Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-06-18


that of History and Political Ecoaomy, were left to
be filled in September next. .
It was also determined that the Faculty be au-
thorized and requested to appoint from their NUM-
ber Chairman to discharge tho duties of Presi-
dent until the next meeting of the Board.
That the exercises Of this College be suspended
until the first of October next and that immediate
notice be communicated to the Faculty. .
committee Of three was appointed to address
the citizens on the state and reorganization of the
College.
The late Professors will retain their houses un-
til required by their successors.
The Board adjourned to meet on the Wednesday
afteS the second Monday in September, at z p. m.
Old School and Independent Presbyterians.
We give below q full report of the proceedings
Of the General Assembly in relation 10 the Znds-
psndent'. From the conciliatory manner in which
the reply to the Overture Of the Bethel Presbytsry
is written, we have hopes that this breach in the
Church will be healed up at last: - -
Overture No. 81, from the Bethel rresbytery.
was taken up, in reference to proposed union be-
tween the Bethel Presbytery and the Independent
Presbyterian Church, once known. as the followers
of the late Rev. W. C. Davis. Upon which the
Committee make the following report:
While the General Assembly is greatly gratifed
with the spirit Of charity and brothsry love, which
the Overturs indicates as ;subsisting between the
'Presbytey of Bethel and the Independent Church,
and would sincerely rejoice at the consummation
of the proposed union, it yet cannot sanction the
precise terms Of the covenant which has actually
been made. The privilege claimed by the Inde-
pendent ministers Of holding and teaching doc.
trines notin harmony with the Confession Of Faith
is privilege, even II harmless in this particular
case, might be abused as O precedent and lead in
other quarters and relations to serious mischief.
The Assembly expresses the desire that thesemin.
listers may soon be able to embrace our standards
without reservation, and that in case the Presby-
terry Of Bethel Is hereby authorized to ratify the
union without further application to this Body,
but in the event that the Independent ministers
and churches cannot relinquish their pecuiarities
with good conscience, this Assembly will cheer
ish them in the bonds Of Christian love, but can.
not see its way clear to embrace them In the same
denomination.
DR.. Leland would occupy little timein e1plain-
ing Nearly fifty years ago, W. G. Davis, Of South
Carolina, thought he had found out some new ex-
plantations Of the Gospel. These he published in
ed that the book taught error; and in process Of
time it came up before the Assembly and was ex-
amined. &
At this point, the hour Of adjournment was an
nounced, and the Assembly adjourned, Dr. Leland
having the floor. CLOSED viii. prayer.
81 n'clocK, P. NJ.
The unfinished business Of tie morning was re-
sumed.
DR.. Leland regarded this matter as important,
and he would be brief. In the rangsof the Beth
ell Presbytery are some nine or ten churches Of In
dependents, and some four ministers holding about
the same views as ourselves and they are desirous
to unite with us.
When VIC. Davis book was examined, by the
Assembly, twas condemned for holding certain
errors: e. g. that the active obedience Of Christ
has no justifying efficacy (; that the first act Of
faith has 40 holiness in it that man. by nature, is
not subject Of moral law, etc. Mr.. Davis was
arraigned by his Presbytery and saw that he was
likely to be condemned and all at once he discoy-
cred that Presbyterianism was all wrong and In
dependency right. He took nopreaohers with him.
yet, in short time, he was surrounded by minis.
ters and licentiates and the churches that went
off with Davis. For considerable time there has
been strong desire to unite with MS, yet their
ministers wish to makea proviso that while they
receive our standards they have leave to preach
Davis peculiar doctrines, It was not so with the
people. He hoped the report would pass. :
W. ]. Mccormick was sorry to hear the history
of that people brought up. These people ignored
the past Their Confession had been improved
three or four times and now very much alike, iu-
deed almost identical with our own. The dificul-
ty, he thought, laid in regard to their request to
preach these peculiar doctrines alluded to- but re-
gard should be had to their explanations of these
doctrines.
Our Presbytery, afters careful and long exami-
nation came very cordially and entirely TO the con-
clusion which the fresbytery has sptead before
the Assembly. Hs thought this should have some
weight. The discussion was arrested, as the hour
for the election Of Directors for the Western The
illogical Seminary had arrived.
II X
The discussion was resumed by Mr.. Mccormick.
There was s2- intense desire on both sides for
Union, and the Presbytsry had entire unauimity,
yet he would bow to the Assembly, whatever Be
its decision. Gods Spirit he felt was here.
Dr. Thornwell- is perplexing case. The
Presbytery declare the churches orthodox, and
yet they claim the right to teach three articles Of
faith entirely at variance with our standards.
The design of the Overture was not to interrupt
the harmony existing between the parties, and yet
not compromise our doctrines. The idea conte@-
plated in the Overture is as little as We could do
and yet as much as We could do. He was acqnain-
ted with the churches and thought them in the
main sound, and in regard to the ordination Of
their ministers, it is regular and Presbyterian.
DR.. Breckinridge was willing to take all the
churches, let the ministers do as they might, II
they agreed to our doctrines. The fourteen
churches ought not to be COMPOUNDED with three
or four ministers. He was willing to take all on
the terms Of the report on the Overture; on their
own explanations Of their doctrines, none.
Mr.. Leland thought that anything looking like
q separation of those churches from their minis
ters was a thing to be deprecated.
The report on the Overture was adopted unaai-
mously." cy,sS -.