New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-16


done 10 already md they will continue to DO &c. one
by one, If there u no other way OF sever'ng their
ecclesiastical connection with Slavery. But, Sn, l
am opposed 10 tire adoption Of the resolution upon
higher grounds thsn Bere expedieDcy have cou-
scienous scruples against the formaon OF snch re-
lation am a Northern man. have been reared
under the principles of Liberty and Freedom. hut
Sir msst say for myself that am not here prepared
10 discuss the question of the snuness Of Slavery per
&C. or whether il or the great principles Of Abeh-
ton be right whether it be proper to receive those
who hold slaves into the Christian Church. 1 am an
conscience opposed to the system Of Slavery, and lc~n
say on this floor as once distinguished member OF
this body said of II another OCCASION That how
"ever may feel toward individuals hate I'll ab-
the idea of extending the fellowship of our Church to
slayehodng churches az shrink from the touch Of the
torpedo Sir, fear the Greeks offering their gifts 1
believe, SIR, that instead OF gaining anything by Ne
ceiving this body we should lose. bone Of csnten
ton viii be thrown in among You will find good
conscientious men who will not rest with this fellow
ship, and If you pass vote, i pledge you that at
least one renoDsraDce will come to tins body from
As Christian ] am opposed in principle to
this resolution and i utter my firm protest
against it's passage. But there is another consdera
ton which weighs with me- We all know the pecu-
liar relations which sustain to the German Re
formed Church Not long since we sustained an
endearng and as l fondly hoped cherished relation
that church. Two years ago this correspondence
was broken of, much TO my regret, my sorrow aud my
Qrlef j always cOnsMtIel IL all uDWlhe posillOu lOr
this church 10 take, because considered that we lost
in that act more than gained. / would this very
day rather undertake TO bear the Professors of Mer
cersberg and ell their theology my back and carry
il off with all the disadvantages than would this
single Chassis from the South. We could do the one
and not suffer onehalf onequarer as much as by the
other. II we wish to extend our ntiuences-fwe wish
TO do goOd-ifw we wish to extend our churches, the
whole North is open TO US. The VALUES and hills OF
the far West invite u.s. We have had men on the
floor asking for more than do. Talk not of
missionary ground in the South. 1t is missionary
ground. / feel for those ministers there But when
il comes to the matter of an act OF this body must
protest against the reception of that cass into this
body Whatever views other brethren may have
these NINE and do protest and especially against
hasty action was about to offer different resou-
ton TO lay the whole subject on the table that no action
be taken upon 1t.
The Rev GEORGE w. BETHUSE, ID. D., of Brook
lvn said: Mr.. PREsDENT-I think should feel
very kindly toward these brethren who have come to
They are Christian men who consider themselves
TO be suffering for the sake OF the ruth-wh0 sympa-
be with us in doctrine and who have paid us the high
respect OF asking to be united with our interest God
forbid therefore that word should fall from my lips
or from this Synod which should In any way wound
the feelings show disrespect to these estlmable
brethren At the same time there several reasons
why with the last speaker should hesitate to vote for
this resolution, though should certainly be unwilling
to 90 with him in all he says as there are many things
which he lays down cannot agree with.
in q different form should be violently opposed to
taking any action upon il. If the proposition was to
exclude a STAKEHOLDER from the communion would
oppose such uncharitable and unchristian act. |
would rather die than own a slave unless 1t were
that in accepting the ownership did il for his
good; but would rather die than allow Christian
brother TO be unusty cast out OF the house OF God
when our great Master paid the highest compliment
he ever paid TO a human being in saying to one who
was a Shareholder and soldier, !" have not found
Sc great faith no, not in Israel" But we are not
called upon TO do this. In the Providence of God we
have been happily freed from this difficulty, and /
think that we should remember what the wise man
SAYS with great deal of point lie that passeth by
Z" and meddleth with strife belonging not to him is
like who taketh dog by the ears" there would
be precious deal of bowling. And so feel in this
case. Here we have not the strife among us. l
know there has been an attempt to Introduce 1t among
us. have with regret movements made in some
parts of the Church TO indorse the action OF body
with whom we hold relations upon this subject. II
there be attempt TO press this matter in this body
for ore ready to swing clear OF the American
Board Ct Commissioners of Foreign Missions rather
than word should be uttered upon Slavery.
do not agree with the action of that Board,
but at the same time i am willing to let |
other people have conscences on that subject but the
thing is TO keep it out of the house here. l believe
that there is no man among US, unless he happens 10
be carried away by the spirit of fanacism that makes
him forget the interest of the Church, whds willing to
enter into discussion of the subject on this floor, and
therefore hold my tongue and do not say what am
prepared TO say iii other places, lest do injustice to
the feelings of some brethren, and thus discus
sions. We have not this subject among us, and in de-
termining action let 20 back to precedent few
years ago therewas division in the great church of
this counry-a church that oyershadows us ell In It's
extent and Importance. They quarreed among them
selves and they quarreed about matters of doctrine
and reality but they came TO the measure separation
upon n technical point of church government. They
separated on the ground that the Z" Plan of Union
was unconstitutional. 1t SO happened remember
perfectly WELL that you, Sir. under whose presidency
we are now happily organized, were a member
of our General Synod which met at Albany
before any one body of that church had ex-
pressed their opinion in the matter, so far az we
had knowledge. And it so happened that the Rev.
DIR. Hardenbergh delegated by our body as a
commissioner to attend the General Assembly. While
he standing in the door about TO present himself
as delegate he saw the Presbyterian body dividing
into two great parts under his own eyes. This immense
chasm is opening beneath his feet as he is about to en-
ter DIR. HaTdenberg is a man of iud gment and would
not put himself forward rashy and he went TO a wise
head-our present Professor of Ecclesiastical History,
who was then Provost of the University of Pennsyl-
vania-6nd asked him what he thought he should do.
And Mr.. Provost Ludlow said, q" You have not 10 de-
"oide the matter for the whole Dutch Church. What
lever your views may be- If You take either one side
"or the other, you do so decide. Having got the
advice of great man, he then came to smaller man
i mean smaller in intellect laughterl and told
him that he had not found the Presbyterian Church in
lis integrity as General Assembly, and that he had
better go back TO the General Synod and ask further
instructions. Every well, !" said he, 81 have asked
Or Ludlow and yourself to if my opinion agreed
"with yours before l came to decision lie suisse
quenty asked TO present his report before the Gen.
eral Synod, as be detained. 1 presented his
port and then there came this question: Shall we APP
point delegate TO the General Assembly of the Pres
bytGrian Church next year, Then came another
questions What do you mean by the Presbyterian
Church, the Old School or New School The subject
referred to the Committee on Correspondence of
which was a subordinate member That committee
fOnnd that The Genernl Assembly, before thor separa