Originat enntmintitatitats.
A COVENANTER COMMUNION.
A Covenanter communion Sabbath I the
words carry us over seas and centuries to the
braes and hills of the land of the Covenant. A
company of hunted fugitives is gathered round
some Frazer of Brae,* or Wellwood, or some
other of the "Cloud of Witnesses." While the
bread of life is "Broken doctrinally and sacramen
tally," a watcher peers from yon gray crag, and
the first crack of his carbine will give warning
of the approach of Grierson of Lag, or Claver
house of Dundee, with their dragoons, and will
scatter the congregation in flight, or will rally
them for a fight which will end in such a bloody
defeat as that of Pentland Hills, or such a still
more disastrous victory as that of Drumelog.
The people have taken their lives in their hands
in coming forth to-day. A price has been set on
yon reverend gray head, and proclaimed at every
market cross in Scotland. The fingers that break
the sacramental bread before the people to-day,
may be crushed in the thumbscrews ; the voice
that speaks of the Lamb that was slain to-day,
may utter its last testimony on the scaffold of the
grass-market.. :But the sermon says nothing of
these things. Christ crucified, the redemption
from the curse of a broken law, is the theme,
and the man neither pauses to curse the persecu
tor or glorify the persecuted. In prayer he de
plores the faithlessness of a Covenant-breaking
nation, but it is " our" faithlessness. The sin
of the people is a burden to his spirit as his own
sin. If you doubt the fact, look away from the
eulogist and the decrier alike,—look to the pub
lished discourses of Fenwick, Cargill, Frazer,
and a host' of others. These men would have
regarded no men as more truly their as
persers than the eulogists who bespatter them
with fulsome praise, and who are equally ready
to rant about " the green graves of the martyrs,"
and to persecute those who walk in the Christian
freedom which the Martyrs claimed for them
selves.
But the scene which I would speak of now, is
one very different in its external circumstances.
For many years, indeed, after the cessation of
persecution, and after restoration of the Cove
nanter ministry by accessions from the ranks of
the kirk, no house of worship ever covered the
heads of "the faithful remnant." They wor
shipped as their fathers had done in the brae.
The parish kirk was their kirk also, and the
reformation work of " the next free General As
sembly," would open its doors to them. They
were not a sect but " the true Presbyterian kirk
of Scotland," witnessing in the Wilderness till
better days should restore the glorious edifice of
the Covenanter Reformation to its pristine use.
Even when the younger members carried the
proposal to.have houses of worship of .their own,
the old folks bargained that the communion
should still be celebrated in the open air. Tra
dition tells with what indignation an old Came
ronian preacher rejected the artificial shelter of
a new-fangled invention, called an umbrella, as he
stood before the people on such an occasion in a
pelting rain storm.
But to-day, the children of the Covenant wor
ship " in a ceiled house," and we will visit them
in'one which will be memorable in the history of
the American Presbyterian Church, the First
R. P. church of Philadelphia, in which the Pres
byterian National Convention met in 1867. The
edifice needs little description to any of our
Philadelphians, or to many of our more distant
readers. The exterior is not imposing. No un
healthy basement Sabbath-school room lifts it up
in air, or deals colds and rheumatisms among the
teachers and scholars; for a spacious second-story
room in the rear furnishes ample and healthy
accommodations for them. The front is of brick,
plastered, the style a simple Norman, and the
whole is fenced in with an iron railing, whose
apex-balls bear five iron spikes each, in sym
bolization (an Episcopalian rector alleges) of
" the five points of Calvinism."
The services of a Covenanter communion, pre
serving as they do the traditional usages of the
Scottish Reformed Church, are lengthy and ela
borate. They come but twice in the year, and
are looked forward to with expectation and in
terest. For weeks previous, the pastor waits in
one of the rooms of the church to confer with
and instruct those who apply for admission to
membership by letter or examination. On the
Sabbath previous, called " the preparation Sab
bath," the usual services, and even the Sabbath
school exercises, are carefully adapted to the oc
casion. Thursday of the intervening week is
kept as " the day of fasting and humiliation be
fore God," public worship is observed morning
and afternoon, the clergy of neighboring churches
occupying the pulpit. On almost every evening
of the week there is a prayer-meeting, and on
Friday evening the Session meets in the lecture
room to receive applicants for membership.
These sit on the front seats, facing the session,
and rise as their names are called. Article after
article of the " Terms of Communion" are read,
and the candidates signify their assent to each
by rising. They are required to promise assent
* He was a New School Presbyterian, and held that
Christ died for all men. The republication of one of
his books on 17 divided the Covenanters into two
parties in this very issue. The seceding minority
alone perfected their organization.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1869.
to the Confession, Catechisms, and Testimony of
the Church, in so far as they know and under
stand them, to covenant for the performance of
all known duty, to promise to withdraw from se
cret societies whose requirements would prevent
due attendance on the Church and their home,
to contribute as they are able to the support of
the gospel, to be faithful and punctual in atten
dance on the ordinances, and in private and fam
ily worship, and to acknowledge as brethren all
who maintain a Scriptural testimony and a godly
life. After the session has voted to receive
them, the pastor in their name extends to each
the right hand of fellowship. Thirty-five were
thus received.on Friday evening last.
Saturday is the day of immediate preparation,
and in the afternoon public worship is observed.
After an appropriate discourse' the " Terms of
Communion" are read in the hearing of the
whole church, and the "tokens" of admission to
the Lord's table are distributed in presence of
the Session. The congregation pass up the cen
tral aisle to the space before the pulPit, and
each receives a card with an appropriate inscrip
tion and Scripture texts, and on the reverse are
blanks for the communicant's name and residence.
In old times, and in some Western churches
yet,
.these were bits of siimped lead,'though
others use round bits of tin, which, by being
easily lost, cause no small discomfort to weak.
nerved people, who incline to believe in omens.
It was formerly required that every member be
present at this place and time, to be thus ac
knowledged as a fitting communicant "so far as
man's judgment goes;" but, to suit the needs
of a busier generation, these may now be had to
day, through any member of the same family, or
on the morrow of the session. The services
close, with an appropriate address, in which the
duty of prayerful self-examination is urged on
every " intending communicant!'
The services of the Sabbath begin at 9 A. M.,
and on this occasion closed at 3.10 P. M. A
congregational prayer-meeting assembles' in the
lecture-room, and continues for upwards of an
hour, the large room filling up as the time goes
on. Geo. A. Stuart is in the chair to day, as he
always is at such times, unless he is sick, or
from home. The addresses,and prayers are fer
vent,a short, and scriptural, and short paisages
from those terse old Psalms are sung' at frequent
intervals. They close after ten O'clock, with
silent prayer, and the, singing of. that wonder
fully appropriate Psalm CXV1..12-9, and the
benediction.
When those who have not received toke"ns"
have been supplied by the session, and, the
younger members have written the names and
addresses for all who come up to two writing
tables, all - withdraw to the church, which differs
much from its usual appearance. All the pew
doors have been removed, and are piled up in a
corner of the vestibule. ' , Before the pulpit
stands a table, on which the sacramental service
is covered over' with white linen. From near
this, in three directions, down the middle, and
right and left, for the length of the-front aisles,
extend long, narrow tables; draped in linen.
Along-these are, on each side, rows of seats, ex
tending the length of the' tables.
After the exposition of an appropriate Psalm—
an invariable 'part of the 'morning service -;-and
other introductory exercises' the " action ser
mon," always by the pastor, is preached': on
this 'occasibn' from 1 Sam.,' xx. 29, " And he
said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family
hath a sacrifice in the city, and 'my brother he
bath 'commanded me to be present'" The use
made of the text is not just historic, but it is a
very suggestive one for such an occasion.
About noon the immediate services of the day
begin. A short interval is given for those who
may wish it to withdraw. Then follows the
Scotch usage of " fencing the tables." Those
who propose to come to-day to the Lord's table
are warned that before a man may eat of this
bread and drink of this cup, he must examine
himself. To 'this end the divine standard is
pre/ented, and "in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the, only King and Head of His Church,"
the violators of each several - precept of the deca
logue, are, "while continuing such and without
repentance, debarred from this communion
table." The specifications are searching and
special, under commandment after command
ment, and of a sort to bring a man's religious
professions into very close contact with his moral
conscience. The language used depends on the
taste of the officiating minister, and varies with
the circumstances of' the times. Thus we notice
that one prohibition—that which kept man-steal
ers and slaveholders out of this communion for
sixty years, is no longer repeated. Men of petty
minds sometimes make this service wearisome
and almost ridiculous. A western minister thus
" debarred " any one who would break the Fourth
Commandment by " blacking his boots or shaving
on the Sabbath." But in the mouth of one who
has tact and judgment, this service (to -day) is
solemn, impressive and practical. The relative
duties of life as well as the religious and the per
sonal are pressed home on the conscience in a
most solemn hour.
Then the tone changes from the threatenings
of the law to the invitations of the Gospel. Sin
ners against the law are excluded " while con
tinuing such and without repentance," and, by
equally divine warrant, all are invited who by
faith and repentance, have turned from sin unto
God with full purpose of heart. Not they who
feel that they have kept the law, but they who
feel that they have broken it, are invited to come
forward to-day. At the close of each of these
exercises, certain traditional selections of the
Scripture are read, to show the warrant for what
is done, and the whole closes with the passage in
which Saul is told, "Now, therefore, get ye up,
for about this time ye shall find Him."
While the closing part of the XXIVth Psalm
is sung; the tables are filled by communicants
drawing near from their seats; the prayer of con
secration is offered, after a short address giving an
account of• the institution as recorded by Paul
for the Church in Corinth. Then the bread is
taken and broken and given (as afterwards the
wine,) by the pastor to each communicant at the
head of the tables. Each breaks off a piece (and
drinki)" for hirnbelf and passes it to his brother,
and so for the length of the table. The elders'
duty is to collect the "tokens," which record, the
residence and .address, of : every actual communi
cant, and to see that the plates and goblets are
supplied, and
° returned after use to the central
table. Another brief address closes the services
at each' table, and the communicants retire, ging
ing in continuation from the XXIVth and when
that, is finished, from the XL Nrth and some
times the CHid,psalnis. In this way the tables
are emptied and addipssed, waited on, and dis
missed., until all the members of the Church have
united in the s.acrament: - • • • , •
To day four hundred and six thus come
forward, and the tables are filled five times.
They come in families, for this church is a church
of households; and the . children walk in the ways
of their .fathers. As .we sit here, for instance,
seven of one family are there at the table just
across from our pew. The aged are here, and
the young are not excluded, through the timidity
of their elders. One old lady has passed her
ninety-third
,year, while we can `juit - see the top
of one little bay's head, above the pefr, that rises
between'.us ad one of the tables.. They that
( t ,
the Lord -ha especial, compassion on, are here.
One sits down ith us, whose only wisdom almost,
is to know Christ; one's hands are guided to the
"cup'of 'the Eord," fol. Only her inward eyes are
open to the light. And so the time.passes till it
is nearly three o'clock, when the last of the Sa
viour's, guests go from. His table. Other speak-
ers unite with the pastor in the services, but the
first and the last table are always his especial
care and when the services are 'closing, his voice
is heard ag .n din words which vary little 'more
than the ei cumstanees demand from year to
year, in whi the several classes of old and new
communicants, of Christians of, other names, and
of those who have'never professed Christ are ad
dreSsed in wards of affection and appeal suggested
by the occasion. The Covenanter doxology, " the
LXXIId . Psahn from the .middlei of the 17th
verse," is sung, and after. the benediction they
scparate. ,
In the evening some biother minister occupies
the pulpit. The tall form of ex-chaplain Rev.
Jno.• McMillan,' Moderator - of the Pittsburg
Presbytery, is seen there on this occasion, and as
a collection. Am• foreign missions is expected,
Christ is presented as our Priest and our Apostle
also. At the close, Dr. IVj , lie, in a few wUrds,
introduces the subject, and calls 'on Mr.' Stuart
to present it more fully, which he does by calling
on the people to make a thank-offering to God
for his favor experienced at this delightful com
munion. He fixes the minimum ,at $1,900, and
the Trustees and Elders pass around with . cards
.(unused "`tokens ") and then with collection
boxes; and in a few minutes, more than the sum
asked is given or ,pledged to be paid...within a
week, .
..
As the mission Presbytery in Northern India
declares itself in hearty sympathy with, Dr.
Wylie and his peiiple, and ha've lost Sorne'sup-
Porters thereby, there is Special need of liberal
ity from the liberals of the Church:
On Monday night Mr. McMillan (whose pre
sence in the Presbyterian Convention will be re
niembered, and'aras especially noted - on account
of his more than Presbyterian authority by The
Aezo Englander) preaches . the sixth sermon (be
sides•ten addresses) of• the communion services.
The names of new members are read by the pas
tqr' and their persons are commended to our
Christian courtesies:' Passages of the New Tes
tainent bearing on the social and private &Wes
of Christians are read, and the service is closed
for another half year. The session propose, in
deod, if the congregation approve, to hold less
formal communions besides, at shorter intervals,
but' we know not what the result of their pro
posal will be.
We have dwelt thus on these services, because
we Wish our readers to see exactly what the tra
ditional usages of the Presbyterian Church are,
and.to furnish some food for reflection to those
who' think that the communion services of other
and iless traditional branches of that Church have
grown tame `and unimpressive. ; That the old
Scottish usages will, as a whole, suit other
Churches, we have no expectation, but as this is
an age in which taste is growing and develoriing
in th direction of impressive and solemn forms
of Worship, we think that something • may be
leaned, by seeing what the older Churches believe
to be the, proper way of doing " all things de
cently and in ,order." ON THE WING.
PRESBYTERY OF CAYUGA ON REUNION,
The special committee to whom was referred
the subject of the reunion of the Presbyterian
Church, with certain docuinents, beg leave to re
port as follows:
That one of the circulars comes from the Synod
of Wheeling, and contains a series of resolutions
"passed with much unanimity and cordiality" at
a session of 130 members; setting forth in sub
stance the following points:
1. That while a higher degree of unity is de
sirable among all Christians, an organic union of
all parts of the Presbyterian r family in these
United States is especially desired..
2. That measures looking to a reunion between.
the Old and New School branches of our Church
have so far advanced as to promise an early favor
able settlement, and the desire is expressed that
nothing may prevent this consummation.
3. That so many of the 0. S. Presbyteries have
taken action in reference to the Basis overtured
by the last General Assembly (18C8) as to war
rant the confident belief that the next General
Assembly will be authorized to consummate the
union without referrinf , the matter again to the
Presbyteries, dropping from the Ist Article the
explanatory clauses and leaving as the basis of
the reunited Church the common standards pure
and simple.
4. The Synod of Wheeling on the. ground. of
these facts solicits corresponding action by the
several N. S. Presbyteries. And
5. They express their conviction that the 0.
S. Presbyteries in voting for the Ist Article in
its amended form are to be regarded as giving to
these N. S. brethren an assurance of their confi
dence and affection, and their desire to be re
united to them in good faith and on the basis • of
perfect equality.
The other circular, dated 4th of February; 1869,
comes from the' Central .Presbytery of Philadel
phia, and contains a series. of resolutions unani
mously and cordially, adopted, and so. nearly to
the. effect of those of the Synod of Wheeling as
to•make it unnecessary to do more than refer. to
'them.
In, response to these , truly, Christian and fra
ternal overtures, your Committee recommend, the:
following :resolution: t
Resolved, That this Presbytery ,having at, its
last stated meeting unanimously, adopted the,basis
for reunion, as submitted to the Preshyteries,by
the [General: Assembly, in session at, Harrisburg,
in May, 1868, is still satisfied with that basis and
would not for'itself desire any modification. Our
conviction of the duty and desirableriess_and fea
sibility of healing the breach in the Presbyterian
Church remains unchanged, and our-apprehen
sion of the mischiefs that may result from post
poning the reunion are if possible increased.
Whether it- is constitutionally competent to the
General Assemblies to bring, about this result, in
the assent of the Presbyteries to a basis different
from that which was overtured, to them, we, will
not undertake tog decide, referring that, point, to
the wisdom of, the Assemblies. But in order to
aid so far as in us lies, in effecting the great and
blessed end of reuniting a Church which is, in
fact, one in doctrine and polity and which never
should have been divided, this Presbytery does
hereby, for itself, authorize the General Assenl•
bly to which it belongs, to consummate, if possi
ble, the ,Llnion with the other- branch, of the Pres•
byterian Church at the coming session in the
city,of New York, on the doctrinal basis, of the
standards pure and simple, dropping from the
Ist Article,the,explanatory clause, viz,: " It be
ing understood," &c., &c.; • and also, dispensing
with the. Tenth Article.
Adopted unanimously and orderßA,to, be pub
lished; in,
the•American ; Fresbyterian, New ,York
Evangelistand Observer.
CHAS. HAWLEY, Stated. Clerk.
April 14t1t, 1869.
HARRISBURG r PRESBYTERY.
A correipendent writes:
The - rep - ortS from the churches, of temporal
prospexity and spiritual growth, were very en
couiagiit.,- No marked revivals have occurred,
but all the churches report an increase in num-,
hers and acilvity. Our Sunday-schools are
prosperous. -`Our congregations are enlarging.
WILLIAIqgPORT, &C
One new enterprise has been inawnrated at
Williamsport, that bids fair to soon be one of our
strongest churche.s. A lecture-room has already
been erected, and, before another year passes, a
fine church edifice. the Third Prea. church of
Williamsport, will be ready to greet the coming
Of Synod at some future day. The benevolent
contributions of our churches .have been nobly
sustained during the year. Some of the feebler
congregatiOns, as at Dauphin, Northumberland,
and theSixth.church of Harrisburg, evince new
life arid' zeal; 'Ae energy and vigor of Bro.
Moore at Northumberland, though he has been
thei.e but six months, are already bearing rich
fruits, as are also the faithful labors of Rev. D.
C. Meeker at Dauphin. The additions to beat
these churches, when compared with the size of
the congregations, and of the larger churches of
the Presbytery, have been very large.
On Wednesday - evening., Rev. D. C. Meeker
was installed as pastor of the Dauphin church.
Rev. Wm. Sterling presided, and proposed the
constitutional questions, Rev. Dr. C. P. Wing
preached the sermon, Rev. H. E. Niles delivered
the charge to the pastor, and Rev. A. D. Moore,
late pastor of the church, delivered the
.charge
to the people. The occasion was one of 'great
interest to all, and especially to the people, who
are greatly, and for the best of reasons, pleased
with their new pastor. The relation promises to
be one of great 'blessing to this church, and his
co-presbyters congratulate themselves on the ac
cession of Bro. Meeker to their ranks.
REUNION.
As this Presbytery had never taken action
thereon, the Reunion question came before it
and, occupied much of its time, and awakened
great interest. We are few in numbers, but, our
position, in the very heart, of Old-Schoolism,
where, if re-union is effected, we shall lye divided
from each other, swallowed up, and lost in most
hopeless minorities, gave added interest to the
discussion. The Presbytery of Harrisburg has,
through all the years of its history, been.a pecu
liarly happy and fraternal one. Therehas been
comparatively little change, in its pastoral rela
tions. Rev. Dr. DeWitt was in the First church
at Harrisburg, nearly fifty years. Rev. Dr.
Wing has been at Carlisle over twenty-ono y ear ,-,:,
and the church there will not listen for a mo
ment to anything that looks like dissolving the
bonds that bind them and the Doctor. Within the
past few days, they have given - him a furlough
of six months, with a continued salary, and are
about to invite a young man to fill the pulpit
during the time, with the hope of securing him
as a permanent colleague, if Dr. Wing so wishes.
Rev. .Mr. Sterling has been at Williamsport
about eighteen years, and the present pastor of
the First church, Harrisburg, is beyond the
middle of his fifteenth year of service there.
Our people seem to believe in long pastorates,
and it is a favorable sign, that of the brethren
who are on the ground, all but one is a settled
pastor:'
Our long and pleasant fellowship with each
other, and the great probability that we shall be
separated in the event of Re-union, and scattered
we know not where, fling no light shadow on the
future. - We are a household, and we dread the
breaking up. And it may as well be known
that there is', among .the oldest and wisest men
of the Presbytery, no little apprehension in this
matter- of re union. The unanimity of our O.
S. brethren it: amending the First Article of the.
Basis of Reunion. sent down by the Joint Com
mittee, and their very'general silence as to the
Tenth, thus dedepting"concessions to themselves,
while they deny them to us, have tended largely
to awaken. distrust: Thuopposition to the Tenth
Article is deep and - quite general in this Presby
tery, and nothing but the hearty desire to pro
mote Christ's cause has led many of us, for the
sake of Reunion, to yield Preferences and deep
convictions in this matter. Our final action was
as follows : , -
1. An affirmative response to the Basis sent
down by the Joint Committee.
2. A like response to this Basis as amended
by the action of'our branch of the Joint Com
mittee at its late meeting.
Bev. Dr. Wing expects to attend the Axsem
bly, and may safely be trusted with any respon
sibility in this matter r which grows more weighty
and serious as we draw toward' a decision - upon
it. T. E..
USELESS MINISTENS•
"If there are men, in .the office of the minis
try, quite useless, because unqualified for it, the
Church is to a great extent'responsible for this."
Yow we believe this is true. The Church is,
this hour, responsible for so many ministers be
ing without regular employment.
We may inquire, Does ' the responsibility of
the Church extend only to the' - preparation and
personal consecration Of her 'sons to the minis
try ? We think it is her high vocation to keep
her ministry employed ;•to see'that every man
has -a' place to work for Christ, and is in his
place, Inless-cireunistances pievent. There are,
doubtleas in many instances;' Special reasons to
account for the unoccupied talent of the sacred
office: But is= there , a' deficiency in the polity,
or'the , spiritual state of the Church, or the
ability of her ministers, which' causes so many
to be Marked withoui charge?
'Some of these are useftilly, employed in the
various agencies of the Church. Still a laige
proportion have' no -appointed field of labor.
Now, - we ask, are such fairly set down as useless
ministers? Are all these unqualified for the
sacred calling ? Are not. many pining for the
post , of labor in 'the Master's vineyard most
adapted to them ? ,For we believe, there is a
sphere of usefulness fori,every one, if we can
only find it.
Moreover, many of these men, credited with
out charge, are securing the grand object of the
ministry. What is the-chief end of'preaching,
but• to , save souls? The Church has a strong
tendency, in these claye, to lose sight of the
great aim of the •ministry: Therefore, the ac
ceptableness of her ministers, is not in the ability
to be useful and edify the Church, but to be at
tractive and sensational. • • Hence the demand is
not for'mature minds, an aptness in teaching and
expounding the Word of God, and guiding
souls. As the Church- becomes more spiritual,
not so much guided by a worldly policy, she will
find active employment for all her ministers.
Here, then, is revealed an exigency which the
Church should meet, and how to reach it, is the
practical design of the lines.
The Methodist, the Baptist and the Episco
pal bodies have their several methods of dispos
ing of this difficulty, which is to-day impairing
our efficiency. Either they have some private
way of retiring ministers, who become unaccept
able, or they have a policy or system which
keeps them employed in 'building up their own
Church.
We think we have the best form of Govern
ment if we will, only work it, out We believe
we have as earnest a ministry and as earnest
Church as any of the members of the Body of
Christ. But it is manifest, we have not a s yet
secured all the elements of efficiency, when the
Church educates her, sons for the sacred office,
reiterates her appeals for, more men, but has no
settled policy for keeping her men at work. She
should have a definite system for maintaining
her working capital to the highest degree of ac
tivity. Her piety and•her educated ministry is
her capital, and this she should thoroughly de
velop and keep constantly employed in depend
ence on-the Head of the Church. She cannot
afford to keep a single man off the post of duty.
It is utterly impossible t,o awaken zeal for the
Education cause, when she.looks around upon a
dozen ministers or more in each of her large town. ,
unoccupied; and has twenty ,or thirty applicant:,
for the first vacancy. Therefore, let us secure
some method for employing every man in the
ministry and so prove the demand is greater than
the supply. E. B. B.