr. Armstrong and Dr. Rice, took a decided part in the convention of '37, and next to Dr. Baxter, was the most influen- tial Southern member in the Assembly of '37, and was Moderator of the Old School Assembly of '38. On his return from the Assem- bly of '37 he was met with evident marks of strong disapprobation by a portion of his charge that were opposed both to the acts of Assembly in regard to the four Synods, and the part he took in pro- curing those acts. The members opposed to him and his cause pro- posed that he resign his charge. This proposition he declined. The dissatisfation not abating, a portion of his church withdrew and formed a new church. The church on Shockoe hill, under the care of Mr. Pollock, was not harmonious in opinion respecting the action of the Assembly ; and the minority withdrew and united with the First Church. In a little time those that withdrew from the First Church united with that on Shockoe hill. In Petersburg the majo- rity held with the Assembly, and the minority formed a new church. In Hanover the greater part were against the Assembly, and the minority sought their connexion elsewhere. A minute narrative of these divisions would exhibit the good and the ill, the strength and the weakness of civil society in a contest for religious things invol- ving conscience. It would, however, be voluminous, and might in- volve personal feelings, and give undesigned wounds; and therefore will never be made till the judgment of the great day. The pastor of the First Church in Richmond passed through a fire as vehement as his previous course in the Assembly had been, conspicuous. "Tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and expe- rience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed."
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