Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-06-16


Mr. Elitor-I was glad to see in your
paper, of the 9th inst, the position of the
Presbyterian church on the subject Of
Slavery 40 clearly and fairly stated. The
act of the Assembly of 1918 is one Of the
ablest Anti-Slavery documents ever pub.
lished. The first sentence should be kept
constantly before the minds Of men. 1t
is monument Of our church's loyalty to
Christ, aud of our fathers faithfulness to
truth, during the long reign of Southern
oppression. Read it, again and again
"We consider the voluntary enslaving
Of one part Of the human race by another
as a gross violation of the most precious
and sacred rights of human nature; IS
utterly inconsistent with the law of God,
which requires US to love our neighbor as
ourselves and as totally irreconcilable
with the spirit and principles of the Cos
pei Of Christ, which enjoin, that 'sll
things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them"
But the disiateresfcd writer who aids the
"Argus" in its frequent abuse and libels
upon the Presbyterian pastor of our town,
contends that this language is to be taken
in non natural sense, or that it has been
explained away or modified by on act of
ls45. For his especial beuef,, quote the
act of the Assembly, less than q month
since, on this very point
"PEoRIA, H., June l, 1863.
"The Assembly met, was opened with
prayer, and the Minutes read.
reported on an overture from the Presbyt-
cry of Saline, requesting further action
upon the subject of Slavery. 1t was adop-
ted. and ia a. follows:
"Oyer,ure No. is. a request from the Pres
byiery of Saline, that The General Assembly
solemny re-affirm the testimony ot 1918, in
regard to Slavery. The Committee report
1.-The Assembly has, from the first, uttered
its sentiments on the subject Of Slavery in
substantially the same language. The action
of ISIS was taken with more care, and made
more clear, full and explicit, and was adopted
unan mouSiy. IL has since retained that true
and Scriptural deliverance on this important
subject, by which our Church is determined
TO abide. 1t has nerer been repealed, amended,
or modified. but has frequently been referred
to, and reiterated in subsequent Assemblies;
and when some persons trncied that the action
of 1915 in some way inierfered with it, the
Assembly of 1916 declared, with much una
nimity, that the action OF As was not intended
to deny or rescind the testimony on this subject
previously uttered byGeneral Assemblies: and
by these deiirerances ,1e still ABIDE"
One would think this to be sufficiently
clear and explicit. The Assembly calls
the act of 1918, "true and S,riptural
dcliverance;" declares that it "has never
been repealed, amended, or modified"
that the church has often "reiterated" it,
and is determined to stand by ii. 1t is,
therefore, surprising that the gentleman
should desire to retain connection with
Church whose faith, as declared repeat
,dly by the unanimous voice of the body, |
ns repudistes. l admit that there may be
'ome Presbyterians who harmonizs with
lin in sentiment-but they are nearly
III in Dixie. Consequently, his efforts
o create disaffection and discord in the
church in this place, are not
likely to be saccessful-nor arc they
,hristiau-like, or patriotic, at this crisis.
)ur members are intelliCent. firm. stable.
ot easily moved from the faith once deli.
cred to the saints. Minister and people
ully and heartily embrace the deliveraucs,
the Assembly-from 1918 to 1865
0 both true and scriptural, and BY which
ur church is determined to abide.
JUSTICE.
Both the N. s. Presbyterian General
Issembly aud the Protestant Episcopal
'iooesiau Convention, recently in sessions
Philndeinhia committod fham msalVes