The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-03
NEW YORK HERALD.
w York, Wednesday, january 3. Is44.

New York, "wednesday, january 3. IsA4.
The scottish Church Deputatlon to America
-Dr. Cunningham and the Voluntary
Princlplc"-Tne Real Question mt Issue.
A good deal OF interest has been excited among
the religious circles here, in consequence of the
arrival Of DIR. Cunningham, distinguished minis
ter of the Scottish Free Church. At the meeting
held last evening, in the Wall street church, DR..
Cunningham made heightened statement Of the
object OF his mission, and entered into an explana-
ton OF the circumstances which produced the dis
rupton Of the Scottish Church establishment. The
Doctor might, we think, have made himself little
more Ineligible. AS it is, however, his statement
is interesting in a variety of aspects and we have
therefore taken the pains TO present II fully before
our readers. In order to make 1t more easily I'M
derstood by our readers, and in ORDER also, that
Df. Cunnlngham's position, as well as that OF the
body which he represents, may be better and more
accurately defined than he has thought proper 10
represent them, we shall overselves give a very
short chapter Of ecclesiastical history.
The origin OF the Church OF Scotland was es-
sentialy popular A wide difference can be traced
betwcen the results of the reformation in Scotland
aud England. In the former, the people erected
their church on purely democratic principles, with
Il Presbyterian form Of church government, secur-
ing aiwaysto the people large share in the admi-
nisraiion OF all ecclesiastical affairs In England,
on the contrary, under Henry the Eighth and
Elizabeth, the state took hold of the great moves
nlent which then possessed the popular mind and
constructed the national church on principles which
secured to the state the supremacy in the manage
lnent OF Its conceIns-converted it, indeed, into an
important engine of state policy, useful part Of the
great machinery by which the people Were retained
IN subsection to the crown and aristocracy>
In the earlier periods of the history of the kirk
OF Scotland, the exclusive right of the people to
choose their pastors, was held sacred and indspu-
table. Gradually, however, considerable encroach-
'nents were made In the exercise of this privilege
and the first act acknowledging the right of GO pa
'rons' to present ministers passed in the year
1907, and IN 1892 another act ordanng that pres
byteres be bound and astricted to receive and
admit whatsomever qualified minister presented
by her Majesty, a Lack patroness." The subse-
quent encroachments of the civil power went
still further, till they were checked by the
General Assembly Of the Church in the
year 1888, which conferred on the elders" or
representatives Of the people, the right to nominate
the minister, leaving TO the body of the people the
right OF assent dissent. In $780, the power of
patrons" to present ministers was formally abo
hshed by act of Parliament and thus stood the law
at the time OF the union of Scotland and England
In ZIP, however, patronage was revived by an act
repeating that just mentioned
1t has only been of comparatively recent date
that much opposition has been made by the clergy
10 the exercise OF the powers conferred on the
patrons" II was only when the clergy found
that they were losing their influence and power in
nominating minister's and providing comfortable set
Elements for relatives friends and avorites that they
raised the hue and cry against the aristocracy, who
found their ecclesiastical privileges exceedingly USE
full in providing for their relatives and dependents
And the contest thus waged for the ''livings," was,
as is now generally known, carried ON with great
acrmony for several years before the recent revolt
In many instances, on every Sunday, the parish
oners, instead of quietly woshipping their Maker,
engaged in regular battles for the possession of the
Church. AT length the Clergy, who generally man.
age in these struggles for supremacy and the Stem
pofaiities,' TO make decent outcry about princi-
pie and the interests Of religion, assumed, as the
ground of controversy in this case, the supremacy
of Jesus Christ. as the Head of the Church,
an opposition to the alleged claims of the State.
But the real question at issue has been whether the
tocracy or by the priesthood. This has been the
had nothing to do with it,
AS for the appeal of DR.. Cunningham to the free
churches of America we do not regard it as at all
consistent with his own professed principles, or
with Justice. The Doctor now proposes to go on
the voluntary principe-hat is, that every church
support its religious ordinances and he is GER
tar NOT Int, al,
from us, the people of Scotland are quite able
TO act up to their princples-that they are willing
appears to be not clear But the injustice of con-
trbutng funds for this purpose, when there are so
many widows and orphans in Great Britain and
France who have been robbed and plundered
of all they possessed, and righteously calling
on this country to discharge its solemn obliga-
lions, is, we think, very manifest. If any money
be raised, let il be applied to this purpose
Let remember the good old saying-''Be just
before you are generous" Let the rich merchants,
and bankers, and brokers, and farmers, who are
anxious to see their names shining as munitice t
alnoners to the " free church OF Scotland" think
of this. Let them, if they can, shut their to
the loud, indignant, circumstances and appeals
of starving widows and orphans, whilst they pour
thousands in the lap of Il suppcatlng clergy. 1t
won't be our fault if the voice of justice and ma
tional honor be not heard as well as that of the
Rev. Doctor Cunningham.
MEETING Gas CoNsUMERs.-W When is the
meeting of gas consumers to take place to state
their grievances and memoriaizc the Legislature in
relation to the misconduct of the Gas Company
We trust IT will be called for on an early day Sup
pose il should be named for Saturday night in this
week al the Shakespeare Hote' That place we be-
lieve will be given by the proprietor gratis
REPORTING The Courier Il Enquirer and the