Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-07-14
From Abbotts' Magazine.
A DAY IN THEE GENERAL AS

The present General Assembly is com
posed of about two hundred and fifty minis
tiers and elders. These representatives of
the churches are among the most eminent
for intelligence and piety. They are nearly
equally divided into two parties, called cold
school" and ''new school," The old school
men select the Rev. Albert Barnes, for pros
ecution, simply as the representative Of the
new school, and the new school admit the
justice Of the selection by endorsing sub
stantiaIy the system of faith which Mr.
Barnes inculcates. These sentiments the
old school men declare to be subversive Of
the doctrines Of the Gospel, and ruinous to
the souls OF men. Consequently one halt
of the ministers Of the Presbyterian Church,
in the United States, are, in the declared
opinion Of the other half, preaching disas-
trous error. and bringing spiritual desolaton
upon the churches. Such men as DR. Beech
er, DR. Skinner, DR. Peters, Professor Stu
art, and nearly the whole host Of the New
England clergy, are heretics, not preaching
the Gospel of Christ, but scattering sOul-de-
stroying heresy through the land. 1t is ad-
mltted that these men may be sincere and
even plOuS, while it is most strenuOusly con
tended that the sentiments which they hold
and teach, are so diShonorable to God, and
so ruinous to the spiritual welfare of man
that the holders Ofthem should receive the
severe rebuke ofthe church, and be deposed
from the ministry.
| While listening to the debates this morn
ing, | was forcibly struck with the following
considerations:
l. How evident is it that Christians have
not in view political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. If il
were their object to obtain political power
to unite church and state, is it conceivable
that they would allow some almost unintel
Iigible point Of doctrine to divide thei
strength? A political man will generally
90 all lengths with his party. But it seem:
that Christians will contend for what they
deem the truth, with friends as readily a
with foes They will at once break up al
their organizations, and dissipate, in an in
slant, their united power, rather than allow
any sentiments to prevail which they con
slider injurious to the souls OF men.
2. 1t is said the debates IN the Genera
, Assembly are frequently sullied with bite
and irritated feelings. But let one listen
an excited debate in Congress, and then t
an excited debate in the General Assemb
see them in the one place, exhaustng tn
power of vituperative language, IN deIlbeI
; ate and premeditated discussion, and the
not unfrequently proceeding from abuse
profanencsS, and thence to the dlsgracetU
: assault, or ;he still more criminal duel; an
! see them in the other case, courteous an
! respectful, never giving utterance to pre-
! fame expression, and never proceeding
the hostile meeting. and no one can den
1 that religion does at least present some IT
t Str0int to the passions of men. Such We
r bal encounters as arc Of almost daily OcCU
renee at the bar, and on the floor OF Cor
y gresS, are never witnessed IN the Gener;
- Assembly. Though there probably seldoI
has been a collection Of men assembled VI
> der more anxious and excited feeling, dI
= not hear disrespectful remark. Even L
T Junkin, and apparently all the old scho
e men, admitted the honesty and sincerity
S Mr. Barnes, and expressed their admlrauO
of his talents, and his elevated character
|, And, on the other hand, MIR Barnes and h
- friends, though stung in the most thrlIIlE
Il nerves of feeling, questioned not the motive
7 Of those who thus assaulted them
y | was once in our National Hall Of Repr
5, sentatives during season of great eXclt
d ment, and the whole house was cOnvertC
g into a turbulent, roaring mob. was IN II
at General Assembly at time of still great
: excitement. when far deeper, and more sou
stirring feelings were called into eXercls
= and upon every countenance could be SCI
"a the struggle of intense emotion, but not
50 passionate word was uttered, not right W
d, trampled upon. There is difference, mar
ne ed and palpable, between the renewed a
at unrenewed heart.
# 3. l was most forcibly struck with t
I'd trihlng nature Of the difference between
,c- two parties. Both parties believe that n