History of the Associate Reformed synod of the South

Preface

THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED CHURCH has had an organic existence for one hundred years. Still its origin and history are scarcely known to any outside of its pale, and but poorly known to many inside. The reason of this is obvious. No continuous history of the denomination has ever been given to the world. Sketches of detached portions have, on various occasions, been published, but the Church as a 'whole has no written history. The Synod of the South has been singularly neglected, in that no one has either had the time, or the means, or the inclination to trace its rise and progress. The following is an effort to supply a long-felt want. The attempt has been made to trace the history of the Associate Reformed Church from its rise in the first Secession, in 1T33, under the Erskines, down to the present time. The facts have been gleaned from every source accessible. Neither expense nor labor have been regarded. The principal authorities consulted and drawn upon are McKerrow's History of the Secession, Gibb's Display, Reid's History of the Presb} T terian Church of Ireland, Hetherington's History of the Church of Scotland, Struther's History of Scot, land, Woodrow ? s History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland.^ Hetherington's History of the Westminster Assembly, Baillie's Letters and Journal, Crookshank's Works, besides a number of minor works.

In that part which refers more immediately to the history of the formation of the Associate Reformed Church, and especially to the histoiy of the Synod of the South, the principal authorities are the original documents. The minutes of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, the minutes of the Associate Reformed Synod, the minutes of the General S}-nod, the minutes of the Synod of the South, and the various deliverances made by these ecclesiastical bodies, have been relied upon for facts. In addition to these, re. course was had to old, musty pamphlets which had long since found a resting place in garrets and waste-boxes.

PRE PACE.

Aii efforl was made with what success we cannot say, to render each part complete in it sell*, and at the same time to preserve the unity of the parts. This involved a considerable amount of repetition.

To a Dumber of individuals, the author desires to return his sincere i hanks for favors. To Drs. John Forsyth, Joseph T. Cooper and Thomas Sproul, he is under many obligations; but especially In- is under obligations to Dr. James B. Scouller, of Xewville, Pa. From Dr. James Bo}'ce, of Due West, S. C, he received much valuable aid and encouragement. It would be an act of lasting ingratitude were he not to mention his indebtedness to Dr. II. A. Ross, his co-Presbyter, who, hour after hour, sat patiently hearing the manuscript read.

Whether the work is a success or failure, the author cannot tell. The reader must judge. Its preparation has been a work of great labor, but of intense delight. Should it prove worthy of publicsupport, it will be followed by another volume, containing a history of each of the congregations in the Associate Reformed Sj'nod, and a biographical sketch of all its ministers, both living and dead. R. L.

VORKVILLE, S. C.

Chapter I

Divisions in the Church— The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church— History of the Associate Presbytery— Its Adherence to the Westminster Confession of Faith- Origin not a Difficulty about Communion or Psalmody— The Relief Church- Church of Scotland Previous to 1733— Recissory Act— Presbyterian Ministers Ejected— Presbyterians Forbidden to Preach— James II. Abdicated the Throne— •• Killing Time"— William of Orange— General Assembly Meets— Presbyterianism Restored— Its Character— Cameronians— Causes which Led to the Organization of Associate Presbytery— Christianity Introduced into Scotland— Form of Church Government— Donald I. Baptized— Druids Succeeded by the Culdees— Paladins Sent to Scotland— Lollards of Kyle— Culdees Suppressed— The Reformation- First Confession of Faith— Revolutionary . Settlement— Its Defects— The Society Folk— Cameron and Cargill— Declaration of the Cameronians— Results of Secession—The Second Cause of Secession— Church of Scotland Calvanistic— Doctrinal Notions of those who Composed it after the Revolutionary Settlement— Bishop Burners Statement— Character of Presbyterian Ministers— The Auchterarder Proposition— Craig Refuses to Subscribe it— Professor Simson's Doctrines— General Assembly Favor Him— He is not Censured.— p. 5 to p. 26.

Chapter II

- Marrow - ' Controversy— The Author of "The Marrow of Modern Divinity ■—Introduced into Scotland— Republished by Rev. James Hog— Excited Great Opposition—Severely Criticised by Principal Haddow— Defended by Thomas Boston- Commission of the General Assembly— " The Marrow of Modern Divinity'' Referred to the Commission— Action of the Commission— Summon before them Hog, Hamilton, Brisbaneand Warden— Report of the Commission— " The Marrow of Modern Divinity" Condemned by the Assembly— The Effect upon the People- Attempt to Again Bring the Matter before the Assembly—" Marrow" Men called " Representers " — Summoned Before the Commission— Twelve Questions— Answers— Characters of the Answers.— p. 27 to p. 61.

Chapter III

'The Effect of the "Marrow" Controversy on the Church— Professor Simson Denies the Necessary Existence of Jesus Christ— Is Tried by the Presbytery of Glasgow — His Case is Brought before the General Assembly— Charges all Proved— The Church Greatly Corrupted— Blasphemous Doctrines— Professor Simson's Case Ended, 1729— Many were Grieved on Account of the Leniency Shown Him by the Assembly— The "Marrow" Men Protest— Effect Nothing— Patronage— Its Origin- Presbyterian Mode of Settling Vacant Congregations— The Manner Previous to the Secession— Patronage Law Revived by Charles II.— Abolished in 1688— Restored in 1711— Clergy in Favor of the Patronage Act— The Assembly Appoints " Riding Committees" to Settle Pastors— The "Riding Committees" Call out the Military to Assist Them— The Overture of 1731 Designed to Crush out the Rights of the People — The Overture Rejected by the Presbyteries, but Adopted by the General Assembly— Character of the General Assembly— The Overture the Proximate Cause of the Secession— Robert Stark Forcibly Placed over the Congregation of Kinross— Ebenezer Erskine's Sermon — Adam Ferguson Moved the Appointing of a Committee to Consider the Sermon— Objection Stated by the Committee— Sermon Published— The Objectionable Passages Scriptural— Mr. Erskine Defends ii

CABLE OF CONTENTS.

Blmsell The Kingship of Christ OBeiisive to the Majority— Mr. Erskine's Definitioaof a Call Adheres to his Notes— Mr. Erskine censured by the Synod of Perth snd Sterling— Twelve Ministers and two Elders Protest— Mr. Erskine is ordered to be Rebuked In April-He Refuses to be Rebuked and Presents a Paper General Assembly me1 In May. 1733— Mr. Erskine's Protest Brought Before tbe Assembly The Assembly order Mr. Erskine to be Rebuked— He Declared he Could DOl Submit Protestsof Wilson, Moncrieff and Fisher-Assembly Refused to Hear ihe Protest Read -Protest Fell on the Floor— Is Read by Naesmith— Excltemenl In the Assembly— Protesters Sent for— Act, of 1732— Protesters Brought Before the Assembly— Ordered Before the Commission in August— The Protesters Appear Before the Commission -Are not Permitted to Defend Themselves— Division in the Commission— Protesters Suspended-Intense Interest Felt Throughout Scotland— Petitions Sent to the Commission— Commission Meet in November, 17:*:?— Higher Censure Inflicted by the Commission upon ihe Protesters— The Protesters Received the Sympathy of Many in the Church— They did not Secede, but were Violently Thrust Out— Meet at Gairney Bridge and Organize the Associate

Reformed Presbyterians Called by Different Names: Covenanters, Cameronians, society People and Strict Presbyterians — Covenanters not Distinctive— The Church of Scotland a Covenanting Church— Frequently Entered into Covenant with God— Fluctuations in the Church of Scotland— First Reformation— Culdees suppressed- Moral Darkness— Lollards of Kyle— First Confession of Faith— National Covenant— Presbyterianism Established by Act of Parliament— Elizabeth Died— James VI.Beeomes King— English Dissenters— Millenary Petition— Hampton Court— James Abuses the Puritans— Character of James— Westminster Assembly— Confession of Faith Ratified by the Church of Scotland— Charles I. Put to Death— Charles II. Crowned— Cromwell Dies — Charles II. Brought Back— Killing Period '"—Origin of Reformed Presbyterians— Parties in the Church of Scotland— Charles Exhumes the Bones ot Cromwell, Ireton and Bradshaw— Apprehends the Marquis of Argyle— Argyle Put to Death— Guthrie Executed— Rescissory Act Passed— Drinking Parliament— Three Thousand Ministers Ejected— Twenty Thousand Presbyterians Put to Death— Cameronians would Make no Compromise— Rise of the Strict. Presbyterians, 1679— Order to Apprehend Welsh, Cameron, Douglass and Kid— Murder of Archbishop Sharp— Persecutions on Account of Robert Hamilton— Rutherglen Declaration— Battle of Drumclog— Bothwell Bridge— Queensferry Paper— The Three Presbyterian Ministers, Cameron, ( largill and Douglass— Cameron Killed, 1680— Cargill Executed, 1681— Society People Send Young Men to Holland to Receive Ordination— Alexander Peden, James Renwick, Alexander Shields, Thomas Boyd and David Houston— Peden's Body Exhumed and Insulted— Renwick, the Last of the Scotch Martyrs— Cameronian Principles — Prince of Orange— Linning, Boyd and Shields Join the National Church— Houston Without Influence— Religious Instruction Among the Society People— First Meeting of the Society.— p. 90 to p. 105.

Reformed Presbyterians, Continued— The Rev. John McMillan Adopts the Sentiments ot the Cameronians— Is Deposed— Covenanters Improperly Called McMillanites— McMillan's Congregation Cling to Him— General Meeting of the. Society People, in October, 1706— Call Presented to Mr. McMillan— Begins his Pastoral Labors in 1707— Union of England and Scotland— Socieiy People Opposed the Union— The Rev. John McNeil Joins the Society People— Protestation and Testimony of the United Societies— Sanquhar Declaration— Objections to the Union of England and Scotland— Protestation and Appeal— Religious and Political Parties in Scotland— Friends of the Pretenders and Foes of the House of Hanover— Renewing the Covenants— The Rev. John McMillan Defective as an Organizer— John .McNeil Never Ordained— Efforts to Organize a Presbytery — Adamson. McHendry, Taylor and Gilchrist Deposed— Society People Attempt to Form a Union with Them— Also, with the "Marrow" Men— Thomas Nairn Leaves the Associate

Chapter V. Table Of Contents

iii

Presbytery and Joins the Society People— The Reformed Presbytery Constituted August 1st, 1743— Nairn Returns to the National Church— Doctrines of the Society People— Political Opinions— Covenanters Come to America— Sent to New Jersey- Lord Pitlochy— Covenanters Scatter Over the Country— Their Number and Places of Residence in Scotland— Begin to Emigrate to America— Form Societies in America— First General Meeting at Middle Octoraro, March 4th. 1744— Covenanters Joined by Rev. Alexander Craighead— Mr. Craighead's Difficulties— His Congregation Called "Craighead Society"— Mr. Craighead Publishes a Pamphlet- Thomas Cookson Complains to the Synod of Philadelphia— The Synod Condemn the Pamphlet— The Rev. John Cuthbertson Comes to America— Mr. Cuthbertson's Labors— First Communion— The Rev. Alexander McDowell and Mr. Cuthbertson Labor Together— Revs. Linn and Dobbin Come to America— Reformed Presbytery Constituted— Synod Organized— Division in the Synod.— p. 106 to p. 118.

Chapter VI

Associate Presbytery Unpopular— A few Ministers in the National Church Friends of the Associate Presbytery— The Erskine Parly Loosed from their Pastoral Relations—The Dominant Party Frightened— Acts of Assembly Annulled— Popular Movement— Assembly's Act in Reference to the Return of the Erskine Party — Synod of Perth and Stirling Restore the Seceders— Ebenezer Erskine Elected Moderator— People Desired the Secession Party to Return— Established Church— Thp Secession Party Could not Return— Mr. Wilson Perplexed— Seceders Summoned Before the Assembly— Appear as a Presbyter— Their Declinatui-e— Action of the Assembly— Seceders Reluctantly Leave the Established Church— They had no Alternative— Mr. John Hunter Licensed— Andrew Clarkson Licensed— Thomas Nairn Joins the Associate Presbytery— John Hunter Ordained— He Dies in 1740— James Thompson Joins the Associate Presbytery— James Mair and Adam Beugo Join the Associate Presbytery— They are Ordained Ministers in 1740— Growth of the Associate Presbytery— Strict Discipline— No Patronage— No Ruling Elders for Four Years— First Elders— Presbyterian Order— Theological Professor Chosen, —p. 119 to p. 131.

Chapter VII

'Important Facts Connected With the Historj- of Associate Presbytery— Associate Synod Organized— Burgess Oath— Controversy Respecting Nairn Difficulty- Nairn Joins Cameronians— Returns to the National Chui'ch— Design of the Burgess Oath— American Government— Cameronians and Seceders Quarrel— Division in the Associate Synod — Anti-Burghers and Burghers— Number of Anti-Burghers —Of Burghers— Reunion and Formation of the United Associate Synod — Number of Ministers— Union of Secession Synod of Ireland and Synod of Ulster— Union of the United Secession and Relief Synod— Formation of the United Presbyterian Church— Strength of the United Presbyterian Church— Growth of the Associate Church— Its Missionary Character— Call for Laborers from Ireland— First Ministers Sent to America— Rev. Gilbert Tenuant — Rev. John Moorhead— Organization of the Presbyterian Church in America— Nativity of its Ministers— Congregational Element— Old Side and New Side— Journal of Whitfield— Belfast Society — First Petition for Preaching in America by Seceders— Alexander Craighead— Organization of the Synod of Philadelphia— Adopting Act— Misunderstanding Concerning.— p. 132 to p. 145.

Chapter VIII

•Gellatly and Arnot Come to America — Their Instructions— Seceder Societies— Hume and Jamieson Appointed to go to America— Andrew Bunyan Deprived of his License— Good Effect— Condition of America in 1751— Bunyan Restored— Apostolic Plan " b3* two and t wo "— Gellatly and Arnot Solicited to Join the Presbyterian Church— Stigmatized as Schismatics— Warning Published— Delop's Pamphlet- Controversy About the Nature of Faith and 1 he Gospel Offer— Ralph Erskine's View— Finley and Smith and Gellatly and Arnot Controversy— Mr. Gellatley • Settles as Pastor— Arnot Returns to Scotland— James Proudfoot Arrives in iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

America Settles al Pequa — Removes to Salem— Mission Station or Associate Synod Matthew Henderson Comes to America— Settles at Oxford— John Mason, Robert Annan and John Smart Come to America— Mason Settles In New York; Annan at Marsh Creek— Smart Returns to Scotland— William Marshall Comes to America— Receives Three Calls— Occasions a Difficulty in the Presbytery— Mr. Henderson Dissents— Mr. Marshall Setth s at Deep Run.— p. 14« to p. 155.

Chapter IX

Pastoral Charges In it*;.^ — All Anti- Burghers— Thomas Clark First Burgher Minister who Came to America— Birth and Education of Mr. Clark— Licensed and Sent to Ireland— Settles at Ballybay— Main, Black and Clark Constitute Associate Presbytery ol' Down— Presbytery of Moyrah and Lisburn— History of Thomas Clark- Fought Against the Pretender— Difficulties in Ireland— Thrust into Prison— Forced to Leave the Country— In Company with Three Hundred Members of his Congregation Comes to America— Reasons for Leaving Ireland— Solicited by Friends to Come to America— Opened a Correspondence with the Hon. Robert 1 Larper— < Obtains a Grant of Land— Part of his Congregation Settle in South Carolina; the Other Part in New York— The Turner Grant— Erected a Church in 176C-G7 — Secession of the Church — Dr. Clark Visited South Carolina in 1TG9— Resigns the Pastorate of Salem, 1782. and Settles at Cedar Spring in 1786— Dr. Clark and the Anti-Burghers Coalesce in 1765— The Coalescence Disapproved by the Anti-Burgher Synod— Kinlock and Telfair Sent to America— Join the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania — lohn Smith and John Rodgers Sent by the Anti- Burgher Synod to Dissolve the Union of the Burghers and Anti-Burghers in America— Take their Seats as Presbyters— Burgher Congregations in America.— ]>. 15G to ]>. 164.

Chapter X

Negotiations Looking to an Union of the Associates and Reformed Presbyterians— Division of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania — Revolutionary War- Spirit of Ecclesiastical Union— Proposition lor Union in 1754; Again in 1769— Negotiations Cease— Political Disturbances Drew the Associates and Covenanters X. a rer Together— Their Differences Only Political— Covenanters Opposed by all Denominations— Associates and Covenanters "Warmly Espouse the Cause of the Colonies— Reasons why the Associates and Covenanters Should Unite — Anti- Burghers More Numerous than the Burghers— Burghers More Tolerant — Ministers Educated in Scotland— Membership from Ireland— Scotch-Irish— Two Classes of Scotch-Irish— Membership of the Presbyterian Church— Corruptions of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland— Belfast Society-—Character of the Irish Seceders —Irish, English and Scotch Presbyterianism— Seceder ( s Scotch Presbyterians— Difference between Associates and Covenanters— Occupied the Same Territory- Cultivate Each Other's Friendship— First Meeting for Conference— Both Cautious —Second Meeting for Conference— The Matter Brought Before the Associate Presbytery —Overture by Rev. M array— Associate Presbytery Met at Middle Octoraro —Spend Two Days in Conference— Principle Subjects Discussed by the Conference—Basis of Union— Conference Met at Pequa, Pa.— Some of the Associates Opposed to the Union on Any Terms— Conference Meets at Big Spring— Basis of Union Discussed— Charges Made— Warm Discussion — New Proposition Drawn Up— Basis of Union Adopted by Presbytery of New York. 1780; by Reformed Presbytery, 1781 ; by Presbytery of Pennsylvania, 1782— James Clarkson and William Marshall Refuse to go into the Union— Clarkson and Marshall Continue the Associate Presbytery— Associate Reformed Synod Organized— Names of those Composing the Associate Reformed Synod— Andrew Patt on— James Martin- William Martin— Object Designed to be Effected by the Union— Result of the Union the Formation of Another Denomination— Th^ Prosperity of the Associate Presbytery Continued to Exist for Seventy-six Years— The Covenanters Send to Scotland for Ministers— Covenanters Still Exist — The Effect of the Covenanters and Seceders on the American Government.— p. 165 to p. 184.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

V

Chapter XI

Presbyteries Rearranged— New Names Given Them— Presbytery of Londonderry- Its Members— Character of the Congregations in Connection With the Presbytery of Londonderry— Synod Disclaim all Responsibility for its Acts— Joins the Synod of Albany— Organization of the Presbytery of the Carolinas and Georgia— Organization of the Presbyteries Previous to 1822— Four Synods Organized— First Meeting of the General Synod— Members Present— Education of Candidates for the Ministry— Theological Seminary Founded— John M. Mason Sent to Europe in Behalf of the Theological Seminary— His Success— Returns Home Accompanied by Five Ministers and One Probationer— John M. Mason Chosen Professor of Theology— Other Theological Seminaries in America— Growth of the General Synod— Disturbing Elements— Associate Reformed Church in a Formative State —Confession of Faith Adopted in 1799— Sections of the Scotch Confession Not Adopted— Finally Amended— Deliverence of the Synod Concerning Testimonies —The Little Constitution— Westminster Confession of Faith Defective— Not Adopted as a Whole by the Associate Reformed Church— First and Second Books of Discipline— Changes Made in the Westminster Confession of Faith by the Associate Reformed Church— The Overture Published— Its Object— Matthew Henderson Withdraws— Diversity of Opinions Among the Fathers of the Associate Reformed Church— John Smith's Difficulty— Judicial Testimonies. Demanded— Synod Refused to Prepare a Testimony— Confession of Faith of the Associate Reformed Church.— p. 185 togp. 203.

Chapter XII

Disturbances Growing Out of the Unsettled State of the Church— The First Insubordinate Act— Londonderry Presbytery— David Annan Admits Samuel Taggart and then Ordains William Morrison— The Synod Pronounced the Act Irregular, but the Ordination Valid— " The Presbytery of the Eastward" Coalesces With the Londonderry Presbytery— The Members of this New Organization Rarely Attend Synod— Soon Began to Show Signs of Laxity— Congregational in Their Notions — A Committee Appointed to Visit the Presbytery— Wrote a Letter— Nature of the Presbytery's Irregularities— Mr. Morrison's Reply to the Letter of the Committee— Its Fallacies— Declared Insubordinate by the Synod— Associate Reformed Presbyterianism Ceased to Exist in New England— Revived in 1846 by Dr. Blaikie —The Reformed Dissenting Presbytery— Its Origin and History— United With the Associate Church in 1851— Difficulty in the Presbytery of New York— Fast Days and Thanksgiving Days— Dr. John M. Mason's Course— The Difficulty Arranged, but Not Satisfactorily to All— Brequent Communion— Custom of the Church of Scotland— Dr. John M. Mason's Letters— Dr. Mason's Ability— Social Position— Made a Mistake— Men Obey Custom Rather Than Law— Dr. Mason Excited Suspicion— John Smith Soured— Mason and Proudfoot— Dr. Mason an Innovator and Censurable.— p. 204 to p. 212

Chapter XIII

Associate Reformed Church Began to Grow and Decline at the Same Time— Ministers Lose Confidence in Each Other— Causes Which Led to the Final Dissolution of the General Synod— The Psalmody Question— Its History in Connection'with the Presbyterian Church in the United States— Watts' Immitations First Allowed ; then Watts' Hymns— Penally, Both Watts and Rouse Practically Laid Aside— History of Rouse's Version of the Psalms— The Scotch Version— The Metre of Rouse's Version— Rouse's Version Amended and Adopted by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland— History of Uninspired Hymns— Paraphrases Allowed by the Church of Scotland— Their Character— Practice of the Covenanters— Practice of the Presbyterian Church Prior to 1753— The Result of Introducing Watts's Version— The History of Watts' Version— His Design as Stated by Himself— His Preface to his Imitations— RemarkableProduction— His Hymns— Offensive to Many— Those Who Had Been Persecuted by Kings of England Could Not Sing Them— Rouse's Version— What is Claimed for it— Its Poetic Excellence— The Doctrine of the Associate Rpformed Church Concerning Psalvi i LBZjB of contents.

naody — Ndl a Version, I ul the Psalms— Psalmody Practically Divides the Associate Reformed Church and all II ymn-singing (Jl lurches— A Tendency in the Associal.- Reformed Church to Follow the Multitude— Marshall's Sermoa on. Psalmody— The Associate Reformed Church Took Higher Ground on Psalmody than that occupied hy the Church of Scot land— Sect ion in Confession of Faith on " Singing of Psalms "—The sect ion Quoted— Trouble A bout the Change Proposed in Paragraph 2 of Section I [I.— p. 21:* to i>. 224.

Chapter XIV

Phe Communion (Question— The Londonderry Preshytery— Dr. Mason's Difficulty Complicaleil— Dr. Mason's Reasons for Resigning his Charge— His Labors— Purpose Thwarted by the Trustees of the Congregation— With a Colony Began to Establish a Third Congregation in New York— Had Difficulty to Get a Place of Worship— Was Granted Conditionally Dr. Romeyn's Church— The Oder Accepted

— Dr. Mason's Preaching— The Effect Upon the Two Congregations— They Commune Together— The Case Came Before the General Synod— Dr. Mason's Statements Respecting His Course— The Doctrine of the Associate Reformed Church Respecting the Communion of Saints— The XXVItli Chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith— The Little Constitut ion— Doctrine of the Early Seceders and Covenanters Respecting the Communion of Saints— Wilson Quoted— Shields Quoted— Gellatly Quoted— The Narrative Quoted— The State of Things when the Associate Reformed Synod was Organized— No Brotherly Love— This Had Been the Case Since lt?79— The Burghers and Ant i-Burghers— Practically, There Was No Such Thing as Occasional Communion Prior to 1810— Its Lawfulness Admitted by the Associate Reformed Church — The Occasional Communion of the Associate Reformed Fathers Not the Modern, Catholic Communion — Dr. Mason's Peculiar Circumstances— His Act was Contrary to Custom, but not to Law— The Case of Messrs. Matthews and Clark— All Tried Together— This Unfortunate— Resolution Passed— General Dissatisfaction— Dr. Mason Preaches for Dr. Romeyn

— Fses Watts' Psalms— Clear Violation of Law— Mr. Clark Censurable— The Vote in the Case— No One Satisfied— The Parties Disposed to be Extremists — p. 225 to p. 237.

Chapter XV

Result of the Action of the Synod in Mason, Matthews and Clarke Case— Parties Lose Confidence in Each Other — The General Synod " Intermit the Functions of the Subordinate Synods "—General \Synod Always Meets at Philadelphia— The Synods of the South and West Practically Excluded— Remonstrances Against the Action of the General Synod of 1811 by These— Synod of Scioto Withdrew in l^n^-synod of ihe Carolinas Became Independent in 1822— Synod of New York Never Meets— A Majority of the Peonle Opposed to the Course Pursued by General Synod— The Result, Had the Matter Been Submitted to a Popular Vote- Correspondence Between the Synod of Scioto and the Synod of the South— The Condition of the Associate Reformed Church— Synod of the South Appoint a Fast Hay— The Bishop-Rankin Difficulty— Settled to the Satisfaction of Neither Party —Character of Messrs. Bishop and Rankin —The Psalmody and Communion Question the Real Cause of the Difficulty Between Messrs. Bishop and Rankin— Dr. Mason's Plea — Mr. Rankin's Reply— The Downward Tendency of the General Synod— The Psalmody Question Revived— Ebe^nezer Clarke's Resolutions— A New Version of the Psalms Called For by a Few— The Reformed Dutch Version Allowed— The Union Spirit— Negotiations with the Reformed Dutch— This Broken [Jp by Similar Negotiations with the General Assembly — A Union Formed with the General Assembly— Basis and Condition of this Union— The Vote on Union- No Union Actually Formed— Names of the Ministers Going into the Union— The Theological Library Removed to Princeton— Law Suit for its Recovery— Library Restored in is:i7 — p. 23S to p. 232.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

vii

Chapter XVI

The United Presbyterian Church— Its Organization— The Time and Place of the Organization—Strength of the United Presbyterian Church— Present Strength- Number of Presbyteries, Synods, Families, Communicants, Ministers and the Territory of the United Presbyterian Church— Foreign Missions— Basis of Union —"Doctrines of the United Presbyterian Church— Number of Psalm-singing Churches in America— All Divided.— p. 253 to p. 255.

Chapter XVII

Synod of the Carolinas— Present Territory— Former Limits— The Grant of Charles II. in 1663— Territory Visited by Cabot, 1497— Claimed by the English. Spaniards and French— Spanish Attempt a Settlement in 1525— Admiral Coligny's Grant in 1562 — Rebault Built Fort Carolina— Fort Carolina Destroyed by the Spaniards— Carolina Became the Property of the King in 1719— Divided into North and South Carolina in 1729— Georgia Settled in 1733— North Carolina, in 1653— South Carolina, in 1670— State of Things in England at That Time— Liberty of Conscience Granted by the Charters— Design Was to Establish Prelacy— Was Legally Established- Covenanters Banished from Scotland to America— Some Came to Carolina— Their Principal Settlements— William Martin's Field of Labor— Petitions Sent from Carolina to the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, in 1760— Proud foot' Mason, Martin, Rodgers, Patten and Clark Sent to the Societies in Carolina—. Martin Received a Call from Fourth Creek, in 1774— The Associate Ministers from 1782 to 1799— The Rev. Thomas Clark Comes South in 1782— Returned North in 1783 —The Rev. John Jamieson Comes South— Places of Preaching— Dr. Clark Returned to the South, and in 1786 Became Pastor of Cedar Spring and Long Cane- John Boyse Began to Preach at Coddle Creek, Gilead, Prosperity and Hopewell, in 1788— The Covenanters Visited by James Reid in 1790— McGarrah and King Come to South Carolina— Donnelly Licensed and Ordained— Covenanters Emigrate on Account of Slavery— Brick Church Grave-yard.— p. 256 to p. 275,

Chapter XVIII

Facts of the Last Chapter— Petitions to the Presbyterian Church — Presbyterian Missionaries—The Conclusion Likely to be Reached —First Presbyterian Minister Sent, to North Carolina— Presbyterian Settlers of North Carolina— Cape Fear Settlers—Scotch Settlers of 1746-47— Their History— Battle of Culloden— Duke of Cumberland— George II.— The Scotch and the Pretender— Conditions on which the Prisoners were Pardoned— Bladen County Settlement— Other Scotch and Scotch- Irish Settlements— The Harmony of the Presbyterians, Associates and Covenanters, in North Carolina— Effects of the Difficulties with England— The Lay Members of the Church of Scotland Always Friendly — Soundness in the Faith — In What it Consisted— Introduction of Watts' Imitation of the Psalms— Its Effects —The Scotch-Irish of North Carolina— Two Classes of Scotch-Irish— Their Origin and Difference— The Frequency of Petitions from Virginia and North Carolina— The Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania— From Whom These Petitions Came ! —Not Presbyterians— Associates in Virginia— Their Location— Coalesce with the-' Presbyterian Church.— p. 276 to p. 281.

Chapter XIX

Emigration, After the War, from Ireland— The Old Irish Volunteer— Emigrants from the Churches of Ballynahinch, Killeleagh and Ahoghil— Their Cei'tificates— Emigrants Settle in South Carolina— Rev. Peter McMullan Comes to America- David Bothwell and James Rogers Land at Charleston, December 25, 1789— Bothwell Goes to Qneenstown, Rogers to Fairfield— Presbytery of the Carolinas and Georgia Constituted— Members Present— Congregations Under Its Supervision —Their Names— Dr. Clark Clothes Himself in Canonical Robes— Number of Communicants—Burghers and Anti-Burghers Coalesce— Covenanters Stand Aloof- Character of the Congregations— Dr. Clark Dies— Rogers Ordained and Installed— Blackstock Arrives— Boyse Dies— McMullan Settles at Due West, Blackstock at viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

NTeely'a Creek John Hemphill settles at Hopewell, and McKnight at Coddle Civek— hixon Settles at King's Mountain. Turkey Creek and Bullock's Creek— Alexander Porter Settles in Dr. Clark's Old < 'barge— Charges Brought Against Mr. McMullan— McMullan Suspended— Division of the P res bytery— Broad River the Dividing Line— James McGUI Licensed— David Both well Dies, 1801— Mr. Mc- Mullan Restored at Sharon— Nature of Mr. McMullan 's Difficulty— Messrs. Mc- Mullan and Dixon Decline the Authority of the Associate Reformed Church — Apply t<> Hi.' Associate < 'hurch— Organized into a Presbytery. 1803— Members of the Presbytery— The McMullan-Dixon Controversy.— p. 382 to p. 294.

Chapter XX

Organization of the synod of the Carolinas— Members Present— Changes Which Had Taken Place Since the Organization of the Presbytery of the Carolinasand Georgia— Character of Those Who Organized the Synod of the Carolinas— Their Pastoral Charges— Their Love for Each Other— The McMullan-Dixon Difficulty- Course Pursued by the Synod— Charges Brought Against the Associate Reformed Church by McMullan aim Dixon— McMullan and Dixon Deposed— Division in the Associate Reformed Church— The Difference Between the Associate Reformed and the Associates— The Result of their Quarreling— The Presbytery of Chartiers— Resolutions of the Associate Synod Concerning Slavery— Rev. Thomas Ketchin and Several Congregations Join the Associate Reformed Church— Remaining History of the Associate Presbytery of the Carolinas— All the Associates in the south Coalesced with the Associate Reformed Church in 1844— Ministers of the Associate Presbytery of the Carolinas.— p. 295 to p. 305.

Chapter XXI

Slow Growth of the Associate Reformed Synod of the Carolinas— Causes Emigration and Withdrawals in Order to Join the Associates— Number of Communicants in 1803— Associate Congregations all in First Presbytery— Strength of the Associate Presbytery of the Carolinas— Its Rapid Growth at First— Anti-Burghers All Join jt_ Growth of the Associate Reformed Church— Number of Presbyteries in 1804 — General Synod Organized — Its Detects — Want of Harmony Among the Members —Synods of Scioto and the Carolinas Become Dissatisfied— Lexington Academy — Memorial in its Behalf— Memorial Shows a Want of Confidence in the Theological Seminary— Some Envious— John Mason's Letters— His Talents— The Mason-Matthews and Clark Difficulty— Settled to the Satisfaction of No One — Synod of Scioto Withdraws and the Synod of the Carolinas Requests to be Allowed to Become Independent— The Request Granted— Synod of the South Organized— Its Platform the Constitution as Adopted in 1799— Members Constituting the Synod of the South— No Deaths in Nineteen Years.— p. 306 to p. 314.