Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-06-10

bSANSAS VI tnONO lSHiOuS huSAG SAAoN
1.-The holding Of our fellow-men in the
condition of slavery exceptin those cases
, when it is unavoidable by the laws OF
the States. the obligations OF guardian
ship or the demands of humanity, is an
offence in the proper import of hat term
as used in the Book of Discipline chap.
: 1, sec. 3, and should be regarded and
treated in the same manner as other of
fences"
Occupying the position in relation to
this subject, which the trainers of cur
Constitution held at the first. and which
; our church has always held, it is with
deep grief that We now discover that a
portion of the church at the South has
so far departed from the established doe
trine of The church in relation TO slavery,
as TO maintain sit is an ordinance of God
and that the system Of slavery existing
in these United States is Scriptural and
ri sht. Against this new doctrine we
feel constrained TO bear our solemn testi-
mony. 1t is at war with the whole spirit
and tenor of the Gospel of love and good
will, as well as abhOrront to the con-
science OF the christian world. We can
have no sympathy or fellowship with it /;
and we exhort all our people TO eschew
it as serious and pernicious error.
We are especially panied by The fact
that the Presbytery Of Lexington South,
have given official notice TO us that a
number of ministers and ruling elders,
as well as many church members in their
connection, hold slaves ''from principle"
and "of choice ''believing it to be &C.
cording TO the Bible right" and have,
without any qualifying explanation, as
sumed the responsibility of sustaining
such ministers, elders and church mem
bers in their position. We deem it our
duty, in the exercise Of our constitution
al authority, ''to bear testimony against
error in doctrine or immortality in prac-
ticc in any Church, PresbyteFy or Syn
od," to d~isapprove and earnestly con-
denim the position which has been thus
assumed by the Presbytery Of Lexing-
ton South, as one which is opposed 10
toe established convictions of the Pres
byterian Church, and must operate to
ma its peace and seriously hinder its
prosder.ty, as well as bring reproach on
on our holy religion; and we do hereby
call on that Presbytery to review and
correct the position. Such doctrines and
practice cannot be permanently tolerated
in the Presbyterian Chuch. May they
speedily melt away under the illumina-
ting and m~ellowine influence of the Cos
pei and grace of God our Savior.
We DO not, indeed, pronounce a SEN
tence of indiscliminate condemnation
upon all our brethren who are unfortu-
nately connected with the system of Sla
very. We tenderly sympalhige with all
those who deplore the evil, and are hon
estly doing all in their power for the
present well being Of slaves, and for
their complete emancipation. We would
aid and not embarrasS such brethen.-I
And yet, in The language OF The General
Assembly of 1918, we would earnest
II warn them against unduly extending
the plea Of necessity; against making it
a cover for the love and practice Of Sla-
very, or d pretence for not using efforts
that are lawful and practicable 10 extin-
guish this evil,
In conclusion, the Assembly call the
attention of the Publication Committee
to this subject, and recomend the publ
cation, in a convenient form, of the tes-
timony of the Presbyterian Church
touching this subject. at the earliest
practicable period.
DR.. Ross asked leave TO retire with the
Southern brethren for the purpose of
drawing up a protest, which was grant
ed.
Mr.. Shaw wished to offer reso' utions
calling for disciplinary action against the
Presbytery of Lexington-which was
decided by the Moderator to be out of
order.
Mr.. Hastings moved the appointment
of a Committee of ten, to report some
plan of obyiating its difficulties. After
some debate by Messrs. Sneed. Clark, of
Michigan. Howe, Clark, of N. Y, and
Bogue. Mr.. Dewitt moved the resolu-
lions be indefinitely postponed. Car
RED.
DR.. Hammer read The following:
PoRTEsT OF THE SOUTHERN DELEGATES.
We, the undersigned Southern Minis
tiers, and Ruling Elders. protest against
the present decision of the General As
semhly.
We protest-Because; while the past
General Assemblies have asserted that
The system of slavery is wrong, they have
heretofore affirmed that the STAKEHOLDER
was so controlled by State laws, ob!iga-
tons or guardianship and humanity, that
he was as thus situated, without odium
or censure as to the master. This aver
meut in the testimony Of past Assem-
blies has so far satisfied the South as to
make it unnecessary to more than pro-
test against the mere anti slavery part of
such testimony.
We protest then. now, That the pres
ent act of the Assembly is such an as
%sertion of the sin of slavery. as degrades
the whole Northern Church-an asser
ton without authority from the word of
God or the organic law Of the Presbyteri-
Church.
We pIOtest tndt SuCH dClOH i, uhutI
present conditions, the virtual exscind-
of the South whatever be the mo-
tives Of those who vote the deed.
We protest that such indirect exscisiOn
is unrighteous, oppressive, uncalied for
exercise of usurped power - des-
of the unity of our branch of
church, hurtfHl 10 The North and
the South, and adding to the peril OF the
union Of these States.
T. A. Ross, r. P. Rhea.
j. G.. Hammer. +. R. Gray.
Isaac w. K. Handy, NJ. S. Shuck.
Gideon S White, w. e. Caldwell,
Geo w. Hu;chins, Z. A. Cazron,
George Painter, Il. NJ. Morrison,
II. Mathews. Al. Mode,
John +. Chester, j. Y. Banks,