The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-04-16

raised an issue which the session Of
The Lexington church had to meet.
On July 9, 1866, the session adopted
series of resolutions committing it.
self to the principles advocated by the |
Declaration and Testimony men. They |
first determined, and then declined. |
to senda delegate to a convention
called by the Declaration and Testi-
moaY men Of the Synod of Missouri,
held 10 st. Louis on August Is, 1866.
Soon after this, the congregation unit.
ed with Mr.. HobSou 10 asking for a
dissolution of the pastoral relation be-
tween him aud the church, and un-
animouslY elected The Rev. J. A.
Quares as pastor. This indicates
that the congregation generally we're
In sympathy with DR., Quarles and
the elders who had taken the action
noted above. But there were a
minority of another mind.
The outcome of the st Louis con-
vention was that the Declaration and
Testimony men stood together; the e
SYLod Of Missouri divided, and an in
dependent Synod, known as the Old
School Synod Of Missouri, was organ
lied. With one or two exceptions,
the ministers OF Lafayette PresbYtery
adhered to this independent Synod
The session of the Lexington church
decided to follow their example. On
september 20, 1867, they elected
delegates to this Synod and to the
Presbytery Of Lafayette adnering to
IL Against this action, two elders
formally protested, and subsequently
led out number of people, who or
ganized the First Presbyterian church
which adhered to Presbytery and
Synod under the Jurisdiction Of the
Old School General Assembly. In re-
ply to this protest, DR.. Quarles, who
had been installed pastor by the Dec
laradon and Testimony Presbytery of
Lafayette, filed reply on the records
Of tue session, which is one of the
most interesting papers drawn out by
that memorable contest.
1t is instructive also to notice that
during the years 1865 and 1867, es-
pecally the latter, during which this
contest ragged all over Missouri and in
Lexington, the Lexington church was
in the glow Of a spiritual revival.
During these years OF DR.. Quarles'
vigorous pastorate, ninety-6ve persons
were received on examination and
forty five by letter. The church nearly
doubled in numbers. In January
1868, the number OF communicates
reported were 215; 10 April after
twenty-seven names had been erased
from the rolls, the number was 2l0.
During this pastorate, Judge w. T.
Wood, DR.. p H. Chambers, Messrs
S. G. Wentworth, A W. Hutchins.
and Xenophon Ryland were elected
elders. Mr.. Ryland and Ethan Allen
had been previously elected deaconS.
The congregation paid to their seced-
ing brethern $4,000 in return for the
surrender.o of then claim TO the church
property, including Elizabeth Aull
Seminary,
Besides his pastoral work, DR..
Quarles became President of the Sem
mary, and contributed no little to
its success He was ABLY seconded by
Rev. ]. M. CLANCY, d. D. who be-
came vice-Dresident and head teacher.
DR.. Quarles resigned both positions
10 1873. About this time the church
had to face the question of joining
the Southern Assembly. The Old
and New School Churches at the
North had come together, 10 May
1873, the General Assembly of the re-
united church appointed committees
to confer with the Southern Assembly
and the Old School Synod of Missouri
as to closer and more fraternal rela-
tions In the fall of 1873 thai Synod
recommended to its constituent ses-
slons and congregations to instruct
their delegates to the spring meetings
Of the Presbyteries in 1874 to vote to
send commissioners to the Southern
General Assembly. This action
brought on a great discussion in Mis-
souri,. A few Of the Declaration and
Testimony people decided to remain
independent aud ultimately Joined