The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-29

Tue CHURCHES ASp PoIITIcs.-The new school
Presbyterian General Assembly have been in ses-
sion, al Detroit for eight days, and have distinguish
ed their discussion from the old school Assembly
The latter, at Cincinnati have discussed the value
and beauty Of the Union but the former in
tent upon debate upon slavery, and whether a
Christian can become a stakeholder They have
exhibited strange pecularties in their arguments.
On the eighth day of the session. there quite an
animated discussion. A Mr.. Clark desired reso-
luton, to the effect that voluntary slavehoding
should be deemed an evidence of guilt. under one
of the offences named in the Book of Discipline.
This brought conflicting elements of opinions.
Fourteen presbyteries some churches, and some
individuals, it was stated, had memorialized the
Assembly, on the subject of slavery, while the
Synod Of the Western Reserve and that of Indiana
were in wordy opposition When this fact came
out, confusion reigned, and the question of who
were Congregationalists and who Presbyterians,
arose, to create quite excitement. Mr.. Clark
thought that The free Synod of Ohio and new
Assembly would act like couple of mill-stenes,
and grind up the old Assembly, which he was ad
dressing-probably, to make flour for new batch
Of assemblies to feed the faithful, and those ambit-
Gus of distinction and high places in the church.
A Mr.. Curtis, of Ohio seemed to smell out powder
for political purposes II the object, it appeared
to him, to attempt the strengthening of the churches
by gsining votes. He was inclined for middle
course. He did not approve of giving poison to the
South and then administering antidotes, in the
spirit of the majority report. Mr.. Reed of Virginia,
replied and took broad grounds for his platform.
Professor Agnew went into the politics Of the Old
Testament, and showed that there were politics
among the early Christians, far the interpreta-
ton Of the New Testament was evidence
winding up with the annexed four resolutions:
Resolved l. That the system Of slavery existing In
these United States subversive as it IL of the rights Of
humanity opposed to the common sense of justice and
intense with the high spirit OF duty is deeply TO be de-
plored.
Resolved, That although the legslized system, as
such Is an abominaton in the sight Of God and men,
yet the principles OF the gospel and the practice OF the
apostles 90 not warrant in pronounciDg the mere
relation Of master and slave. instituted by legal
enac'ments ground Of church cens9re.
Resolved, That while the only safe and authorized
ground OF admission TO church If credible evidence of
pey they who refuse recognise the relation OF the
slave to God accountable agent who treat man
Il chattel and buy and sell Tor gain dissolve the
marriage tie and perpetrate other acts Of cruelty fail
to furnish that credible evidence and therefore
per subjects Of discipline
Resolved A. That as the sessions and presby teries
are the constitutional judicaores for che trial of Of
fences the existence of slavery in our and its
special attributes in individual be referred to the
supervision Of those judcatories
Upon these resolutions there has been no action
as yet, but il is very evident that there will be a
storm before the convention rises--plenty of thun-
der and lrhnng-and greater splitting of church
steeples than has occurred in the West, since the
coming up Of the new school of piety out of the
old. Mr. Clark, with his compeers in ambition,
are determined to have new organization, with
new lights, and to obtain position that only can
be procured by new pa,form-a kind Of Buffalo
religious platform.
So much for 'mixed elements" of politics and
religion, leaving the culture Of souls for the nur-
ture Of small politicians for the support of party
tactics Decorating the Offices of the Christian
religion TO the abuse of miserable political trick
sters, who not for the destruction of all the
churches, the gospel OF the new dispensation, or
anything sacred, so that they may inherit of the
kingdom they would set up, the spoils of Office and
the loaves and fishes of their unhallowed aspira-
tions. Let these conventions go on a little longer,
and the ranks Of nhdeliiy will be filled FULL while
pious men will attend no church but that in the
heart, Milton did in his latter days, casting aside
all visible churches corrupt and injurious to the
interests Of society. We on the brink of the
ahyss-or the alienation Of cathocity or inf
deity.