The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-17
ORIGINAL ARTICLES.

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The Presbyterian Church In the United
States-Its History, Character, and Prin.
cipies.
The Presbyterian church-which is one Of the
largest in the United States-hsd its origin amongst
us from the Scotch and Irish branches Of the Pres
byterian family of the Reformation, and was in
trodu,ed by European emigrants about the close OF
the seventeenth century. AS early as the year
l706, Presbytery was formed by the Rev Mr.
MKenne and six other ministers; and in that age
of "seeds of things" Congregationalsts joined
with them, ON such footing rs to be represented
in Presbytery, which. however. turned out to be
inexpedient.
The first four years of the Presbytery, they did
but little, but were increased BY snigrstions
from Europe that in ZIG they were able to form
the Synod of Philadelphia, with four Presbyteres
under it's jude ature. For the next thirty years,
they increased with still greater ra pidity exerted
felt influence the opinions and principles of the
colonists, and lent a forming hand to our then
plastic institutions, which time has consolidated
and made stable But more of this in its place.
There had been from the beginnng difference
Of views and feelings amongst both the clerical
and lay n embeIs, on subjects of doctrine and dis
cipline. The Scotch, who extremely tena-
cious Of the strict and rigid forms of the kirk,
showed disposition to graf these on the new or
ganzation, while the Irish and New Euglanders
were more lax and liberal. In fact. there
three elements in the chureh-the orthodox Scotch
Presbyterian, with his national rgdty aud adhe
siveness the British Puritan (now the New Eng.
land Presbyterian), looking with great jealousy
forms and ecclesiastical standards, and the spark
ling and witty 1rshman, willing 20 tread
new path, provided it seemed equally safe An
these differences were inherent in its very being
for the church was not formed by miss ionaries AMI
conversions on the spot, but was composed Of
detritus brought to the western continent from
sections Of Europe, where the eircums tances that
gave moulding and character to the social system
were wholly different. Difference led to division
and, in l7i5, a new synod was formed, which vas
called the Synod Of New York, But after fl teen
years experience Of the comfortable effects Of dis
union the two bodies united again, under tue MI ne
Of the synod of New York and Phii4dell ha. The
motto then was, 9 + ptmibuS ssaum;" and such mt
length was the popularity of the church, that it
might have become the ecclesiastical establishment
of the colony; and it has been said that over
lures made to that effect
In 1883, the body sufficiently strong % form
a General Assembly, af er the manner of their pro-
tetypes in Europe, arbter OF all questions, and
the highest court known to their Organization But
in 1901, they appear to have made false step.
(Churches step wrong, as well men They 70 med
a plan of union with the Congre gationalists, by
which people of the latter persuasion choosing
Presbyterian minister, might still conduct their
rosa, with the privilege Of appeal to court of either
body. The union was unnatural but 1t continued
for thirty years. and it is sail by 10 have
been attended with the very best of consequences
to the Presbyterians but it turns out 10 have bsea
Just the contrary, and they were very glad to get
rid of it. memorial to that effect presented
to the General Assembly Of 1885 and the commit
tee who reported upon 1t recommended that the
Congre gationalists consent that the union be
nulled. In the General Assembly of 1887. the mat
ter was again brought forward AMI submitted to n
committee, in which Drs Witherspoon, Alexander,
and Beman took part and resolution recon-
meDded and finally adopted, that the plan Of union
of lSUl was unconstitutional on the part Of
that Assembly, and equally so on the part of the
association (CoDgregationa), who had not hing to
Dc with churches not within their limits /; and that,
as much confusion had arisen, the thereby
abrogsted The reasons of this process are given
more al length in the pastoral letter and circular Of
the Assembly Of that year. They commended that
ii had been a great cause Of tho discussions that
distracted the church; that plstorates formed
der said act were indoctrInatt much on the Con-
gregational MS the Presbyterian plan that raising
up Presbyteries and synods out of men who had as
much Of the Congregational rs the Presbyterian
element, was nexpedient. They affirmed that their
doctrine and order had been subyerted, and error,
introduced first principlssat first. aS more yer
bal differences, but afterwards rs important im
provemenis on the old creed Of the church an
that they had applied the proper remedy.
1t so happened, unfortunately for the Assembly,
that the remedy applied too late Cutting oil
the limb was not sufficient the poison had bcon
circulated through the system. new thu ology
had star led up, and was openly proclaimed IN the
church, by what are called the Anew Schooi d.
vines, to such extent that one.half the body were
affected by 1.-THE main point Of which was the sui
ciency OF human ability ia matters OF religion, the
same point for which Eek and the catholics CON
tended against the Reformcrs On this point, Dr.
Dufi,eld and Mr.. Barnes were active, agreeing
pretty much with Mr.. tinLey, who taught ina y
ever a man had new heart he must make IL am
self Other questions were agtated, IN wnien Drs'
Beman and Cox, figured some in short, all the hVe
poi,ts Of Calvnism, or rather OF Augustinianism,
were impugned.
In $50, MIR Barnes the living embodiment Of the
school element, was called to the Frs, fresoy
terrain church. Of Philadelphia, wncn Objections
were raised against his orthodoxy, and opposition
to his settlement. These not succeeding, an appea!
was taken to the Synod, aud carreiup To the Ge-
neral Assembly, which, showing disposition 20
dodge the question, specific charges were brought
against Mr. Barnes for hercsy, which made ttrial
indispensable. lie was acquitted by the Presbytery,
euspeI did by the Synod, and restored by the He'
neral Assembly, which, alone, would show that
crisis was mt hand. But there other things at
issue, all winding up to the same result Inc or
ganzation and operations OF the so-caled American
Home Missionary Society, aud the Amen,sn fau'
cation Society, in contr s-dstincuon from the pe-
neral Asscmblys Board Of Missions aud Board oil
Education, were pronounced to be injurious 90 ths
church interests, and cut or ne >ynods OF tica
Geneva, and t'cnesee Qormed under the plan q
union) as, also, that Of the Western Reserve,
in which bodies the alleged disorders prevailed
most containing FIVE hundred ministers aud
sixty thousand members, we're declared out OF
nnion with the church. SO fesrfully did these
surgeons ue the knife. The nature OF these DIS
orders i described in rather curioIs terms bat the
main item Is restless spirit of radicasm, which
had driven to extre fanaticism the cause oil re-.
vivals Of temperance, and the rights q msa, and
crowded their churches with ignorant zealOts and
unboly members with other things Of like kind
But the act Of 1897 was not an accommodating
act II accommodated none. IL merely dsown
certain s, mods uncCnstitutonaly organized wnie y
gave them directions to the way Of entering the
church on right principles. Nor vas this act the
cause OF the secession that followed for those causes
had long been In existence. The meu differed ia &C.
.clesiastcal policy and doctrine Toe seceders were
slenst,d in their affections. The tie that bound
them TO the then existing church was not u at OF the
heart Accordingly. in the Assembly ofls5o, while
the proper officers were organizing the meeting the