New Series, Vol. VI, No. 20.
Strictly in Advance $2.50, Otherwise $3.
Postage 20ets, to be paid where delivered.
gmaitrat Etttzin3ltrialt.
THURSpAY, MAY 20, 1869
The .General Assembly meets to-day in
New York City, in the church of the Covenant,
Rev. G. L. Prentiss, D. D., pastor, and will be
opened with a sermon by Rev. Jona. F. Stearns,
D. D., the Moderator of the previous Assembly.
The Presbytery of South Carolina was or
ganized by our missionaries in that State at Col
umbia, May 11th.
—Mr. Barnes' reputation as a Commentator is
nowhere higher than among the excellent Chris.'
tian people of Wales. They are celebrated for
their large Sunday-schools, which are attended
alike by old and young, and when Mr. Barnes'
Commentaries appeared, they received them with
enthusiasm, translated them into Welch andeir
oulated them extensively. The name of the com
mentator is widely known and deeply reverended
among the• people. A few days ago, two strange
clergymen came to the First Church , on Wash
ington Square, and asked the sexton if that was
the church of Albert Barnes? Being answered
in the affirmative, they begged to be admitted
into the building'; when inside, they asked if they
might be allowed to sit in the pulpit? The re
quest was granted, and with tokens of unusual
gratification they ascended the steps, stood where
Mr. Barnes had stood, and sitting down they sang
a hymn in a foreign tongue. Seeing their great
interest, the sexton invited them into the study,
and great was their delight to be in the place
where those commentaries were written, from
which they declared they had drawn such profit♦
and edification. They did not leave their names,
but simply said they were Welshmen.
—We have, on another occasion, shown that
more than. one-quarter of the Protestant world
may be reckoned Presbyterian in affinities and
outward organization. A Pam-Presbyterian As
sembly would, indeed, as was declared -at the
time of the Pan-Anglican Assembly, qUite threw
this latter into the shade. Only the Lutherans
of Protestant bodies, can compare with the Pres
byterians in numbers; and even their form of
government shows decided Presbyterian affinities;
but both of these bodies are so broken by lines
of nationality or denomination, that they cannot
be reckoned as one, in the same sense as the An
glican or Roman Churches. The inroads of
Rationalism into the ranks of Lutheranism and
Presbyterianism on the continent of Europe have
also been very great and lamentable, but the
darkness has long since begun to give way, while
the Anglican church, it is to be feared, is only
entering the cloud. •
Of Methodists, there are of all sorts, including
African Churches in our country, Wesleyans in
England, and the so-called United Brethren
about three and a, half millions.. 'Allowing three
persons to each member, the Methodist popula
tion of the world would be ten and a half mil
lions. It must be remembered that Methodism
is but a century old, and it may be truly said of
it, that it has taught the Protestant Church ° the
.great principle of aggressiveness in working for
Christ, and has revived faith in the possibility of a
recurrence of Pentecostal seasons. Born in revival,
it has been the forerunner of the modern revival
era of the Church.
The Baptists all over the world, including
Campbollites and Mennonites; count about two
and a quarter millions, with about, seven millions
of population.
The main strength and the lirgest seParate or
ganizations of these two latter Churohes are in
this country. Here the Methodists count two
millions three hundred and fifty thousand, repre
senting seven millions of the people, their largeet,
organization numbering 1,255,115. The Baptists
in this country, of all branches count nearly two
millions, with six millions of population.
The Congregationalists in all the world, num
ber about half a million, three-fifths of that num
ber being in this country. In government, the
Baptists are congregational, so that, as far as mere
polity goes, there are about two and a quarter
million Congregationalists in the world, with a
following of over eight millions of people. No
denomination of Christendom has exerted an in
fluence, proportioned to its numbers, at all equal
to that of the three hundred thousand orthodox
Congregationalists and their predecessors in this
country.
The other denominations, including Friends,
Unitarians, 11 niversalists, and every sort of singu
lar or erroneous persuasion, reckoning itself Chris
tian, would not altogether make a respectable show,
compared with any one of the above great divi
sions of the Protestant Church.
"bn' 2 5j 111 9 ADELPFIIA, TH'iti.RSDAY, MAY 20, 1869.
PROPOSALS, FOR HASTY REUNION
EXAHINED.
[From an Occasional Correspondent.]
I rejoice to see that several of the papers that
are sup posed to reflect the sentiments / of
,the two
Schools of Presbyterians whose, re-union- is now
under consideration, begin' to exhibit signs of ,
discretion and caution on this subject...
just, read Dr. Monfort's article in the April num
ber of the Presbyterian Quarterly,, on the re-.
union movement, and I must say. that I haVe
been surprised by the coolness with which he as
sumes, without a particle of evidence; and against
notorious facts, that the two parties now fully
understand each other at all points, and are fully'
prepared for unionwithouttiy, terms •at ally be
yond the acceptance of " the standards." The
fact that the Old School Presbyteries have very
generally rejected the basis proposed by the As
semblies, and that the New School Presbyteries
: have, with only a few exceptions, approved the
same basis, do not seem to disturb Dr. Monfort's
,confidenco,thst the two bodies are fully ready for
union. But perhaps he takes it for granted that
both bodies, are willing to unite on the basis of
the standards" alone, if other plans fail. This,
however, has not been sho)yn by the action of a
,majority of , the Presbyteries on either side, as .
far, as I have seen. Certainly a majority of the
New School Presbyteries have not signified their
willingness to " trust" the. Old SChool majority
for the adjustment of all questions after" the
union, when they hare manifested so strong an
indisposition to be bound beforehand by the most
reasonable terms that could be aefined.
After all, Dr. M. and other 'zealOtts.frieials Of
union like him, appear to dorthtlthe‘readinesi-Of,
the two' branches fox' re-union. ' For they seem
to be•afraid to wait ..for the' settlement of the . ,
question by regular overture frOm -the Assem
blies, and 'by'the deliberate and explicit' action
of the Presbyteries. Hence, Dr. M. gives us / a
fallacious argument to prove that'the ASsernblies
have 'the right consummate the union .withoutthe consent of .
the Presbyteries,• on the presump
tion that all 'partie's are' agreed , on the subject._
For this purpose' he aPpeS)6 to the abstirption of.
several Presbyteries by the original Synod of
the Church, and of the Presbytery of Charles
ton in 1811, and the Associate 'Reformed Synod
in '1822, by the General Assembly, when there
was no objection, and *here union •" on equal
terms" was out' of the question: He also tries
to •strengthen his position -by the'erroneous as
sertion that both parties held,
,in 1837, that the
Assembly had " the right to ggree upon a divis
ion," • withoUt sutmitting the .question to the.
Presbyteries'. The' New School men denied this,
right-in 1837, and, therefore, :Dr. Monfort's pre-.
mise is a, rnistaie. !
Plainly the Assemblies, in such a case, have
no right ho do, without'unanimous commit, what
they have not the right 'to undo. Ana the As
.
nembly would have no right , to divide the Church
when once united. The two bodies are now' or
ganically separate, and 'to unite thein . would in
volve an organic change, which is, in effect; a
constitutional change, and can, therefore, be ac-.
cOmplished 'only by the specific action' or the
Presbyteries. Dr. M. contends for the same
kind of "extra-Constitutional" poWer on the
part of ,he Assemblies, by which Dr. B. J. Breck
enridge attempted to justity tie exscinding acts
of 1837. Are we i then, to rush into union by a
coup d'etat likelthit which rent us asunder, and
by the assumption of "extra-con titutional" power
on the Part of the Assemblies 'in the consumma
ting act ?
Why c.nniet 'Dr. M. trust the :Presbyteries
with the final decision of this question? Is he
not afraid that they will not sanction any plan
which the Assemblies - May recommend? And is
not this the explanation of his anxiety for final
action by the Assemblies? Has itl then, come
to this that we are to be forcd - intci union, not
by the action of three-fortrtni, or evm of a ma
jority of the Presbyteries, but by:a 'majority of,
the Commissioners •in the Assemblies, without a
shadow of constitutional authority? We can
tell those who are plottitig this piece of strategy,
that no such method of effecting re-union will
be acknowledged as valid, by nearly all the Pres
byteries. .
Dr. Monfort maintains that both parties
are agreed in regard to the, right of. exami
nation, :because a majority of the New School
Presbyteries have consented to waive their
own convictions on this point, rather than
defeat the plan of union submitted by the as
semblies. This is logic) for you. In the Presby
tery of Chicago only, one minister voted for the.
Tenth Article on its own merits;. and yet thirteen
members of the body voted to, approve the basis
as a whole. lit. M. easily believes • what it suits
his purpose to believe. I have met with but
very few of our ministers who i i idmit that the
right of examination is either expressed or im
plied in our constitution ; but I have met with a
large number who were" *Ming to concede this
alleged right for the sake of union. But Dr. M.
wishes to hold as to this - concession, after the
:plan which we have reluOtantly agreed to accept,
notwithstanding this offensive 'feature in it, has
been rejected by his bralich of the Church. ,
It isiminifeat that hEi- and other like friends of
reunion on his side, expect that the Old School
m'ajo'rity ill' the united:htirCh will 'be 'able to .
carry out their views at:111 points, and that the
.union will, after all, be-like that of Jonah and the
whale. • -What means thiliblamor for union on,
" the standards , pure- after' the , re-'
jection of all other tertnde It means just' thii;
that the Old School•maierlity shall arrange every-..
thing to suit-themselves, fitheh we have•• surren- I
dered our institutions,:oulrfriroperty, our Churches,
and lourielves to heidiSpoiled' of at their discretion..
It is said , 'that -there arblenough liberal men on .
the Old 'School side . , to 'giive the.liberal party thc
majerity,"wheri the •twobddies shall coma together,
But I am persuaded that we have as Many-Men .
thit will yield to the -pertinacious' Old -School
party 'for the sake of pehad, aa there are in their
connection whO;will sta4up for the liberty: we
desire to secure. .
We are exhorted.o ii4rmist our brethren." But
how can we trust them,,ilo-long as they refuse to
make any promises,!or t4tgive us any assurance,
ai l
whatever, ,that they wi I allow us the liberty ,
which we now enjoy? i 1 when" many of them
.tell us, inwords i .that, th y will not vote to or
dain, or receive, to - their Presbyteries, any man,
; who holds the, very same views that are now held,
by many of our ablest an most bonded ,minis
,tera? ffever, before hay I 'been ab:profoundly
conyineed that,,we Ought not-to have, union until,
our,Old School. brethren? re willing to say, in, un
equivocal Janguage,,that, hey will Meet us, on a
basis broad enough to, be frecnrpied by men of Old,
. 1 1
and New School views . a equals. Such an ex
plicit understaoding is, i : the judgment of an in
i
creasing number among 9, asioe qua non ; to a
safe reunion ' If our bref ren are aetermined to
,Oppn'se n the' re‘eptidia `iii t the ministry of the,
'Chuich•of all men holding the views ' of Beman,
Duffield or Barnes; we are equally determined to
insisenpon the free admission of such men.
Are we then to rush into a c co, nflict of .ages"?
or shall we wait till we , can agree to allow exist
ing, differenbes, before we consummate an exter,
nal'union, which' will be a curse or a blessing, ac .
cording as it is, or is not, an eipreasion of a cor
responding internal unity? tet us at least wait
until a large roSjority of the Presbyteries shall
agree upon a basis of union,abOut the meaning
of which there can be no reasonable doubt.. If,
the'spirit of union is not pervading enough to
live another year, without the final settlement of
the question by a desperate exercise of doubtful
and disputed powers by the Assemblies, there is
no sufficient preparation for reunion. The two
parties are beginning to look the real difficulties
in the faee. Let the whole case be understood
as it is, and if we can then unite on a basis broad
enough to admit both Schools on a practical
equality, we shall say; Amen; but if we cannot
unite thus, then let us continue to do the Lord?s
work as distinct tribes of Israel, 'in our different
NEw SCHOOL.
BOLDNESS OF THE GOSPEL.
The message of the Gospel is no mere piece
of friendiy advice or warning to men. Its tones
indeed, are gentle and wirminc , and its spirit
unfathomably tender; but its true nature, its
claims, its purposes and avowals are the boldest,
broadest, and most uncompromising ever present
ed to men. It comes from the only true God as
the only infallible rule of life, and ground of hope
for man. Among numerous forms of religion, it
does not simply ask a co-ordinate, or even a very
high, but a supreme place. It is ,not the tradi
tional belief of a race or a nation, to take its
chance with others,.but it is the one embodiment
of the revealed will of God to the'whole hum an
family, the symbol of God's reconciliation with
the fallen race, fitted alike for the wants of all
and destined with the divine might of truth to
prevail over all.
The Gospel does not daily or trifle with the
corrupt tastes and tendencies of men. Springing
from the eternal throne, the river of the water
of life rises higher in its course through human
ity, than the feeble and polluted waters of earth
ly origin. It is no mere expression in literature
or in art of the passions,, the faculties, the aspir
ations and imaginations of the creature. It is
not complaisant or accommodating. It goes right
athwart the strongest prejudices, and native pro
pensities of men. It boldly pronounces them a
fallen and totally corrupt race. It summons them
to the bar of divine, justice, and 'pronounces all
the world guilty before God. Finding men to
,tally immersed in things of time and sense, it
refuses to follow and blend with, and thus digni
fy their. carnal:impulses, .but, espouses and. raises
up the neglected and despised spiritual part of
man, and insists on making the world, and time,
and mere „intellect, and honor, and wealth, and
pleasure, and everything that unredeemed man is
.most strongly inclined to seek, secondary to that.
It does not hesitate to describe man as a lost,
helpless,. rebellious ,ereature, deserving of hell
forever. Meeting him in his pride, it tells him
his first duty is to hiamble :himself before God,
and. repent,: and take salvation as • a gift without
money sud without price. Meeting him :in his
selfishness, it tells him to take up his cross ,and
deny himself, and make.himself a living sacrifice.
Meeting him in: his secularism, and his worldly
enterpr*,,,it asks, him What
,shall it profit a
man, if he, pin the whole world and lose his own
soul 7 Meeting friim in hisself-satisfied formalism,
,it demands Artith„in„ tlse inward parts; it lays
d,uty,,hemp,, with,tremendous sanctions, to his in
mast, amscienee,,tultil, it shutshim up; under a
-broken IAW;4 O
How bold.towards.God, is the Gospel scheme
of
,salvation ! Origen exclaimed : 0 Paul, glad
I, am that it was thou and, not I. that said, "the ,
foolishness of God." It.would have been the ex
treme of hardihood
,in man.to conceive of God
in the attitude of amazing condescension present- .
ed in the Gospel: How the spirit labors in gain
ing
,any worthy and adequate view of the ,won
drous plan of Redemption ! A
.God incarnate
among fallen creatures, upon this mere, speck in
universe,
,sorrewing,, suffering persecution, ,
ignominiotisly.dxing,,and rising again, founding
His Church, and communicating
. His ,Spirit to
men, following.them::with His divine love, and
drawing them with infinite tenderness from - rtheir,
rebellion, l 9(l,inalting them mystically and eter
nally one with Himself;., all this is too bold a
scheme, for man's darinm to invent. It is the
boldness of. the Gospel. ,
Poldness springing from, intense moral earnest
ness, and Tram ardent holy love,--this is the peen
liar quality which should appear . in every Chris
tian eharacterAs : the aggressive .spirit of the Gas- ,
pel. This was the secret of Paul's peculiar
enc 1.... ), and the meaning of his faVorite word,,
" parrhesia "—boldness. Those who daily and
dawdle with the message, who speak smooth
things to the hearers, who do not grasp the great
facts of man's moral condition, and of its fearful
or joyful, possibilities, who are only bold and
strong in the utterance .of views belittling the
,dimension„ of Gospel truth, or in presenting
the temporal and ; less important bearings of
Christianity ; those who timidly ahrink from an
open and daily . witnessing for Christ in the vari
ous relations of life.; all such need yet to, learn
the spirit of the Gospel they profess to embrace
and to te4ch,.
THE CONTROL OF THE MUSIC OF , THE
CHURCH.
A legal decision has just been given by Judge
Pierce of this city in. the matter of amendments
to the charter of the Walnut St:Church propoi
ingto give the control of the church music to
the Trustees, to which objections were filed by
other parties in the church.
The part of the amendment to which exce,p
tions were filed is as follows :
,
"The said trustees shall 'two power to appoint an
organist (subject to the approval of the' session), a sex
ton, and any other persons they may think necessary
for the interest or convenience of the corporation, and
to pay their salaries."
The exceptions filed are as follows
"First. The music of the church being a part of
the religious services or. worship in the sanctuary,
should be subject to the control of the session of the
church, and the trustees, whose duties relate exclu
sively to the temporal affairs of the corporation, ought
to have no voice in the election of any one appointed
to conduct the worship of the house of God. This, ex
ceptant believes to be in accordance with the funda
mental law and,usage of the Presbyterian Church.:
"Second:
"SeCond. The language of the proposed ameod
ment, is objected , to for indefiniteness. It Proposes to
confer on the,,trustees,an unlimited power of appoint
ment."
• Judge Pierce, in his decision, quotes the
Digestsof both Assemblies, as showing first, that
Trustees have charge of "the public money of
the congregation," New Digest, page 48 ; (2.) That
changes in the Psalmody must be decided by vote
of the whole congregation (Dig. p. 108.) (3i)
That the Assembly itself took charge of the re
vision of the Psalmody' (Dig. p. 582.) • (4.) ,
That the whole internal arrangement of a church,'
as to worship and order, is committed to 'the
minister andsession (O.S. Digest, p.'197); He
also ieferred to the Form of Government 9 . : 6;)
and the Directory for Worship, as showing that
the spiritual government, including public wor- -
ship, is committed to the minister and church
session.' Walnut /St. church, being a Presby
terian church, must conform to the general laws
of that body. His language is
"'lt is a Presbyterian church, and. is to, be governed
in its worship by the usages and forms of that Church.
Genesee Evangelist, No. 1;200.
f Home & Foreign Miss. $2.00.
Address:-1334 Chestnut Street
The duty of directing that is committed, by the law of
the Church, to the ,minister and church session. A
majority of the congregation, however numerous, can
not direct otherwise, or give to the trustees a power to
control or affect the public worship in any manner
whatever. 'This is according to the forms and usages
of the Presbyterian Church, and is declared by the
highest, judicatory in one branch of, the Church to be
the fundamental law of the Church."
Whether the Trustees are bound to provide
the expenses of an arrangement for public wor
ship, made by the minister and session, without
consulting the corporation, the Judge does not
decide. Re says:
"But if such expenses be incurred in the necessary
maintenance of the public worship, and there be funds
of the, Church adequate for their payment, it would
seem to be the duty of the trustees to so apply them;
and such duty could, perhaps, be enforced by proceed
ings in equity if the trustees should so refuse. But
of this we express no opinion."
That TrusteeS are not the proper officers to
control the worship of the church, appears from
the fact that
"As trustees, they are not in any sense a part of
'the Church, and are not amenable to discipline, and
may be, through .negligence or want of knowledge in
selecting them, men• of immoral lives. To hold that
such persons should goverwand•controi the worship of
the Church would be to introduce an element into the
Church that might prove its disintegration and de•
struction. Such a viewis repugnant to common sense,
and repellant to every proper idea of the worship of
the Supreme Being:" •
After . - quoting various legal decisions to show
that ,the._ minority of a congregation, adhering
and snhinitting.to the regular order of the church,
is the ~trua.eongregation , and that the majority
cannot control inconsistently with the laws of the
organism, Judge Pierce pronounces the decision
of the court as follows :
. " Applying the fundamental late of the Presbyterian
Church, which gives the direction of the public wor
ship to the minister and church session, and the rules
of lqw wnich define the rights of ministers in church
organizations, to the question submitted to us in this
case, we think that the . exceptions to the proposed
fourth amendment to the charterare well taken, and
must, be sustained. The amendment proposes to give
power, to the trustees to appoint an organist (subject
to the approval of the session.) The duties of an or
ganist are connected with the public worship. This
is solely iinder the control of the minister and church
session.' a violation of the fundamental law of
the Church to place this' power in the hands of the
trustees, even though, it be qualified by requiring the
aiiprovid. Of the'session. If provision be made by the
congregation or the trustees for the employment of an
organist, the exclusive power of appointment, direction
and removal ef him belongs to the church session,
otherwii3e. therhave .not that direclion of the public
worship which, by the law of the Presbyterian Church,
is committed to them.
"" The Same objections apply to that other portion of
the proposed amendment which empowers the trustees
to appoint 'any other persons they may think neces
sary for the interest cr convenience of the corpora
tion, and to fix their salaries,' if it be intended, as is
alleged, to provide thereby for the employment of a
choir to assist in the church music.
"The language is further objectionable as being too
general, and conferring powers on the trustees not
sufficientltascertairied and limited as to prevent con
fusion and possible conflict of authority in a church
organisation, when two separate bodies, within their
respective" sphere's, direct and control the associate
The exceptions to the parts of the proposed fourth
amendment,' above specified, are sustained. The other
proposed imendMents are approved."
'Judge Allison being a member of the corporation
petitioning for these amendments, takes no part in
this decision. '
We have not made ourselves acquainted with
the circumstances under which this ease has come
into the courts, but we deem the decision matter
of congratulation among those interested for the
maintenance of the. .spirituality -of the most de
lightful part of public worship. The liability of
introducinc , immoral men into our boards of
Trustees, is we believe, happily but slight, and
is only mentioned because the law must take cog
nizance of bare possibilities in deciding upon
general prinelpiesi our boards of Trustees de,
for the most iart, men of high character, and un
selfishly giving their time and means to the tem
poral welfare of the Church. But it undoubt
edly makes a very wrong and injurious impression
of the nature of church music, when it falls into
die hand's of officers appointed for the secular
business of the church. The decision of Judge
Pierce is valuable, because it will emphatically
remind ministers, elders, trustees, people, and the
public generally, that the music of the church is
not a secular but a spiritual matter; and we hope
it , will not only stimulate -sessions to exercise a
proper control over it, but will aid the reaction
now goink forward, tending to re-establish it
among the truly devotional parts of the church
service.'
The Baptist churches of Oregon number near
two thous Mad members, but not one of them is
self-supporting. Many are quite wealthy, but the
first preachers kept up such tirades against " col
lege=learned• and hireling ministry;" that they
educated the people into not giving to education
and thei decent . support of the ministry. A.
preacher &rats six days and preaches on the sev
enth to,four or .six churches alternately, and must
speak without premeditation even to be accepta
ble. He, is offered sometimes some compensation
if his getting, around his circuit involves ex
pense. One. church pay their preacher the
wages of ; a farm-hand to take his place during
the. days or half days of his abseace from his
farm..