The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-26

vlded and the name Presbytcry of New York
{ given to the new Presbytery thus formed
Associate Presbyterians and Reformed Fres,
+ bytcrinns began to emigrate from Ireland and
Scotland and come to America They settlea
In nearly all the thirteen original states.
Burghers and Antiburghers, finding no BUT
ny and both lived In peace and harmony Wild
the followers of Cameron and Carglll. Inc
war between the colonies began very soon,
! and both parties entered Into the struggle
with all their might. Both claimed that
Great Britain had done dlshonor to the crown
rights Of Jesus Christ. While others were
pleading for a redress OF grievances they, as
one man, exclaimed "gve us liberty, or give
us death" After q negotiation, extending
, through several years. the Associate Prcsoy-
Reformed Presbyterian Prebytery Of America
united on the 3lst Of October, 1872, thus FORM
ing one body to which they gave the appro-
priate name ASSOCIATE REFORMED PREsBY-
TERRAIN CHURCH.
This union, however wise. was not approved
Of by all in either party. All the Reformed
the union. but II respectable minority of the
lay members did not. and there Is q very re-
|spcctabe body of Christians to-day In Amer.
ica who bear the time-honored name, Cove
nanters. Two Associate ministers, and q
number Of the members Of the Associate
church refuse to go into the union. These
went 10 work and remained separate organ.
lzation until the 26th Of May, 1883 when they
in the North and formed what Is known as
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF
NORTH AMERICA.
When, In 1882 the Associate Reformed Syn
cd was organized the prospects were brighter.
!, New PreSbyterieS were soon organized, new
fields of usefulness were soon opened up, q
Theological Seminary, the first organized In
America was established: And in the course
of twenty years four Synods-New York,
, Pennsylvania, SciotO and the Carolinas were
organized. And in 1904 General Synod was
organized.
organization OF the General Synod until the
church became divided on number OF ques-
tions Some of these questions were OF little
or no weight, while others were Of vital I'M
pOrtance. A spirit of innovation seems to
have taken possession OF some OF the leading
: members of the church, which others seem to
, have been disposed to regard every thing
, which had not been done by the church In
Ireland or Scotland as sinful.
About the year 1911 the Associate Reformed
Church was in deplorable condition. On the
TO the judgment OF Il majority OF the Presby..
teries, by vote of seven yeas, five nays and
four SILENT adopted II basis OF union with the
General Assembly Of the Presbyterian church,
the General Synod of the Associate Reformed
Church, sung the 13Oth Psalm and sneaked
off home.
On the 9TH Of April, 1920 the Synod Of scio
Synod of the Carolinas had, by permission ol
: the General Synod become independent and
coordinate.
! WHAT WAS DONE IN NEwBERRY COUNTY
IN 1922.
On the lst OF April; 1922, the Synod Of the
Carolinas met ut Kings Creek in Newberry
County. South Carolina. On motion Of Rev
l"hn Hemphill: D. D., and Rev. William
ried unanimously" Moved that this Synod
be hereafter known by the name Of THE AS
SocIATE REFORMED SYNOD OF THE SOUTH
The Associate Reformed Church. In that sense
! IN which they were received when adopted o.
! Greencastle in the year 1893, and uniformly
acted upon until the year 1Sll.'
Thus have as briefly as possible traced the
history Of the Associate Reformed Synod o.
the South. 1t Is the only body of Christians
In the world which bears the name.
IT WAS NOT SLAVERY, BUT PsALMoDY AND
; COMMUNION.
It is thought even by some Of the members
OF the Associate Reformed Church, that the
Synod OF the Carollnas withdrew from the
General Synod Lon on sseoun. acc Of slavery Thi;
one thing to do with that action. In paper
5 drawn up by the Synod of the Carolinas, ir
: 1921, they stated their reasons for desiring L
, do what they afterwards did. They say "By {
. resolution OF the General Synod in 1920, va
were prohibited, on pain Of censure, from re
quiring our members to conform to the Con
stitution and Standards Of our church on thu
!, subjects OF Psalmody and Communion. No
, feeling ourselves ut liberty to abandon ou
! Constitution and Standards in the manner re
= quired, nor willing to be censured for adher
i Ing to the order therein established
$ therefore we request permission to form our
/ selves into sister coordinate Synod"
NO POLITICS IN THIS CHURCH.
4 This paragraph contains the reason why thu
n al tl,@ H1
j. The members of the Associate Reformed Syn
ud OF the South have great reason TO be thank
full that they ha never dragged politica
: questions into their ecclesiastical courts. Al
though all Of those religious bodies will
. which the Associate Reformed Church is In
timately cnnnected-havlng the same conf feS
@ sion of filth and singing the same Psalms Ii
Il the same version, and who have a common
!. origin all tracing their origin back either tc
r EbeneZer E.r>kine or Richard Cameron, have
h tumed and foamcd and continue 10 fume ant
J. foam about slavery, the Associate Reformed
synod Of the South has IN this matter, II ir
l. no other, given to Cesar the things that be
e long to Caesar and 10 God the things that be
If long to God. The ministers Of the Associate
= gospel 10 the slaves of the South, received
r them into the Church, baptized their chill
ii dren, administered to them the sacrement .
!. the Lords Supper and taught them, accord
: adorn the doctrine OF God our Saviour In al
!. things; for the grace Of God that bringetl
.r salvation, hath appeared to all mcn'-tt
n slaves as well rs their masters
d a few sentences VIII contain all that 1t i
)fI necessary to say respecting the doctrines heC
T. by the Associate Reformed Church. They arr
nearly the same as those contained In tn
Westminster Confession of Faith adopted by
the Church Of Scotland In 1917.
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES.
!, The only change made by. our forefathers
y in l79D. was to eXpunge those sections, o.
= | ,,rf fS M gnfti1nS which the civil m0uiS
q ira;es Jurisdiction IN matters purely eccle
. siasticaI. The doctrines contained in th'
;, Larger and Shorter Catechisms are The doc
Z trneS held by the Associate Reformed Synod
c Associate Reformed Church Is the exclusive
use of the Psalms of the Bblo In the wor
=, ship Of God. both publicly and privately, G
= y regulated restricted communion, and the pro
a hibition Of the nse of instrumental music IL
!. Z the worship OF God. Such Is the law OF Tho
$ Church. but 1t is sometimes Violated with Inn
d punity.
" TIE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.
i AS to what the Associate Reformed Synoc
d of the South has done, there Is no place fo
q boaslng but great cause for heartfelt thanks
e giving to the King and Head of the Church
: When, In 1872, the Synod withdrew from tht
J. General Synod there were the names Of only
Il ten ministers on the roll. There was but on'
d pastoral charge west the Savannah. Now the
b denomination has tinurshng pastoral charge
l. In twelve States and presbytery in the lant
# of the Montezumas. Then there was bu
: two small Presbyteries, now there are nine
II Then our people had no college. Now w
e have a college OF our own, endowed ana 40
/. ing good work. not only for the Associate
IS Reformed church, but for the whole country
\, ADMoN1rIoN TO CONTINUED FIDELITY II
,fl THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.
II , There Is a bright future before us. The AS
= sociate Reformed church has passed through