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PITTSBURGH, PA
PROCEEDINGS OF TEE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY,
fN SE-SMN AT NEWARK, N.J.
Eighth Day.
ASTILIMOOti SESSION
The Assembly met, and was opened with
ye ler by Rev. Mr. Roberts.
tjo motion of Dr. Rodgers, it was resolved that
tee Assembly adjourn to.morrow at 12 o'clock,
ue , il Monday morning at 9 o'clock.
Breckinridge, of the Committee on Bills
end Overtures, reported a request from the 2tl
church of Nashville to be detached from the
p re sbytery of Transylvania, to which it was at
tsebed by the last Assembly, as soon as the
Presbytery of Nashville should rescind its reso
lution of secession, recommending that the re
quest bo granted. report adopted. There is rea
s„e to believe that this Presbytery will, in a few
days, seek restoration to this Church.
lir. Elliott, from the Committee on the Mentes
rites of the Presbyteries of Ogdensburg and Mi
ami, conceruiog union between the Old and New
Sellout General Assemblies, reported, expressing
hige sanest:union at the results of the correspon
esev between the two bodies, initiated by a for
mer Assembly, but recommending it as inexpe
dicut to take any further steps now toward a
closer union, and calling the attention of both
parties
to the recommendations of the last, As
esreely, (p. 390 that the unity of the Spirit
eget be promoted.
The order of the day, viz., Judge Matthews'
papa on the subject of Slavery, was taken up.
'edge ilyereon said it was with feelings of un
feigned grettitide that be bad lived to see the day
when such a paper as this was before the Assem
bly. 'the memorial from which this paper
spreng originatoffin the Presbytery to which.he
belonged. Ills pastor drew the mintoriel and
eonsuired with, him, and therefore be considered
it his duty to speak in support of this piper. It
was s heritage he would feel it an honor to leave
to his children that he voted for such a paper as
tble He was in for the whole paper; but to re
lieve those who may have some scruples on some
things therein specified, he was willing to make
these verbal alterations. Now what is this pa
per? Is it, as amended, fit for adoption by this
Assembly ? It, is simply a reiteration of the
principles laid down in 1818, It is no now doc
trine. Now will any man, In this day, stand in
this place and declare that slavery is not the
souse of this war? Will any one say that the
object of the rebellion was not to found an em
pire on human slavery ? A distinguished minin.,
lir of our own Church had declared that ale
highest object of the Sant h was to preserve, ex
tend, and perpetuate human Bravery. Thomas
Jefforson denounced slavery more severely than
this paper does. John Wesley had declared it
the suet of all villanies. We were slow to learn
this, He had been an old school Democrat, a
Pharisee of the Pharisees, but the war had made
hen like his friend, Judge 'Matthews, who had
been an eft:toe-holder under Mr. Buchanan, an
ob.ditionist. The ferocity and oruelty of slavery
was ma overdrawn in the paper. Slavery in
jured the whites as much as the blacks. Its de
mon spirit wee manifested at Fort Pillow. Our
eons, blethers and friends bad been sacrificed on
Inc alter of slavery. And has not the time come
for such ell expression on our part, in this re
spect? He did not believe. uufil August, 1862,
teat wo should touch slavery: I , ut after the
:Awe a of leo campaigns of M6Clellan and Buell,
be MY, that ration ccuid only be secured by de
feeling the armies of the South, and that this
could only be clone by destroying slavery. Ma
ryland, AliSSOUri, and Louisiana had spoken in
fever of the removal of slavery. Beverdy John
eon end E. J. Breceloridge had committed them
selves lit laver of this. And it, was lime this
Church lietild wipe off the reproach Which had
been urjuetly oast on her, and also come up
to the help or many of our imtuistres and elders
who bad been placed in cireunistanoes where
filmy need snob smut. • Be would consider it
a proud day when he could vote fel' such a pa
Dr4 - R i loo said be:did not riselo oppose either:-
the ateeiodmeuts or the paper, eTaiteeeehine.
desirable-111t, that there be no doubt o the.
4
meaning; and 2d, that we be unanimous-0A:
the metal force be unbroken. He exkeet.ed!
vote for the paper as amended. He Was _Under
Obligations to Judge Matthews for admitting the
amendments. He had been an emancipationist
from his boyhood, as his father had been before
bit. His tether, though living in Kentucky, had
never owned a slave, except late in life, when
be purchased two slaves at their own request, to
get them out of trouble. Pe never believed
slavery to be a Divine institution; always be
lived that the Gospel would remove it. He
voted for the celebrated action of Kentucky in
1834; advocated it then, and defended it since.
At the esme time he did Lot think slaveholding
an evil per se, because ho believed there were
circumstances in which one might hold a slave
withott'sin. Iu 1847 he wrote a letter to Ken
tuo'iy, urging emancipation. Judge Matthews is
Inise.keu when he says there hatebeen. no com
bined action toward the removal of slavery.
This is an error. lie accepted the whole of the
deliverance of 1818. The notion of 1845 woe
lenely to meet the question whether slavehold.
lug in itself should exclude from membership in
the Church ; and when that paper is read care
fully, it will be found stronger against slavery
than the ono of 1818, though there was nothing
pro-slavery in either. The Colonization Society
was a great last rucaentality which he had advo
cated, and vrhioh the Church had recommended,
fur tugs removal of slavery. This was a combined
effort which, if it had not been interfered with,
Would have done much to remove slavery. The
people of Kentucky---at least a great many—bad
looked to this as a powerful agency for this end.
The Episcopal Church, the Methodist, our own,
and twelve legislatures of slave States bad pass
ed resolutions in its favor.. If it had been al
lowed to go on, the whole system of slavery
might have been removed, without a battle or
the loss of a man. But enemies awoke. Lloyd
Garrison denounced Colonization: Gerrit Smith,
who had offered to be one of one hundred to
sire $lOO,OOO, draw , back. The Presbyterian
°Much had done more than any other Church to
emancipate slaves. This he had proved before,
end oould do it again. Ile did not. believe in
slavery. lie believed and trusted that title war
would remove slavery altogether from us; [Ap.
plutue ] But we must not withdraw our atten
tion tram Mlle, sins. Men of the world say; It
you want laws passed you must give money.
Bribery is no longer a disgrace. This country
requires more moral forms to preserve it than
any other. Therefore he would change, if iti
were possible, the expression which says, • 4 Nor
do we assume the right confidently to declare
that the present judgments of our heivenly
Father and Amighty and Righteous Governor,
have been inflicted solely in punishment for our
cioadouanoe in this sin," to "Nor do we believe
that the present judgments," &a. 'Pare are
other sins to be taken into account. He was in
favor of the amendment, and opposed to the ori
ginal torte of expression, not because be was
opposed to the Government. If "the language
bad expressed opposition to the acts of the Ocar
erameht, be would also have opposed it. There
Wright be some expressions in this paper which
be could wish otherwiee, but still he would glad
ly vote for it.
The amendmeLts were then passed.
Dr. Junkie moved, amid great excitement, that
this beuteuce be stricken out, "It is their
declared policy not to consent to the reorganiza
tion of civil goyernment within the. seoeded
States, upon any other basis than that of ° m an"
oipation."
ft was moved to lay this motion or the table.
Dr. Junkio was granted leave to speak in sup
port of his motion. If this sentence was stricken
out, he could vote for the paper. Still he regret
tad that public opinion had such a pressure on this
Church as to compel it to go out of its course,
and Sectrne at times a kind of political conven
tion. The sentence he wished stricken dut, was
not trot). The National Government had never
Rid that, and God forbid it ever should. He
sae afraid the people in their madness were
about to fling away the heritage left them by
their fathers—the Constitution. Let us be cau
tions what we do. He reprobated all union of
Church and State. Christ never gave his Church
the right to decide questions of this kind.
Dr. Elliott said he would not have risen, had
it not been to express his great gratification at
the position the Church was now about to take.
Re was the oldest minister in the Assembly.
Per twenty years he had not hi , n a member of
this Assembly. On a day of pablici religious
servioes recommended by the Pre,ident or Gov
ernor, he had preached on the text, .1 Fear not,
Land." This was just after the admission, of
lilisouri as a slave State. This was one of our
leave. This he mentioned; and be made the
deOlaration, that whatever might be the case
with the next generation, posterity would know
that his fears were not. groundless. He had not
expected to, live to see hie fears realised ; but be
ltad. And he rej2iced that wirers to be freed from
' Then all parties admitted slavery to bean
~ .evil--Aciatit as well as North. • •
llariOne verbal, alterations were thetapro
/At POW adqtod, And, "the whole
VOL. XII. NO. 38,
paper wife then adopted by a vote nearly unani
mous, only two or three voting against it.
-The Permanent Clerk announced, as the re
sult of the vote for Professor of Theology in the
Western Theological Seminary—Rev. Dr. Jona
than Edwards, 29; Rev. A. A. Hodge, D.D., 151.
After engaging in singing and prayer, the
Rev. William Johnson, delegate from the Church
of Ireland, spoke og the union of the Synod of
Ulster and the Secession Synod ; of the revival
of 1859; of the increased usefulness of the
Church ; od the help afforded by the Government,
while it did not interfere with the freedom of the
Church; of the increased liberality of the peo
ple; of the increase of pastors' salaries; of the
Manse and Church Fund; of the stability and
comfort now enjoyed by the ministers; of the
progress made in education ; of the schools hav
ing an average daily attendance of 280,000 chil
dren; of the difficulties thrown in the way of na
tional education by the Papists; of church ex
tension by means of mission schools; of the sue
oess of mission ehurches; of the reviving of the
office of the Evangelist in seeking out the neg
lected Scotch and English Protestant families in
the Popish counties ; of a mission for the Jews ;
of the advance of the Scotch and Irish churches
in Canada, and of his great pleasure in being
present when the action of to-day on slavery was
taken ; and of his hope that the present war
would soon end, and that the country would soon'
be happier and better than ever before—freed
from slavery, the only blot upon our national es
cutcheon; of the sympathy of the Church in Ire
land for the North ; of the fact that this country
was receiving some of the best of the blood of
Ireland; that the money given by American
Christians in former years was most faithfully
applied to the purposes for which it was given.
He closed by laying on the table of the Modera
tor the mission reports of the Church of Ireland.
The Assembly then took a recess.
EVENING SESSION-7i O'CLOCK.
FRIDAY, MOT 27.
After recess the Assembly met.
Rev. Dr. Reynolds reported resolutions com
mending the Christian Commission - to the imme
diate and constant liberality of our people.
The Committee appointed last year to inquire
into the expediency of changing the day of
prayer for the youth of the country, recommend
that no change be made. Adopted.
The Moderator announced the following Com
mittee to inform Dr. Hodge of his election :
Rev. Dr. Beatty, Rev. Mr. Hoge, - and Dr. A. G.
bi'Candloss,
Dr. Musgrave, from the Committee •'on the
Freedmen, reported, declaring that the Board of
Education was unable to undertake this work
without seriously interfering with its appro
priate object of educating ministers, and recom
mending the appointment of two Committees,
one at Philadelphia and one at Indianapolis, to
receive and disburse funds given for this pur
pose, and to appoint teachers and • ministers
recommended by Presbyteries, to labor among
the Freedmen, and directing the Board of Pub
lication to furnish gratis whateVer books may be
needed for this work. ' Plaoed on the docket.
Judicial case No. 5 was- taken up, and it wag
moved by Dr. Maclean that this case be con
tinued until finished.
The Minute of the Synod of Missouri was
read.
The Hon. W. T. Wood then appeared as one
of the complainants, being one of the elders
sbo oomplained on, the part of the church,
tgeinst the removal of Dr. 'MoPheeters. He
laid this was one of the most important judicial
oases that ever came before any General Assem
bly. He then said he would read his remarks—
the second time he had done such a thing in
di his life. . He did this that he might. not be
misunderstood. The action of the inferior court
complained of, required Dr. MoPheeters to leave
his ohuroh against the wishes of a large major
ity of the people. The proceedings were begun
and carried on as detailed in the proceedings of
last night. Judge Wood, at great lentil, gave
an account of the history of, - and action in, this
ease, and argued long and ably in behalf of the
complaint.
When Judge Wood had concluded, Dr. Beatty
moved the suspension of the business to take up
the Port on the Memorial Ball to Calvin in
aims. Carried.
belditmort.wead and adopted.
. seeiriblYithilWirftlt Vrayee
BATIIRDLY, May 28.
Assembly met and passed the usual thirty
minutes in devotional ,ex.eroises.
The Minutel were read, corrected, and ap
proved.
The following eommuuloation from Mellow
School General. Assembly, which had unani
mously passed that body, was received and read:
1. That this Andra,ly cordially welcome all eigna of in.
creased love and union among those who bold to the same
facto and doctrines of the Gospel, and beam its solemn tee
timony with. self-humiliation against whatever fosters
alienation and genders strife among the di.cip/en of oar
Lord."
2. That the tendencies of modern society, the condition of
Protestant Christianity, , the Increase of infidelity, the
program of ROMEttIIBIII and the present and prospective
state of our country, afford powerful arguments against
further Subdivision and in favor of that union - and unity of
the Church Into which it is to grow and which is to be Its
consummation; and that we record with untrigned grwi
tude, our profound conviction that the spirit o disunion
and of sectarianism is waning, and that the spirit of broth•
erly kindness and mutual conlidence is largely on the in-
S. The t in an especial manner are Gime churches bound
to folder this spirit which adopt the same Standards of faith
and older, and•whose dechPouti are local, personal And inci
dental, andi for whose Minion there is only needed a wire
delerence to each others righla'and a higher measure of
(lariatlan charity. Adopting the same formulas of faith
and Corm of goiernment, all that is needed is to receive them
In the same ep rit. ' •
4. That et the churches represented by this Asrembly did
not inaugurate separation, eo, too, they would hold to no
principles and views). and would Impose no term, Olean
aisteut with a full tuff cordial reunion, whenever and wher
ever-the 'great Head of the Church, as indicated by 'Divine
Providence may opere the way for us) all to meet together
again on aceame basis on which of old our Mhers.teeed:
and that we should rejoice in such reunion an Evpledge of
the future proeperity and an augury of the 'accelerated
growth of the kingdom of Child through the length and
breadth of our land; and that it is our united nod fervent
prayer to thiscommon Master that he would so_reruove all
nindrencee as) to make a plain path for our feet wherein we
may walk together, being of one heart and 'mind in the
ways of the Lord.
b. That while we do not deem It expedient now to appoint
such a Committee as 'bat asked for in the memorial of the
St Lawrence Presbytery, yet. that 'this exiression of our
principles and fionviotions,. with our heartfelt .Christian
enlntatione, be.trananuttrd to the General Assembly of the
Prosbyterlan - Qhnrch now in eesslonnt Newark, N. J:
Rev. E. R. Craven, D.D., was appointed Dele
gate to the Reformed Dutch Synod, to meet next
week at Schenectady. The Rev. J. T. Backus,
D.D.,
was appointed alternate.
The order , of the flay, vim, the American
Bible Society, was , postponed.
The Moderator reminded the Assembly of
their high character as tt Court of Jesus Christ.
The complaint of. Dr. MoPheetere was taken
up.
Dr. MoPheeters said it was with no ordinary
feelings that he appeared before this Assembly,
where for the brat time he bad any opportunity
of being heard in his own. defence. As a chi
_ten, he bad been banished; as a pastor, he had
been torn from his church ; as a minister, he
had been deposed—all without a hearing. He
knew some might be prejudiced, and he did not
think it strange that it should be eo. In order
to make any defence of himself, be must say
something of martial law ; not to bring any ac
cusation against the Government or any of its
efficers, but rather to - defend the Government.
Se had no complaint against the minority
of the - Pine Street church, but against his
Presbytery. He referred to the fact that
when the troubles began he was in New Mex.-
leo, where a Mail came only once a month,
and when he did not know the sentiments
of flee persons in his church with respect to
theme 3oznzuotions. When it was doubtful what
side Missouri would take, and, when he had no
opportunity for conference with any one, he had
written his people a pastoral letter from that
distant Territory, respecting their duties to their
Saviour and to one another, and recommending
kinduees in feeling, temperance in 'words, and
great, forbearance. This letter, dated Fort
Union, May 18, 1851, wee read. Never would
he forget the impression made upon him when
he found the whirlwind and passion raging
around him, on his return. Then he determined
to perform all his duties as a Christian and a
minister, but to take no part in the great strife.
In the Spring succeeding, he had been sent to a
Commissioner to the General Aosembly at Colum
bus. There he spoke and voted against the pa
per of Rev. R. J. Breckinridge, D.D., on the
State of the Country. His speech on that
paper, and his vote against it, MVO the cause of
his being here to-day. His language was re
ported. It was mierepresented in the St. Louis
papera, and made the subject of many, bitter,
and anonymous attacks. This occasioned
difi
culties between him and his people. ,He de
declined to take any part in political matters.
Shortly afterwards he was banished, along with
his wife, to the free States North of Indianap
olis and West of Pennsylvania, during the war.
Previous to this, having heard that charges had
been made against him,• ha applied to the proper
authorities, and Was informed that no charges
had been made, and that.if made, he would be
informed. But suddenly, without any warning
or any opportunity of being heard, he was ban
ished by military authority. And the order was
not against a althea as snob; but against him
ouly are; minister. and for whathe had done as
a minister in the General;Assembly and in the
.porformaaoo of hi. paitoral due* Sit church
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41 .
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Ninth Day.
PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1864.
was taken from him, and three members ap
pointed to select a pastor,
the only quali•
fioation specified being that he must be a loyal
roan. The Session book was handed over as
directed. He applied to the Attorney General,
the law adviser of the Government, who, on
personal grounds, refused letters which would
have relieved him at once. The Attorney Gen
eral said this did not come within his province,
but that of the Secretary of War or the Pres
ident. He promised to' introduce him the next
day. The communication to the Attorney Gen
eral was read. After presenting this paper, the.
words were few. The President immediately
telegraphed, " Suspend the order against Mr.
McPheeters until further orders." Gen 'Curtis
interpreted this to mean that banishment from the
State was suspended, but not the order excluding
him from exercising the functions of the minis
try. And for one whole year this act of suspen
sion from the ministry was in force as he sup
posed, under the authority of the President.
During that time he could have done anything
else but preach, that any other citizen could.
Suspected citizens were put under heavy bonds,
but he never was ; and the military order was re
moved from the church in March, 2953.
He then read a letter written to a friend who
had made application to Gen. Curtis in his be-
I half, claiming his right to preach and adminis
ter. ordinances, when he had all his rights as a
citizen. He had taken his stand and was deter
mined to abide there. When. God has a great
principle to establish, be also appoints some one
to suffer. A letter was then read, dated March
29th, 1863, from General Curtis, proposing
questions as to his, opposition to the rebellion
and his desire for its overthrow, When Dr.
Meheeters received this- letter, he saw that
whatever his answer might be, it could
bring him no relief. He had declined to an
swer such questions to a minority of his own
people, had suffered for this refusal, and now
consistency to his own principles would not al
low of his answer. He told Gen. Curfifs, most
respectfully, that he could not and 'would not
answer these questions. There was once a gen
eration of Presbyterians who understood the
principle involved, and he did not believe that
generation was yet extinct. Then he spoke of the
meeting of Presbytery in April, 1863, which he
could not attend because of the military order.
The hour of adjournment having arrived, Dr.
McPheeters ceased for the present.
Dr. Maclean moved that this matter be r itaken
up at 10 o'clock on Monday morning.
The Clerk announced the election of the fol
lowing members of the Boards and Seminaries
of the Church :
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.
PRlNOETON.—llinisters—William D. Snodgrass, D D., Jos.
McElroy, D.D , George W. bluEgrave, D.P., George Juukin,
D.D., Phuteas D. Gurley. D.Di. Gardiner Spring . , D. 17., Thos.
L. Janeway, D D., Witham IL Sprague, D.D., in pine of Dr.
J. N Campbell, dec'd William C. Cettell. in }flaw of Dr
G. W. tuompson, dec'd. Eiders—Robert Carter, Matthew
Newkirk, George Sherawood, LL.D.
ALLeGitEXX.—lfinisfers—Bll-ha P. Swift, LI D., Henry B.
Fry, in place of Rev. J. Smith, deed; Wm B. Molls: vas,
James Alexander, .D.D , Cyrus Dickson. D.D., John Kerr,
a. 0. Patter on, D D., D. LI. Riddle. D.D., fa place of A. B.
Brown. D.D., deo'd ; lloses A. Hoge, in place of James Iloge,
D.D., decease 4. .E/d.rs—Luke Loomis, Wm. Bekewell, Jas.
Carothers M.D.
DANVILLE.,TO WWI WI ?jay, 1887.—Ninisters—B, F.
Caldwell, T. F Cortelyint, J. R. Lyle, R G. Brank, W. B.
Browne, L. Green Craig. J. T. Lapsley, George Mortlean, J.
L. Id' Kee. Miters—John A Lyle, John 11rCullaati,,Daniel
tarry, George Flehbaek, Prniek, 1). D. Dickey, G. W.
Lewis, 8 R. WilliE.ll43, N. Chamberlain.
T-. acme till May, ISO—W. L. Breckinridge, D.D., Tice
L. W. Green, DT., aced
Criroacio.—brinitrers—J. G. Thrgen, D.D., James Wood,
D.D., J. G. Nixon, B. C. Logan, A. A. E. Taylor. Elders
°Arles Crosby: J. D. Thorpe, John Todd, 151. D., David
Keith, Warren Norton
LOADD 02 011IIRCEC EXTENSION.
Ministers—N. L. Bice, D.D., J. II Brown. D.D., A: A. 11
Tarlor, J. J. Purttr..Jamea A. Paige. Larten--Jamse
Lenox, Lincoln Mark, .tames M. nay, Alexaudor Stuart.
BOARD OF PUBLICATLON
Ministers—David Elliott, Da, John Gray, D b., Joseph
73. Jones, D.D., Wm. M. Eagles. D.D., John M. Krebs, D.D.,
Win. K. echenck, D D., Wm. H. Hornhlowor, D.D, James
IL M. Knox, D.D., Wm. M. Blackburn, - David It. Campbell,
Bd. W. Wright, D.D., J. Deward Nixon ' Andrew „M. Bev
eridge, Wm. A. Green, D.D., in place of Dr. Boardman, re
signed; Wendel G. Prime, in place of Dr. hell, resigned;
Wm. B. Sprague, D D., in place of Dr. J. N. Campbell, dee'sl.
Laymen—Ebenvaer Platt. Bd. S. Jagray, Jae. Lenox. IL II
liinivitt, J. Al. Sherrard, Wm. Walker, Archibald Mclntyre
Stephen Alexander, Archibald ?Celine, Gilbert Coombs,
Wm. Jennison, M. Ilyer.on, Obarles N. Todd.
BOARD OF BDIJOATION
MIT, for four years—Wm. L. Breekinildge, D.D.,
John AVElnahey,D.D., Joeeph D.D., D. X. Jr:raisin,
..11; LLD., Thomas mceactley, P. D. Gurley,
D.D., L. IL Atwater,D D., L. Merrill Miller, in place or J. b.
Oanaphell, D.D., deed; A. A. E. Taylor, id place of Robert
Vat a, removed to Ireland. Laymen—H. W. Oiler, J. D.
Beinhoth, Deniel LoLd, Henry Doe, John N. Brown, Jamea
S. Kuowleon, Wm. B. Dant/old, E. B. Fairer, James P. TU.
tin, in place of John Palooner, deed.
BOARD OP FOREIGN' MISSIONS. ,
Ministers—A. G. Ball, D.D, George W. Jaoriar,, Booty
B. Weed, D.D., Juasph 11. Jones ' D.D, John M. Krebs, .D.D ,
Joseph McElroy, D.D , Wm. W. Phillips, Charles K. Linbrle,
D.D.; Lraren, Jonathan Greenleaf, Nall:lame]
W. Conklin, Charlea-W. Shields, D D., M. W. Jacobi:it, D.D.,
Robert C. Grnany, ri D., Alexander T. D. Zug
inen—Wm. Mellvains, Wzri. Allan, Mat. Newkirk, Jo-epii
Pattereon, John AL Sherrard, 0. 0. Lathrop, D. D. Dickey,
Elijah Houghton, B. huh Bradford, W. W. Scarborough,
William Eruct, Stanley Matthews, Henry them), Samuel
Galloway.
To fill 'vacancies In the Class whose term of eerrice ex
Oros fn 18a.—Rev. Edward E. Rankin, in place of Rev Joh{
W. Yeomans, D.D ,dec'd; and Rev. Samuel T.Wllaou,D.D, in
place of Rev. J‘siati D. Smith, D.D., deceased. In 'Class Of
fedd—Rer. Samuel Bilden, LLD., in place of Rev John N.
Campbell, D.D., deceased. In Claes of ISB7—Ror. Mneee A.
Hoge, In place of ReT. James Hoge, D D., deceased.
BOARD Of DOMESTIC MISSIONS
Nitzillers—Thomas E. Thomas, DI), Thunme Murphy',
:farces Al. Crowell, R. Happorsett D.D., ()hallow Hodge,
D D., John C. Lord, D.D.. G. W. 11113 grave, DM. ' A. T.
Giil,ll.D, , Win. W. Phillip', D D., Wm. D. tmocgraes, D.D.,
Gardiner Bpi tug, P.D., J. M. MCDonald, P.O. Gurley,
D.D., T. 8. (Mikis, J. J. Porter. Las/Melt—Mcßee Allen. U.
K. Clarke, liowoll Evans, David Keith, W. Dwight. Nat,
Stauley Matthew; G. W. Farrington, J. H. Thompson.
Also, Rev. M. A. Hoge, in place of Rev. James Huge, D.D.,
In the °hoe of 1857. Rev. J. H. Nixon, in place of Rev. IL
S. Clarke, D.D., in the Class of 1p613. 5. Al. Breokenridge, fu
place of Hon. IL Gamble, In the Claes of 1861.
The Assembly adjourned with prayer
Tenth Day,
MONDAY - MOUNLNO, May SO.
The Assembly met, and' after the usual half
hour of devotional exercises, the minutes of Sat
urday were read, corrected, and approved.
The Committee appointed to report a Commit
tee fur the preparation of the New Psalmody,
reported, recommending the following persons:
Rev. Dre. J. M. Krebs, J. Trumbull Backus,
Robert Davidson, N. C. Burt, and Willis Lord...
Report 'recommitted, on the ground that one
member of the Committee had already published
a hymn book of his own.
Rev. Mr. Kempshall moved that hereafter at
the Meetings of the Assembly, the evenings be
appropriated to hearing the reports of the Boards
in such order as the Secretaries may arrange
among themselves. Carried.
Rev. Mr. Lawson "moved that the report on
the Minutes of Sandusky be taken up. The re
port was adopted.
Mr. Robert Oarteretated that the gentleman fur
nishing the carriages for the contemplated ex
cursion on. Friday afternoon, which did not come
off, was required to pay the sum of. - $420, buu
would &tux have repeated that offer had it
been possible for the Assembly to accept. But
that in plane of such an excursion, the same gen
tlecuan had made an. arrangement for giving ev
ery working minister in the Presbyterian Church
a copy of the great wort of " (*Milan on the
Sabbath," and that one hundred copies of the
same work would be here to-day for distribution
among the lay members of this Asseinbly.
The .ludicial came of Dr. MoPheeters was again
taken up,*and Dr. McPheeters resumed, giving
a history of the Presbyterial proceedings which
resulted in his removal from the pastorate of the
Pine Street church. The facts we gave when
the business was first introduced. lie gave as
a reason for putting his resignation into the
heads of Presbytery, the invasion of Missouri
bye part of the Southern army, in the Spring
of 18b5, and the consequent excitement from ex
aggerated reports and many arrests. Just at
this time the meeting of Presbytery was called..
And the Stated Clerk when notifying hini of the
meeting, said that owing to his being under the
military power, it was not to be expected that
be could attend. At the same time the notice
to be served on vacant churches of ape-re-nes
meeting, was sent to the Pine Street church.
Thus be was treated as already deprived of his
pastoral ehareeter, and his church as•being va
cant. His application to the commanding gen
eral for permission to attend that meeting of
Presbytery, and defend himself, was' not grant
ed. - kie knew that it was not safe for his friends
to attend. And to save them he sent in his res
ignation, that he might put the responsibility-lit
those who called the meeting.
This was a weakness; and in this respect 'he
was like any other man. In this state of things
he was shut up to this course. This explains
why his resignation was placed in the hands of
this Presbytery. But in clue word he would say
that Presbytery received a soromiseiouernever
sent by the Church, and dissolved a pastoral re.
laden not asked for by the people. Gen. echo;
field had given him permission to attend Presby
tou to defend himself, but did not permit him to
sit as one of its members. If the Government
had not sot him aside, these proceeding. could
never have been suceessfal. About the same
time eitisens of Bt. Louis had petitioned the
President for the removal of his military disa
bility. This was sucoeceful. (Dr. MoPheeters
here read the letter of Attorney. General Bates,
giving the decision of the President releasing
him from the military order under whieh he had
been sieffering.] 'Then, after two weeks' consid
eration, he had appealed to.the .Synod of Mis
souri. And he took the ground that, under our
Church constitution, while the appeal was pend-
ing, he was the real pastor of Pine Street church.
The State of the Church was critical. To get a
Stated Supply was not easy. One brother, a
most excellent man, had begun to labor in this
way, and though well received by all parties,
had become discouraged. The people were scat
tering, and to save them it was necessary for
the speaker to take charge of the church. The
action of Presbytery was hasty and harsh. The
memorial asking the dissolution of the paatorate
was put upon the minutes without examination,
though containing cruel charges. If the char
acters of ministers are to be dealt with in this
way, no one is safe.
He had taken the . oath of allegiance to the
United States Government, and the Government
of Missouri, that ho -might be enabled to perform
marriage in a legal form. When he subspribed
his name, the Clerk requested him to add minis
ter to it; but he refused, and subscribed sim,
ply as a citizen. Re4had scruples about requir
•ing a man to take ati oath before taking a seat
as a member of an.eindesiastioal body, and also
about excluding a man from such a body, who has
not taken the oath of allegiance. The Church
has brought this upon: herself. If she has the
right to approve the dots of Government, it is very
easy to conclude that the Church may also dis
approve of the acts of- tbe Government. The
military.authorities are not to blimello much. as
the churches. These military, men are asked to
issue theie obnoxious.' orders. .He asked this.,
General Assembly to lime a "dOlivatirupe, re
questing their people not to, carry difficul
ties before a Military Cottrtibuthefore arr
elastics' Court. it
Dr. MoPheeters than: „the - General *tient:
bly for their patience. To -him this had been a
trial of two years. Eight or ten years ago, in
conversation with a number of Presbyterian min
isters, on the proceedings of the Synods of New-
York and Philadelphia,'concerning the Revolu
tionary War, he had remarked that he was glad
that he was not there; for if he had been he
would have voted, against them, titd then would
have been hanged as a'pry. He wished the As
sembly to decide whet*. he could not minister
to his own people, itlae, stood aloof from the
questions involved in the present contest. While
doing everything required of him as a citizen,
he would insist on his right to keep all the sub
jects involved in this contest out of the.pulpit.
Once more he thanked. the Assembly for.their
patience. f
Hon. George P. Strang then took, the floor,
and said that he felt grateful for this opportuni
ty to speak, and at the same time he felt ember
raesed at speakiag in the presence of such an au
dience, and also front the fact that front the intro-
duction of this subject his name had been placed
in a very unfavorable light. Many of the mem
bers personally know Di. McPheeters, tie he bad
known him as a man of remarkably gentle man
ner and purity of life. 'ltem were hisclassmates
and old friends, while thaspeaker was-personally
known to scarcely any of them. . The real ques
tions to be determined here are, tst, what is to
be considered the effect, hf the- A ppeal of. W. W.
Green and others against the decision of the
Presbytery dissolving ;the pastoral relation of
Dr. McPbeeters ? 2d. !Had the Presbytery the
right to deal with Dr. 14cPbeeters in the case ?
Aud, 3d. Was the action taken, proper. Now
Dr. McPheeters did not .appeal. The Pine Street
church as such did notappeal. But a few per
sons did appeal. At a, meeting, Capt. W. W.
Green gave notice of an appeal, and= this is all
that was done. Now the question returns,
What effect has this appeal as
,to Dr. Mopheet
ere ? This appeal or complaint was dated July
9, 1863. Capt. Green does' not attempt to take
an appeal in the name of-the Session or congre
gation. He took his complaint or appeal as a
member of the minority of Presbytery. Our
Book, lays down the distinction very clearly be
tween appeals and complaints. An appeal re
quires a judicial ease: Capt. Green, who took
the appeal, was not an original party. The
Church bad a right to take an appeal, and so
had Dr. MoPheeters. Capt. Green has some
times labored under the delusion that he was
Pine Street church ; but:this did not make him
IL Therefore, Capt. Green had no right to ap
peal. Appeals in oases not judicial could not
lie. He cited in proof;the case between Drs.
Wilson and Beecher, jpmetimes, to .prevent a
case from being throW6; the language "an ap
peal and complaint" is used, and the Assembly
has decided in some cases, that while a case
would not lie as an appeal, it might lie as a coin
plaint. So that Capt. Green's paper may be a
complaint. The complaint has been- handed
over to the next meeting of the Synod of Mis
souri. And nothing has yet been concluded,
with respect to it. Bat suppose it to be an ap
peal, is there not full authority for the Presby
tery to do exactly as it , did, during the pendency
of the appeal. And wo must bear in mind that
the action complained of before this bodyjs not
that of June, 1863, which dissolved the pastoral
relation, but that of April, 1864. Now, if
Dr. McPheeter's had the right to act as pastor,
because the appeal from the act 'of June, 1863
was still pending, why has he not the right to
aot as pastor during the pendency of his com
plaint of the action of April, 1864? But Dr.
!tdcPheeters had not pretended to such a right as
this.
This constitutional matter has been a great
trouble to us in Missouri. But we chose to act
as the friends of the Constitution of our_ Coun
try and the Constitution of o7r Church interpret
them rather than as their enemies interpret, them.
After this exposition, he thought it clear that
the appeal of Capt. Green- did not reinstate Dr.
McPheeters as pastor. The principle upon,
which Dr. McPheeters contends, might ruin any
church, if the appeal of a third party, as the
Captain is,- would reinstate Dr. McPheeters as
pastor of Pine Street church.
Great effort has been made to give this ques
tion a character which it does not possess. Dr.
MoPheeters has not been tried or condemned.
The Presbytery bas simply declared in the ex
ercise of its administrative functions, that the
interests of religion requiro the separation of
Dr. MoPheeters from hie people.
Judge Strong then discussed the power of
Preabytery, Chap. x,Bec. 8, of our Book, con
tending that under this, full power was given for
such an act as the Presbytery had performed.
And this power was inherent in the very nature
of Presbytery. The entire course of argument
by the complainants has been to awaken sympa-
thy, by alleging that grave charges had been
&Kele and action taken on them without trial.
But no charges had been made, and there was
no necessity that there should be any. As to
the power of Presbytery there van be no doubt ;
the only question is, Was the notion wise ? The
attempt has been- made to show that no goes=
Lion of loyalty was involved, and that all this
trouble.has sprung up out of the ground. Pine
Street church was remarkable for its unanimity.
Has this church been distracted for three years;
have we come 'up to this General Atiserably all
for nothing ? In the history of this rebellion, it
required all we could do to save the Churob. from
beooming the ally of treason. Night after night
had he slept with loaded arms at the head of his
bed, one of Bve thousand ready to rise' at any
hour to defend our country and -die if necessary
for it. During the early part of the struggle,
Dr. MoPheeters was at Fort Union, in New Mex
ico, but many of the members of "his ohnrch
were alders and abettors. These have been ev
er since, the alders and abettors of Dr. McPhee
ters. They are the ones who have boded and
encouraged him. Among the persons who
marcheg out against Gen. Lyon, were members
of Pine Street church ; one of them a Very in
fluential member, and a near relative of one of
the complainants.
Shortly after the return of Dr. MoPheeters,
some of the active secessionists in Pine Street
church endeavored to lead him to cast. in his lot
with theta. The peetoral letter read to this As
sembly had never been read , to the church; , his
friends had kept it in their pockets. When Dr.
liePheeters returned, the people had arrayed
themselves on one side or the other. A census
taken quietly by the Union •men, showed at
length 17,000 Union families, and 6,000 seces
sion families. But feeling was high, audit first
we Union people were allowed thirty days be
fore the city would‘be overrun—then sixty days
—but in the mercy of God we are still there.
To-day, however, Pine Street church has fifteen
representatives
.in the Southern army. These
are the friends, and the sons and brothers of
the friends of Dr. MoPheeters. But for one
whole year we bore with Dr. McPheeters. •A
good deal of feeling was created ; still we exer
cised forbearance. At length it began to be a
matter of common talk, that in Pine. Street
church was the home of secession ; and Di. hic-
Pheeters was gradually affiliating, and sympa:-
thising with those who were known to be in op.
position to the Goverinnent.
Adjourned with prayer by Dr. Elliott.
AFTNIMON
Assembly met and was opened wit - lt prayer by
Dr. Sohenck.
The Report of the Committee on the Memorials
from the Presbyteries of, Ogdensburg Mid Mi
ami, was placed on the dooket ; and also an ad
ditional resolution called forth by the communi
cation from the. General Assembly: tt Dayton.
Rev. 3. 14. 'Lowrie, preaenfed the ite
print on Systoniatie Benevolence. ..
Rev. , Dr. Rookwell was placed on the Com
mitts, on Psalmody, in - plan of Rev. N. 0.
Burt.
- The Judicial case was then resumed. Judge
Strong having the door, read a letter ad
dressed to Dr. McPheeters, by himself and
four other elders, and twenty-six other mem
bers of Pine Street church, asking him,
as a citizen, to Commit himself against the
rebellion and in favor of the Union, stating
that at that time be was claimed by the Seces
sionists, and that this feeling was deepened by
hie baptism of a child, of a member of the
church, which was named Sterling Price, thus,
insulting the Governtitent and all loyal people,
and entreating him to give his influence no
longer in the wrong direction. , Judge Strong
explained that, this child was brought in for
baptism having the rebel colors prominently
displayed, and wepring on its bonnet the red,
white and red, the badge worn by rebel ladies to
distinguish them from the ladies in fever. of the
Government, until they were forbidden to wear
them, any longer.' Mr. Robbins, the father of
the child, was an outspoken and avowed Seces
sionist, since banished to the South. He then
read the'resolution of the Synod of Missouri in
the Fall of 1861, which-denounced the' Spring
ResolutiOns of. that year aa'unscriptural, uncon-,
stitutional, arid, unwise, and of 'no binding force,.
whatever. This action was gotten up and car-.'
Tied throng& by the intimate friends of Dr. go-
Pbeeters. This shows that,,ifter all the mili
tary had some grounds fot; suspecting %thcse ec
elesiastical meetings. In Columbus. Dr. WP. voted
against the resolutions of Dr. R. J. Dreckb:t 7
ridge. In the meantime, his - . brother haii gOpo
into the rebel- artily; and, anode beothU: WA'
gone to Riobinond in the- tasiniesarY :Depiirt
ment, but has lately returned to New-'York ;
whether he had 'now any oonnectien with the
revel" Government or not l .the speaker did not
know. His wife—
Here Dr. MePheeters rose and said he would
stand anything except what was said about his
wife. (Sensation.)
Judge Strong .then said he would let that pass.
Ile then read a statement from the ex-Provost
Marshal of St. Louis, which made it appear that
the Doctor would have been arrested by the mil
itary authorities six' montlls before he was ac
tually arrested, had it not been for him (Strong).
In the meantime, Dr. McPheeters left. the State
for a time, with an avowed Secessionist, who
still declares himself a Secessionist, and is in
banishment from the State. Upon bid return he
,yeplied to'the letter addressed to him, declining
to commit himself in favor of the Union, and
saying at the same time that there was no ques
tion of the purity of the church between thein ;
but at the same, time several members of his
church werb in the Southern artily. When a.
.second time Judge Strong learned that, the
Marshal-.was about to arrest:Dr. Mo•
Pheeters, he remonstrated with the -officer, who,
hOwever, insisted on the propriety of the "course.
This. arrest changed the 'whole cOMPlexion,Of
matters. The, rebel sympathigers in the church,
within twenty-four houra, compelled us to go
with' them against the Goiernment and'for
MoPheeters, or for the Government and against
McPheeters. And, as the order. asserts, Dr.
McPheeters had beCome a _promoter of civil dis
cord. Among eighty females - iihoae names are
appended to It petition, Judge B..cliirtret know
one who was.not a rebel sympathizer. Dr. Mc-
Pheeters was only forbidden to preach the Gospel
in Nissouri ' and this was because his influence
was known to be unfavorable, to the Government.
The' church had been placed in the care of True:
tees by.the Provost Marshal, without any solici
tation on their part, and against, their reMon
strance. Dr. McPheeters had gone to Wash
ington, had seen the President, ' and got the
order revoked banishing him froth the State.
Judge Strong had gone to Washington on, the
subject, and 'brought a letter to Gen Curtis from'
the President, in which the latter said that he .
believed, after a short, conversation, that Dr.
McPheeters did sympathize with therebellion,"
and directing Gen. Curtis not to interfere more
than was necessary in the !natter of churches ;
but saying, at the same time, that he in St.-Lou
is could judge better than one in :Washington:
Persons known to be rebels—one of whom had
rejoiced at the fall of Sumpter—had vouched for
Dr. Merheeters' loyalty. Many had vouched for
the Dr., but they themselves seemed to have sin
gular notions, of what Constituted loyalti; nor.
was Priqier to conclude that the oath of alle
giance was evidence of loyalty. An officer of
me Pine Street church had said, in the hearing
of a member of this Assembly, that 'he did not
consider the oath of allegiance binding on the
conscience. This was common talk-among that
class of people who sympathized with the South.
The letter of Gen.-Curtis to the Dr., asking his
views as to the rebellion, vas read. Dr. Ma-
Pheeters could not or would not answer.
Judge Strong then went on to show the action
taken by the Pine Street church. If Dr. Mc
• heeters had been left to himself, he would have
resigned long before he did. The first two
preachers we got as supplies were disloyal, aid
had been arrested. All felt that sernetbipg must
be.done, and in thee circumstances the pro-re
nata meeting was caned.
At this meeting of Presbytery -a letter •from
Dr. McPheeters was read , asking a dissolution of
the pastoralrelation. W. W. Green, one of the
complainants here, representing the church in
the Presbytery, rose and said that no official so
thm had been taken by the church, but that
-himself and four other members of 'the Session
bad held an informal meeting, and had concluded
that this was the best thing that could be done.
A notice was served on the congregation, and at
a meeting held, fifty-six had voted for the ac
ceptance of the Dr.'s resignation, and eighty
-four against it; but the Union people had made
no effort to get out their strength, since it was
understood that the congregation would assent to
the resignation. As a Commissioner he had told
Presbytery that a`majority were in favor of Mr.
llfoPheeters' withdrawingliis resignation, but at
the same time insisted .that the resignation
should be accepted by Presbytery. But since it
was doubtful whether this meeting was legal, for
the purNse; of dissolving this relation, on ac
count of the prevailing 'excitement, 'Presbytery
adjourned; and another meeting was called,
signed by the friends of Dr. McPheeters.
Recess until 7l o'clock.
F.VENING SESSION
The Assembly met; and was opened with
prayer. ' -
Judge Strong resumed his argument-by read
ing the call for the second meeting. The number
present at that meeting was 21. It had be'en Ott
jested that the attendance at that time was small:
13ut the average attendance at thirty-one consec
utive meetings Was only 15. Then a memorial
was presented, signed by 77 "members in good
and, regular standing, asking that the resigna
tion be accepted. Dr. McPheeters also: sent a
communication to the Presbytery, which was not
put upon the reco'rds because deemed disrespect
ful to the Stated Clerk sea Presbytery. Ile at
great length set forth the Various steps taken
and arguments used in' effecting the. dissolution
of the pastoral relation. Bat want of room com
pels us to use the utmost brevity hereafter, since
all the facts and arguments have been presented.
When Judge'Strong had concluded, Dr. Mc-
Pheeters- asked to' be heard ten or fifteen min:
utee. Re said there was a multitude( of insinu
ations and inuendees which he could not, from
the nature of the case, answer. -
Adjourned with prayer by Rev. Dr. Tustin.
Eleventh Day.
TIIEsDAY AloaNiNG; May 31
The Assmbly met, and spent half an hour in
devotional exProises. The Minutes were read,
corrected, and adopted. .
Rev. Dr. Musgrave .offered a paper, recom
mending 'the congregations under the care of
this General Assembly to memorialize Congress,
asking that an amendment be proposed - to the
Constitution of the United States, in which the
supreme authority of God, and of his 6qp Jesus
Christ over the, nations; shall be acknowledged.
Dr. Lowrie called fora statement of the bust
mesa beforethe Assembly. The TempararyClerk
replied that he vias unable to tell just now, until
the docket had been examined. Indeed to was
almost afraid to state, this morning, what re
mained to be done, lest the members might sup
pose they would not get home before next Fall.
'The Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Correspondence read a,letter, to be sent to the
General Assembly of / the Church of Ireland.
Adopted.
The Committee on Bills and Overtures report
ed paper No. 25, from the Presbytery of Dane,
asking the General Assembly to recommend the
Elders of the churches to take the oversight of
the Sabbath Schools., The Committee recom.
mended, that owing to the late her at which
this matter came before the committee and As
sembly, no action be taken - . Adopted. -
The same Committee also reported No. 26, from
Mr. Thornton, asking whether the Presbytery
has absolute.power in the settlement ofa pastor.
The committee referred the inquirer to'the For.
of Government.' Adopted. — -- -• •
The Judicial case of- Dr. IdePheeters was
Dr. Elliott suggested -that the members of
Presbytery, in presenting their case, be as brief
as circumstances would permit, " -*
Mr. Sutherland, Elder from the Presbytery of
St. Louls,:took the door, and stated-that:- reflec
tions had been made on the aluireeter of the
members of Prosbytortwho dismissed Dr. No-
WHOLE NO. 607.
Pheeters. This was all wrong. Re himself,
and most of the members of Presbytery, were
personally friendly to'Dr. MaPheeters. Re then
reviewed the successive proceedings, contending
that there was no haste; that everything was
done regularly and in a proper spirit.
Rev. Alr. Fenton said he had been and was per
sonally a friend to Dr. MoPheeters. He traced
the proceedings of Presbytery, and contended
that there was no haste, when all the circum
stances are taken into account; and that every
thing had taken the regular course. Mr. Fenton
stated the important fact that the paper spoken
of as having been withdrawn at the first meeting;
was not the Dr.'s resignation, but a lettter address
ed to Presbytery, and the reading of which was
stopped because considered insulting to Presby
tery. At the second meeting of the Presbytery,
Dr: McPheeters asked to withdraw his resigna
tion. Then a paper was presented to Presbytery by
77 members or the Pine Street church, asking that
the pastoral relation be- dissolved. Rev. Mr.
Brookes, representing Dr. McPheeters, informed
the latter or the state of things, when he replied
that if so many members of Pine Street church
were dissatisfied with him, he did not wish to
continue his services there any longer.
Dr. McPheeters interrupted the speaker, say
ing: "I deti ., thaLii -
The speaker roPlied: "I can prove it by per
sons now in this bailie." •
The Moderator said that at this stage of the
proceedings', Dr. Melliteeters had no right to say,
deny, any Willi.
x - The Speaker proceeded - ,_
Junkin rose to a point - of order, saying,
that giving a history of the rebellion end war in
Missouri, had nothing to do with the case.
Judge Ryerson was grieved to see the sensi
tiveness of some men, as manifested by frequent
interruptions of speakers.
The Moderator decided that the history recited
by the speaker was'essential to the• understand
ing of the ease, and.that he was in order.
Mr. Fenton concluded by saying that - the wel
fare of that.chorch and the comfort of. Dr. Mc-
Phooters, alike, required .that Dr. illePheeters
Should not return as pastor to that church. '
Mr, Eustace H. Smith, Elder from the Presby
tery of St. Louis, took the platform.
Dr. Junkin contended, that, as Mr. Smith had
not, been a member of Presbytery at the time the
action complained of was taken, he had not the
right to be heard.
Dr. Musgrave asked; "Is not 'Mr. Smith a
representative of the Presbytery of St. Louis ?"
The Moderator sail, "Yes."
" Then," said Dr. Musgrave, "he has an un
doubted right to be beard."
The question was put to' the house, and it was
- decided that Mr. Smith had the right to speak
'and represent: the Presbytery of St. Louis.
Mr. Smith then said be would say a few plain
things, and correct some misstatements. He
then reasserted some things denied by Dr. Mc-
Pheeters, explained others, and read a letter
from Gen. Rosecrans, explaining the well-known
"church order," and asserting that its only-ob
ject was to prevent pereette Iron' concocting
treason under the garb of religion. has been
objected that the order was issued by Geri. Rose
erans, who is a Romai3ist, to hamper Protestants.
Bat the orde.r was not issued by Gen. Roseorane,
but by the Provost Marshal. .
The military authorities had reason to suspect
religious assemblies. He had been in incerier
religious• judicatories where resolutions had been
introduced to dissuade young Men from rushing
into the Southern ` -army. The rebel sympathi4eis
immediately laid them on the table..
The Moderator then gave, notice that, acoOrd
,
ing to the rules of the General Assembly, the
complainants and the Presbytery of St. Louis
were required to leave the house:
Previous to the calling of the Roll, Dr. Low
rie moved that speeches be limited to five min;
,utes.
•
Dr. Rice opposed this.
- Dr. Musgrave 'moved as" an amendment, that
speeches be limited teliftien minutes.
Dr. )3reekinridge contended that as a judicial
body, as we are now Bitting, we had no right to
limit speeches, and that to do this would be to
violate the constitution.
assembly adjoprted - with
ayer by D -
• AFTERNOON SESSION.
Assembly met and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Lowrie.
• The Roll was then called for members to ex
press their opinions upon the action of the Pres
bytery of St. Louis complained of, viz., Forbid
ding Dr. McFheetere to priach in the Pine Street
church, or to exercise any functions of a pastor
in that church.
When the name of Rev. Mr. 41.oberte, of }loch
.
eater Presbytery, was called, he said he mud
give his vote in favor of reversing the action of
the Presbytery of St. Louis.
Dr. Lowrie said the member was not in order,
sine° the question of the'dissolution of the pas
toral relation was not before this body, but the
question was the authority or want of authority
in the Presbytery to forbid Dr. MoPheeters to
preach or exercise the pastorate in Pine Street
church. . •
After desultory conversation, the point taken
by Jr. Lowrie was sustained.
. Mr, Shepherd insisted that before dealing
with Dr. aloPheeters, charges el/Quid have been
regularly labled against. him. Another - reason
why he would vote for the reversal, was, that
Dr. MePheeters pursued the even tenor of his
way, notwithstanding all the difficulties thrown.
in the way. The Presbytery of St. Louis should
have sustained Dr. Mcl'heeters in his wise and
consilatory course.
Burtis said that, after careful attention:to
this case, he was not certain there had been any
irregularity in the' proceedings of the Presby
tery, at least any more than there had been among
the friends of Dr..'
i MePheeters. If there had
it .
been any rregularity, was due to the presence
of a great - wrong. If Dr. MciPheeters had been
as he. ought to have been, an avowedly loyal
roan, there could have been no difficulty. Pa
triotism is a Christian virtue. And particular
virtues are called into exercise at particular
times. -. The virtue now particularly called for
is patriotism. If we love our country we will
acknowledge it.
.Mr. Roberts; elder, said that if there was good
reason for the dissolution of the pastoral rela
tion, there was also good reason for stopping
him from preaching.
Mr. Webster believed there Was a distinction
between the kingdom of Christ and the king
dom of this world. At the same time., he be
lieved it to be the duty of . ministers and Chris
.
tians to sustain this Government. But in the
case-now before us it. appears that Dr. MePhee-'
tens would not sustain the Government; he was
-so understood by both friends anctenemies. So .
that although the Presbytery may have erred in
some things,yet on the whole, they did the best
they could is t e mourns ances.
Rev. Mr- Reeve said that hada Presbytery in New-Jeneay
or New York acted es had that of Et. Louis, we might have
dontited the „propriety of its course.' lint the question is
now raixed•up with loyalty, and becomes more difficult.
Dr. Rice did not intend to make a long speech, but to give
in the shortest time his - reasons for the way. in which he
would VOL& It was with great pain that he noticed the
troubles now prevailing among brethren he knew so well,
and among whom he labored so pleasantly. He knew the
peculiar difficulties under which piston; there lab r. It is
our duty to love our' country; but we, must not overlook
prinmples which nmy injure both 'Church and State. Re
sustained no relation of an equivocal kind to our ,National
contest. Ile expected to vote to sustain the complaint upon
purely legal ground. Now there were two or three. pecu
liar things to be thrown out of the way= this case. 1. We
Jiave heard H. memoriabst as a party--whioh is peculiar, if
not irregular. 2. A minister is before us virtually on Wel,
though no charges w; re ever preferred. 3.7 Another pecu
liarity, and ono of great embarrassment, is, that this As•
sembly bas heard a large' number of document/3 which are
not at ail oa record. 4. We have been in error in not ar
resting these things. Again, we are embarrassed by the
charge made, that a large number of the ministers of the
Synod of Missouri were disloyal. Now we roust keep in
mind that in attempting to do a good thing, we , may .he do
ing a great harm. He mentioned I. That, we must consider
carefully whether the acts of a Presbytery, constituted as
that was, were valid, when but few ministers were, or could
-be them, owing to poonl.ar circumstances. The very least
that can be said is, that the Presbytery should have pro
ceeded vrith v, ry great caution. 2. Charges ehOuld have
been regularly preferred. If he wee a disloyal man, he was
guilty ni sin. Disloyalty is a sin, as much as dishonastyor
drunkenness, and should be dealt the same' way.
The action of the _Presbytery fastened the stain of disloy
alty upon Dr. McPheeters, though he was not tried. If he
• was disloyal, the Presbytery , did not go far enough; If he
was not disloyal, the Presbytery went too Tar. He was on
willing that We world should scoff at us as.having a min- .
beer in good and re,ular Winding, and yet guilty of the iin
of treason. In such times as these, great care was to be
taken that words did not lose their mtauing. Now, loyalty
might mean much or little, according to the ideas of those
who need it. 'A few years ago a New Enhool minister:in
New-York had charged him with being as outspoken pro
slavery mete and'at the seine time, two New School "men in
• Mississippi had charged him with being-an out-spoken Abo
litionist; and both , parties were reviewing .the same work
S. The degree - of natty, in the faith prescribed in our Con
fessiott, and,theillook of Discipline, must be' taken int
ac
count. One may be a Millenatian as Dr. R. J. Itreckin
ridge, or opposed to liffilenariatiliale;•aa I am, and we do
not interfere with the reqhirertienta of the Buok. Now in
all this discnision, no one has pointed out the reqtdrement
in our-Rook which made it iiewelary tor Dr. mcPbeeters. to
do anything he did not do. or which forbids anything he did
• do. To dismiss a minister, ea did this Presbyteryits tb spot
virtually to depose him. He did not knew_whether
Dr.:ltioebeet , r , was loyal or-not. But be thought' that a
man who could stand •the ordeal of martial law,- with an
'
elder alter-bun, and then, ha set at. liberty And stand well
with the Government, had, afforded ttooiT eiddoce that he
could not be very dieloyal:' It had been; charged that I.w).
- cause the Synod el Missouri opposed Abe Spring. Resolu-.
- lions, they'were dieloyal.' Dr. Hodge had done that. la ha
dialoyal? Dr. Dreckinridge had done that. Is he dilligylar
,Hg (Dr. Rite) would „pi as fir as anybody in prosecuting
disloyal man, If Oblates et Ma Presby tory eas disloyal, and
be kuew it, he would proseenteldto, if nobody else would.
lint no trial hini ever taken plafti: The p 'rticejclinga kid been
irregular at. Ant,. before application bad been made uy
either pester= people. Ana it wee only alter this Irma
lar iwaiteetting, with the military arm presidia bird oh one
side and ble Indigent manias him on the ofher, that he put
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in his resignation. When relieved from military Arab - 414,
Dr. kloPtteeters came back, and supposing h r end L t w i
to preach in the ehurCh during the pendency ;; • • ie ;o s i,
he began to do so. The speaker insisted to:. :;•,reh
had a right to ask him to preach them • h v;•:, ; alter
the dissolution had been effected. It its ea, to
separate a minister from a people who tied.
Aa9. Dr. Campbell followed. The Pr ;.;, tcry dtd nut ape
pear to have acted rashly. The letter 0, r ilgnatiun was
not withdrawn, and it did seem to him that everything had
boon done properly. Ile thought the Presbytery bad actu
solely with e. view to the interests of relighrn and Yro.ihy
terianhim. Ile would vote against sustaining the Cali.
plaint. •
Dr. Junkin said his remarks had been mostly enthope
but be regretted thet the disce•sion bad travelled out ot tha
record. If he had been a :umber of the Presbytery of
fit. Louis, and had been a lut.y convinced ct Dr. lle•
Pheeters' disloyalty as some of the brethren there were, he
would have table, charges. This was the peeper co u rse .
There was no evidence to convict him in the only way ha
could be convicted. And the church had a right to rt,le
to resume his.labors.
The usual time was now spent in devotional exercises,
after which a recess was taken until 7% o'clock.
After recess the Asacmbly mot, and Dr. Ja akin cmdinued
his remarks, setting forth his reasons for sueta Mos tte
complaint.
Dr. Greenleaf followed. He felt perplexed, and was very
much in the dark. Both parties, in his °pivot, had been in
the wrong. Dr. IdePheeters had undoubtehly been in the
wrong in remaining when he discovered that he was oljectien
able to &large part of hie congregation. Itt this he e red.
To his younger brethren, Dr Greenleaf said, do not hold
on tea place after the people cease to desire you. tins Ito
was beetle down by the erretunetances. 'Very few of us have
fameo withstand a heat. Atter hearing for twelve or reur
' teen hours hedid begin to feel considerable eyeipatlty, and
bed the vote been taken then, he would have voted td
Min the complaint—be did not know that he might net do
now,pr at least in part. But lie confessed the rebutting
speeches had perplexed him somewhat.
Rev. Mr. Rompshall felt himself burdened with the re.
sporisibtlity laid on him. Ile Was ember massed. He.
emit the points at issue to be, 1. Had the Presbytery of St.
Loud+ the right to dissolve the pastoral relation between
Dr:Ala/teeters and hie church, when in their judgment t 5
spiritual interests demanded it? Be hardly thought this
so. But suppose they have this right. Have they the right
to turn him out of his church, when this will leave a stain
upon his character? For if Dr. MePheetere falls before this
Assembly, none of tin dare ask biro into our pulpits. 2.
Had the Presbytery the right, after the dissolution, to say
Dr. McPheeters must not preach any more to that people ?
Ile could not say that he was clear as to this.
Dr. Craven said he was embarrassed, because in the pre
, ence of hos own people; because the recdrd was defective;
because, on conducting this case, both parties tied traveled
tar out of the record; and because he had not had time to
facto a mature judgment. Questions of ecclesiastical law
were to be niet. Had no appeal been made to the Synod of
Missourkit is perfectly clear he would no longer base been
pastor. He contended that so long as the appeal WAS hel.,ro
• Synod, the dissolution had not actually taken place. In
support of this, he referred to the decision in the Pinky
case, in connection with the church of Metuchin, as record
ed in Baird's Digest. The congregation had the same right
to appeal as the pastor bad. And if Capt. Green imps:tied in
behalf of the congregation, tire case is clear. In the
speaker's opinion, listed represent the congregation. But
if W. W. Green did not represent the congregation, the CASO
is clear that no relief can belied from this Ars -nobly. The
case is before the Synod of Missouri. Tee Sessioh has the
right to ask Dr, McPheeters to preach in the mem; lime,
though the expediency of accepting such request is au taht r
question. And the Presbytery - has the right to follow this
within certein limits; that is, where Chia action of the Pres
bytery dos not infer crime. When such action fines imply
guilt or crime, charges mnst be tabled and he must be tried.
Mr. Wm. Rankin said he had arrived at a einetent cert.
Oilskin from that of his pastor. lie aesntued o l. I hat Dr.
MePheeters yeas loyal. 2. That the Presbytery dissolved the
pastoral relation. 8. That the Presbytery has power to or.
der whatever in their judgment seems best for the Mon rchee.
4. That thou, h the Presbytery., may possibly have erred,
they knew the circumstances much better than we did.
hey. Dr. Maclean found no fault with the Presbytery for
dissolving the pastoral relation. But W. W. Gra-n, a man.
her of the Session of the church, gave notice of an appeal
as soon as the decision was announced. And the speaker
assumed he did appeal, and that he had a right to appeal,
and.thar this .stopped ail farther proceedings. The Prea
bytery of St. Louis, at a time when but few from necessity "
could attend, declared Dr. aleeheeters shoat no ranger
preachln the church in questioh. lie contended this war
only a "pretended" Presbytery, as the General Ass nitay
Smitiand in 1637 had pronounced the six preceding A-s. no
blies "pretended" Assemblies, because the r members were
;only finch as the Ring favored. In support of this he ais
quoted from Dr. R. J. Breckinridee, as he expressed himself
in 1843. 'Flo contended for the absolute freedom of Chute h
Gentle. Now if the appeal was regular, Dr. 3icitheetere was
Still pastor of the church, and the proceeding which tei bade
him was irregular. Dr. Maclean would vote to sustain Ono
cornplaint.
„.,:eadjottrned until to-morrow morning at 83/ 2 ' o'clock.
Prayer by Dr. Rodgers.
WED.IkIESDAY MOV.I4IIPG, June 1.
The Assembly spent the first half hour in
prayer and praise.
lklinutes read, corrected, and approved.
ReV.. Dr. °Mit presented documents to the
Asseiribly. concerning the American Colonization
SoCiety.,
The calling of the Roll was resumed.
Rev. 'Mr:Everett said that, owing to the irrel
evancy of the matter introduced, our deci9.ion
must be on the loyalty of Dr. ItlcPbeeters. He
htte.thataind' of leyalty which renders it Inez •
pedient he slicUld be any longer pastor of that
church. • '
EOM
Judge Ityeredh tifolethe floor, and in an able
argument, showing the traelssue, as he under
stood it. in the case, repudiated the doctrines
uttered by Dr. McLean' concerning the military
orders. He denietithat the Presbytery of April,
1864 was only a "pretended" Presbytery, as
had been asserted by Dr. McLean. The me
morial to Pre'sbytery, asking it to forbid Dr.
MoPheeters preaching any longer in Pine Street
church, charged him directly with disloyalty.
And he must say there were strong grounds for
such an allegation. And in this memorial he
was also charged with encouraging a contuma •
dims spirit.' Bat the Presbytery should have
taken up the - case, arraigned Dr. McPheeters,
and tried him. . But because they did not do
this they committed a mistake. If the action of
June, 1863, ever comes up to this body and he
- was a member of-it, he would vote to sustain the
Presbytery. But to do as Presbytery did is
April, 1864, without entering upon the trial of
Dr. MoPheeters, was wrong according to our
Book. And on this ground alone ho would vote
to sustain Ile complaint.
Mr. Osborn thought that owing to the state of
things in the Pine Street church Dr. McPhee
ters' wiefulness was at an end. He believed the
action right.- He went for sustaining the Pres
bytery.
Rev. Mr. Bash would not vote to sustain the
complaint, because- the Presbytery acted con
scientiously, because the Presbytery might, for
the sake of the Church, forbid him to preach,
and then afterwards try hind, just as was once
done in the Presbytery of Newton. The Pres
bytery being fully convinced of the unfavorable
consequences of his labors in that place, had a
perfect, right to do as was done. Dr. McPhee
ters had resigned, and now came to us asking us
to relieve him from the consequences of hiq own
act. One-half our pastorates were dissolved by
pro-re-naia meetings. And Dr. McPheeters had
in his own speech asked the General Assembly
to decide whether a man may put biinself out
side of his country; and refuse to be a patriot,
and yet be a pastor in good and regular stand
ing, while this General Assembly declared patri
otism to be a duty. Dr. McPheeters had taken
the oath to enable him to solemnize marriage,
where - there was a little fee, but refused to take
the oath in order that he might attend Presby
tery. Presbytery did not " spot" him. I nev
er knew a troublesome case is which a Presby
tery had acted more considerately and tenderly.
If you send him back, the Presbytery will not'
be able to deal so gently the next time.
Rev. Mr. Colt believed we should confine our.
selves to the question. Dr. MoPheeters cannot
ask us to reverse a decision which he himself
sought when be sent in his resignation. He
agreed that he should have been tried. But
that does not relieve him before this body. The
Presbytery has the right to exercise the pater
nal relation.
Rev. Mr. Miller could not agree in the justice
of a picture drawn here respecting Dr. McPhee.
tern, as a pistor with an Elder atter him. But
there wee also ground for sympathy with the
Presbytery doing its duties in perilous times.
On all the great points the Presbytery was right,
but that Presbytery could not be sustaine.i on
principle. The simple question was, h.td the
Presbytery the right to forbid a minister preach
ing in a particular place It. The object was good,
but it.was not done in the right way. The dis
solution of the pattoral relation left him free to
minister wherever he might choose or be invited.
But, the appeal of W. W. Green suspended the op•
eralion of the act of dissolution, and Dr. DI c.
Pheeters is pastor of that church until the Synod
shall decide the matter. And therefore the Pres
bytery did wrong in April in ordering hint to
ocase preaching in tho Pine Street church.
Rev.,Mr.Oobb approved the action of the Pres
bytery of St. Louis most heartily.
Rev. Dr. Schenck said he had come to this
Assembly with the strongest predispositions in
favor of Dr. MoPheeters, whom he loved. But
in hearing the case his mind had moved is a di
rectly opposite direction. The Presbytery which
had dissolved the pastoral relation was regular ;
there wag no reason eicept the want of loyalty,
for any body being absent. The business was
regularly presented. R was the privilege of the
minority to bring this matter beL,re the Presby
tery, audit was the right and duty of the Pres•
bytery to enter upon the consideration of tho
Matter. Then oomes the written resignation of
the pastor.' And the Presbytery, acting upon
these two applications, had dissolved the rela
tion. The appeal dicknot stay the act of disto•
lotion. And the Presbytery, in full view of all
the facts pertaining to the welfare of that chinch,
hadlorbidden him to preach.
• Rey.-Dr. Musgrave had been surprised - at the
remark made concerning irrelevant matter,
3%o:introduced them? Dr. MoPheeters. While
he was , speaking certain brethren kept silent,
but as soon as these matters were introduced by
the other side, these brethren suddenly awoke
to-- their impropriety. He agreed with Judge
Ryerson as to the propriety of the military CJ:I-
dutot, while be as distinctly repudiated the sent
menta from another quarter, and believed the
EVENING SESSION
Twelfth Day,