The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-17

some years before had succeeded in disseminating
the doctrines OF Calvin throughout Scotland. The
Church has had an organized existence in America
about one hundred and eighty years, but II now
numbers more members on this Continent than
there are to be found in Ireland and Scotland to
which countries 1t Is indebted for Its existence.
Its progress In England was checked by
the bitter opposition OF the Tudor mon
archs. 1t was repressed with sleepless jeal-
0usy and its spread resisted at every
point. 1t was in opposition to Queen Elizabeth
and the bitter hostility OF the bishops that the
first Presbytery was formed. That took place at
Wandsworth. in Surrey, almost in the suburbs OF
London. The record OF 1t, which came under the
eye OF Bishop Bancroft and the statement upon
which he bases his Exposure OF its Dangerous
Position and Proceedings" contained the names OF
eleven elders, the approvers Of them, who were
neighboring clergymen, and a description OF their
oi1ces and general rules to be observed 1t was
the nrst fruits of series'of conferences held by
English ministers annually, who, q few weeks pre-.
viously, wearied by vain applications to Parliament
for a reformation OF discipline according to the
views OF Calvin and Knox had recommended that
all should labor, each for himself to introduce the
desired changes. At the last General Assembly oil
the Presbyterian Church, held in this city, 1t was
resolved to celebrate the tercentenary OF the event.
1t will take place In Philadelphia Ccrgymen from
all parts of the United States are Invited to attend
At ten O'Clock, next Wednesday morning, the min
listers and elders will march In procession to Penn
square Presbyterian church, where appropriate
ceremonies will be held
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The present occasion may be suitable one to
give brief sketch OF this important denomination
and OF its foundation and growth in America. The
reformation inaugurated by Luther, it is known,
was carried on under different auspices, and this
fact gave birth, especially In Great Britain, to a
series of events which had most important influence
on the organization and character of churches both
in England and Scotland, on the condition of the
people in both kingdoms, and ultimately ON the
settlement of the United States. In England the
reformation began in royal caprice or passion and
was made for u time subservient to the arbitrary
will of a despotic monarch. Disputes subsequently
arose between the Court and the Purltans the lat
ter being Influenced by the great leading doctrines
OF Calvin and who desired to make greater changes
in doctrine, worship and order. They commenced
ostensibly in respect to ecclesiastical vestments,
but included as emergencies arose controversies on
and the progress OF civil ana religious despOtisnl
became rapid. These consequences advanced
steadily through the reigns OF Elizabeth, James l..
and Charles H. and at length civli war broke out,
ending in the beheading OF the latter monarch.
THE PURITANS FINALLY PREVAILED
In Parliament and the nation. Cromwell came into
power, and under his rule the greatest atrocities
were committed in the three kingdoms. No mercy
was shown to those who objected to his authority.
they were slaughtered and banished by thousands
The Scotch and Irish were sod into slavery in the
American plantations. The principles of the Puri-
tans were embodied in ecclesiastical lormularies
composed by the Westminster Assembly ian au-
thorized work In the Presbyterian church,, which
met in 1643, and were adopted by Parliament six
years later Presby terianism became the estab-
llSle0 religion. On the restoration OF the mOn-
archy, in the person of Charles H., dlssensions
again arose. In the meantime a portion of the
Puritans sought refuge In America and the pill
grims OF the MayhOwer landed on Plymouth Rock
and formed their institutions in the New World.
THE SCOTCH AND IRISH CHURCHES.
In Scotland the Reformation took strong hold.
1t was strongly tinged with the views OF Calvin.
Patrick Hamilton, the friend OF Luther and Melanc-
thon, learned their doctrines and taught them In
that country. John Knox, the able. fierce and de-
termned preacher and who was in intimate cor
respondence with Calvin, framed concession of
faith and the first book Of discipline. The Church
In Scotland met In its first general assembly lor
its own government, in 1850 The chief points of
bishops absolute DEGREES OF God, spiritual presence
of Christ in the Eucharist and independence of the
Church II was not until 1861, at the Conference OF
Poissy, that the supporters OF these dogmas re-
ceved the name OF Cavinsts. All efforts to INTRO
duce episcopacy into Scotland tailed The Scots
were reused TO resistance. war OF twenty-eight
years followed-the blacklist period in Scottish
history. The Presbyterian Church In Ireland was
mainly the offspring OF Presbyterian emigration
lTOul SCOId0u, DuI IOTmeT country mas uOue
more TO enlarge the Church in America than Scot
land. Emigration went on across the Atlantic but
persecution was not unknown on this Continent
1t is aremarkable fact, however, that Presbyter-
ans prosecuted by EpiscOpalians in Virginia, and
Episcopalians and others prosecuted by Puritans
found refuge and protection in the Catholic colony
OF Maryland, where religious liberty first estab
lished and practically carried out IN America.
PRESBYTERIAN LINEAGE IN AMERICA.
The Presbyterian Church in America derives its
lineage from the Presbyterians OF both Ireland and
Scotland, who were its first founders. The Church
OF stern ma and oWeS s oe
was, more than any other, its model III the whole
arrangement OF its judicatories and its whole
ecclesiastical nomenclature, with few exceptions.
The prosecutions which drove so many of the early
settlers TO this country fell, in the hrst instance
On the independents and Quakers, and when
1t came the Presbyterans 1t did not
drive them so generally from their homes, but led
to a protracted struggle, as mentioned above. From
the period OF the accession OF William and Mary the
Presbyterians began to remove from Ireland and
Scotland to America. The first Presbyterian church
that can now be distinctly traced was organized in
Philadelphia (ln which city the precautionary cele-
bration takes place next Wednesday, short
period before the commencement OF the eighteenth
century, and almost coeval with it was the forma-
ton OF four live churches the eastern shore Of
Chesapeake Bay. There Is, however, some account
of q Scotch Presbyterian church established
dispersed and returned to Europe. The primary
ecclesiastical union Of American Presbyterans
occurred In 17oe, when the Presbytery of Phila-
delphia was formed, 1t consisted OF seven minis
ters-Samuel Davis, John Hampton. Francis Nc
Kenna and George McNish, from Ireland; Nathaniel
Taylor and John Wilson, from Scotland and Jededah
Andrews from England.
EARLY DAYS OF THE DENOMINATION.
According to the Official statement OF the Pres
bytery OF Philadelphia In their letter to the Pres
bytery of Dublin, September, ITO, the whole num-
Der OF ascertained Presyterians at that time Is
thus given I'm Virginia one small congregation
at Elizabeth River, with some few families in Rap
pahannock and York; In Maryland four congrega-
tions in Pennsylvania five, and In the Jerseys two
with some places in New York. In comparison
with the Church OF to-day the growth is certainly
great, even taking into account the increase Of
population. At this period, ITO, emigrants were
earnestly solicited from Ireland and Scotland, who
soon began to arrive from the former country in
large numbers In consequence the Presbytery OF
Philadelphia became enlarged and the congrega
tons widely scattered. II was decided in 1716 to
subdvde the body into four sub-presbyteries, all
of whom constituted members OF the general body
denominated the Synod OF Philadelphia. Its first
meeting was held in that city September
II, 17l7, and embraced thirteen ministers
and six elders. In 17l8 they renewed their
solicitations to the Irish Presbytery for additional