Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-06-20
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEW
SCHOOL.
TIE SECESSION,
ADDRESS

10 te 4utHtStcTS uHU CHuiCUS w tO'H't'tt'" WV
the General assembly Of tic Presbyterian Church.
DEAR BRErnREN:-The undersigned, members of
the General Assembly now in session in Cleveland,
Ohio,ar constrained to address you with reference
to the state Of our beloved Church, and to indicate
the course which should be pursued by all who ad-
here to the principles of Constitution as inter
preted by its trainers, and as practically acknowl.
edged during the almost entire period OF our his
tory as a church.
The action of the present Assembly on the sub.
iect Of Slavery, especially, when considered
in connection with the spirit and manifest
purpose of several of the Western Synods, has
impressed us with tho belief that pence and harmo-
ny can no longer prevail amongst us-that the AS
sembly at present constituted, instead OF bong
n bond of union between different sections of the
church, will continue to be the theatre of strife
and discord and that the glory of God the welfare
of our churches, and the good of the country de-
mand separation of the discordant elements, and
the existence of another Assembly IN which tho
agitation Of the slavery question will be unknown.
We had hoped that our brethren who have been
disposed to introduce this subject into the General
| Assembly would ere this have been convinced that
no good could result to the church from this agita
tion--that it was alternating brethren of q common
Christian faith, and was calculated to render the
condition of the slave more undesirable and to
DC. tho ties that bind our union together In this
regard we have been sadly disappointed. In con
sequence of the political agitation of the subject
and of the pressure brought to bear upon them by
Congregational Churches holding the most ultra
abolition sentiments, many of our Western Presby-
teries have become more urgent in demanding pro-
gressive action of the Assembly. They have not
been satisfied with the past declarations of the AS
sembly. They have desired the Assembly to ez-
press its views Of the sin of slavehodrg SO clear
! ly that they can be made the basis of discipline
| by the courts of the Church. This action has now
been virtually taken by the Assembly 1t has
avowed that ther relation of master and servant
which necessarily involves the idea of property
in the services of the atter--is sin in the sight
! of God, and an offence in the sense in which the
term is used in the Constitution OF the Church,
This declaration has been made, although confess
edly there is not the most remote aluson to slave
holding in our standards, and also with the know
| edge of the fact that when our constitution was
adopted twelve out of the thirteen states were
slayehGlding states, and many Of those who com
posed the Assembly of lTS9, if not shareholders
themsflves were the representatives of Presbyter-
l les iniwhich were churches whose members were
I slave Alaers. We regard this action of the Cen
eral Assembly palpable violation OF tho spirit
and letter Of the constitution of the church. The
principle involved in it, If carried into practice,
would convert the highest judicaory of the church
iuto an ecclesiastical despotism as tyranncal as
that which has distinguished the Church Of Rome.
1t makes the Assembly not only the interpreter of
law in an irregular way, but also the supreme leg
islature Of the church-a position which has been
always repudiated by the Presbyterian Church.
j Apart, therefore, from the disastrous conse-
quence resulting from the agitation OF the subject
of Slavery in the General Assembly, destroying,
as it does our peace, keeping in state OF ex-
citement unfavorabe to spiritual growth, and par
alyzng our efforts to advance the of the Re-
deemer through the channel of our admirable sys-
: tenn of Government-we consider that the Assem-
r bly, has so far departed from the Constitution of
the Church to render our adherence to it unde-
sirable and impossible. Having protested repeat
edly against this agitation, and finding that ouI
+ brethren are determined to continue it, we have
+ deliberately and prayerfully come to the conclu
s sion that, however painful it may be to US, the
Q good of the Church and of the country require
separation from them. We shall hold our brethreI
who have disturbed our peace, by the introduction
: of this vexed question into our judicatorieS, a
alone responsible tor the consequences of this di
vision.
With these convictions to the necessity of sep
aratlon from our once united and beloved Zion, th
only question that remains for US now to settl
pertains to the mode of separation. The under
signed are satisfied that but one course s left to III
and that is to invite all Constitutional Presbyteri
ans in the land who are opposed to ho agitation o.
Slavery in the General Assembly to unite III an or
ganization in which this subject shall be utterly
eschewed. We do not restrict our invitation to the
, Southern Churches. We wish to have National
Church-that is, Church the constituent parts OF
, which will come from every section of the Union.
Holding to the confession of Faith, we shall
; have common basis as to Doctrine and Govern
ment-and an understanding that, however, we
may differ in our views respecting Slavery, the sub
iect is never to be introduced into the Assembly
either by Northern or Southern men, unless, indeed,
judicial cases are brought up regularly from the
lower courts. In the judgement of the undersign
ed this course is onlv alternative. There is so
much of the same abolition spirit peryading other
Churches that adhere to the same standards OF
faith that we could not expect peace on this sub
iect by uniting with them. We are persuaded
: that although this question may be suppressed in
y their judica.ories for while. the abolition spirit
j exists to such extent as to threaten their dis
a memberment. The result may be that the disturb
+ ing elements of the different branches of the
S Presbyterian Church may be united in one body,
i and that the conservative portion Of the same may
ultimately be brought together, and thus prove more
i efficient in promoting the cause of the Redeemcr
l. and in dfusing through the land truly nationa
0 spirit. At present, however, the union Of these
Churches would not afford relief to those who ar'
wearied of this slavery agitation. We are desr
Gus of forming an organization where We shall no
be liable TO another division for this exciting sub
!. :, ject
/ The undersigned therefore, would invite al
Presbyterans from all sections of the country, Il
If meet in Convention in the city of Washington, OF
n the 9th day OF August, 1857, for the purpose o
j. consultation, and of organizing General Assem-
If bly, in which it will be distinctly understood thu
subject of slavery will not be introduced. W.
propose this course, instead of organizing an As
= sembly Mt once, as being due to the Presbyterie
}, we represent. We woald suggest that the Presby
d teries be called together soon possible an(
:" that, whilst the Prosbyteries appoint their dele
gates to the Assembly in the usual proportion, it i
y desirable that many ministers and elders should
10 attend the Convention as can do so. We suggest
also, that in any of the Presbyteres desiring
i to be connected with this now Assembly, shou'
find it impossible to be represented in the Conyen
Y ton, it would bo important that the Convention
u should be informed of their action.
r. Praying that God may override the distraction o
/ Aion for His own glory, and that We may be guid
cd in this crisis Of our history by his herrlo