The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-04-18
THE PRESBYTERIAN CASE.

SnSAAs
Alexander's Weekly Messenger. OF the
9Th inst contains the following brief
statement of the origin of the unfortunate
division in this church.
The Greaf Presbyterian Lar Case.
report Of The recent important trial
the Presbyterian eause-by q member
OF The Bar. is now in The course Of pub
lies.ion in the Presbyterian. a weekly re-
lieions paper Of this city. The Origin Of
this Interesting case. Is We are led 10 IN.
derstand IL. may be thus stated: The con.
sIlIuIion Of the Presbyterian church re.
quires that each church shsll be governed
by rtling elders. who must BE- elected by
tie congregation and ordained forlife; they
mist also subscribe 10 the Westminster
rcnit ssiou Of Iaith. This is not only the
constitution Of that church. but il 10 gene
rally held BY presbyierisns llla, the inslilu.
ton is Of divine origin. and therefore can.
not be changed or modified. In The year
1901, however. an arrangement was
made between the general assembly OF the
presbyterian church and the general as
ISOLATION Of Connecticut, by which, in ef-
feel. congregational churches that are not
governed by ruling elders but BY the male
members Of The congregation at large. and
which churches do not subscribe 10 the
confession Of faith. were admitted into the
presby terian system. This arrangement
was intend 10 foster infant establishments
on the frontiers: and al first The effects
were Too inconsiderable 10 atlrac, ai,en-
lion. Butsf.eF alapse OF tine twas found,
in shnse sections of county settled by per.
sons from New England. 10 have made
extensive inrosds upon the presbyterian
establishments. In the synod Of the
Western Reserve. consisting Of one hun.
dfed and Ih'riy-nine churches, only w en-.
Iy.four where governed by ruling elders
ordained for life. The majority Of the
members OF the general assembly Of the
presbyterian church for the year 1897,
thought |, was an evil which they were
in conscience bound 10 remedy, and
therefore passed resolutions declaring
the uneonsti.u,ionsli,y Of the plan Of
union. and repeating The same. They
moreover declared four synods. the
churches in which were introduced into
The presbyterian connection by the plan
Of union, to be no part OF The presby Teri.
an church. They ~ The same time made
a provision by which all The really pres.
byterian churches. ministers and congre.
cations in these synods were provided
lnr, and by which they might annex
themselves to the adjacent presbyieries. /
and still remain in full connexion with
The church. These acts we're denouuc.
ed BY minority of the general assem-
bly, ; they maintained that the uncons,i.
lu,ional characierof The plan Of union had |
been rec.ified by long aequiescence, and
ihs. the synods in question ought no. |
10 have been rejected without regular
Iorms Of process.
Out Of The agitation in The church on
his matter, grew the division which took
Place in 1888. and The organization Of
wo bodies. each claiming 10 be The gen.
'ral assembly Of The presbyterian church,
md with their respective adherenls,
known a. the old and the new school
parties. The recent trial having result.
ID in Q verde, for the latter, the former
,arty move Cor new trial. The areu-
nent on this motion is 10 be heard this
Wednesday, by the Supreme Court, si,.
ing in bank. Whichever division OF The i
hurch may prevail. The other. as good
i'izens, mus. submit 70 the supremacy
4 the laws.