Litchfield enquirer., 1857-06-11
The New School Fresbyterians Purged

The following paper on the subject of SLAYER
was adopted ly vote of 167 Yeas and 26 nays, b.
this influential body of Christians at their meeting
in Cleveland last week -
In the year 1916 the General Assembly
made declaration on this subject, of whicI
the following is ain Introductory paragraph
al. The system of Slavery as it exists in
these United States, viewed either in the laws
of the several States which sanction it or in its
actual operation and results in society, is in.
trinsically an unrighteous and oppressive system
and is opposed to the precepts ard spirit of the
Gospel, and the best interests of humanity"
In 1849 the Assembly explicitly reaf1irmed,
the sentiments expire ssed by the a: semblies OF
rs, 10, and '46 In the year 1856 the Gen.
eral Assembly made the following declaration
ave exceedingly deplore the working of the
whole system OF Slavery, except in those cases
where it is unavoidable by the laws of the State,
the obligations Of guardianship or the demands
OF humanity is an offense in the proper import
of that tt rm as used in the Book of Discipline,
clap. l. sec. 3, and should be regarded and
treated in the same manner as other offences"
Occupying the position in relation to this
subject, which the trainers of our Constitution
held at first, and which our church has always
HID, it is with deep grief that we now discover
that portion of the Church at the South has
so far departed from the establ shed doctrine
of the Church in relation to slavery, as to main
tain it is an ordinance of God" and that the
system Of Slavery existing in these United
States is scriptural and right. Against this
new doctrine we feel constrained to bear our
solemn testimony 1t is at war with the whole
spirit ard tenor of the gospel of love and good
will, as well as abhorrent to the conscience of
the Christian world We can have no sympa-
thy or fellowship with it and we exhort all
our people to eschew it as serious and pcrnic-
ious error.
We espe cia1ly panied by the fact that the
Presbytery of Lexington South, have given
official notice to US that a number of ministers
and ruling elders, and many church members in
their connect o. hold slaves from principle :"
and of choice" & believing it to be according
to Bible right and have, without any qualify
ing explanation, assumed the respons. b 1ty of
sustaining such ministers, elders and church
members in their position. We deem it our
duty, in the exnrcise of our constitutional aus
thoity ITO bear testimony against error in doc
trine or INN orality in practice, in any Church,
Presbytery Or Synod" to disapprove and earn
estly condemn the position which has thus been
assumed by tn Presbytery of Lexington South
as one which is opposed to the established con-
vctions Of the Presbyterian Church, and must
operate tc mar it's peace and seriously hinder
its prosperity, as we'll as bring reproach on our
holy religion and we do hereby call on that
Presbytery to review and correct their position
Such doctrines and practice cannot be perma-
nent,y tolerated in the Presbyterian Church.
May they speedily melt away under the illumi-
mating and mellowng influence of the gospel
and grace Of God our Saviour.
We do not, indeed, pronounce a sentence of
indscriminatc condemnation upon all our breth-
rem who are unfortunately connected with the
system Of Slavery. We tenderly sympathize
with all those who deplore the evil and are
honestly doing all in their power for the present
well being Of their slaves and for their COM
pletc emancipation. We would aid, and not