Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-01
[BY OUR OWN REPoRTER.]

The Associate Reformed Synod OF the
South convened in the Associate Reformed
Presbyterian Church, in Chester, S. G., at II
O'Clock A. NJ, la;y Thursday, October 18th.
Although this is one of the oldest church or or
carnations in the United States, yet so lit
tie is known, in some sections Of the coun-
try, of its true history, that many look upon
the "Seceders" as being mere handful OF
malcontents, who left the mother church ON
some frivolous ism, when in reality 1T IS the
mother church Of Presbyterianism in the
United States, and the only branch OF the
church that has remained true to the stand
ards of orthodox Presbyterianism since the
days Of John Knox. We are glad that the
Southern Synod, a branch Of the original de-
nomination-for like many other branches
of the Christian Church in the United States,
various questions ruptured this denomlna-
ton, resolving it into two distinct bodies,
one known as the United Presbyterian
Church, and the other as the a. r. Synod Of
the South-met at a point this year, render
ing it practicable for us to give an extended
report of its proceedings, that the readers
within the circle Of the ENQUIRER's clrcu-
lation, who are not already informed upon
the subject, may have a more intelligible
idea of the extent and influence Of this VEN
cradle but modest body in the religious
world.
This denomination was made by a union
of the Associate Presbyterians and the Re
formed Presbyterians in America, formally
consummated at Philadelphia, Pa, on No
vember /, 1882, and hence the name, Llsso-
ciate Reformed Presbyterian. The Associate
Church had been organized in Scotland in
1893, and its members were known as Sc
ceders," because they seeded from the rs
tablished Church of Scotland.
The Reformed Presbyterian Church had
existed in Scotland from the time of Charles
II in 1879, and its adherents were then
known as CoUend11ters. At the time OF the
union of these two bOdiesin in American l7S2,
there were only fourteen ministers IN the
united Church. The strength of the de-
nomination was then located in PennsylVa-
MIA and New York. They, however, had a
foothold in the South, and in February,
1890, the Associate Reformed "Presbytery
of the Carolinas and Georgia." was organ
lied. The denomination grew rapidly,
and in 1903 divided itself into four Synods,
one of these being called the "Synod of the
Carolinas," which was organized III Fair
field county, S. c., on the 9th Of May, 1903
These four Synods were subject to Il "Gen-
eral Synod" and in 1921 the synod OF the
Carolinas" withdrew from the General Syn
od and resolved itself into an nindependentco-
ordinate Synod, under the name Of "fhe
Associate Reformed Synod Of the South"
This body is commonly styled 'the Secc-
ders," which is hardly applicable to them
now but the name 'Seceder," when un-
derstood historically, is significant and high
ly honorable. Many suppose that the cause
of the original secession was the questions
of PsalmOdy and close Communion, but
these had nothing to do with 1t: me
Psalmody question was then not agitated.
The fundamental principle in dispute con-
fbn nf Srotn
the power Of civil government, &c., ana
these were the causes Of secession. SO then
the relations of this Church to Historical
Presbyterianism are close and inseparable.
1t is purely and distinctively Presbyterian.
In its form of government, doctrinal belief,
practice and discipline, it adhcres rigidly
and conscientiously to the Westminster
Theology, its Confessions and Catechlsms.
1t adopted from the outset these symbols
and has ever adhered closely to them and
those branches of the Church which sprung
from the original Secession Church, for eN-
ample "The Presbyterian Church in the
United States," North and South, have all
followed their example. This Church claims
to represent to-day the true type of Scotch
Presbyterianism which has ever conserved
the highest interests of Reforms ton Prot
estantism. The COncensus of th e Church,
as expressed in summary form by the Synod
in 1871, embodies in the main the doctrines
of all strict Presbyterians in every part OF
the world. In addition to these, it holds to
certain tenets called "distinctive princi-
pies" of which P$aLmody is. the chief 1t
maintains that since the Book Of Psalms
was given by Divine appointm ent as the
matter of the Church's praise, which ap-
pointment was never annulled !; since the
Psalms are the very word of God and the
truth most pure, and since uninspired COM
nnsnrs may and often do contain CrrOr, AN