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Tous les autres exemplalres origlnaux sont film6s en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivanta apparaftra sur la dernlAre Image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seu! cliche, 11 est film« A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ijpjilllll ( ". i.-.l ■ r, • .in i'iir. ; .;' .•■/••.. I-. REPORT ON THE PART OF TflK ClQNVKNKR OF THE SY- NOD'S COMMlTTEli TO N1<:()0C1ATH (>N THE SUBJECT OF REUNION WITH 'J'HE SECEDING BRETHREN. (Addressed privaleh/ to the Mcmhers of the Synod.) At our late meeting in Montreal, wo were nctuatcd with one sentiment of deep sorrow ruul disappointment that so many of our brethren had broken oil' iVoni our eticlosiasticMl com- munion, and had formed themsoh-es into a Synod distinct from us, and had thus put thomsclves in a train to pcrpetnalo the disunion. We were all of one jiidgmont tliiit noihing liad occurred to warrant this separation. MoMiiig ilio same stan- dards of doctrine, worship, and disci|)line, conducting our ecclesiastical proceedings in tiie same spirit ;uid ord'cr tliat wo had always done, and wore still resolved t(j do. we were moved with profound regret, that the convulsion which I'ad lont in twain the parent church, should disturb our hrwiuouy ou this • distant continent, and divide us into opposing panics. The sole points at issue between us were the jiidguicnts formed respecting the proceedings in the Church ofScotlmul and the actual position of that eslabli-lunont, and t::o nature of that intercourse whicii duty and principle required us to maintain with her. On these subjects, indeed, lliero \v;i;-; the widest diversity of opinion. A few contended i!i;il iho I'r.tablislied Church was utterly con upt and erasiiani/.c i ; ijiat she had forfeited nil title to respect and conlidonco ; tlia* it was incum- bent on us to renounce hei- name and fellowidiip, and if any ' correspondence were held with her, it should be conducted in the style suited to a corrujjt and .'ii)ostale Church. On the other extreme there were some who maiulained that tho Church of Scotland had done Jiothing to forleil our esteem and reverence; that the evils whi(d) .-illlicted her originated from the Veto-Law, — an act illegal and at v.irirince wiiii her civil constitution; that tho severe proceedings of the civil Courts were consequent ujjon this, and were nei'cs:ary to lepel the Church from the secular domr.in on which s])o ii.-id intruded ; that the statutory constitution of the Church hid sullbrcd no change unless it were that made by a recent Act of i'aidiament which extended the popular rigiit, and cl(>ariy v, cut in the direction of the non-intrusion principle; that she mnintnined her doctrinal formulas with all iier wonted integrity : and that, consequently, sho was still entitled to undii.iiiii.'ihed regard. These extremes were not hold, perhaps, by any two indivi- duals in the same forn) — tind in tljo wide interval between them, ranged a multitude of opinions, admitting of no classi- fication from their variety, but inclining, in various degrees, to the censure, or tho commondation of the Church of i:*cot- land. The Synod in former years had emitted declarations of principle, and of sympathy with the Church of Scotland in her afflictions and contendings, and though, in regard to these some diversity of opinion existed at the time of their declara, tion, yet no disposition appeared in any part} to recede from ^ ihem ; and had any distinct proposal been nmde (or a renewal of a testimony for principle, it would, we believe, have been carried in a fuller and more perfect form than or adopted in former years. But the debate passed from principles io parlies. It was not n testimony for the former which was demanded, but a virtual judgment on the latter. Under this new phase of the qup^t:n:i, the point at is.suo becaine, whether the Church of Scotland had inaintriinod her principles or abandoned thcni ; and on the negative, th.it we should hold no fellowship with hfr as a ('hurch of Christ, on the affirmative, that our constitutional fellowship with her should be maintained a» before. The communications of the Free Church to the Sy- nf«l favored the negative ; those of the establishment, the affirmative ; and to both, as might bo expected, very different degrees of importance were attached by members of the Synod. In the absence of fuller evidence, and in the hopelessness of persuading members to view the evidence that was before us in the same light, it would have been a happy circumstance had the (picstion been entirely dismissed, in so far as parties were concerned, and had the Synod agreed to a renewed de- claration of principle in which all could have agreed. Indi- viduals rniglit still have held their own opinions of parties in Scotland, and yet have dwelt together in unity here as mem- bers of an Independent Church, embracing the same standards of doctrine and discipline, and not to be injuriously affected by the Scottish controversies. These unavoidable diversities of opinion in regard to the proceedings of the Parent Church ought not to have interrupted oar ecclesiastical unity. The disregard of this obvious dictate of charity and prudence, is the sole cause of the disorders tliat have afflicted us. The vv-riter, in so far as he has had any hand in originating these negocia'ions for reunion, founded his hopes of success in being able tu Lring hack the seceding brethren to this ground. We were agreed in principle. We could never be brought to agree in our judgmont of parties — and far less likely were wo to agree in a synodical judicial deliverance on the conduct of the Church of Scotland in regard to pro- ceedings, than which none more j)erplexing were ever brought before an ecclesiastical judicature. In these circumstances our wisest and safest course was to do as we had formerly done, declare anew for principle, if it were lequisite, but let parties alone. We had no right to summoji them to our tri- bunal ; we had no authority to call for their statements and defences, and it was |)lainly incumbent on us, in these cir- cumstances, both for their sakes and oiu' own, to abstain from any thing that might appear like a synodical judgment upon parties. Our hope was that the seceding brethren would meet us on this ground ; and that we might be able to heal the breach, not by any compromise of principle, or surrender of private opinion, but by an ojjcn and avowed declaration of principles in which wo were all agreed, and a charitable toleration for diversity of opinions which could not materially affect our ecclesiastical procedure in this land. It was not, therefore, reunion on the basis of concession on either side which was contemplated. The ,/riter was not aware that the Svnod of Canada, in connexion with the Church of Scotland, had any thing to concede. Fie imagined that candid, mutual z al oxplanationa would have removed every diiTicully : ihax as we were as free and inorpknuknt asoir seceding brethren could possibly bo, wo had only to consult upon tlte way of declaring this in some form that might l)e more agneeable to them, and that, perhaps, might be more consonant to our true position as an Independent Church. Entertaining these views, as soon as ho had received notice that the seceding Synod had ap|>ointed a cftmmittec, ho en- tered into an official correspondence with the Kev. Alexander Gale, its Convener. As these letters explnin the course of proceeding, and the views of the writer, wo give them en- tire: — Mnnsc of Niagara, } Nov. 7, 1814. $ RiEV. AN» Dear Sin, Had tlie resolution of yonr Synod appoindiif; a Com- mittee tu n>eet with a Connnittee of ours to negociate on the «ubject of a reunion been conniiunicated directly to myself titrough you, instead of tliroHgli OUT ('l«rk, you would have heard froir* me earlier. Whatever may be the result, therefore, of the deliberatioihs of our joint Cominiltees the dela_» .n the arrangements for their meeting h not attributable to mc. In the f/riv»te note which I addressed to you on my return from the Meetms of our Synod in Montreal, which contained our resolution, I expressed a ^vis|), that should yotir Synod meet lis in a conciliatory spirit, and appoint a Committee in term;) Kiniiiar to our own, the meeting; of the two Committees might take place at Brockville, immediately after the close of your Synod. I concluded that this arrangement would bo conve- nient for any of your ntcml>ersfrom the Lowei Province return- ini; homo. I thought it very desirable also that we should meet previmis to the close of (he navigation, to diminish as far as possible, the evils threatening us in the present condition of our aflairti. I cannot but regret it as a misfortune to the Presbytei-ianism of Canada that this proposal did not meet with your concurrence. 1 do not feel that in this otFicial comniunication to you as Convener, 1 have any rigbt to make a single remark on the form and siyle of the resolution of your Synod. It is enough that it contains nothing manilestly at variance with the mea- sure proposed. As I understand it, it is free from this objection. 1 am therefore at liberty to enter into correspondence with you in reference to an early meeting of the Committees, tliat this matter, if God shall so prosper us, may be brought to a suc- ccssiul termination. in the conduct of this negociation, I trust that both parties will be actuated by an unfeigned spirit of brotherly kindne«ii and charity, and an earnest desire to restore the peace and unity of the Church without compromising in any degree soundness of principle, or purity of discipline. I am, Rev. and dear Sir, Yours with Christian regard, ^ - ROBERT McGILL^ Convener. Rev. Alexa^vder Gale, Convener, &c. ' ' '' Manse of Niagara, } Nov. 13, 18 44. ^ Rbv. and Dear Sir, I received yours of the 11th this day. For reasons that appeared to myself very satisfactory, I was anxious that the joint Committees should meet previous to the close of the navi- gation, and by a somewhat unbusiness-like anticipation, which we often practiced in more triendlr times, when we cruld Certainly reckon on the concurrence of others in any good and reasonulile pr()[)usal< I did actually intimate to the meiuhers of our Conunitlee Uu; prcut Ii!(<'lili()()tl tl»at they would be suni- nionej to appear al niuckvilic on very short notice, immedi- ately allrr (lie dissDiiitioii ol your S\ nod, and to hohl them- Helves lit K ailiii('!*s as ii tlial wrie a lixed arrun;;enient. The iSiioraiie ■ ill >vliieli I remained until litely ol your proceedings t'rustrat(Ml that measure. I fear it is not now practicable to prmMirc a imeliuii; ol (he joint Coiiiinilti-es On account of the oIlicKil duties iil siiue of the iiienilH'rs whose presence I would deem indispensii)!c, it CiiuM he iielil only at Montreal. At least two wee ':« must elapse hefort? the memhers in the Lower Pro- vince eould he mitilii'd, aiid (liat would throw Ihotiiiie of the met lii .;; w ,11 on lo tile end ol Noveml)er, when even if we could reach liie "detmpo is liy watt^r, we would have no chance of retuniiiii;;, except over hndvoa u;' roads, and in a season the most iiiit'.ivdiahie lur travcllii:-,v. lu these circumstances ne- cessity shuts us lip to si'iiie odu-r expedient. lean think of no other more fe.tsihie th\ti that we (the I'uiivenerO assume the resiionsihility, in llie iio|it' that it will he accpiicsced in hy all, of di.'idinj,- our CoimuitUM's into (wo Suh-Committeos, one for E islvMii, and till! other for \Vestcru Caiuiila, to proceed by full coriespoiidi'iico (he one wi(h tiie other. Our Coinmittcc for Caua la \Vist v»ill then he. Dr. iiiddtdl, .Mr. tieorge, ttce Mr. Ur(pihart, .!udi;e McLean, lion. John llainiUon, and niYseU, as Convener. I will summon them to meet your Sub Comtnit- tce at Toronto, on any day you may appoint, and the earlier the better, that we may, if indeed it he within our power, di- minish ill ll'.e mean time souu.' of the evils hy whicli many of our conj!;re5;alions are allliclcd In enterins; on thisodicial conesptuuleiice with you, I ought to have stated, that 1 do not understand the /^roiiw in our reso- lution in liie sense in whicli your Synoil have chosen to take it. Otir Synod never contemi dated ilial you shouhl cease your "hostility to error," nor did we ever dream ol'4)roposinjj such a thing as an indispensihie condition to net^ociation. Whatever credit you may give to my statement, 1 may declare that we ourselves art; slr'Kijrly actuated with this hostility, and, there- fore, cannot coiid.emii it in you. Mad you left it to your Com- mittee to ascertain the natun; of the hostility, liiat we thought itriiiht to have ta!;en out • I'the Viay, I am sine we should not hav(i eticouiiteri.'d a:iy ol.staele IVom the refusal of, at least, y(Uir eoncuMenec. If I ii:i.!inental ' li.:d indeed become discordant, I would nut have talwcn the pains I have done to set on foot this ne!iociati,)o. IJut hecau.se ] h; lieve we are still at one on these points, and may ho in all others, I am encouraged to promote the.se measures of reconcilialiun, and to hope that they may not be in vaii:. 1 am. l'"V. and (h ar Sir, , .,-■ Y'jurs w ith Christian reiyii. *• * » • • ' t • In thu iii'i^ociations, ,.;i whicli, Doo Voleiite, wo shall ohortly enter, ami whicli wi I, ol' course, lie icviowt'il l)y our i-L\spcclive Synods, I (IroacI iiioio 1!il- ()!'>tuc!cs itlmIkI hy party aniiuusity than any coniioc trd widi | riu; lo lliink at how gii-at a distance we shall Htili be lioni lh(.' peace aii.l harinony wliicli li.ese loeent inovonteiits have hiukeii ; and with thu pi()>|)(.ct still ijofore lis, that llie laic suhvcision of Pi(->l)yti r an ;;()V iiiinn'iit will pave the way fur otluM- disiiiption--, onjvory.invial causu — as tim amiishs'.ib- ject Will contiiHK! to have lil.-, when iljc fa>t wind hlows. With sincere -;oi)d \vi>li(s torynir iniiiistoiial .iselutnevs, '■>•' ■■ ' I aiii; Ul'V. and dear Sir, .'; ', . Vonrs with (.'linslian rcoard, iiODEli' I' McillLL, Convener. Rl.V. Ar.HXAM)I2Il (iAMJ. ' . Coiivenm', »S:c. The f;uI)-c-.c*niMiiltt't!.: lor i". \\ . mot siccordingly in Toronto on W'eJncsiiay cvoning tLu "^(ith ticplomber. On our part tlioro wore pre^.ciit only Mi". McGill, tho ('onvener, and iVJr. Ju;itict) McLean. Uii'lie |)'irt ul'ou.- soccding brethren there were Mr. dale, iho (Jonvcner, i\lr. Stark, Air. Rintoul, and Mr. Westl iiiil, an i l'i)r soino part of tlio time, Mr. Esson. Our <• )nv('r,i'il.i^.>M w-is iliroctod to the ni'iin points which we curicoivcd wero at issue hclwcoii us, and which, in the judgment of the writer, were c:ip:)l)le of adjustment. First it was assorted hy us, that (jur Synod was po.s/-:cs-ed of an entire and porlVct ill icpondenec in all spiritual and reiuporal mat- tors ; that ill this rcvspoi-t we wore in a position e conslitiili )Ual peculiarity was admitted * That niini>l(ria1 (•■irinuinion which constitutes onr only bond orconiicdion wiih the (.'luirclt of Scotlaiul can mean nolhint; inuro than an oMiiiation on our p:irt to receive her properly accredited piiilMli-.iiieis, and consent on her part to ho! 1 valid our ordination of tliein. that is, to rcijarci them while under onr c. re as if lIu'V wen; under her own. It is nn in Inceincnt held out to her liceiiliau-s to spend a part of their [)robalion in the service of the ( Olnnia! • Imrches, under the assurance thai by m) (U)in;j; they shall lur/eit no privilege in their native land. 1 lu advanta;;e, therefore, of this arrange- ment is all on our sitlo. In rejijard to all oilier ministers or probationers, admitted into onr >yned, tiieir connexion with ns does not invidve, in nn eccleLiiastic il sense, any connexion with tho Church of Scotland. We cannot admit (hem into ministerial coMininni( n with it : this right is peculiar to her own licentiates alone. It conijirtdiends nothing more than eligibility to a pastoral cliar}j,e within the national (.hutch — They can renounce it if ihey please without renouncing their connexion with us ; and were the ( hurclj of Scotland, in the 6 1. 1 on our part, but it was denied timt this is nny defect in our perfect itKlpppmioiico. Yot for the purpose of removing the ohjrctioii, wo rindo ihn proposal, in the full belief that our Synod could, and would, conrirni it hy a Synodical Act, thnt in the admission of |)n»l,ationor.s, a general rule should be established, that all, froni wiuitover Church they come, should be stihjocted to examination, and admitted only on satisfaction being given to tho Prosbytory before which they appeared, with the custftuvry right of appeal to the higher judicature. We conceived that in this way the objection founded on the specialty might \>o removed. And to this, as wo understood, our brethren on the other side assented. 2nd. It was held to bo necessary in order to the removol of certain misapprehensions entertained by many, that the clause of our designation "in coimection with the Church of Scotland" implies a defect in our ecclesiastical independence, that this clause should bo changed, yet that this should bo done by tlie authority of the Legislature, so os not to aflect our leg.'il identity as a Church, nor any temporal advantages held by us under our former title. Different views were expressed on the other side as to the importance of this stipu- lation, one contending that the mere change of name was a matter of little moment, another that it should be held to bo indispensible. It was conceded on our part, that this clause in our title should not be held as a barrier to reunion, on the conditions assented to, namely, that its removal should be effected by competent authority, and so as not to afTect our identity as a body, or create disputes in our congregations about property. Our brethren appeared to acquiesce in this proposal. 3rd. The next point that came up wuj the testimonies of the Synod, and it was required by the other party, that those already given by the Synod should bo renewed, sustained and acted out. On our part we had no dilTiculty in assenting that this should be fully done, inasmuch as we had never receded from these testimonies The consideration of the manner in which they were to be acted out was delayed until the question should arise respecting the regulation of our intercourse with the Church of Scotland. It was thought that it would simplify matters to bring this up under a distinct head. 4th. The subject next proposed for consideration, were the points of mutual forbearance and relief between such as form widely different views of the recent proceedings of the Church of Scotland. Mow fur we could dwell together in unity, and in the harmony of minislerial action, without relinquishing our respective opinions. On the proposal of this question, which was at a late hour, and aPer the con- versation had been carried on for several hours, the discus- sion became irregular and unsatisfactory, and the point in hand was lost sight of in the c'oud of vague generalities by else of her peculiar jurisdiction over them, to deprive them hat riglit it would not in ti»e slightest desree affect tlieir dinar in nnr P'n'nninl /''l> f^liio illiiBlrotoa rt* nn/»a ly any more fnoiuiship than one (Jliurch of Christ should bear to anotlier ; tliat it did not imply any approval of nny part of hor procoodings that we thought wron that if nny thing was defective in the constitution of iho (Jliurch of Scotland, or wrong in hor proceedings, we ndght condemn them individually, and synodicaily, if we should so resolve ; that the tone of our correspondence with that Church, if indeed we should hold any regular formol corrospondcncfl with her, a thing we had never yet done, must necessarily be regulated by the prevailing sense of the majority, and that those who were not satisfied with it had full liberty to record their dissent. The feelings of the other side, how- ever, now became more and more apparent that they held the SINS of the Church of Scotland to be so heinous, that any sort of correspondence with her would be dangerous; that probationers coming from her wore to be suspected ; that a stigma was to be nilixed to her,nmrking her out as a peculiar- ly corru|)t branch of the great Presbyterian family, that must be cast without the pale of christian fraternity and intercourse. Notwithstanding some qualifying explanations, these senti- ments were so uner|uivocnlly ex[)ressed by our seceding bre- thren, that we concluded to hold them as a bar to all negocia- lions in limine, and thus our conference terminated. The writer has thus endeavoured, impartially, to repre- sent the course and issue of this meeting, respecting which his sincere prayer was that it might be attended by a different result. Nor can ho now discover any ground for renewing these negociations, nor any hope that our divisions shall bo healed, until our seceding brethren are themselves really rnEE, — independent of all foreign influence, and dictation,: and disposed to acknowledge and act on the princi|)le, that differences of opinion as to the conduct and merits of the Church of Scotland, or any other Church, cannot warrant any breach of ecclesinstjal unity among ourselves, so long as we faithfully adhere to our own standards and possess " free, full and independent jurisdiction " as a Church of the Lord, Jesus Christ. m« ROBERT AfcGILL. •' Niagara, Dec. 5, 1844. /> . :/. ,/f ,1 . . ..J ..•> . )(f r 1 • 11 'lj«il '■'.''■•.■. •■i 6..:! The following ii4 n ropy «»f the nc8t>lntlau/»>r tin- nnpoint- ment of ft cotntiiitiro uliidi umh l>fl;^(•tl by thoSyi jd )n con- nexion with tho Cliiircli of f-'coilninl : — ' >k " Tho Synod, •iiUJuj; into considfratinn tho lamentable evil* of the recent (limiiipiion, -fontiimiiiy; to ri'naiil witb «incrro MflTecliun their I'rolchlin^ lutlliic ii,— and rarm-htly (b'(iirinj{ tlie rcMtoralion ol union, oint lliu follow- ing na n coninjiMct' to coiift-r with any i»)niniilt(o to bo ap- puinU'd by their I'mtcstiiiy; bictliicn, hboiild Ihoy decmll ex- pedient to ninke »ncb a|)|>i>intnifnt viz: — ••Rev. I»r. Cook. Rvw IJdlxit Met. ill, Finn. Jtidgo McT^rnn, Rev. Principal l.iddcll, llon.Jobn llauiiitoi). lU'v. IIn|rb Ur- Xiihnrt, Hon. William Moiiis, Kcv. Dr. .Mathii^on, Hon. Peter IcGill. "To meet on the call of tlic Rev. llobort Mctiill ;— and in- struct Raid committee to iiitiiiiatc to any ctiiniiiilli'o that may be appointed by the Protcsliii;; liody, liiai diiiiiit; the negotia- tion* that may bo carried on \vitl) ;i view In leconciliM'ion, there rnunt ho a Kiijtpcnsion of oiierations winch cannot be re- garded ill other bubt than that ol bostilily,- and, in the event of no RUch pledue beii u; <;(itiaiion inuht luccMNarily ter- minate." The following i.s a cupyofllie Kcsulutii-n for the t^uino purpose, which was pfi.s.soil by the Secrdin^ Synod :— ' '•That while the Syiu.d Imid la^t by (In' iVstimdiiy they have been privilcifcd to <;iv(' (di- Ibe ulnry ol the I o tl .'eMib Chridt, as tlie wole and '^o|iieiiie Mead of tlio Cbuicli, and for, the liberties and ri<;bts of bis blond-boti^lit people, and wbilo they feel confident that the sh p taken by ibe brethren of Ibis Synod, in the recent separation, \v;is wiiirniiled aiul demanded alike by a regard to cbri.stian principle and Ibeirown frequent, open, and well known avowas: and wbile tinnly resolved, through grace, to avoid the rcsponsilii itie> t la Connectiun with the Established ( bnrth of Scotland, as al pieseiit consliMited, yet being anxious to promote ibc peace and unity of tbeCbnich or Chri«t, they declare tbeir readiiiesN to meet with any ol the brethren ol the f^ynod still in connection with the Scottish £»tablishment, who may be willin<; to act out practica'ly their own resululionti, and iirranu;e with IIkmii such terms of onion as may be honourable to pniici|)le, and conducive to Ibe glory > of the Redeemer. And the Synod, oarneslly desirous of being actuated hy no h stility btit a bosJilily to error, declare, that . they cannot, in the ineantimc, desist Iroin any ministerial ser-,, vices whatever, which they may deem lucessary to the main- taining of the truth lor which tfiey ai(> called lo witii'ss, or to the well-be)ng and |)inity ol { d I'resliyti-rian 'bnrcli, which they are •olemnly enjrased to iipbnid. Tbat I\lr Alexander Gale, (convener.) i\lr. fJeiiry Essoii, Air. William Uinloul, Mr. Mark Y. Stark, Mr. .lobn ravoe, Ministers; and Mr. .lames Webster, Mr. J. F We.^tland.'Mr. .laioes Gibb, and INlr .lames Lesslie, Elders, constitute a committee tocoiKn-ct any negotia- tions toward a re-union with the bretbicn of I'ne Synod in con- nection with the Clinrcb of Scoland: — it being unde stood that the negotiations on their part must be in harincny with this resolution."