Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-24

y minutes Of the late General Assembly at Cleve-
land, Ohio, and, as a matter Of public interest,
now publish II In full:
The committee on the minutes of the General
Assembly report that they have examined the
same To pages i0l-2-3-4, and as u IL Impossible
for them 10 concur with the views therein ex-
4 pressed, and which the members of this synod
are expected to carry ont. in the administration
Of the affairs Of our churches, we are, Therefore,
left to the alternative Of dissolving our connec-
tiOn with the General Assembly, and the COM
mittee accordingly recommend that the synod OF
Virginia do withdraw from all further connec-
tion with the General Assembly Of the Presbyte-
Iian Church in the United States, which held its
sessions at Cleveland, Ohio, in May, 1857. In
recommending this course to the synod, we be-
lieve that we are expressing the sentiment Of the
great majority OF churches, deliberately
formed after the most ample discussion, and
when all the means Of reconciliation and all the
efforts for united action have been exhausted.
While we take this ground. with a firm trust
In the justice Of our principles, and an unaltera
Bile reliance on the gracious support of the great
Head Of the Church, we do so with undated af-
fiction for our brethren in the Lord who have
compelled US to separate from them and on
whom we would invoke the choicest beDedic-
tons OF our common Lord
Signed BY. n. DanfoTtb, J. ID. Mitchell, q.
Tresdwrll, A. II. FL. Boyd, J. X. Grattan, and
William Herring.
Subsequently,, the Rev. Mr.. Carothers offered
the following resolutions:
R,soired, That the stated clerk Of the Synod be
directed to retain in his possession the records of
the synod, AZ at present constituted
RssOlrsd, That the synod Of Virginia are op-
posed to the agitation of the slavery question in
ecclesiastical bodies and have no sympathy with
either Northern or Southern extremists on this
A~subJect and are opposed to political preachers
and Preaching.
RsSOIrsd. That we have heard with regret that
-he sentiments OF the Declaration OF
are opposed by some ministers: and that we re-
gard that national document as an honor to the
head and heart of its author, and believe that il
he he d. Lila F.ll
ans, and OF the American people.
R-Sofred, That the Synod of Virginia beliey-
In that from her territorial position she has
great mission TO perform in binding still stronger
the cords that hold together the Union Of these
United States, earnestly deprecates all agitation
OF the slavery question in ecclesiastical bodies
The Resolutions being under consideration Rev
Mr. G stated that he was a Southern man on
posed 10 the agitation OF slavery and was opposed
TO the action of the Cleveland Assembly and also
10 the action for Il new assembly; he would give
his views at another time, but remarked thai tn.
Knoxville movement was not wholly southern. a
large majority, he thought, were opposed to the
new organization.
The resolutions were laid on the table
Kew Jonathan Cross, the General Agent Of the
American Tract Society for the State of Mary
land, made remarks, on Invitation of the synod,
showing that through the Society the gospel had
been preached TO the poor who would never have
bcen reached in any other way and that the So
SIety had, through the late proclamation Of the
Tract Society's executive board, shown that not
wlthStanding the action Of the Society last sprno
they should sanction the publication Of nothing on
when the whole christian church Of the United
states could not agree ....-. ...-. ...-
Mr. Jacob Gideon (elderl moved to insert all
the documents IN the Assembly's minutes in the
report; carried.
Mr. CremPstOn offered the following resolu.
ResOIrsd, That, since the recent action ~ N.
|sHecutiye committee Of the Tract Society 10 ed
nefe strictly TO the letter and spirit Of the copsti
Sutton of said Society we Recommend tho oI,;srts
end agents Of the Society to the Continued conf
hence OF our churches. Carried
hry. MI: Haskell wanted time to prepare his
.oPlnlonS Tor expression; not to form them They
were now what they had ALWAYS been: hut as a
member OF the District Presbytery and as an in
alEldual pastor, he thought too little time had
been given for consultation IL was not the usual
custom Tor young men TO move too slowly; but he
feit now that, like Moses by the Red Sea he
could recommend the PFesbytery to stand still
and see the salvation of the Lord His mind was
made up and, like DIR. Sunderland be would
sacrifice his relation TO his beloved CHARGE the
comfort OF his family-but he could not sacrifice
MS conscience 10 these relations
Rev Mr. Nourse thought time enough had been
gwen Tor consultation, and. while feeling for the
District Presbytery, there no other conTse i'm
10 pursue. As to conscience we were NOT 10 he
guided oy that. We were guided by the Word
o. God Conscience was TO be educated The
No,thsIn par OF The Church had given up their
Suncts- We must be guided by the BTble-and
ne was prepared TO cut loose from the Cleveland
assTIinoiy' because they had presented u set of
Abolition resolutions which they were called
upon to endorse or repudiate And as TO the n
nanC ial point OF view although they were 10 lose
every collar which the North had been accus-
toHrd To pour into the Southern treasury vet L.,
the synod stand on principle, and God would
stand By them VIVA"
Rev. Mr.. Newlin, President Of Delaware Col
lege. offered the following as a substitute for the
1ePort of the Committee on Minutes of the As
seInblv: ~
Whereas, it has been the rule Of this synod q,
inc inc.
Nhe minutes Of the General Assembly To renor,
such matters as may require our attention and
whereas the action Of the Assembly on certain
SUBJECTS, has OccasiOned much discussion and
difference Of opinion; therefore
hssoired, That said committee be xcus I'd from
reporting oH the minutes Of the Assembly Adj
tha' We reserve any dehniiiveactiOn on the rela-
non We Sustain TO the Assembly until our NEXT
SynOdlcal meeting
Mr- Newliu stated in substance that he had M
expectation, when ne came into the house of Ia
King any part IN the discussion of this snbiect
and he was Induced to offer this Substitute no,
a. an expression Of individual opinion nor To
cali up the merits Of the question hut ,imulv as
peace oneflDg- 10 was very apparent from 'fbe
proceedings Of the morning. that some m. ,ntcrx
al the SyEOd were not prepared, for decisive ac
ton on points which had been discussed and he
iedieu II M ght lmperl the integrity of the SYN
cd, which all desired TO BE- preserved in,act
1 he only aim and purpose Of the substitute was
To- i't TINS matter rest; and God, in his proyi-
drnce, would, before their next Ineetin,, 'rnor.
clearly indicate what would best nromote tbs
well being of all the churches
rev MI Mitchell moved to lay the matter on
tLe tdbie. az all Presen. are convinced il was Of
no use 70 aTgue-they were decided. and ougLt To
meet the issue boldly.
Kew MI sunderland expressed himself wholly
. opposed 10 the adoption of the report, and In
Voked the consequences OF the act about TO he
= performed upon the heads Of those who had made
up 'helT minds to divide the Synod The SYNOD
,alght % able to separate him from his church.
MS people, but they could not separate him from
the course pointed out by his conscience
IesnIIory debate now took place upon point
OF order connected with the substitute offered nv
heS Nj Newiin, which was ended by the with
diawaI Of the motion TO lay on the table
Rev Z. III. NOurse thOu2 ht il better 10 meet the
question now than TO avoid II for a wear IoogeT
Ia has case to do nothing was to do everythiny-
vs. 70 endorse the course of the Assembly Cen
fi"ih~n had complained Of want Of time; did they
wint more than had elapsed since the action Of
the General Assembly
Ky Dr. Boyd wanted 10 know, II they did not
withdraw from the Assembly, what course were
they 20 take IA regard To tue X edmond Cony.n-