The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1867-01-12

tS- We know of nothing wc can publish
that will afford better or moro profitable
Sunday reading, to large class of our
|citzcns, THAI the following
a Rny of Light Pcrvading the
Darkness.
Rev. Dr. Van Dykes Church, the First
rresbytcrinn Church. Brooklvn. has takcn
the following action:
AT the meeting OF the session OF tho First
Presbyterian Church Of BROOKLYN. under
the pastoral care of the Eov. Or. Van Dyke,
held October TX, tho following preamble
and resolutions were uuanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, Tho Constitution of the Pres
byterian Church expressly declares (Con-
iession of Faith, chap. 81, sec. AZ that
synods aud councils are to handle or COM
clude nothing but that which Is eeclesias-
tical, and are not to intermeddle with civil
affairs which concern the commonwealth,
and also Dorm OF GOV. chap |, sec. y.
"that the Holy Scriptures are the only rule
Of faith aud manners, that no church judi
eatory ought 10 pretend 10 make laws to
bind the conscienCP In virtue of their own
authority, and that all their decisions
should be founded upon the revealed will
Of God" And
WHEREAS, Successive general assemblies
from 1861 10 1865 have assumed the right 10
decide questions strictly civil and political
IN their nature, involving the interpreta-
tiOn OF the Constitution Of the United States
the relation of the States to the Federal
Government, the proper policy To be pur-
sued by the Federal Government. and the
duty OF the members of the church In re-
gard To the civO policy they should sup
port ia their capacity as citizens of the
United States, upon all which questions
the word off God gives no instruction what
ever. And
WHEREAS, The General Assembly of 1865
Issued Instructions to till the presbyteries
and church sessions underits care to enforce
the adoption of the opinions contained Ia
those political deliverauceS, AS a term of
ministerial communion and church mem
bershlp in regard 10 persons coming from
churches In the Southern States, thus legis-
lating where Christ has not Ieglslated, and
making terms of communion which he has
not made exercising spirit of partiality
and throwing insuperablc barriers Ia the
way Of Reunion and peace in the church.
And
WHEREAs. The Assembly of 1866 Issued a
decree excluding fom their seats IN synod
and prcsbytery all those ministers and ell
ders to the number Of more than 100, who
bad signed certain protest, called n Der
laratlon aud Testimony against the politi-
,cal deliveHances Of former Assemblies;
thus violating the express rule of the Con-
stitutloA, which saws, process against a
gospel minister shall always be entered be-
fore the prcshytery OF which he is a menu
beE' Book of Dis, ch. 3, sec. - usurping
|prerogativcs which the Constitution rccOg-
niZeS as belonging to presbyteries and syn
ods, oVerturniug our whole system of ap-
pellate courts, and visiting severe pcnaltie,
upon ministers and elders against whom
there is no accusation of hcresy or crime.
And.
WHEREAS, The Synod of New York and
the Presbytarv of Nassau have. by formal
vote eXclGded Elder Darwin G.. Eaton, the
chosen representative of this church. upon
the ground that he is a signer of the Dccla-
ration and Testimony, thus inilictng Il
grievotjs and gratuitous censure upon an
eldeg eminent for his piety, ability and use
fulness, and restricting the constitutional
prerogative of this church to choose its
own representatives from among those who
are in good standing as members of ses--
sion; therefore
ReSOtred, /. That this session, while pro-
Tossing our firm and unalterable attach
ment to the doctrine ard order of the
Presby Church, and our sincere pur-
pose to obey all the requirements Of the
higher courts of the Church which do not
conflict with our allegiance TO Christ, our
Supreme Head, do mt the same tlae sol
lemnly declare that the acts and deliverances
of the General Assembly recited in the
foregoing preamble, being unconstitutional
and without warrant from the revealed will
Of God, are null and void, and of no bind
ing force upon us.
2. That we will continue as heretofore,
to receive members into this Church from
churches in the Southern States upon tn Z
same conditions that we require of person Is
caiuing from any other part of the wOrl d
viz: satisfactory evidence of repentai ,ce
,towards God and faith in the Lord Je sus
Christ, and that we will ask them no a. les
tons whatever IN regard to their poll tical
opinions aud conduct.
}. That Elder Darwin q. Eaton Is h ereby
appointed to represent this session IN the
synod of New York aud in the Pres ovtery
of Nassau, and that we will appo int nc
other representative until his right; to Iii
seat il recognized, or unt til his goot stand
ing as a member of this session as been
impeached by a regular process of law ac-
eording TO the provisions of the Book OF
Discipline.
| 4. That a copy of these resolutions,
signed, by the moderator anfi clerk, be
transmitted to the Synod of New York and
to the Presbytery of Nassau
| (Slgned)
! HENRY J. VANDYKF.. Moderator
G.. c. WooDHULL, Clerk.