The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-26
The Old school General Assembly "'
~. Louis.
ForEru DAY-MoxpAy, MAY q, 1866

branches SO long rs political tests are III
the WAY. The Louisville Presbytery has
done nothing more than 10 refuse t" make
these political tests within its juriSdlchon'
On Monday, Rev. Dr. Van Dyke at
tempted to bring the General Assembly I"
scnsc of the false position it had assumed
hv offering the following paper:
This Assembly earnestly deprccatcS the
Continuance of the division now existing
between the Presbyterian churches III the
northern and southern States, together
with the strife among ourselves, growing
ont of this division, aS ruinouS ana uhhe-
ccSSary sclism between brethren WI"
maintain u common faith, tending to per
pCtuatc the evil passions generated py clNli
war; to prevent the return OF the harmony
and good will 50 essential TO the prosperity
of both church and State, and to dS>ipate,
IN futile contentious, the resources ana
moral influence which the church ought to
employ in common efforts for the defence
/ and propagation ot the Gospel.
In the spirit OF reconciliation and bro
thcrIv kindness, this Assembly desires the
restoration OF the unity OF the church on
the basis of the principles upon which She
was originally organized, and upon Wmcl,
under the Divine blessing, she so long ana
50 abundantly proSpered.
Among these principles We regard the
following as fundamental:
|. God alone is Lord Of the conscience,
and hath left it free from the doctrines
and commandments OF men, which are in
-, liz A hlS1In
I il in matters OF faith and worship. - Form
( "f Gov. |. IL
! ;. "All the church power, whether cX-
crcscd hy the body in general, or IN the
way of representation hy delegated antho-
iitv, i only ministerial and dcclaratlvc
/ THAI j. I" say: the Holy Scriptures are the
only rule ui faith, and ministers III the
church iudicat"ry ought not to pretend I"
make laws to bind the conscience in virtue
Of their own authority, but all their dccl-
,ion> should lc founded upon the recorded
will of God. "-IForm "f GOV. |. I.
=. "SynodS and councils are to handle
or conclude nothing but that which is ecclc-
,ia>tical, and are not t. intermediate with
civil affairs which concern the Common
wealth unless 10y way Of petition IN cases
extraordinary, or hy way OF advice tor
satisfaction Of conscience. if they be there
unto required hy the civil magistrate. -
lCuntr>,on Of Faith 81, T..
I. "All Synol> and councils since the
,layS Of the Apostles, whether general or
particular, may err, and many have erred
therefore their decisions are not I" hc madc
the rule Of faith and practice, but I" he
used rs a help in both. "i
Faith, 81, ..
:. Since the powers that be are ordained
al, God, il is the duty of Christians Il" pray
for magistrates, to honor their persons, I"
pay them tribute and other dues, t" obey
their lawful commands, and t" he subject
to their authority for conscience sake. --
fCuult,siom oi Faith, %, T..
In accordance with these principles, ana
with view to promote peace upon t'r
basis thcriu set forth,
H$oirtd, That the dchNcranccS OF the
five preceding assemblies on the state OF
the country, including the ""rdcrH "l
the last Assembly in regard to the rccep-
ton of members from prcShytcreS and
churches in the southern States not having
been transmitted to the prcSbyterirs iol
thcir appreciation according I" require
mcnt, OF the Form of Government, chllle I'll
twelve. section six, are not established ion
constitutional rules, and are not obligatory
upon the churches. Whatever may h'
their virtue rs part of the past history o
the church, and aS an embodiment ol lht
opinions of the venerable assemblies IRON
which they cmauatcd, these dcllvcTtmce'
/ form no part OF our standards OF truth and
order. and their adoption cannot be law
fully insisted on as term OF church mcnl'
hcrShip or Of ministerial communion.
After some unimportant discussion, this
paper was referred to the Committee on
Bills and Overturcs.
4 long paper was then submitted from
the representatives of the Louisville Pres
bytcry, which concludes as follows
With profound respect for the Assembly
rs the highest court OF the church, and
with ntcicncd sorrow that we are con
strained, in fidelity to our trust, thus tC
speak, We feel ii our duty to say to the As
Sclnblv that-regarding this acton as OF the
nature OF Judgment upon the Gresbytery
and its commissioners, and TINS Juagheh'
a sentence OF exclusion without trlal or
hearing in any form IN explanation OF de'
fence regarding this action as not only uh'
lust. injurious and cruel, but as subvcrSvC
of the foundations Of all Justice, dcStruc
tive OF the constitution of the church, ano
revolutionary III its nature; regarding IL IL
setting Il precedent for the exercise OF q
partisan power in the courts OF ChriSt
Kingdom, which leaves all the rights ano
iinmuuitcs of his people ut the mercy o
any faction that may casually he III tlt
ascendancv--we should be untrue to the
Prcsbvtcrv whose commission we bear
Iaithlcss 10 the cause of truth and Chris
tian freedom, false to our Lord ana hing
should we silently acquicscc III such procc'
durc or in any way recognize lis leSahty
We must regard this action in its effect, sc
far as relates 10 us as commissioners, ano
to this present Assembly, as final in tho
case.
With these views and convictions there
is but one course left open to us, namely
TO take our appeal at once upon the issue
as il has been made for us and forced upon
us. from this General Assembly 10 the
Prcsbytcry OF Louisville in particular, III
Gil far A. il concerns ourselves and that
body. and to the whole church III SO far
as il is an issue involving the great princi-
ples of her constitution; and, indeed, her
continued existence as free Christian
commonwealth in the enjoyment oil the
franchises and immunities conferred upon
her by her adorable Head. r.
We therefore respectfully inform the
Assembly that we shall not attend further
upon its sessions.
STUART ROBINSON,