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WESTERand there is now nothing in the treasury.Will any church, will any Christian refuse to help us give the gospel to the freed-raen when the opportunity is offered and pressed by such success and demands? We do not believe it, and we beg that the opportunity may be afforded speedily in all the churches as the Assembly has directed.Your servant in Christ,S. C. Logan, Sec. C. F.For the Western Presbyterian.Presbytery of West Lexington.This Presbytery met in Frankfort, Ky., on the 10th of Sept. 1867, and was opened with a sermon by the Moderator, S. Yerkes. There were ten members present, three of whom were ministers. Dr. Breckinridge was not able to attend. Dr. Yerkes was re-elected Moderator. R. J. Breckinridge, S. Yerkes, J. B. Temple, and I. W. Scott were appointed to attend th- Convention on closer union of the Presbyterian churches in the United States,” called by the Reformed Presbyterian Church, to be held in Philadelphia on the 6th of November, 1867.Presbytery adjourned from Frankfort to Lexington, and was in session in the 2nd Church, from Sept, 17th, at 3 o’clock P. M., until the morning of the 19th inst. when it adjourned to meet at the call of the Moderator in Covington, during the Missions of Synod. In the matter of the 2nd Church, Lexington, the Presbytery adopted the following as its final minute in the case. It was a most painful duty which was performed with great deliberation and tenderness, and solemnity. A division was inevitable, and a petition for a dissolution of the pastoral relation which had been circulated on that morning up to 12 oclock M., came to us signed by 59 persons, among whom was some of the most aged and venerable in that church, There was no bitterness or wrath. No unseemly reflections were cast upon anybody—not an unkind word was spoken; but in deep sorrow the Presbytery passed the minute, which is:“At a meeting of this Presbytery,held in Cynthiana, Sept. 11th and 12th, 1866, a division was made upon the question of obedience to the General Assembly,wdiich our standards say ‘is the highest judicatory of the Presbyterian Church;’ and every minister, at his ordination, solemnly declares that he approves of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in these United.States, and promises subjection to his brethren in the Lord. (Form Gov’t, chap. xv, § 12.) The Rev. R. G. Brank, the pastor of this' Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, K)r., sided with and organized with those who were not willing to obey the Assembly. On the 10th of October,1866, the Synod of Kentucky met and was divided on the same question of obedience to the Assembly, and the said pastor and Ruling Elder, I. C. Vanmeter, of said church, were organized into and acted with the portion of the Synod that openly disobeyed the Assembly. Under au engagement made soon after this, in Oc-! Jy.-r 1866, at a meeting of certain* leading persons in this said Second Church, with the pastor and each other, he re-fraitiedfrom sitting in the body organized in hostility to the Assembly, and the church was not represented in either body claiming to be West Lexington Presbytery. By limitation, the agreement lasted only until the meeting of the Assembly of 1867. Both these bodies claiming to be the Presbytery, however, sent commissioners to the Assembly, and submitted their papers and claims, and supported them in argument upon the floor of the Assembly itself; and the Assembly, after lengthy discussion and patient hearing, recognized this Presbytery and directed that it should be respected and obeyed as the true and only lawful West Lexington Presbytery,and declared that the other is in no sense a true and lawful Presbytery in connection with and under the care and authority ol the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America; and so also they decided between the two bodies claiming to be the Synod of Kentucky, recognizing the one which we recognize and obey, as well as our Prcsbjftery, by a vote of 261 to 4. Notwithstanding all this, on the 27th of June, 1867, the self-styled Synod of Kentucky met in this city,, and acted in defiance of this authority and adjudication, and Mr. I. C. Van meter, a Ruling Elder of this church, met and acted with them. Now the General Assembly asserts its own and our jurisdiction over all the ministers,churches, licentiates and candidates within the bounds of West Lexington Presbytery, and directed all these ministers and churches to answer at the calling of the roll, at the late regular meeting of this Presbytery which was held at Frankfort, on the 10th inst., at 7J o’clock, P. M. The entire roll was called, but Mr, Brank did not answer. It was called again at this meeting, and he did not answer. And the Assembly orders that every minister and church which docs not answer either then or at the regular spring meeting of Presbytery, shall be considered and treated as by its own act, out of our connection. The self-styled West Lexington Presbytery persisting in its rebellion, met on the 6th inst., at Walnut Hill Church, and this Presbytery finds its authority set atnaught by a bold and defiant schism, now in full progress, by which the Second Church, Lexington, is seriously affected, and in it—having in said church its head and strength in the pastor, the Rev. R. G. Brank—seeks to honor itself through the most powerful congregation in our bounds, and through its example lead the smaller churches into a criminal sufferance of, if not into open -participation in, a wicked schism, which is without a parallel in the history of the church, and without foundation in our standards, and the Word of God,but well calculated to inflame the passions of the people, and to bring division and distress upon most of our churches. This Presbytery has learned th rough official papers recorded on its minutes and from official persons on its own floor, and now by formal papers, and in the most gratifying and satisfactory manner, that there is a very powerful body of persons in this congregation, including half its session, viz: W. II. Rainey, I. W. Scott, and R .S. Williams, who adhere to the Assembly and to us, recognizing our jurisdiction and being as formally as possible represented here, and who are not willing to bo counted and used for the purposes of schism, under any pretext whatever. Presbytery has also learned in the same manner that Mr. Brank and the other half of the session, viz.: D. Bell, G. B. Kinkead and I. C. Vanmeter, supported by Jthe Jother powerful portion of th#church, formally and persistently refuse to recognize this as West Lexington Presbytery or to be represented in it; the whole tendency of which is, to countenance and foster schism, which is sinful, and which the other portion do not feel at liberty to even seem to countenance or foster.As the General did, in a most solemn act of adjudication, recognize us as the true and only Presbytery of West Lexington, who are a minority of the numbers that once composed it; so we, at a former meeting, held July 27th, 1867,recognized half the session and those of the church who adhered to the Assembly, through them and us, as the true Second Presbyterian Church of Lexington, and gave their representative a seat in this Presbytery; and repeated the same recognition on the 10th inst., their representative being now on this floor. Presbytery did also formally serve a full and fair, and timely notice of its coming here at this time, and of its purpose in coming, upon the pastor and eacli individual member of this session, and publicly, on last Sabbath, upon the assembled congregation, and yesterday did cite the pastor, Rev. R. G. Brank, personally to appear here at this hour, which citation he refuses to obey. Claiming its jurisdiction over this church and this pastor; after faithful investigation and mature deliberation, studying the peace, purity and unity of the church, and respecting the consciences of the office-bearers and people of this church who adhere to the Assembly, and petition to be delivered from the rule of this pastor and those elders who refuse to recognize the authority of the Assembly.and this Presbytery,which they believe to be called of God to rule over them. Presbytery her# repeats its recognition of that portion of the session which unites with Mr. I. W. Scott in adhering to the General Assembly, viz.:I. W. Scott, W. H. Rainey, and S. R. Williams, and the portion of the church and congregation that co-operates with him and his brother elders, or who may hereafter co-operate therein; and they are hereby again recognized and accepted as the true and only Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Kj^., to all intents and purposes, and no other body of persons is recognized by this Presbytery as the Second Presbyterian Church of Lexington. And further: this Presbytery, while it recognizes Mr. Brank’s right, under the action of the last Assembly, to take his seat in this Presbytery, in the way laid down by the Assembly, and hereby expresses its willingness so to receive his application, does not judge that it “will be profitable” to “the spiritual interests of this church, that he should longer hold the pastoral office in this congregation, upon which ground alone, according to our standards, he was called by it and installed over it. Therefore,in view of the whole case, if it has not been already done by his own acts, or by our former acts of recognition. Presbytery does now and hereby dissolve the pastoral relation existing between Rev. R. G. Brank and the Second Presbyterian Church of Lexington ; and does hereby, and now, declare the pulpit vacant; and enjoin upon all the members of said Second Church to recognize, and respect and obey I. W Scott, W. H. Rainey, and S. R. Williams, as they promised at their ordination, as the only recognized eldership of said Second Church ; and all persons formerly members or ruling elders of this church, who signify to this session their desire to adhere under this act.shall be recognized as sustaining the same re lation to the cllurch which they sustained 'before its passage.’1The fallowing also of general interest, were adopted:MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY“The Committee on the Minutes of the General Assembly would report the following. as calling for the attention of Presbytery at this time.SUPPORTING THE BOARDS.1st. The injunctions of the Assembl}- in regard to supporting the Boards of the church, and contributing liberally and systematically to every agency of the chdrch, ought to be observed by the churches within our bounds, and Presbytery hereby urges every church Sessiou to see that contributions be made, during the ecclesiastical year, to the various Boards, according to the plan proposed by the General Assembly, so far as is practicable.RE-UNION WITH TIIE NEW SCHOOL.2d. In regard to the rc-union of the Old and New School churches, Presbytery is of the opinion that organic union is only desirable, and can only be properly consummated when there is unity of faith. When any particular individual or congregation of the New School, or any other denomination, attains to oneness of faith with us, the basis of union is already provided in our standards, and there need be no other, or new terms made to suit the case.The plan, therefore, that this Presby-tory Avould prefer, is that by which all ministers and churches find themselves in connection with the Old School Presbyterian Church. This plan is easily adopted, and will be readily accepted, when the ti me comes for a substantial, real, and profitable union. And withoulfurther remark this Presbytery contents itself with entering its solemn protest against the consummation of this measure upon the basis presented by the joint committee of the two Assemblies, as fraught with evil to the peace and unity of the church, and as destructive to our distinctive testimony on Christian doctrine, church polity, and theological training.SABBATH-SCHOOLS.3d. On page 319, the Assembly enjoins on pastors and Sessions to supervise the reading matter in Sabbath-schools, and to see that preference be given to the publications of our Board.UNBAPTIZED CHILDREN.On page 349 Presbytery is enjoined to ascertain the number of unbaptized children of members of the church. On page 361, on the subject of Sabbath-schools, Presbytery is required to sec that “these principles are carried out.” See minutesThe Committee on Supplies reported the following resolutions, which wero adopted, to-wit:“ Resolved, 1. That this Presbytery feels it to be its duty, so far as it is able, to have the gospel preached in all the vacancies within its bounds, and|with special tenderness to look after those who, in small churches that were never able to support pastors, are now, by reason of schism, less able than ever; but who, under great difficulties and with becoming faithfulness, stand true in the midst of much defection.Resolved, 2. That to the accomplishment of this end, Presbytery needs at least two more ministers, whose whole time should be devoted to the missionary work in our bounds, passing from place to place at stated periods, and preaching the gospel and comforting the hearts of these scattered and afflicted brethren.Resolved, 3. That R. J. Breckinridgeand S. Yerkes, Or either of them, is hereby appointed a committee with powers to v confer with the Board of Domestic Mis C sions at Philadelphia, as best they can, t and seek and procure such aid as the J Board can furbish; and agree with it in e regard to such men as we need. nResolved, 4. That in the meanwhile we exhort our people to be earnest in prnyer a to the Lord of the harvest for more la- j, borers; to be faithful in family religion, j\ instructing their children, and in edifying f, one another; and in contributing of their moans as God has prospered them, to the ^ support of the Board of which we ask this g aid.” hThe Second Presbyterian Church, Lex- c ington, was chosen as the place, and Tuesday before the second Sabbath in April, r 1868, at 7£ o’clock, p. M., as the time for li the next regular spring meeting.J. K. Lyle, Stated Clerk.The Crawfordsville Presbytery. hMet at West Lebanon, Warren County, on the 13th inst. The attendance of el- P ders was large. The large attendance of ® thecommunitv where the sessions of Presbytery was held, manifested much interest in the business of this church court, d The records of the sessional or eongrcga- e tional courts were reviewed by the Pres- r bytery and reports received from all the ministers of the Presbytery of the amount of missionary work each had performed. Upon the question of re union an animated and protracted«discussion occurred (-and the following paper was submitted 1 by the Rev. Geo. Morrison, and passed 0 by the Presbytery as expressive of its mind:PAPER ON RE-UNION.In view of the action of the General Assembly in publishing the terms of re- h union prepared by the Joint Committee i for the deliberate examination of the a churches, this Presbytery, having, at its spring meeting, formally declared its views, contents itself now with expressing the desire,1. That an organic union of our church ^ with the other branch, on the basis of an explicitly defined and mutually under- s' stood agreement on all questions of doc- F trine, order and polity, should be effected.2. And with recording its solemn conviction that (in the absence of an express statement of the sense in which we are to interpret the Confession of Faith and I the Catechisms, on all doctrines which j have been differently understood and c taught by the Old and New School n branches of the Presbyterian Church) we have not in the basis now submitted by the Joint Committee the evidence of an agreement, such as would make the contemplated union practicable.3. Conscientiously judging, therefore, h this whole question of organic union, as submitted to us, this Presbytery records its conviction that such a declaration by the Joint Committee, upon points of doc-trineand government.is necessary to secure j, the consummation of the proposed union, j as a union calculated to promote, (as we desire it should) the peace, the purity, and the extension of the church.4. That a copy of this paper,subscribed by the stated clerk, be forthwith transmitted to the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Re-union. • CHANOVER COLLEGE.On the subject of the college the following action was taken:Resolved, In view of the anticipated meetings of the two Synods of Indiana aj _j Indianapolis, to consult touching the interests of Hanover. College, that it is the d judgment and desire of this Presbytery l that the election of a President of the b College be deferred until after the meet- 0 ing of the Synods in October, and that n this resolution be communicated bj the stated clerk to the Board of Trustees.All the ministers and in the case of vacant churches, the sessions, of all the churches within our bounds were ordered (-by the Presbytery to make special efforts and take up collections on the second liab- a bath in October for the Board of Foreign Missions, and on the first Sabbath of November for the Board of Domestic Missions. In case this can not be done at the time designated it is ordered to be tlt; done before, or as soon thereafter as pos- s sible, and the same to bo reported to the Chairman of the Standing Committee on _ Missions, the Rev. Geo. Morrison, of Terre Haute. lt;The stated clerk was ordered by the Presbytery to notify the stated clerk of the General Assembly that this Presb)’- 8 tery has adopted and put into execution, as far as is now possible, the plan touching unemployed ministers and vacant churches ] recommended to the last Assembly by the venerable Dr. Elliott. Bro. Williams was received from the Presbytery of Palestine. Two other ministers were permitted to labor in our bounds, and Bro. Crowe, for twelve years connected with this Presbytery, as one of our most esteemed brethren, was dismissed to the New Albany Presbytery. The importance of the approaching meeting of Synod at Indianapolis makes it proper that all our churches should be represented in that body.R. Garvin, Clerk.MINISTERS AND CHURCHES. ’PRESBYTERIAN.Election of Ruling Elders and Dea- r cons in the Chestnut Street Church.— * On last Sabbath, at 2£ P. M., a eongrcga- * tional meeting was held in the Chestnut * Street Presbyterian Church in this city i: for the purpose of electing additional 1 Ruling Elders and Deacon. Four elders c were elected, viz.: Edgar Needham, Law- 1 rence Richardson, Wm. Muir, and James c Davidson. Six Deacons were elected 1 viz.: Frank Pope, E. H. Vernon, Robert Atwood, J. S. Speed, H. C. Warren, and Wm. Richardson. On motion, after the I vote was announced, the congregation r declared Elders and Deacons unanimous- i ly elected. The church is now represented [ by eight Elders and seven Deacons. cThe Rev. George W. Sheldon, for the I last two years tutor in Princeton College, New Jersey, has declined the Professor- 3 ship of Greek in Miami University, Ohio, having been appointed Instructor in Hebrew in the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. iDedication.—The Central Presbytori- i an Church, Lima, Ohio, was dedicated on Sabbath, the8th inst. The Rev. E. Er- 3 skinc, of Chicago, Illinois, preachcl the i sermon at the dedication. The church J was declared free of debt, and the hearts rl of pastor (Rev. T. P. Johnston) and poo- 1 pie were greatly rejoiced.The Rev. W. W. Campbell, late of k Washington City, has taken charge of the Second Presbyterian Church, Nash villo, Tennessee. His address is changed to Nashville, Tennessee. ' tThe Rev. R. II. Van Pelt has received i a call from the Sangamon Church, III. -i
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Louisville Western Presbyterian
Louisville, Kentucky, US
Thu, Sep 26, 1867
Page 3
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USA 23 Apr 2024
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