The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-24
From the Charleston Courier.
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

From the Charleston Courier.
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION,
To their brethren In the United States TO he congrega-
ons connected ,ch The respective churches; and 10 all
| candid nen.
painful division has taken place in the mission
airy operations Of The American Baptsts. We
would explain the origin, the principles and the OBJ.
jects of that DIVISION or the peculiar circumstances
| in which the organization of the southern Baptist
| convention became necessary.
Let not the extent Of this dsunion be exaggerated.
At the present time it involves only the foreign and
domestic missions of the denomination. Northern
| and southern Baptists are still brethren. They
differ in no article of the faith They are guided by
the same principles Of gospel order. Fanatical at
tempts have indeed been made, in some quarters, to
exclude us of the South from christian fellowship.
We do not retort these attempts; and believe their
extent to be comparatively limited. Our christian
fellowship is not, as we feel, matter to be obtruded
on any one We abide by that of our God, his
dear Son, and all his baptized followers. The few
ultra northern brethren to whom we allude must
| take what course they please. Their conduct has
not influenced us in this movement. We do not re-
gard the rupture as extending to foundation prinoi
pies, nor can we think that the great body of our
northern brethren will SO regard it. Dsunion has
proceeded, however, deplorably far. The first part
of our duty is to show that its entire origin with
| others. This is its history.
|. The general convention Of the Baptist denomi-
from every part of the American republic. Its con-
sttution knows no difference between shareholders
and non-slaveholders. Nor during the period of its
existence for the last thirty years has it, in practice,
known any thing of this distinction. Both parties
have contributed steadily and largely (f never ade
quaely) to those funds which are the basis of its
constituency; both have yielded its ofce-bearers Of
all grades; its missionaries and transators of Gods
word, its men of tolls many, and of prayers not
awaiting, abroad and at home. The honored dead
of both these classes have walked in closest sympa
thy with each other; anticipating in the board-room
and IN the monthly concert, that higher, but not
holier union now in their case consummated
| Throughout the entire management of its early
affairs the whole struggle with its early difficulties
there was no breath of dscord between them. Its
Richard Furman and its VIM. Staughton, its Jesse
Mercer and its Thomas Baldwin led on the sacra-
mental host shoulder sholder, and heart TO heart
Their rivalry being only in earnest efforts for
mon cause their entire aversions and enmtes were
directed with all the strength of their souls, against
the common foe. And to the last, did they not
cherish the strong belefthat they left no other en-
mites aversons; no other rivalry, to their
cessors'
In particular, special rule of the constitution de-
fines irho may be missionaries, viz "Such persons
only as are in full communion with some church in
our denomination, and who furnish satisfactory evil
dence Of genuine piety, good talents, and fervent
zeal for the Redeemer's cause" Now, while under
this rule the stakeholder has been, in his turn en-
ployed as a missionary, it is not alleged that any
other persons than those above described have been
appointed. Moreover, the important post of su-
perintendent of the education Of native missionaries
has been assigned, with universal appreciation, to
the pastor of one of our largest slavehoding
churches.
But an evil hour arrived. Even our humble eff
forts in the conquest Of the world to God, excited
the accuser of our brethren TO cast discord among
u.s. and in the last two trennal conventions slavery
1ra, a.
Sides How did the nober spirits on each side en-.
deavor to meet this They proposed and carried,
almost unanimously, the following explicit resolu-
ton:
"Resoired That in cooperating together members Of
this convention in the work OF foreign missions, dis
claim all sanction either expressed implied whether Of
slavery or anslavey but as individuals we are free TO
express and 10 promote elsewhere views on these sub
jects in a christian manner and spirit"
Our successors will find it difficult to believe that
so important and plain declaration had become,
before the close Of the first year Of the trennia pc
rod perfect nulity. In December last, the acting
board Of the convention at Boston adopted new
qualification for missionaries, special rule,
yiz That ''if any one who shall offer himself for
missionary having slaves, should insist retain
ing them as his property, they could not appoint
him. some thing is CERTAIN" they continue, "we
could never be party to any arrangement which
implies appreciation of slavery"
We pray our brethren, and all candid men, to
first six months of their three years. power; date
at which the compromise resolution could scarcely
have reached remoter mission stations. III usur-
patton had been intended, could it have been more
ftIy timedi-a usurpation of ecclesiastical power
quite foreign to our poty. Such power was as
sumed at period when the aggrieved thousands OF
Israel, had, as it now appears no practical remedy
Its obvious tendency was either our hnal subIuga- |
ton to that power serious interruption OF the
flow of southern benevolence. The latter was the
far more probable evil; and the Boston board knew
this well. They were from various quarters APP
prised of H. We, on the other hand, did not move
in the matter of organization until three lib
era States had refused to send northward any more
contributions Our leaders had chosen new rules, |
Thus came war within our gates, while the means
of war on the common enemy were daily diminish
ing.
BY this decision the board placed itself in direct
opposition 10 the constitution of the convention, The
only reason giving for this extraordinary and uncon
stuonal dictum being, that 'the appointing power
for wise and good purposes is confded to the acting
board" On such slight show Of authority, this
board undertook to declare that to be disquelifca-
ton in one who should offer himself for mission
airy, which the convention had said shall moi be
disqualification. il had also expressly given its
sanction to anti. slavery opinions, and implicitly hx-
ed its condemnation on slavery, although the con-
vention had said that "neither' should be done. |
And further il forbade those who shall apply for
missionary appointment to express and promote
elsewhere their views on the subject of slavery in
right ''manner and spirit" when the constitution
declared they "were free" to do SO. these breth'
rem thus acted upon sentiment they have failed to
prove--thst slavery is in all circumstances sinful.
Whereas their own solemn resolution in the last
convention ther's rs much as ours) left free to
promote slavery. Yves not this leaving us Free and
lin Christian spirit and manner to promote thai
which in their hearts, and according to the present
showing of their conduct, they regard as SIM
Enough, perhaps, has been said of the origin OF
this movement. Were we asked TO characterize the
conduct Of northern brethren in one short phrase
we should adopt that Of the Apostle. i was ''for-
bidding us To sneak unto the Gentiles." Did this
deny Us no privilege Did it not obsiInct us, lay
kind Of Romish interdict upon us in the discharge
Of an imperative duty--a duty to which the church
has been, after the lapse of ages awakened univer.
sally and suceessfuy-a duty, the very object, and
only object, Of our long-cherished connection and
And this would seem the place TO state, that our