Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-04-17
UNITED SYNOD OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
ChURCH.

This body, called by the Convention which met
at Richmond. Va, last August, and consisting oil
the representatives Of those Southern Presbyte'
ries which have seceeded from the New School
General Assembly, met at Knoxville, Teur., On
Friday, April End.
Rev G. Ii. Reed, D. D., Of Richmond, Va, was
unanimously chosen Moderator.
There were about twenty Commissioners pres
ent, among them DR.. Boyd. Of Winchester, Va
and DR.. Ross, Of Huntsville, Ala.
The name proposed by the Convention at kicl'
mon6, viz "the United Synod of the Prcbyterian
Church in the United States OF America" was
unanimously adopted.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
AT the afternoon session, a Declaration Of Prin'
ciples was reported by The Committee on BiIl'
and Osertures, DR.. Boyd chairmnn.)
In this paper, l. An adoption OF the Comics:
sion of Faith for substance Of doctrine, Is de
clared.
2. |. is stated that no judicatory, minister, or
private member can be censured or condemned III
the Presbyterian Church, for any doctrlnal senti'
ments, or for any practices, without trial.
3. That the General Assembly possesses no leg
~islative power. .
I. The right of any Judicatory "to bear testi.
nony" against another judlcatory. or against any
minister or member for supposed heresy, or crime,
is denied.
5. 1t is claimed that nothing can be made the
basis OF discipline in the Presbyterian Church,
which is not specifically referred to in the COnsti
tuition Of the Church as crime OF heresy.
6. Is slayeholding, or the relation between
master and slave, is not referred to in the Comics
Of Faith, either directly or indirectly, as an OIL
fence, it cannot, in itself considered, in any case,
be made the basis OF discipline i'll the Presbyterian
Oh urch. AT the came time we declare the RICH,
Of the Church Courts 10 take cognizance, in their
judicial capacity, Of crue!ties praetioed in this
and other relations In life.
I. luasmuch as Shareholders were admitted into
the churches organized by the Apostles, and at
neither Christ nor his Apostles iutimuted that thu
slaveholding relation was o sin, although they
lived in the midst Of the institution, and ~enjoineC
upon masters to treat their slaves with kindness
it follows, necessarily, that a Church Court tina
makes slaveholding in any case, o bar to com
muuion, is usurping authority that belongs onl.
10 the Great Head Ut the Church.
8. lGasmuch as neither the Saviour nor hi
Apostles minated that the slaveholding relation
was sinful, ond as they did not attempt TO remov
Shareholders from tie church by legislation, or b.
tes'iFying against it and, further, AS the syste'
of slavery is an institution Of the State, its con
tinuance or abolition depending entirely upon III
will OF the State, irrespective OF the views an
r decisions Of church courts, it is The judgment y
this Synod that the discussion or agitation o
slavery in the jndicatories of the church, excep
50 tar rs res poets the moral and religious dutie
, growing out of the relation of master and slave
is inappropriate to tie functions OF said judica
=, tories. 1t is therefore to be excluded entirely, u
a subject of discussion, from this Synod.
9. Entertaining the above views, and disclailG
D ing all responsibility for, and endorsement Of tn
actions, resolutions. and testimonies Of past Ger
eral Assemblies Of the Presby terian Church
whereby suspicious and doubts of the good stanC
ing and equal rights and privileges of the slave
holding members of the Church, or implication
or charges against their christian character. huy