Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-06-10
The Old school Presbyterian Assembly on tbes

quarter where there used TO be great deal of
the strength which enables men. to sit still
Gentle reader, don't yop understand me? If
not, read on and comprehend Know that since
the year 1898 there have been two bodies in
the land each styling itself the Presbyterian
Church Of the United States There had oc-
CURED adiviaion Of the Old Church. In COM
mon pafianse one Of these bodies has been call
ed ..Old School = and the other New School" f"
The two General Assemblies have met yearly
at the same time. Last week gave the recent
action of the eNeS School9 Assembly on the
ssasesef the country Now Prepose7to give
YOU the substance Of the action ofdhe ''old
School. Assembly. And I make little fuss
about. C yorl observe Well, 1T is worth while, I
for, ON al matters pertaining to Slavery the Old
School body has hitherto been the most con-.
servative old donkey imaginable. But the
donkey hangs back no more; so 1 say Glory
Hanelujah 7! GssvftI .lfGGgg0fes
In 1877, the Synod of New York and New.
Jersey took action strongly anti-Slavery. The
first General Assembly met in 1889. In 1895,
1915 and 1918, the General Assembly took:
strong action against Slavery. The action, of
1918 was one of the most outspoken and une-
quivocal testimonies against the peculiar insti-
tuition that were ever uttered. No General As
sembly has repudiated that testimony.
The New School Assemblies have often reaf-.
firmed it. The Old School Assemblies have,
for the past twenty years. been pretty much
silent about it. Even since the war has been
raging they have not been agreed to utter any
decisive language in respectto it. e1 ~
But at last they have broken the ice, and
come back to the old course of things. The
action recently taken at their meeting in New
ark, New Jersey, is quite lengthy, too much so
to be given in full. And yet the substance of
the action is best given in their own words
After reciting the action of former General As
semblies they give US the following
esrHE DUTY OF THE PRESENT HOUR.
such were the early and unequivocal in
structions of our church. 1t is not necessary
too minutely to inquire how faithful and obedi-
ent to these lessons and warnings those to whom
they were addressed have been, 1t ought to be
acknowledged that we have much to confess and
lament as to our shortcomings in this respect
Whether strict and careful application of this
advice would have rescued the country from
the condition and the dangers which have since
threatened it. is known to the Omniscient alone;
nor do we assume the right confidently to de-
clare that the present judgments of our Heaven
ly Father and Almighty and Righteous Gov
ernor have been inflicted solely in punish
ment for our continued liberation of this sin;
but it is our Judgment that the recent events of
our history and the present condition of the
church and country furnish manifest tokens that
the time has at length come, in the providence
of God, when it is his will that every yestige of
human slavery among us should be defaced,
and that every Christian man should address
himself with industry and earnestness to his
appropriate part in the performance OF this
great duty.
''Whatever excuses for its postponement may
heretofore have existed no longer avail. When
the country was at peace within itself and the
church was unbroken, many consciences were
perplexed in the presence of this great evil, for
1 the want of an adequate remedy z Slavery was
| so formidably intrenched behind the ramparts
of personal interests and preiudices, that to at
tack it with view to itsspeedy overthrow ap-
peared to be attacking the very existence of the
social order itself, and was characterized as the
inevitable introduction of an anarchy worse in
its consequences than the evil for which it
seemed to be the only cure. But the folly and
weakness of men have been the illustrations Of
Gods wisdom and power. Under the influence
of the most incomprehensible infatuation OF
wickedness, those who were most deeply inter-
ested in the perpetuation of Slavery haze take71
dlodu from eueTy good man, eceTy 1lOtiUe for its
further liberation. The spirit of slavery, moi
content with its defehces, to be found in the
laws of the states, the provisiORsiof the federal
constitution, the predjudices in favor of exist
4 i IL Il. l.
ken arms against law, organized bloody re-
bellion against the national authority, made for.
midable war upon the Federal Union, and in
order to found an empire upon the corner stone
of slavery, threatens not only our existence as
a people, but the annihilation of the principles
of free Christian government; and thus has rem
dered the continuance of negro slavery incom.
patible with the preservation of our own liberty
and Independence: e,sg.ssssz s.sszgE -
Is sssLAvERY AND THE REBELLION.
aisIn the struggle of the nation for existence
against the powerful and wicked treason, the
! highest national authorities have abolished sla
very within most of the rebel states and de-
creed its extinction by military force. They
| have enlisted those formerly held as slaves t.
! be soldiers in the national armies They hav,
taken measures to organize the labor of th'
freedmen, and instituted measures for their sup
i
It is their declared policy not to consent to thC
reorganization of civil government within tn,
seeded states upon any other basis than that o
emancipation. In the loyal states where sla
very has not been abolished, measures of eman
i cipation, in different stages of progress, hav
been set on foot, and are near their consuma
ton; and propositions for an amendment to tn
federal constitution, prohibiting slavery in al
states and territories, are now pending in tn
= n Al
uation, the interests of peace and social orde
are identified with the success of the cause Q
emancipation. The difficulties which formerl
seemed insurmountable, in the providence
God appear now to be almost removed. Th
most formidable remaining obstacle, we think
!. will be found to be the 4unwilhngness of th
human heart to see and accept the truth agains
the prediudiees of habit and of interest; and t
act towards those who have been heretofore de
graded as slaves with the charity of Christia
principle in the necessary efforts to improve an
elevate them. ssa n s'-s - s-.''f 1f
sooNeLUs1oN.s.a
''In view, therefore, of its former testimonie
upen the subject, the General. Assembly doe
, hereby devoutly express it's gratitude to Al
! mighty God for the great deliyerance He ha
prepared for our country from the evil and gui
of slavery. its cordial appreciation Of the meas
,wes taken by the national and state duhOritie
for It's ertirpdtion as the root of bitterness frol
which have sprung rebellion, war, and BLOOD
shed, and the long list of horrors that follow
their train; its earnest belief that the thoroug
removal of this prolific souree4of evil and harl
81 will be speedily followed by the blessings
our Heavenly Father, the return of peace, VI
3 ion and fraternity, and abounding prosperity
: the whole land; and recommend to all in OF
! communion to labor honestly. earnestly an
: unwenridly in their respective spheres for tn
: glorious consumlnation, TO which humanjustic
: Christian love, national peace and prosperit..
e every earthly and every religious interest. con
a bine to pledge them" sGAE
This paper was prepared by Judge Matthev
of CINCINNATI, and was adopted by the Assem-
bly, unanimously. Let us thank God and tai
: courage The Old School Presbyterians a
henceforth abolitionists as they ought to b
: Having taken this ground they will maintain
, !, and the Presbyterian churches of the Nor
= = will present an uphroken front of opposition
Slavery and the Slaveholdrrs' rebellion. B.
~ ss-s5fs . z-------- --------- = 21u>sp----