The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-17


and educate and ordain her own ministers. But
they unhappily found themselves almost power
less in the General Assembly, which met usually
in this city, and was made up far more largely
of ministers and elders who resided this side Of
the Alleghenies than of those beyond, or from the
South. On any emergency these might be
relied on as favorable to the voluntary societies,
and they constituted majority which could not
easily be overcome.
The Entering Wedge.
Thus everything was ready for determined
struggle, and the issue was soon Joined. In
1928 DIR. Taylor, of New Haven, at the head of
the Theological Seminary there, where quite
number of Presbyterian ministers had been
educated gave utterance to sentiments at which
even many New England ministers professed to
be shocked, and which gave distinct shape and
name to some of the peculiarities of New Haven
theology. 1t was well known that many Pres
byterian ministers regarded these sentiments
with no disfavor, and that some were even their
jealous advocates.
The Case of Albert Barnes.
The Rev. Albert Barnes, who has for SO many
years stood at the head of the Protestant clergy
of this city, proved to be among the number of
the latter Born at Rome, New York, In
December 179S, and educated at Hamilton
College, where he graduated in 1920 he began
life, as he has himself said, "a skeptic in re-
ligion, and had early fortified and poisoned his
mind by reading all the books to which he could
find access that were adapted to foster and sus-
tain his native skepticism." BY reading In the
Edinburgh Encyclopedia then in course of
publication, an article on christianity" by
DIR. Chalmers, his attention was fixed, aud he
was convinced Intellectually of its divine origin.
He then resolved to frame his future life on
what he understood to be the character and
views of DR.. Franklin, to lead henceforth a
strictly moral life; to say nothing against re-
ligion; not to be found on any occasion among
its opposers; but to yield to its claims no
farther. But year later than this period,
which was before his graduation, there
was revival of religion in the
college, and the simple statement by con-
verted classmate of his feelings on the subject
of religion, his description of the change which
had been wrought in his heart, led him to re-
fleet on his own condition, and was providen-
TALLY the means of effecting similar change
in himself. The whole current of his life was
thus changed. He entered upon the study
of theology at Princeton Immediately after his
graduation, was licensed to preach in April,
1924, and was ordained and installed as pastor
of the Presbyterian Church at Morristown, n.
j., in February, 1926.
Mr.. Barnes remained at Morrstown for five
years, signalizing the close of his pastorate, in
the spring of 1880, by the delivery and publica-
ton of a sermon on 1.-THE Wav of Salvation" I"
which at once drew to him the attention of the
whole Presbyterian denomination, and was
made the basis for an ecclesiastical persecution
of its author, which was conducted with great
earnestness for six years, until its object OBJ
tanned complete triumph ever all his adversa-
ries.
He was called TO the First Church of this city
in $780, as the colleague of the Rev. DR.. j. p
Wilson, with the hearty concurrence of the lat
ter. there being but one vote adverse to his set
tlement in ffty-four which were cast upon the
question. Having sgnifed his acceptance, the
congregation asked leave of the Presbytery of
Philadelphia to prosecute the call. The motion
to grant leave raised a stormy discussion, which
was prolonged through four days. several pro-
minent members of the Presbytery declaring
that Mr.. Barnes sermon on ''The Way of Saliva
ton" contained fundamental errors in doctrine,
and asserting their unwillingness to countenanee
any innovation by his reception. Leave to
prosecute his call was finally granted, by vote
of 81 to 12, it being understood that as soon as
Mr.. Barnes was received into the Pres bytery he
should be placed upon trial for heresy /;
and on the 18th of June, 1880, he presented his
certificate of dismissal and recommendation
from the Presbytery of Elizabethtown. fierce
opposition was again arrayed against his recep-
tion, but it finally prevailed by vote of thirty
to sixteen. An attempt was then made to arrest
his formal installation, by the presentation
| against him of charges of unsoundness In doc
trine; and in November, 1880, by express COM
mand of the synod, these charges were heard by
| the Presbytery, but in a manner which, accord
ing to the claims of Mr.. Barnes and his friends,
| was entirely unconstitutional The matter was
| finally taken before the General Assembly of
| 1884, which decided that there was "a number
of unguarded and Objectionable passages" In Mr.
| Barnes sermon; but ordered the Presbytery to
suspend further proceedings in the case, and
recommended such q division of that body as
| would promote peace and harmony in the
Church. This compromise was stoutly opposed
by the adversaries of Mr.. Barnes, and the
Recommendation of the Assembly was not fully
| and satisfactorily carried out until the year
1886.
| Other sold SchooI' Prosecutions.
Meanwhile the 'Old School, party diverted
part of their attention to other advocates of the
new doctrines. The Rev. DR.. Duffield, who
was at that time settled at Carlisle, in this
State, had published ponderous work on re-
generation, which his Presbytery arraigned and
condemned. DR.. Lyman Beecher, recently
called to the Professorship of Theology in Lane
Seminary, was charged by the Rev. DR.. Wilson,
Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in
Cincinnati, with holding heretical views, and
put on trial before his Presbytery.
These proceedings naturally provoked the
indignation of the 'New School" party, by
whom the objects of persecution on the part of
| the cold SCHOOL, faction were regarded as