The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-05-28
Central presbpterian.
REV. WILLIAM BROWN, D. D., Editor.
Richmond, Va, Wednesday, May 20, 1878.
PREsBYTERIANS AND RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM.
TcoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

anywhere without having the places of worship Ii
censed The general confusion, the public danger,
and the patriotism of the dissenters seem all to
have had their influence in relieving them from
former harassing restrictions.
PARSONS CAUSE.
Another circumstance that greatly influenced the
progress of sentiments of religious liberty was the
contest of the clergy of the Established Church
against the Communication of their salaries, payable
in tobacco at time when the price of tobacco was
greatly advanced. This controversy created great
excitement in the colony, and brought the clergy,
and with them the church establishment into dis
favor with the mass of the people. The suit,
which was the test case in this controversy, was
brought in Hanover in the year 1863 1t was in
this trial. by his eloquent speech against the cause
of the clergy, that Patrick Henry first brought
himself into notice. He gained complete tri.
umph. Prof Geo. E. Dabney, in a Chapter
from an Unpublished History of Virginia" which
ago, says:
This trial was a symptom of the disaffection to
the Established Church, which may have begun in
neghborhood where the Presbyterian Davies, an
orator nearly. equal to Henry had been just exert
ing prodigious influence The verdict foretold
the revolution which began twelve years after"
PATRICK HENRY.
Henry was brought up in the neighborhood in
which Davies preached and we know that he was
a great admirer of the eloquent preacher, the
"orator nearly equal to Henry" 1t is then in
every way probable that the young Henry just
now beginning his career, had imbibed the seuti-
ments of Davies, the able advocate of religious
freedom.
A few years later the Baptists, not hitherto nu-
merous, began to attract attention by their jealous
preaching. And a number of pious ministers we're
imprisoned as disturbers of the peace, for simply
preaching the gospel often it is true in unlicensed
houses. 1t was at the trial of some Of these min
listers in Spottsyvania in l76S, which was perhaps
the first case of imprisonment, that Henry again
appeared as the champion of religious liberty.
The triumph of his eloquence here was as great as
in Hanover. He brought the cause of the prose-
cution into as great contempt as he had that OF
standing this success, in other counties some were
imprisoned up to the beginning of the Revolution.
ACTS OF HANOVER PREsBYTERY.
As dissenters increased in number, and public
sentiment became more enlightened as to rights of
conscience, instead of liberation, absolute religious
liberty was now called for When an act had been
brought before the Virginia Assembly to extend
federation to dissenters, the Presbytery of Hano-
yer, which included all the churches of Virginia,
took the bill into consideration in l773, and ap-
pointed committee to attend to the matter before
the Legislature. Nothing was done by the Legis.
lature that year; and again the next year the Pres
bytery appointed meeting especially to remon-
strate against this bill.
In l776 the BILL of Rights" was adopted,
which declares, tnat all men are equally entitled
to the free exercise of religion according to the die.
tates of conscience" Yet this was not interpreted
as inconsistent with maintaining the Established
Church. And for years had the advocates of reli-
gious liberty to contend against powerful influence
in the Legislature, and among the people of the
State Many thought that to overthrow the estab-
lishment was to strike fatal blow at religion; old
long cherished prejadces had to be removed by
positions in clear terms, and enforcing them by
strong arguments that Hanover Presbytery, did its
part in fighting the battle for religious freedom,
both before the Legislature and before the people
Let it be borne in mind that the bill for religious
freedom did not pass the General Assembly of Vir-
gnia till 1885, some years after the close of the
war. Mr. Jefferson says, prepared the act for
religious freedom in l777, as part Of the revisal
which was not reported to the Assembly till 1779
and that particular law not passed till 1885," Du
ring the interval between the passage of the Bill
of Rights l776, and the passage of this act, 1885,
Hanover Presbytery sent up memorial after memo-
rial, pleading the cause of religious freedom. At
the same time the subject was brought before the
public, and the sentiments in favor of freedom in
religion, which their own people had held from
their first settlement in this country were extended
to others. The papers adopted by this body are
ably drawn, by such men as Samuel Stanhope
Smith, William Graham, James Waddel, John B.
Smith, and others. We give only brief extracts
giving the positions held, not the arguments en-
ployed. The papers may be found in full in
Foote' Sketches of Virginia.
From Memorial to Legislature, l776:
eve rely upon this declaration 1.-THE Bill of
Riehts) to secure us the free exercise of religion
according TO the dictates of our conscences.
+" Neither can it be made to appear that the Cos
mel needs any such civil aid. We rather conceive
when our blessed Saviour declares HIS kingdon, as
mot of this aCorld He renounces all dependence
unon State power" Sc We ask no ecclesiastical eS-
tablishneats for ourselves; neither eau we approve
Of them when granted to others. And for the
reasons recited we are induced earnestly to enreat
that all laws now in force in this Commonwealth,
which countenance religious domination, may be
speedily repealed.
From Memorial, dated Timber Ridge, April IS,
TIT:
Neither does the Church of Christ stand in
need of a general assessment for its support -
f" In the fixed belief of this principle, that the
kingdom of Christ, and the concerns OF religion,
are bevond the limits of civil control, we should
act dishonest, inconsistent part, were we to re-
ceive anv emoluments from human establishments
for the support of the gospel. IF the Lsgisla
ture has any rightful authority over the ministers
of the gospel in the exercise of their social office,
and it is their duty to levy maintenance for them
as such; then 1t VIII follow they may revive the
old establishment in its former extent"
In ITS, the Presbytery complains, that the Epls'
copal Church still has advantages over other de.
nominations is looked upon as the State church,
that in the right of celebrating marriages dis.
tinctiou is continued in favor of the ministers of
that Church, that they have the proceeds of
fund "derived from the pockets of all religious
societies., that the parish vestries can still levy
taxes for certain purposes.
In another memorial Of the same year they say:
"We conceive that human legislation, ought to
have human affairs alone for its concern. Legsla.
tors in free States possess delegated authority for
the good of the community at large, in its political
Or civil capacity 1--WE hope that no attempt
will be made to render the ministers Of religion
dependent of The ,o of the people 'ohon they serre."