Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-10-05

Elnla, would be grained To know th,
, opinions of one, who for so man,
years lived and labored amongst them
u send you for publication, in tn,
Waterman of the South the opin,
ions Of my Father. on the question.
which acltate our Zion.
Your bT5hhcr-in Christ.
JOHN DANIEL MATTHEWS
Rcr. Um. y. Piumer, Richmoad.
The letter is as follows:
SoUrH HANovER. INDIANA.
nv DEAR Son You ask my opin,
ION respecting the proceedings Of the
late General Assembly. This vii
give, though i, must be briefly.
That the plan Of union" wa,
not constitutional, is admitted by most
of those who condemn the decisions
of the Assembly. Some indeed ALICE
that /, Is according to the spirit, though
not the letter of the constitution. But
how can we ascertain the spirit but by
and through the letter. Ii II Is CON
trary to the letter, how can ii be IN
accordance with the spirit; The right
and power of adopting constitutional
rules /, vested exclusively IN The preS-
byteries: and as this plan lever was
submitted 10 them, and never received
their appreciation. IL could not possibly
be constitutional When the cons,i-
tuition was revised, amended, and re-
adopted in ls2l by the PreSbvicrics.
this plan was not included in that re
vision plainly. because it was no
part of the Constitution, any more
than was the plan Of the Theological
Seminary.
1t Is equally plain, to my mind at
least. that this plan IN its operation and
effects, was anii-constilutional, violating
both the letter aud the spirit OF the CON
stitution. The Constellation most expli.
oi:ly declares. that the a. church session
consists Of thep Pastor or Pastors and Rul-
ing Elders Of particular coneresa-
ton" 1t "prescribes the mode 10
which ecclesiastical Rulers shall be OF :
daincd 10 their respective Offices -
The Ruling Elder must be elected BY
the congregation be male member
In full communion in the church he
must. as part Of his ordination, sin
cerely receive. and adopt the confes-
sion o. this church; must approve OF
the government, aud discipline Of the
Church.
Such are Ruling Elders and OF
such exclusively, according 20 the con.
u
plan therefore, which will admit a,
members Of session. those who do not
possess these requisite qualifications,
must violate the constitution. II. for
instance, females were admitted or
males who are not communicate, must
not every person confess that this d,
anti constitutional II those are al.
mittcd though otherwise qualified.
who are not ordained, according 10 the
3" mode prescribed" 10y the constitu-
ton, We see not how 10 escape the
conclusion that the constitution Is Vio-
lated by such admission. The rights
and power delegated exclusively 10
" Ruling Elders" are gwen 10 those
and exercised by those Who are not
Elders. II the constitution - carried
into effect. the plan 81 mon - made
VOID n the plan ot mon /, earned
into effect the constitution q made
VOID The mcmhcrs at session cannot
be elders and vet not elders. any more
than they can be- alive and vet dead at
the same time Now, We have the very
best evidence that the plan 1t mon
Las produced. and - Nlll Producing
these effects. 10 TIE protest signed
by tie Re-. y CIrtcland and 9th
rts. II y G.snn,uy stated that "a hi,
plan. At the nfuc Il The adoption IT the
constitution l-2l uas ~ iull and
ilicicnt operation tbs Han vas ~
fUH operation TIA: i.. 80 vc suppose
oH ts rules sod priuDy'rs were rc.
6Gced o. pucloc aud on uH ths church
81. With vl,h &c. protectors are con
nrcicd. This operation was ,NIqf
the session Wa constituted and disco
plume va. exercised re- HtdIu to all the
details at thl Plan otbctWtsc. II
ouli uut D. 90 f4H Dad Efficient OPP
Grafton lhrcc Ur ioorc churches
flrmcd on the Vlan. ithi by their
delegates Associate together tnr mu-
tusi lru,ft hlt iif. asre,iaiion could
ntt d. constitutional p-esbytefy Nor
.rrs ~ ihe t'fs.out. ~ e Prtdt'er,
W. RDhng E'drft are wanting -
Three of rf.fe .sr,ilfInstiu. formed
r1eht unite iof ne are purpose --
i.t ibis uutan for the sane reason
could DOT 30 R.eskSisnsn SyRo1 -
These brethrea fe sos pcieni
g ne fact - sy sisiea
General Asge and fbis sls tnt
proves thal 1elgs a. fsln Of
government contaiasd ~ plan u
mon. 10 that contained n the con.
.i.iallan. They have the mot PERFECT