Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-06-08
SIisnbets Daily aaonitor,
PUBLISHED AT 1876 BROAD STREET, BY
J. MADISON DRAKE.
THE pREsRYTERIAN SPLIT.

We have closely followed the Presby
terian reunion movement to its APP
preaching completion but we find very
few people who are capable of giving an
ineligible idea of the causes of the
original split, which resulted in the for
nation of the Old and New Schools.
The Hartford Times gives brief his
tory of this schism, which will be inter
esting to many readers
1t has always been an almost impos-
sible thing flor outsiders, at least) to
gain any definite idea of the cause of
dispute and separation in this church.
One would say that their doctrines and
creed are the same, but that owing to
some minor differences which arose
some thirty odd years ago the church
split. Another would say there were
differences in doctrine-and still anoth-
err would say that they split on the
slavery question. Both sides claimed
to be the genuine Presbyterian Church.
The Church started, in this country, by
the organization of Presbytery in
Philadelphia, in 1705. From this some
years after, came the Synod of Phila-
delphia, and towards the close of the
last century, the General Assembly.
More than century ago some differ
ences arse, causing division in the
Philadelphia Synod, and the two par
ties went by the name of cold Side"
and New Side" Presbyterians, and
this gave rise to the Synod of New
York. But the two synods united again
in 1858. The great split, to which has
kept the Church divided down to the
present time, occurred in 1888. The
conflict appears to have been working
towards that point some years previ-
ously. In the new settlements of the
West. where missionaries were sent out
a plan of union was agreed on for work
ing tremendously together for the same
object, of Presbyterians and Congrega-
tionalists, butlthere began to be some
friction in the working of this system,
each fearing that their own church
would be thrown into the shade by the
other. In 1926 the American Home
Mission Society was organized. This
was voluntary association, under the
dictation of no ecclesiastical tribunal,
and majority of the Presby terian
Churches contributed to 1t in prefer
ence to acting through the Assemblys
Board of Missions. A large number
were opposed to voluntary societies,
maintaining that the Church should
control all such matters. They were
jealous of the Congregationalists, or of
their system, and were anxious to have
the direct authority of the Church
made manifest. ......
At a meeting of the Assembly in
1928 resolution for the abandonment
of voluntary associations was offered,
which was discussed two whole days
and indefinitely postponed-showing
that majority were in favor of such
associations. In 1929 the Rev. Albert
Barnes added fuel to the fire by preach
ing to his flock in Morristown, New
Jersey, a sermon on the way of sal
vation," sermon that was loudly
denounced as heretical. What the
particular heresy was with which he
was engaged, they who are fond of
tracing theological distinctions to the
northwest side of hair can perhaps
discover by an attentive perusal of the
attacks and defences of letters that
passed back and forth in the journals
of that day. Some maintained that
Mr.. Barnes case was merely used as
an auxiliary to the principal cause
the encouragement of voluntary socie-
ties, which would lead Congregation
alism to get the upper hand of Presby-
terianism.
Mr.. Barnes was suspended from the
ministry and the next year reinstated,
and the Old School, reused to new en-
ergy by defeat, and finding themselves
in small majority, when the Assem-
bly, covened, exscinded several synods,
and babe others look to the IRREGULAR
ties of doctrine within their bounds,
and report to the next Assembly. The
exscinded churches decided these acts
to be unconstitutional, and resolved to
maintain their organization, and send
commissioners to the Assembly of 1888,
as before. They did so, but the Mod
orator rejected them, and the house
sustained him, and since then the lines
have been sharply drawn between
"New School" and sold School,"