CHAPTER IV,

Proposal for re-union-Mr. Annan's Ruling Elder-Low state of the Presbytery— Application to the Synod in Scotland for more help-Arrival of Mr. Anderson -Of Mr. Beveridge-Narrative and Testimony-Unanimity of the MembersRevival of the Secession cause in the State of New-York-Return of Mr. Henderson-Extension of the Presbytery-The Secession cause spreads in western Pennsylvania-In Vermont-In Kentucky-In Tennessee—In the Carolinas and Virginia-The appointment of a Professor-The first student licensed--Public Covenanting in New-York-Act on Covenanting--On occasional communion-The Synod constituted-Reflections.

In our last chapter we gave a detailed account of the union, from which sprung the Associate Reformed Synod. It is not our intention, here, to trace further the history of that body; though we may have occasion to refer to some of its proceedings. The following note from the last edition of the Declaration and Testimony, shows that the Associate Synod consider all the reasons which ever existed for not concurring in that union, as not in the least removed by the subsequent history of their Associate Reformed Brethren.

"Nearly fifty years have now elapsed since the organization of the Associate Reformed Church; and the correctness of the above remarks on her Constitution, has been clearly exhibited. For some time she continued to observe the usages of the Associate Church, from which she separated. But becoming numerous and popular, some of her ministers began to manifest symptoms of dissatisfaction with many of these usages, acted contrary to them, wrote against them, and attempted their abolition. The observance of fast, and preaching days, in connection with the administration of the Lord's Supper, close communion, and the exclusive use of the Scripture Psalms, seem to have been greatly obnoxious to her leading men. Many imbibed the sentiments and imitated the practices of these innovations, while others tenaciously adhered to the old way. This diversity of sentiment agitated for years her ecclesiastical assemblies, extended also to her congregations and produced in both much discussion. This excitement was increased by permission to introduce the Dutch Psalms, and by repeated attempts to form a union with the Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed Churches. Almost every year, some new project was brought forward and discussed,

till at last instead of uniting with other societies, and diminishing the number of seperate contending denominations, she was herself broken into fragments. One fragment was formed into the Associa e Reformed Synod of the South, another into the Associate Reformed Synod of the West; and a third into the Associate Reformed Synod of the North. The latter formed the main body of the church, and was in possession of her funds and property. These by a late union, formed by a majority of her delegates, representing, however, a minority of the church, have been transferred to the General Assembly. Thus has the history of the Associate Reformed church, been marked with unsteadfastness and declension. She has still no testimony against prevailing evils. The principles of the Secession, abandoned in the original act of union, have never yet been recognized; and it is a lamentable fact, that, some of her ministers make use of human composition instead of scripture Psalmody-invite all in good standing in other societies, to a seat at the Lord's table, and accept of the same invitation from others. They exchange ministerial services with ministers in other societies-assisting and receiving assistance, in dispensing sealing ordinances, and in the ordination of ministers; and are still tolerated in so doing. If we had good reason for not joining in the union which produced this church; the course pursued by her for nearly half a century, renders still stronger our obligations to remain seperate from her."*

It may be proper to mention, before dismissing the subject of the union, that in 1785 a letter was received by the Presbytery of Pennsylvania, from a committee of the Associate Reformed Synod, proposing to take measures towards forming a union between the bodies as they then existed. This proposal was made, at a time, when several of the ministers of the Synod, and particularly Mr. Robert Annan, was aiding those who were endeavoring to deprive Mr. Marshall of his meeting-house. The plan suggested did not, in the judgment of the Presbytery, hold out a prospect of much good. The Presbytery, however, returned an answer according to their views of the letter, and with that the correspondence dropped.†

Mr. Annan's pamphlet, entitled "The Ruling Elder," soon appeared, which gave so distorted an account of the union and false coloring to the whole transaction, as removed still farther any prospect of a union between the parties. The atfair of the Spruce-street Meeting-house, in Philadelphia, and + See Appendix I.

* Narrative, page 57, Ed. 1828.

the course pursued by Mr. Annan, in relation to it, also tended not a little to widen the breach, and alienate fraternal feelings.

By the union, the cause of the Associate Church in this country seemed to be brought low indeed. Only two ministers were left-congregations were much divided and distracted, a violent and untiring opposition from those who had abandoned that cause was kept up against it. And it did not at first appear how far the people would be carried away by the defection.

The Presbytery sent, as soon as practicable, an account of their proceedings and situation to the Synod in Scotland, and also a petition for more help. The Synod unanimously and fully approving of the course pursued by Messrs. Marshall and Clarkson, as appears from their act, as given above in Chapter Third, resolved to send them help without delay. The late Dr. Anderson, who was at that time a licentiate, but on account of the difficulty with which he was heard, had ceased to take appointments to preach, was first sent over. He arrived in the autumn of 1783, and Mr. Beveridge, then assisting Mr. Gib in Edinburgh, was immediately put on trial for ordination, with the view of being sent also to America. He was ordained on the 23d of September, 1783, and arrived in this country early in the spring of 1784. This was nearly two years after the union; and so discouraging did the outward prospects of the Presbytery appear even then, that Mr. Marshall, in a letter written near that time, expressed fears about finding places sufficient to employ and support the two. His fears were, however, soon happily dispelled,

The subordinate standards of the Associate Church had not as yet been republished in America. The members who came from Great Britain and Ireland, generally, had brought with them their Confessions of Faith, and the Judicial Testimony of the Associate Presbytery, afterwards the Associate Synod of Scotland. But these books, and particularly the later, were not easily to be obtained here. And many were now attending on the ministry of the members of Presbytery, who had not had the opportunity of previous acquaintance with the peculiar standards of the Associate Church; and young persons were growing up, who needed to be more particularly instructed in their professed principles. Besides, in this country, errors both in practice and doctrine were prevailing, which were unknown in Scotland, when the Judicial Testimony was enacted. On these accounts, not merely a new edition of the Testimony, but a new statement of the

distinguishing principles of the Associate Church, was deemed necessary. A measure of this kind had been proposed and agreed to in 1776, but the unsettled state of the Presbytery, during all the time the union was under discussion, together with the indifference of some of the members, and the opposition of others, prevented the execution of the design. The necessity of it was now still increasing, from the distorted and unfair accounts that were given of the principles of the Presbytery by their opponents, and particularly by those who had formerly belonged to the Presbytery.

Accordingly, at the meeting of Presbytery in Philadelphia, May 4th, 1784, it was resolved to draw up "A Testimony for the doctrine and order of the church of Christ," and Mr. Beveridge, though but recently arrived in this country, was appointed to the service.* He applied himself with so much diligence to the work, that the Declaration and Testimony was completed in time to be approved and adopted by Presbytery, at a meeting held at Pequa, August 25th, and the Narrative on the 25th of October the same year.

The Narrative contains a succinct history of the church from the Reformation from Popish darkness, 1560, until the time of its publication, which has since been brought down till 1828, the date of the last edition. The Testimony contains a statement of the doctrines held by the Associate Church, and a condemnation of the opposite errors. The Narrative and Testimony were published together, in the course of the same year. And as the Presbytery wished still to preserve and cherish the unity, which had hitherto subsisted between the churches in the two countries, copies of the Testimony were transmitted to Scotland, and laid before the Synod for inspection at its ensuing meeting, which was in April, 1785, and although no judgment was expressed concerning it at that meeting, and owing to the scarcity of copies, but few members had an opportunity of examining it before their next meeting, which was in August following; yet the Synod then agreed to represent, for the encouragement of the Presbytery, "that such of their members as had examined them, were of opinion, that the Narrative and Testimony, which had been published by the Presbytery of Pennsylvania, may be of singular use for supporting the truths of the gospel and the Reformation cause, against the errors and corruptions prevailing in that country." This book has since

*The Narrative and Testimony were prepared by Mr. Beveridge, chiefly at the house of Mr. James Fulton, Oxford, Chester county, Pa.

+ See act of the Synod concerning the Presbytery of Pennsylvania.

gone through five editions, and continues to exhibit a display of the religious principles held by the Associate Synod of North America.*

The preparation and emission of the Testimony had the most happy effect in bringing the brethren of the Presbytery to the most intimate acquaintance with one another's views, on every part of their public profession. Hereby it appeared that they "thought the same things, spoke the same things, and walked by the same rule, and were perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment." The fruit of this was much outward prosperity and great internal peace and comfort 'among the members. They had had a season of sorrow in sowing their seed, but in harvest they had a rejoicing time. Before the union, evidences were too frequently occurring, of a want of unanimity on some point or other of their public profession-and a want of confidence was the consequence. But now they could walk together, knowing they were agreed.

It should be remembered as a kind Providence, that when the Associate Church in this country was called to make a statement of her distinguishing principles, her ministers were few in number, they were most cordially united in sentiment, they were men of intelligence and sound judgment, their after lives showed that their piety was genuine, and that they had no end in view, but the promotion of truth and the advancement of the true interests of the Redeemer's kingdom.

In the Testimony, too, their principles were distinctly defined. Those who joined them, could do it understandingly. The knowledge of their principles became more widely dif fused, and the consequence was, large accessions were made to their number in different places; and frequent applications

The following anecdote connected with this subject, related to me a short time since by an esteemed brother of the Stamford Presbytery, shows what the circulation of a book may sometimes do:-Some families, originally from Ireland, having settled in Upper Canada, desired a visit and sermon from one of the minis ters of that Presbytery, by whom they were accordingly visited. On being inform ed that the Presbytery of Stamford belonged, or was subordinate to the Associate Synod of North America, they remarked that they had not heard of that Synod, but that they had heard of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, and had seen their Testimony. That through their minister in Ireland, they had got a reading of that Testimony, and approved of its principles-and that they would have wished to connect themselves with that Presbytery, but knowing Pennsylvania was so far from them, they supposed it impracticable. Their surprise and satisfaction may be readily imagined, when they were informed that the Presbytery to which they had now applied, was actually a constituent part of that body, formerly known as the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, now raised to the rank of a Synod, consisting of fifteen Presbyteries, and holding the identical Testimony of which they had been speaking. Thus Providence had led them, by a way they knew not, to make application to the very body with which they desired to be connected.