SOS 
 
FACTS AMD OBSERVATIONS 
 
 CONCERNING THE 
 
 ORGANIZATION AND STATE OF THE CHURCHES 
 
 THREE SYNODS OF WESTERN NEW-YORK, 
 
 AMD THE 
 
 SYNOD OF AVESTERN RESERVE. 
 
 BY JAMES ''WOOD. 
 
 SARATOGA SPRINGS : 
 
 PRINTED BY G. M. DAVISON. 
 
 1837. 
 
NOTICE. 
 
 If I have committed any material error in the statistics of the several Pres- 
 byteries, those who may be acquainted with the facts, are requested to com- 
 municate to the public the necessary corrections. It will not be considered 
 strange that I have fallen into some mistakes by those who shall be made 
 acquainted with the following fact. I asked the stated clerk of the Synod of 
 Western Reserve how many Congregational and how many Presbyterian 
 churches there are in the Presbytery of Huron. He wrote on a slip of paper 
 14 Congregational and 10 Presbyterian. Finding by the last report of that 
 Presbytery to the General Assembly that they have but 23 churches, I put 
 it down 13 Congregational and 10 Presbyterian. But since the pamphlet 
 was ready for the press, that Presbytery have published a statement in which 
 they say they have 25 churches, 15 of which are Presbyterian and 10 Con- 
 gregational. Have they received 2 churches since the meeting of the last 
 Assembly ? Have several of the Congregational churches elected ruhng 
 elders during the past summer ? or was the slated clerk of that Synod mis- 
 taken ? I shall of course have it printed according to the statement of the 
 Presbytery — but I mention it to shew how liable we arc to err ; and that if 
 I have committed an error in any instance, (which is quite possible,) it has 
 been owing to the misstatements of those upon whom I have relied for 
 information. 
 
FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 While on a visit in August last to tlie western part of 
 the state of New- York, I embraced the opportunity of ob- 
 taining facts concerning the organization and state of the 
 churches ; and beheving them to be of special interest at 
 the present time, I shall communicate them to the public. 
 But in quite a number of instances my information has been 
 so general, as to be less satisfactory than I could desire, 
 especially in regard to the present organization of many of 
 the churches, concerning which (though I have made in- 
 quiries of different persons and corresponded with others) 
 I have not been able to obtain definite information. If, 
 therefore, I shall make any statements which are not en- 
 tirely accurate, those who may be acquainted with the facts, 
 will do me and the church a favor by communicating the 
 necessary corrections ; and in those cases, where I shall be 
 obliged, from the want of information, to be very general, 
 I trust that those who are able will not be backward in 
 supplying the deficiency. I cordially respond to the remark 
 of Dr. Penny, at the Auburn Convention, that all which 
 a full and candid statement of facts can do for those Synods, 
 I wish to have done ; and no more. 
 
 We shall begin with the 
 
 Synod of Utica. 
 
 This Synod was constituted in 1829, by a division of the 
 Synod of Albany, and consists of 5 Presbyteries, viz. Onei- 
 da, Watertown, Otsego, St. Lawrence and Oswego. To 
 prevent confusion, it must be remembered that Watertown 
 and St. Lawrence do not bear the names by which they 
 were first organized. The former was then called St. Law- 
 
rence and the latter Ogdensburg. St. Lawrence receiv- 
 ed the name of Watertown in 1828, and not long after Og- 
 densburg took the name of St. Lawrence. 
 
 The Presbytery of Oneida was constituted by an act of 
 the General Assembly in 1802, from the Presbytery of Al- 
 bany, and consisted of six ministers. No churches are 
 named ; but from an examination of the Statistical Reports 
 of the Presbytery of Albany up to that time, it will appear 
 that there were five or six embraced in the territory assigned 
 to the new Presbytery. In 1808, they reported 17 churches, 
 eight of which are now and probably were then Presbyterian. 
 Concerning the remainder, I am not informed. In 1805, 
 they reported 20 churches, 2 of which are known to have been 
 Congregational ; and of course must have been received on 
 the plan of 1801. The next year they reported but 8. The 
 others had been detached from the Presbytery to form the 
 Presbytery of Geneva, which was constituted that year. 
 One of the 8 is named as a Congregational church. From 
 this time there was a gradual increase till 1816, when the 
 Presbytery was again divided and a new Presbytery consti- 
 tuted by the name of St. Lawrence, [now Watertown.] 
 But their loss from this source was much more than made 
 up by the reception in 1819, of 12 ministers and 9 congre- 
 gations. All the ministers except one were from Congre- 
 gational Associations ; and all the churches, it is believed, 
 were Congregational. This large accession was owing to 
 the dissolution of the Oneida Association, which, according to 
 the statement of a person who was then a member of one of 
 their churches, was an interesting and flourishing body ; but 
 as the plan of union opened the door for their admission into 
 the Presbyterian church, and as the ministers were desirous 
 of forming such a connection, the people were persuaded to 
 yield. Their Association was accordingly dissolved, and 
 most of the ministers and churches joined the Presbytery — 
 constituting, after their reception, about one third of the 
 whole body. 
 
 The same year (1819) the Presbytery was divided again, 
 and a new one organized by the name of Otsego. But dur- 
 
5 
 
 ing the three following years, their number was once more 
 repaired by the reception of nine churches, nearly all of 
 which, we have good reason to believe, were Congregation- 
 al. This increased the proportion of Congregationalists 
 from one third to about one half — making due allowance 
 for the few who, upon joining the Presbytery, appointed 
 ruling elders. There was now (1822) another division of 
 the Presbytery, and a new one constituted by the name of 
 Oswego. This diminished the proportion of Congregation- 
 al churches to nearly the same as it was in 1819, which 
 has been retained without much variation ever since. There 
 are now 40 churches, 12 or 14 of which are Congregation- 
 al. This I state on the authority of one of their members, 
 corroborated by several others who are acquainted with 
 the churches in their bounds. 
 
 The Presbytery of Watertown w^as constituted (under 
 the name of St. Lawrence) in 1816 — consisting of 5 minis- 
 ters and 2 congregations, viz. Ogdensburg and Martins- 
 burg. In 1819, they reported to the General Assembly 4 
 Presb^'terian churches and 7 Congregational ; or if 2 of the 
 latter, which are reported under one pastoral charge, were 
 distinct churches, as was the case a few yers afterwards, 
 then 4 Presbyterian and 8 Congregational. The proportion 
 of Congregationalists at the present time is probably less ; 
 but the information w^hich I have received on this point is 
 so general, that I cannot speak with precision.* 
 
 The Otsego Presbytery was organized in 1819, and was 
 composed of seven ministers and 5 congregations, viz. Cher- 
 ry Valley, Cooperstown, Springfield, Milford and Eaton. 
 Three of them, we believe, w^ere Presbyterian, and two 
 
 *Iii a communication, published in. several of the papers during the past 
 summer, (supposed to have been written by a member of that Presbytery,) 
 it is stated that there are 2 or 3 Congregational churches under the care of 
 that Presbytery ; but as the person to whom 1 wrote, has not given me the 
 desired information, in my summary of the Presbyteries, I shall leave it 
 blank. 
 
6 
 
 Congregational. According to a statement made at the 
 Auburn Convention, they are now about equally divided.* 
 
 The Presbytery of St. Lawrence (under the name of Og- 
 densburg) was constituted by a division of the Presbytery 
 of Champlain in 1821, consisting of six ministers and the 
 congregations in a certain district ; but how many there 
 were, it is not stated. The next year they reported 1 1 
 congregations, a majority of which, we believe, were Con- 
 gregational. The ground for this opinion is the following : 
 The Presbytery of Champlain, from which it was formed, 
 was constituted in 1813, but on account of the war they did 
 not meet ; and the next year, a new order was obtained 
 from the Synod. Their first report in 1815 mentions only 
 one congregation. That section of the state was wholly 
 missionary ground. Many of the churches were organized 
 by an excellent and laborious Congregational missionary, 
 whom I have heard relate many thrilling incidents concern- 
 ing his labors, his discom'agements and his success. Some 
 of t!ie churches which he formed were, perhaps, Presbyte- 
 rian ; but the major part were, undoubtedly, Congregation- 
 al. And when in process of time they became sufficiently 
 numerous, several of the churches were detached from the 
 Presbytery and a new one was organized, which is now 
 called St. Lawrence. As the brother to whom I wrote for 
 information concerning this Presbytery has not answered 
 my letter, I do not know of what materials it is composed at 
 the present time. 
 
 The Oswego Presbytery was organized in 1823, consist- 
 ino- of 5 ministers and the congregations in the north-western 
 section of the Presbytery of Oneida. Their number is not 
 stated. Their first report was in 1825, when they consist- 
 ed of 8 ministers and 16 congregations — a large proportion 
 of which, there can be but httle doubt, were Congregation- 
 
 * In the resolutiong lately adopted by the Baltimore Presbytery it was 
 stated, that at the Auburn Convention ono of the members declared that 
 there are in this Presbytery 17 Congregational churches and 8 Presbyterian. 
 This statement was made not concerning Otsego Presbytery, but OHWcgo. 
 
al. According to a statement made by one of tlieir niejn- 
 bers at tlio Auburn Convention, they have now 17 Con- 
 gregational churches and 8 Presbyterian. 
 The result of the v/hole will be as follows : 
 
 Oneida, 40 churches, 27 Presbyterian and 13 Congregational. 
 
 Watertown, 23 churches, 
 
 Otsego, 16 churches, 8 Presbyterian and 8 Congregational. 
 
 St Lawrence, 11 churches, 
 
 Oswego, 25 churches, 8 Presbyterian and 17 Congregational. 
 
 Total, as far as known, 43 38 
 
 The preferences of the people in very many cases, and 
 of some of the ministers, are strongly in favor of Congrega- 
 tionalism. One of the members of the Auburn Convention, 
 from the Oswego Presbytery, is known to be so decidedly 
 a Congregationalist in his principles and feelings, that a min- 
 ister acquainted with his views expressed surprise that he 
 should have been willing to be a delegate to that body. 
 
 About a year ago, at a meeting in which 7 of the churches 
 belonging to that presbytery had united for their spiritual 
 benefit, (4 of which were Congregational and 3 Presbyteri- 
 an,) he introduced a proposal that they should leave the 
 Presbytery and join a Congregational Association ; and 
 another minister who was present advocated the measure. 
 It was accordingly adopted, and a committee was appointed 
 to attend a meeting of the Oneida Association and propose a 
 union with them ; or, if this should be found not to be so much 
 for their advantage, then to draft a plan for forming a sepa- 
 rate Association by themselves ; but as yet nothing farther 
 has been done. Had the proposition been carried into ef- 
 fect agreeably to the vote, instead of there being 8 Presby- 
 terian churches in that presbytery, there would be only 5. 
 Probably all the churches in the presbytery except 2, would 
 prefer the Congregational mode of government, and be at 
 least equally well satisfied to form a connection with a Con- 
 gregational Association. 
 
 When the Oneida Association was dissolved, 18 or 20 
 years ago, some of the churches, upon joining the Presbyte- 
 ry of Oneida, appointed ruling elders ; but as soon as they 
 
8 
 
 saw how the system worked, they became dissatisfied, and 
 heart-burnings and distractions have existed in the churches, 
 more or less, ever since. In one church, some of the members 
 left and joined the Methodists ; in three or four others, they 
 separated and formed two churches ; and in others difficul- 
 ties, more or less serious, have disturbed their peace. One 
 church, only a few months ago, after making material alter- 
 ations m their Articles of Faith, resolved to leave the Pres- 
 bytery and join a Congregational Association ; and another, 
 it is expected, will soon follow their example, except that they 
 have not departed (so far as I learned) from any of the im- 
 portant doctrines of the gospel. The Presbytery attempted 
 to discipline the former church, but nothing could be done 
 because it is Congregational, We hope no one will infer, 
 from any thing we have said or may say concerning Con- 
 gregationalism in these churches, that we wish to bring any 
 charge against it, or impute it to any man as a fault. We 
 wish only to state facts as they exist, with the view of shew- 
 ing how the churches are organized, and what have been 
 the effects of the plan of union upon their peace and pros- 
 perity. The brother to whom I am indebted for much of 
 my information concerning the Oneida Presbytery, believes 
 that the plan of union has been one cause of the unsettled 
 state of things both in that Presbytery and in other parts of 
 Western New-York ; and that the peace and union of ma- 
 ny of the churches would be greatly promoted if they should 
 become Congregationalists in full. 
 
 We will now state a few things in relation to doctrines 
 and measures. If we were to speak only in general terms, 
 we might introduce a few sentences concerning each of the 
 Presbyteries, which would convey to the mind of the reader 
 some idea of the views and feelings that prevail among them. 
 But as we do not wish to incur the charge of circulating 
 vague reports, which on investigation may prove to be un- 
 founded, we shall specify some particulars. To avoid 
 producing a false impression we will premise, that we do 
 not mean to apply the facts which we communicate to all 
 the members of the several Presbyteries composing this 
 
Synod — and we wish this remark to be remembered by the 
 reader in perusing what we may write concerning the other 
 Synods. There is probahly a majority in all these bodies 
 who are opposed to those extreme views in doctrine, and 
 those extravagant measures which are entertained and prac- 
 tised by some of their number. But their existence among 
 them shews there is cause for alarm ; and the length of time 
 in which they have prevailed affords proof of a culpable 
 lenity on the part of those who disapprove of them, in not 
 bringing their abettors (except in a few instances) under 
 ecclesiastical censure. 
 
 During my excursion I had an interview with a lajnuan 
 of some intelligence and standing in society, who, until a 
 short time past, has been a member for 10 or 12 years, of 
 one of the churches in Oneida Presbytery, but is now con- 
 nected with a church in the Presbytery of Oswego. He 
 said he believed Adam sinned, because God could not pre- 
 vent him without altering his plan of government. I re- 
 plied. If God could not prevent Adam from falling, can he 
 keep christians from falling ? He answered, No ; if they 
 resolve not to be influenced by the motives which he pre- 
 sents to encourage them to persevere. I believe christians 
 may fall away. He said he did not believe in the imputa- 
 tion of Adam's sin, or that we are born sinners — ^but that 
 when we are born we are destitute of moral character. In 
 regard to conversion, he said, there are some things which 
 God cannot do for the sinner — they are the sinner's own 
 acts, and not God's. He commands the sinner to repent 
 and make to iiimself anew heart, and he can do it if he will. 
 He was told he can do it by the assistance of God's Spirit. 
 He replied, I will not say this, though I admit the Holy 
 Spirit has an agency in the conversion of the sinner. He 
 was asked what kind of agency ? Just such an agency, said 
 he, as I should exert over you, in persuading you to go to 
 Rome. I observed to him. You might /«i7 in attempting to 
 persuade me to go to Rome. So may God fail, said he, of 
 the conversion of the sinner. God is as dependent upon 
 3 
 
io 
 
 the sinner in his conversion as the sinner is upon God. The 
 moment in which a sinner is converted, he said, he is holy — 
 he is right — he is just as God requires him to be ; he loves 
 God with all the heart and soul and strength and mind, and 
 he might continue in this state if he icould ; but he yields to 
 temptation and so falls into sin. By loving God with all the 
 heart, he said, he meant not the heart of a man but of a 
 child ; and hence he is to grow in grace. When he is con- 
 verted he is free from sin, and by growing in grace he meant 
 that he becomes stronger, more firmly established, &c. I 
 asked him if the church to which he formerly belonged held 
 as he did. He ansv/ered, Yes. And does the minister* of 
 that church believe and preach so ? He replied, Yes ; I 
 have had long conversations with him, and have met with 
 no body that so nearly accords with my sentiments as he 
 does, except brother ,f I asked him whether anoth- 
 er church, which I named, entertained the same doctrinal 
 views as the church to which he belonged. He said. Not 
 altogether ; but they differ more particularly in regard to 
 measures than to doctrine. The latter are in favor of hav- 
 ing females pray in promiscuous assembles — ^the former are 
 opposed to it. 
 
 A week or two previous to this conversation, this man 
 had been received, by letter, as a member of a Presbyterian 
 church, and the session of that church (they had no pastor) 
 were acquainted with his sentiments. One of the el- 
 ders is said to be favorable to them, a second is thoroughly 
 orthodox, and the other stands somewhere between the 
 two ; but the second with whom I conversed did not feel at 
 liberty to object to his admission, because he came with 
 " clean papers" from a church in connection with our body. 
 
 Perfectionism exists, to some extent, in several churches 
 
 * He is a Congrcf.'ationalist. 
 
 I The brother to whom I suppose he referred was a member of the Auburn 
 Convention, and in a speech which ho made expressed gratitude that there 
 was such a man in the General Assembly as Col. Jcssuj), to defend the 
 churches in Western New- York against the charges of heresy which had 
 been slanderously raised concerning them. 
 
11 
 
 in the Oswego Presbytery. In one of them it prevails to 
 such a degree that their pastor, after endeavoring, in vain, for 
 several months, to resist the cuiTent, has given up in dis- 
 couragement and removed to another congregation. It is 
 not countenanced, so far as I could learn, by any of the min- 
 isters ; but I infer, from the following remarks, that it is re- 
 garded with some favor by a considerable number of the 
 people, not only in that Presb5l;ery but in the other Presby- 
 teries belonging to this Synod. I asked a minister, who is 
 preaching to a large congregation in the Presbjiiery of Os- 
 vv^ego, what had been the effect of Mr. Finney's measures 
 in that section of the state. He said it would have been 
 good, if there had been no opposition made to them ; that 
 his measures never did any harm ; they were wise and prop- 
 er, and well adapted to the times ; but several newspapei*s 
 were established with a view of throwing odium upon him, 
 and thus much hurt was done. He alluded, he said, to the 
 Utica Christian Journal, the Albany Telegraph and Boston 
 Telegraph. I asked him whether Mr. Finney would be as 
 cordially received now, in those places where he formerly 
 preached, as he was then ? He said, Not in all of them, be- 
 cause he now advances certain doctrines which he did not 
 at that time ; [he referred to the report, which w^as then 
 current, that Mr. Finney had become a Perfectionist ;] but, 
 he added, in a large number of places he would be received 
 as cordially as lie was then. 
 
 But though the ministers are all opposed (it is probable) 
 to perfectionism, some of them, in each of the Presbyteries, 
 embrace the New-Haven Theology. In several of them 
 we could specify individuals who are known to be favorable 
 to that system ; and in regard to others we have authority 
 for saying that the views of Dr. Taylor are more or less 
 prevalent. But as we do not intend (as we said before) to 
 become the retailer of general and intangible rumors, we 
 shall refer to a particular case. In the spring of 1833, 1 be- 
 came acquainted with a licentiate of a Congregational As- 
 sociation, who was desirous of entering the Presbyterian 
 church. After conversing with him for an hour, I told him 
 
12 
 
 frankly but kindly, that I hoped he never would seek admis- 
 sion into our church ; that, in my opinion, a man entertain- 
 ing his views could not, with propriety, subscribe our Stand- 
 ards, &c. Shortly afterwards he was ordained by an Asso- 
 ciation, and settled over a church connected with us on the 
 accommodation plan, in the Presbytery of Watertown. He 
 is now a member of the Presbytery of Oneida. Soon after 
 his ordination, he wrote a letter to a friend of mine, of which 
 the following is an extract. The letter is dated Sept. 30, 
 
 1S33. He writes, " 1 am now over the church at , 
 
 having received a call a few weeks since. It is a Presby- 
 terian church, or rather on the ' accommodating' plan." 
 
 " I am surrounded by ministers, and have no difficulty in 
 exchanging desks. Here are two near me, who are limited 
 atonement men, I believe, who are very shy. O my dear 
 brother, beware of that doctrine of a limited atonement. I 
 hope I do not go too far, when I say it had its rise from the 
 devil. Mr. Wood of Amsterdam, I have understood, is de- 
 cidedly on the old school platform." " It is astonishing 
 
 that, at the present day of light and Imowledge, men's un- 
 derstandings should be so blinded. For my part I am aw- 
 fully prejudiced against the old school divinity. I cannot in- 
 vite a man to preach for me, whose doctrines are so utterly 
 repugnant to the word of God. I do not here speak of Mr. 
 Wood at all, but of a certain class of men, such, for instance, 
 
 as the individuals near me." " Dr. Sprague, of Albany, I 
 
 mean, and old Dr. Green of Philadelphia, and Dr. Griffin,* 
 and Miller, and Alexander, «fcc. Have you seen Dr. 
 Spraguc's [of Albany] book on revivals ? O, I am afraid 
 that that man will ruin souls in hell by that pernicious book. 
 My motto is, ' Touch not, taste not, handle not.' I want 
 you candidly to answer the following questions. Do you 
 believe infants have a moral character ? Are we to be ac- 
 countable for the moral act of our first parents 1 "Wliat do 
 you think of the New-Haven Theology ? Do you acquiesce 
 
 ♦ Dr. Griffin was probably included in this category because he had pub- 
 fished a wofk on Divine Efficiency. 
 
13 
 
 in Dr. Taylor's notions 1 Do you consider them agreeable 
 with the Scriptures ? His divinity is spreading very widely. 
 For my part, I do not believe there is any perfect system of 
 
 Theology but the Divine Oracles." " I am really glad 
 
 that has commenced his studies." ''I hope he will 
 
 not imbibe the principles of the Princeton Divmity. That 
 is a good seminary, but the doctrines are not calculated for 
 building up the Redeemer's kingdom as others are." 
 
 Whether the state of things is better now than it was five 
 years ago, I am not competent to decide. In Oneida Pres- 
 bytery I have been assured that it is. There has been an 
 almost entire change of ministers there within a few years, 
 and a majority of them are disposed to do all in their power 
 to correct the errors of the past. At their meeting in June 
 last, a resolution was adopted to call to account two or three 
 of their members, who had been moving for some time past 
 like " wandering stars," in very irregular orbits. We trust 
 they will be successful in their efforts, and restore the char- 
 acter of that Presbytery to what it was when it was first 
 organized. 
 
 Synod ©fi Geneva. 
 
 This Synod was constituted by a division of the Synod 
 of Albany, in 1812. It then consisted of three Presbyte- 
 ries, viz. Geneva, Cayuga and Onondaga, to which the 
 following have since been added : Bath, Cortland, Chenan- 
 go, Tioga, Delaware and Chemung. The Presbytery of 
 Geneva was formed from a part of the Presbytery of Onei- 
 da, in 1805, and consisted of 4 ministers. No congregations 
 are named. In 1807 they reported 9 congregations, and 
 in 1809, 12, as follows : Geneseo, Ulysses, Milton, Romu- 
 lus, Onondaga, Caledonia, Junius, Geneva, Gorham, Seneca, 
 and two Congregational churches ; total, 12. In 1814, they 
 reported 31 churches, 5 of which, we believe, were Congi-e- 
 gational, and probably more. According to a statement m- 
 
14 
 
 ccntly pu])lished by that Presbytery, they have at present 
 but one Congregational church.* 
 
 The Presbyteries of Cayuga and Onondaga were consti- 
 tuted in 1810 ; the history of which is as follows. In 1808 
 the Synod of Albany, by permission of the General Assem- 
 bly, received the Middle Association of the Western Dis- 
 trict as a constituent part of that Synod. In 1809 they re- 
 ported to the Synod 21 congregations. In the minutes of 
 the General Assembly for that year and the next, they are 
 embraced in the statistical account ; but tlie number and 
 names of theu- congregations are not given ; except that in 
 1810 seven of them are mentioned as having taken up col- 
 lections, viz. Aurelius, Cazenovia, Sempronius, Otisco, Fa- 
 bius, 1st church in Genoa, and Homer. In the fall of that 
 year, the Presbytery of Geneva and the Middle Association 
 made a joint request to Synod to be organized into three 
 Presbyteries, which was accordingly done. Previous to this 
 the Presbytery of Geneva embraced all the territory west 
 of the Presbytery of Oneida. By this arrangement that 
 part of the Geneva Presbytery which lay east of Cayuga 
 Lake was detached from it, and in connexion with the 
 churches belonging to the Association, two Presbyteries 
 were formed, viz. Cayuga and Onondaga. But though the 
 eastern section of the territory previously belonging to tiie 
 Presbytery of Geneva was divided between the two new 
 Presbyteries, it will be seen by a recurrence to the report 
 of 1809, as given above, that it contained but one congre- 
 gation, viz. Onondaga. Of course those two Presbyteries, 
 with this single exception, were composed of the churches 
 
 * I saw a member of the Presbytery soon after this statement vvaspubhshed, 
 who told me it must be a mistake, for he knew of 3 that arc Congregational. 
 Ho was not present at the meeting, when the resolution containing this state- 
 ment was passed. Of course either one or the other must be in an error ; and 
 though the presbytery, one would think, arc the best authority, I can easily 
 see that, in calling the roll and asking the several members present what 
 they knew of this or that church, a mistake might have been committed, 
 without blame to any one, unless it bo the blame of ignorance. Wo will 
 put it down, however, according to the statement of the Presbytery. 
 
15 
 
 belonging to the Middle Association ; and though they had 
 changed their name from an Association to that of Pres- 
 byteries, they were still Congregational cliurches. Their 
 fu'st report, in 1811, shews that the Presbytery of Cayuga 
 had 15 congregations, and the Presbytery of Onondaga 13. 
 Witliin 8 years from this time they had, taken together, 
 more than doubled. The former reported, in 1819,28 con- 
 gregations, and the latter 29. This increase was owing in 
 part to the dissolution of the Onondaga Association, the 
 ministers and churches belonging to which, connected them- 
 selves with those two Presb5l;eries. As they consisted 'of 
 Congregational materials in their commencement, so like- 
 wise in their progress. Concerning their present organiza- 
 tion I am not able to speak with any degree of precision. 
 After the chairman of the committee on statistics in the Au- 
 burn convention had presented their report, I asked him 
 how many Congregational churches there are in those two 
 Presbyteries, but he could not tell ; which shows how very 
 general must have been the inquiries of the committee, or 
 else that they were very unsuccessful in obtaining informa- 
 tion. A minister who has been preaching for about one 
 year in the Cayuga Presbytery informed me that he knew 
 of two, but how many there are in the Presbytery he was 
 unable to say. I shall be obliged therefore to leave these 
 two Presbyteries without even a conjecture how they arc 
 organized ; unless it be a fair inference that since they were 
 Congregationalists in 1810 and 1819, — and since they came 
 in under a pledge, as Mr. Hotchkin said in the Convention, 
 that their rights as Congregationalists should never be in- 
 vaded ; therefore they are Congregationahsts now. Doubt- 
 less a considerable number of them are ; but whetlier a 
 majority or a minority, I cannot affirm. 
 
 Tiie Presbyteiy of Bath was formed from the Presbyteiy 
 of Geneva, in 1817. Two years afterwards, (which was 
 the fii'st time they reported to the General Assembly) they 
 had 11 churches, 3 of which, if not more, were Congrega- 
 tional. The church in Bath was Congregational when it 
 was organized and had commitee men, according to the plan 
 
16 
 
 of union of 1801 ; but in 1811 they fully adopted the Pres^ 
 byterian form of government, and appointed ruling elders. 
 There are now at least 2, and we believe 3 Congregational 
 churches in the Presbytery, one of which is the largest church 
 in their bounds. 
 
 The Presb^'tery of Cortland was organized from the 
 Presbytery of Onondaga, in 1825. According to their 1st 
 report, in 1827 they had 14 churches, 7 of which we have 
 good evidence to believe, were Congregational ; and a large 
 portion of the remaining 7 were probably of this charac- 
 ter. See the Minutes of the Assembly for 1814, 1818 and 
 1825, from which it will appear that nearly all of these 
 churches either had their origin in the Middle Association, 
 or bear other marks of being Congregational. A member 
 of the Presbytery whom I savi at Auburn informed me that 
 they now have 4 or 5 of this description, and possibly more ; 
 he could not speak with certainty.* 
 
 The Presbytery of Chenango was organized from Otse- 
 go in 1826. Its history is as follows. The ministers be- 
 longing to the Union Association not being able to obtain a 
 vote for dissolving the body because the churches were op- 
 posed to the measure, " ran away from it," as my informant 
 expressed himself, and joined the Otsego Presbytery. Im- 
 mediately afterwards the Presbytery made application to 
 the General Assembly for the formation of a new Pres- 
 bytery to be called Chenango, which request was granted, 
 and a Presbytery was formed, consisting of ministers only. 
 Their first meeting at Oxford gave the first intimation which 
 the churches received that a Presbytery had been consti- 
 tuted. From another source I have received substantially 
 the same account, differing only in regard to the time at 
 which the Union Association was broken up. He says, the 
 Presbytery " consisted of 5 ministers and no churches at all. 
 
 * I haxe been told that a member of that Presbytery stated not long since 
 that there was but one church in that Presbytery which had a regular session 
 according to the Constitution of the Presbyterian churcli ; but how much 
 credit should be given to it, I cannot say. 
 
17 
 
 In September of that year, [it was organized in June,] an ac- 
 commodation plan grounded on that negotiated with the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of 1808, was adopted ; allowing churches to 
 govern themselves upon purely Congregational principles 
 with a few trifling exceptions, and 2 churches joined. Some 
 time after Ihat, the Union Association was broken up, and 
 the churches mostly came mto Presbytery." From the same 
 individual I learn that "there are now nominally 14 Con- 
 gregational churches, the real existence of two of them 
 doubtful," and " 5 nominally Presbyterian churches, the ex- 
 istence of two very doubtful, one of them not on the statis- 
 tical report of Presbytery to General Assembly." Their 
 last report to the General Assembly gives them only 17 
 churches ; the above statement gives 19. One of them, it 
 is said, was not on the report, and the other may have been 
 omitted by mistake of the clerk. 
 
 The Presbytery of Tioga was constituted from the Pres- 
 b}^ery of Cayuga, in 1829. In the following year they 
 reported 14 churches, 5 of which, as will appear by a ref- 
 erence to former minutes of the General Assembly, were 
 Congregational ; and it is to be inferred from the character 
 of the Presbytery from which it was organized that the re- 
 mainder were mostly of this description. I received an 
 impression at the Auburn convention that they are now 
 very similar to the Presbyteries of Otsego and Delaware, 
 i. e. nearly equally divided ; but as I was not perfectly cer- 
 tain, I addressed a letter of inquiry to a member of the 
 Presbytery, from whom I have received no answer. I shall 
 therefore put them down according to my impression at that 
 time. 
 
 The Presbytery of Delaware was formed from Chenan- 
 go, in 18.31 ; and consisted, according to their first report 
 of 14 churches, nearly all of which, (coming from Chenan- 
 go Presbytery,) were undoubtedly Congregational. It was 
 stated at the Auburn Convention that there are now about 
 as many Presbyterian as Congregational. One of the lat- 
 ter class, at least, has a standing committee, and of course 
 was organized on the plan of 1801. 
 3 
 
IS 
 
 The Presbytery of Chemung was constituted from the 
 Presbytery of Bath, in 1836; and consists of 22 churches, 
 one of which, if not more, was originally Congregational ; 
 but they are all at this time (according to a declaration 
 made at the Convention) Presbyterian. 
 
 We may present therefore, the following tabular view : 
 
 Geneva, 39 churches, 38 Presbyterian, and 1 Congregational. 
 Cayur::a, 31 churches, how organized we know not, 
 
 Onondaga, 24 churches, do. do. 
 
 Bath, 19 churches, 17 Presbyterian, and 2 Congregational. 
 
 Cortland, 15 churches, 8 Pres, (probably) and 7 Congregational. 
 
 Chenango, 19 churches, 5 Presbyterian, and 14 Congregational. 
 
 Tioga, 18 churches, 9 Presbyterian, and 9 Congregational. 
 
 Delaware, 19 churches. 10 Presbyterian, and 9 Congregational. 
 
 Chemung, 22 churches, 22 Presbyterian. 
 
 Total as far as known, 109 Presbyterian, and 42 Congregational.* 
 
 In some of the Presbyteries the preferences of the people 
 are decidedly in favor of Congregationalism. Concerning 
 one of them I have received the following testimony : " I 
 think the plan (meaning the plan of union) has not worked 
 well on the whole ; though perhaps some good has resulted. 
 The churches have never been very cordial towards Pres- 
 bytery." " A majority in most of the churches would pre- 
 fer belonging to a Congregational Association ; a minority 
 in many of them would not, and perhaps a majority in some 
 would not." In regard to the territory embraced by two 
 or three others, another has remarked that he believes those 
 churches formed on the accommodation plan would prefer 
 to become Congregationalists altogether, but they are pre- 
 vented by the influence of their ministers. To show the 
 jealousy which they feel towards Presbyterianism, he said 
 the pastor of one of the churches proposed, as the first ar- 
 ticle of a confession of faith for that church, " that they 
 adopt the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian church 
 
 * We think it higlily probable that a full report from all the Presbyteries 
 would make the proportion of Congregational churches larger than is here 
 presented ; but as we have resolved not to exaggerate, we have put the num- 
 ber of Congregational churches emaller in two or three instances than th^ 
 truth would probably require. 
 
19 
 
 as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Sacred 
 Scriptures," but it was rejected ; not because the church 
 did not approve of our Confession of Faith, but because 
 they regarded it as the first step towards endeavouring to 
 make them Presbyterians. Concerning one or two more 
 of the Presbyteries, it was distinctly intimated at the Au- 
 burn Convention that many of the churches prefer Con- 
 gregationahsm ; and unless they can enjoy it in the Presby- 
 terian church, they will form some other connection. Three 
 or four of the Presbyteries are probably satisfied as a body 
 with the Presbyterian form of government, and perhaps pre- 
 fer it to any other ; but in nearly all of them there are in- 
 dividual churches who would be better pleased if they were 
 connected with a Congregational Association. 
 
 Some portions of the Synod are in a good degree exempt 
 from those errors and irregularities which have prevailed 
 in that section of the state. But in regard to other portions 
 the same testimony could not be given. A letter which 
 was first published in the Hartford Christian Watchman 
 soon after the meeting of the last Assembly, and which is 
 understood to have been written by a member of the Cort- 
 land Presbytery, contams the followmg : " I declared more 
 than once before the Assembly, that the errors against 
 which the Convention testified do exist, and that I was 
 ready to vote for their condemnation. In my views of the 
 existence of these errors, and of the duty of condemning 
 them, I presume at least one half of the delegation from the 
 interior of New York coincide." Another member of that 
 Presbytery addressed a letter about fifteen months ago to a 
 member of the Presbytery of Albany which contained a 
 remark to the following efi'ect : (I have not the letter in my 
 possession though I have seen it) " When I was a mem- 
 ber of the Albany Presbytery, I was regarded as a new 
 vieasure man — but here I am considered to be such an 
 old measure man, that I cannot satisfy the people, and shall 
 be obliged to leave my congregation." Concerning the 
 Presbytery of Delaware, a minister who has resided in their 
 bounds observed in general terms, " the ministers and 
 
20 
 
 churches are generally new measure." Of the Presbytery 
 of Chenango another minister writes, " A considerable num- 
 ber of members and two ministers incline strongly to Tay- 
 lorism — I should say are Taylorites — more are not sound 
 Calvinists of the Edwards stamp. Our theology has many 
 shades — our irregularities are such as naturally spring from 
 a kind of fever and ague fits in churches, with the ague by 
 far the longest." The preceding remark concerning Tay- 
 lorism will also apply to one or two ministers in the Pres- 
 bytery of Geneva (I speak by authority of one of their 
 members,) and to the same number in the Presbytery of 
 Cayuga. 
 
 In a few churches in several of the Presbyteries, perfec- 
 tionism has prevailed to a greater or less extent; but except 
 in two or three cases, it has received no countenance from 
 the ministers. In 1833, a very laudable zeal was mani- 
 fested in endeavouring to prevent the errors and extrava- 
 gances of Mr. Myrick, (one of the leaders of the perfection- 
 ists,) who held protracted meetings for a short time in some 
 of their churches. The Presbyteries of Cayuga and Onon- 
 daga each issued a circular warning the churches to beware 
 of Mr. Myrick, and they also entered a complaint against 
 him to the Oneida Presbytery, of which he was then a 
 member. The following extract of a letter written at the 
 time by a member of the Onondaga Presbytery, will show 
 what were Mr. Myrick's sentiments and measures, and tAso 
 the feelings of the Presbytery towards him : " I will now 
 mention some things" [concering Mr. M.,] " a part of which 
 I have heard myself, and a part heard by a gentleman of 
 veracity to whom I will refer you." . ..." 1st. Entering' 
 other congregations, and holding protracted meetings with- 
 out the consent of either pastor or church." . . . . " 2d. Irre- 
 verent praying, such as ' God smite the devil,' ' God smite the 
 whited sepulchres,' 'Jesus Cin-ist come down here and attend 
 to these hard cases,' accompanied by loud respondings, 
 groaning, jumping, leaping, stamping, smiting fists and hands, 
 pounding on the floor, &c. 3d. Profane language, such as 
 * you are as black as hell,' ' wicked as hell,' ' proud as hell,' 
 
21 
 
 * damned devils,' ' the devil is in j'ou,' * hell hardened,' ' God. 
 provoking wretches.' 4th. Abusive treatment of professed 
 Christians and ministers "who did not unite with him in his 
 movements and measures. He called them ' the children of 
 the devil,' ' drone bees in God's hive,' ' too cursed lazy to 
 work,' ' fattening on the blood of damned souls,' ' God would 
 give them blood to drink,' «fec. 5th. Erroneous doctrines. He 
 says the Holy Ghost never operates on impenitent sinners, 
 that the sinner does not need the Spirit in order to repent ; 
 that all such professors of religion as have any remaining 
 sin are not born of God, but are going to hell ; that real 
 Christians do fall into their former impenitent state and go 
 to hell ; that God would not accept of any service, nor hear 
 the prayer of any person who had the least remaining sin 5 
 and that a person may be converted and submit to God, and 
 yet not be a Christian, for he may not have received Christ, 
 and may not have been baptized of the Holy Ghost." .... 
 " Gth. He denounces in strong terms all creeds, confessions 
 of faith, the commentaries on the Bible and systems of di- 
 vinity." . . . . " What you state in relation to the ministers 
 in this county, being unwilling to admit him into their pul- 
 pits, I believe to be true. It is my opinion, sir, that there 
 is not a church and minister in the county that would be 
 ready to receive him as a preacher. The time has been 
 when some did, but it has, I believe, been to their sorrow. 
 I do not know of any minister in this Presbytery that would 
 sustain him in this course, unless it be perhaps A. and P." 
 Mr. Myrick is now a Congregatonalist, and is located in the 
 bounds of that Presbytery. He is the editor of a paper, 
 and by this means as well as by his preaching, is promul- 
 gating his pernicious doctrines — and I regret to add, they 
 are embraced by a few in quite a number of churches, to 
 the great grief and vexation of their brethren and pastors. 
 The question whether the state of things is better now 
 than it was five years ago, has received different answers. 
 One brother writes, " A comparison of the present state of 
 things with that of five years ago, so far as I know, would 
 lead me to conclude, that there is little difference, except a 
 
22 
 
 little more caution and far less action of any kind." An- 
 other has expressed a difterent opinion. Probably in some 
 Presbyteries there is not much change, while in others there 
 may be. One circumstance (given by the latter as proof 
 of the correctness of his opinion) is very favorable. A few 
 years ago the Rev. Dr. Richards was considered to be so 
 far behind the spirit of the age, that some young men of 21 
 had more influence with the churches than he. But now 
 it is otherwise. There is a return, among the people, to a 
 greater degree of Christian decorum — old age is more 
 honoured — ministerial character and standing are more re- 
 spected — and more deference is paid to the counsels of 
 wisdom and experience. 
 
 This Synod was constituted, in 1821, by a division of 
 the Synod of Geneva, and cimsisted of four Presbyteries, viz. 
 Niagara, Genesee, Rochester and Ontario, to which two 
 others have since been added — Buffalo and Angelica. 
 The Presbytery of Niagara was organized, in 1817, by a 
 division of the Presbytery of Geneva, consisting of three 
 ministers, and (so far as I can ascertain from the reports of 
 the Geneva Presbytery previous to this time) of not more 
 than two or three churches. But during that year a number of 
 new ones were organized; and, in 1818, according to a 
 statement made by the Rev. Mr. Stillman, there were at 
 least six Congregational churches belonging to the Presby- 
 tery ; which doubtless embraced two-thirds or three-fourths 
 of the whole number. The next year the number was 
 greatly increased. They reported, in 1 8 1 9, thirty-two Con- 
 gregations ; twenty-six of which were vacant. Most of 
 them had been just formed, and, as we have good evidence 
 for believing, were organized on the plan of union. But a 
 large part of these were set oft' in a few years to form a new 
 Presbytery, which reduced their number to thirteen. Their 
 present number is sixteen, all but four of which, (according 
 to an account given mc by one of their members,) are Pres- 
 
23 
 
 byterian, though he could not speak with certainty in re- 
 gard to some of them. 
 
 The Presbytery of Ontario was also formed from the 
 Presbytery of Geneva, and, at the same time, with that of 
 Niagara, viz. in 1817. The number of churches belonging 
 to it when it was organized, we have no means of ascer- 
 taining. In 1819, there were twenty-three, five of which 
 at least, and probably eight or ten, were Congregational. 
 At present I learn that the number of Congregational 
 churches is five or six. 
 
 The Presb}-tery of Genesee was constituted from the 
 Presbytery of Ontario, in 1819, consisting of one Presby- 
 terian church and four or five Congregational. In 1825, 
 they reported twenty-two churches, seven of which, so far 
 as we are able to ascertain, were Congregational. Con- 
 cerning the remainder w^e are not informed. At the pre- 
 sent time the number of Congregational churches does not 
 exceed five or six. At the time or soon after the Presby- 
 tery was formed, an exposition of the plan of union was 
 drawn up, and transcribed into their Presbyterial Records, 
 for the information of the churches under tlieir care. In 
 that exposition no allusion is made, my informant thinks, to 
 any other plan than that of 1801 ; in accordance with which 
 it was supposed by the Presbytery that the churches might 
 either appoint a standing committee, or if they preferred it, 
 might transact their business through the male members of 
 the church taken as a body ; acting in the latter case as a 
 kind of committee of the whole, in the place of havino- a 
 session or a standing committee — doing their business in 
 their own way, but subject to the revision of the Presbjtery. 
 This latter plan has generally been adopted ; but no such 
 thing has ever been known in that Presbytery as referring 
 matters to Congregational councils. 
 
 The Presbytery of Rochester was likewise formed from 
 the Presbytery of Ontario, and, in the same year, wuth that 
 of Genesee, viz. in 1819. It consisted, as far as we can 
 ascertain, of seven or eight churches, several of which are 
 known to have been Congregational — and probabh^ most 
 
24 
 
 of them were. One well acquainted with their history has 
 informed me that a majority of those which are now Pres- 
 byterian, were originally Congregational. They are now 
 all Presbyterian except five. 
 
 The Presbytery of Buifalo was constituted from the 
 Presbytery of Niagara in 1822 or 23; and was composed 
 principally of Congregational churches. In 1831, they re- 
 ported thirty-four churches, at which time a minister who 
 was then a member, has informed me, there were not more 
 than six or eight Presbyterian churches in the Presbytery. 
 The same minister, at my request, designated the churches 
 (so far as he knew) that are now Congregational, and also 
 those that are Presbyterian. He named twelve of the for- 
 mer and eight of the latter. Of the remaining twenty-three 
 he was ignorant. If the proportion of these should prove 
 to be the same as that of the others, there are seventeen 
 Presbyterian and twenty-six Congregational. 
 
 The Presbytery of Angelica was constituted in 1828, 
 from the Presbytery of Bath — and had, in 1829, twelve 
 churches. It then belonged to the Synod of Geneva ; but 
 by an act of the General Assembly, in 1834, it was trans- 
 ferred to the Synod of Genesee. According to their last 
 report to the General Assembly, they have twenty churches 
 
 but a member of the Presbytery has informed me that 
 
 two of them do not now belong to the Presbytery. Ac- 
 cording to his statement, there are twelve Presbyterian and 
 six Congregational. 
 
 The following is a summary of the whole : 
 
 Niagara, 16 churches, 12 Presbyterian, and 4 Congregational. 
 
 Genesee, 26 churches, 20 Presbyterian, and G Congregational. 
 
 Rochester, 29 churches, 24 Presbyterian, and 5 Congregational. 
 
 Ontario, 24 churches, 18 Presbyterian, and 6 Congregational. 
 
 Buffalo, 43 churches, 17 Presbyterian, and 26 Congregational. 
 
 Angelica, 18 churches, 12 Presbyterian, and 6 Congregational. 
 
 Total, 156 churches, 103 Presbyterian, and 53 Congregational. 
 
 This large majority of churches thus presented, which 
 are Presbyterially organized, I am obliged to say, is rather 
 nominal than real. There are not by any means (as would 
 
25 
 
 appear from this exhibition) one hundred and three Pres- 
 byterian churches organized from a settled preference 
 among the members generally, for this mode of govern- 
 ment, and conducting their affairs harmoniously according 
 to Presbyterian order. One of the most important churches 
 in the Niagara Presbytery, I have been told, have difficul- 
 ties at this time, growing cut of their church organization. 
 In one of the churches in Rochester Presbytery, so large a 
 number of the members have recently seceded, or are ex- 
 pected to do it, in order to form a Congregational churchy 
 that fears are entertained that they will be nearly broken 
 up. Concerning the Genesee Presbytery I learned still 
 more. One church that was originally Presbyterian has, 
 on account of dissatisfaction, become Congregational. A 
 second have changed from one to the other two or three 
 times, and have now fixed upon the plan of appointing el- 
 ders in rotation, a part of the eldership going out every 
 year. A third pursue the same course with the last 
 named and for the same reasons. A fourth are expected 
 soon to change their order from Presbyterian to Congre- 
 gational. A majority of the churches in that Presbytery, 
 it is believed, prefer the Congregational mode of govern- 
 ment — but they retain the Presbyterian form,because, having 
 once adopted it, they consent to yield their preferences for 
 the sake of their minister and the few in the church who 
 are better pleased with it. 
 
 The churches formed on the plan of union are not all of 
 them well satisfied with their connection. At a late meet- 
 ing of the Ontario Presbytery, one of them " declared off* — 
 and in their declaration they stated they had reaped no es- 
 sential benefit, but rather the contrary, from the union." 
 Several churches which appear from the Minutes of the 
 Assembly to have been connected a few years ago with 
 the Genesee Presbytery, are now (I am told) independent. 
 Dissatisfaction has frequently been felt by churches formed 
 on the plan of union, because the Presbytery had taken ex- 
 ceptions to their proceedings, and in some cases reversed 
 4 
 
theii* decisions. They knew how to manage their own af- 
 fairs, they thought, independently of Presbytery, and did 
 not feel willing to be under their supervision and control. 
 In some instances, this has operated to make them stop 
 sending delegates to Presbytery and stand entirely aloof 
 while they retained a nominal connection — and in others 
 it has resulted in their declaring themselves independent, or 
 joining an Association. 
 
 There have been material departures, I have reason to 
 fear, among many in the Synod from the old orthodox doc- 
 trines — and this has been accompanied, in some instances, 
 by measures of a very doubtful character, and in others by 
 such as were wild and extravagant. A member of the 
 Buffalo Presbytery writes thus: "Ministers and churches in 
 this section have become so much disposed to favour Ar- 
 minian doctrines, and are so fond of new things, that it is dif- 
 ficult to preach the doctrines of our Confession, or even to 
 use our endeavours to correct abuses and extravagances in 
 measures, without hearing the cry of Old School, opposed 
 to revivals," &c. That Presbytery adopted some time ago 
 a set of articles of Faith for the use of their churches, from 
 which almost every thing distinguishing is excluded. Among 
 other points is that of infant baptism — and hence, in prac- 
 tice, it is left optional with parents to have their children 
 baptized or not, just as they please. This last article has 
 been erased from the Confessions of several of the churches 
 in Genesee Presbytery — not, however, by the sanction of 
 the Presbytery, but through the influence of one of their 
 members. 
 
 An intelligent and pious man has told me concerning a 
 minister in Niagara Presbytery under whose preaching he 
 sat for several months, that he had heard him say he did 
 not believe in the imputation of Adam's sin ; and on one 
 occasion he almost ridiculed the idea of the special influ- 
 ences of the Holy Spirit. At a protracted meeting last 
 May, in one of the churches in that Presbytery, the offici- 
 ating minister, after preaching a sermon on the ability of 
 christians to keep the law of God, called upon them to 
 
27 
 
 confess their sins and promise to keep the law. Most of 
 them were willing to confess, but when they came to make 
 promises, there was a reluctance ; as but few were pre- 
 pared to fall in practically with the doctrine of the sermon. 
 Some said we will try — others that we will endeavour hy 
 God's assistance, &:c. ; but this did not satisfy him — he 
 called it antinomianism, and told them he wished them to 
 promise not that they would try to keep the law, but that 
 they would keep it. 
 
 One of the ministers in Genesee Presbytery and a part 
 of his church are perfectionists. He believes it to be es- 
 sential to a man's being a christian that he be perfect. 
 When a clii'istian sins, he " wn-christians" himself — and 
 consequently a clmstian remaining such cannot commit 
 sin. He also behoves in miracles and prophecy, and has a 
 prophetess in his house for whom he professes to entertain 
 high veneration. It is due to the Presbytery to say that he 
 is now imder process. A spice of perfectionism is found 
 in several of the churches ; which, though small, (consisting 
 generally of not more than two or three members,) is 
 enough to embitter the comfort of their christian brethren. 
 
 In relation to irregularities, a member of the Rochester 
 Presbytery affirmed publicly at their meetmg some time 
 last summer, that there was but one thing mentioned of this 
 kind on the floor of the last Assembly, but what can be 
 proved to have occurred within a short period of time in 
 the bounds of the Genesee Synod. Another member of 
 the same Presbjtcry in private conversation corroborated 
 his statement — and went still farther, by saying that ivorse 
 things had occurred there than any which were alluded to 
 on the floor of the Assembly. As the result of this state 
 of things, ministerial confidence is very much diminished, 
 and brethren have less freedom than formerly in calluig on 
 each other, entering into conversation, or exchanging pul- 
 pits. They suspect that they do not agree, and hence keep 
 at a distance. 
 
 Whether all the Presbyteries in the Synod are equally 
 affected with the leaven of false doctrines and " new mea- 
 sures," I am not entirely competent to judge ; as my inter- 
 
2S 
 
 course was confined principally to two or three of them. 
 But I have reason to think that in some there is more or- 
 thodoxy and less extravagance than in others — and per- 
 haps in all of them, the state of things on the whole is be- 
 coming better. A member of Ontario Presbytery writes, 
 as follows : "New Theology and new measures have re- 
 ceived a number of checks in our Presbytery, and indeed 
 in this region generally — especially since the old school in 
 the Assembly began to be so earnest for reform. Though 
 I do not by any means suppose but what the i^cots of the 
 evil remain among us yet, ready to spring up when per- 
 mitted. Indeed in one sense, almost the entire theology of 
 this whole region is " New," if strictly compared with our 
 Standards — yet not in the sense (as I suppose) of your in- 
 quiry. The majority of our Presbytery, I think, are sound 
 according to the New England system." In some of the 
 Presbyteries, the people (it is thought) are sounder than the 
 ministers, of which I had in two or three cases ample proof. 
 Perhaps this may be regarded as a favourable circum- 
 stance. Though ministers are " set for the defence of the 
 gospel," the people form the " sacramental host," and will 
 often stand firm and steadfast, even though " the standard 
 bearer fainteth." They are the pillars of the church, which 
 will remain unshaken, though the priest at the altar should 
 be " spoiled through philosophy and vain deceit." An el- 
 der, in one of the churches, who was lately charged by the 
 congregation with the duty of procuring a pastor, on being 
 told that such a man (a member of the Synod and also of 
 the Auburn Convention) could be obtained, said he should 
 not dare propose him to the people, because he was so 
 much of a new school and new measure man, he would 
 not answer. We believe there is quite a number of such 
 churches, and we indulge the hope that, in connection with 
 those ministers who are sound in the faith, they will exert 
 a redeeming influence, which will ere long restore that 
 whole region to spiritual health and prosperity. 
 
29 
 
 §ynod of t!ie Western Reserve. 
 
 Though I did not travel in the bounds of that Synod, I 
 have obtained, from sources entitled to credit, some infor- 
 mation which I will communicate. The history of the for- 
 mation of that Synod, according to a letter from one of its 
 members, the Rev. J. Seward, as published in the Ohio Ob- 
 server, is as follows : " The Presbytery of Grand River, 
 agreeably to the order of the Synod of Pittsburgh, was or- 
 ganized in the autumn of 1814, and as it covered ^^ round on 
 which a union had been established between Presbyterians 
 and Congregationalists, according to regulations adopted by 
 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, it was 
 deemed necessary that this Presbytery should be so organ- 
 ized as to consolidate and perpetuate this union, and thus 
 carry out the recommendations and injunctions of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly. To accomplish this object, a number of ar- 
 ticles, adapted to the peculiar situation of the churches in 
 this region, was adopted by this Presbyter)^ and afterwards 
 by the Presbyteries of Portage and Huron, as they were 
 respectively organized. The design of these articles was 
 to secure to all connected with these Presbyteries, the rights 
 and privileges pledged in the regulations adopted by the 
 General Assembly and the General Association in 1801. 
 As the Congregationalists had from their childhood been in- 
 structed in the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, 
 and as this was the basis of the Presb^ierian Confession of 
 Faith, they had no material difficulty in coming together on 
 the distinguishing doctrines of the christian religion as em- 
 braced in the Calvinistic system. Nor had they any objec- 
 tion to the discipline of the Presbyterian church, so far as 
 it was applicable to them in their peculiar situation. Hence, 
 in their preamble to their constitution, they express their 
 approbation of the Confession of Faith and Discipline of the 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America ; and in the articles of the constitution 
 there is nothing which does not perfectly harmonize with 
 the standards of the Presbyterian church, excepting those 
 
particulars which are designed to carry out the principles of 
 the plan of union, to which allusion has so often been made. 
 The distinguishing particular of this description was, that in- 
 dividual ministers and churches may adopt either the Con- 
 gregational or Presbyterian mode of government and disci- 
 pline, and that this article shall never be atfected by any 
 additions or alterations which these regulations may receive. 
 Here is the grand charter of the contract to perpetuate the 
 plan of union. The ministers and churches forming these 
 new Presbyteries supposed that they were bound to make 
 this covenant with each other, by the express direction of 
 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church. They 
 made it. They inserted it prominently in their books of 
 records. The records of the Presbytery of Grand River, 
 containing this contract, were presented to the Synod of 
 Pittsburgh, at their meeting in 1815, for examination. The 
 peculiar circumstances of the Presbytery being understood, 
 a committee of the most wise and judicious members were 
 appointed to examine the records. The committee reported 
 and the records were approved. Thus did the Synod of 
 Pittsburgh ratify and confirm, in 1815, the covenant pro- 
 posed and adopted by the General Assembly in 1801, and 
 which had been in successful operation in the new settle- 
 ments for the period of 14 years. In 1819 the records of 
 the Presbytery of Portage, and in 1824 the records of the 
 Presbytery of Huron, each containing the same contract, went 
 through with a similar process and were approved by the 
 Synod of Pittsburgh. The time at which these records were 
 approved w' as at the first meeting of the Synod after the 
 formation of the respective Presbyteries of Grand River, 
 Portage and Huron. At a meeting of the General Assembly 
 in 1825, a petition was presented for a division of the Synod 
 of Pittsburgh, and the erection of anew Synod, to be com- 
 posed of the three Presbyteries above named, and to be 
 known by the name of the Synod of the Western Reserve. 
 This request was granted, and in compliance with the order 
 of the General Assembly, the Synod of the Western Reserve 
 v/as organized at Hudson, Sept. 27, 1825." 
 
31 
 
 From the above it will be perceived, that the three Pres- 
 byteries of which this Synod was composed, were formed 
 explicitly on the plan of union. Had it not been for that 
 plan, neither they nor the Synod could have been organized. 
 
 In addition to the facts here stated, we have obtained from 
 several individuals, who either reside or have resided on the 
 Reserve, the following : 
 
 1 . When the Synod was constituted, there was not prob- 
 ably a single Presbyterian church in the three Presbyteries 
 of which it was composed. 
 
 2. There are at present in the Synod, according to a 
 statement made at the Auburn Convention, 31 Presbyterian 
 churches — and in summing up the details which I have ob- 
 tained from other sources, that statement is nearly correct. 
 A person who has been a member of the Presbytery of 
 Grand River, expressed to me a doubt whether there was at 
 this time a single Presbyterian church in the Presbytery. It 
 was stated on the floor of the last Assembly, by members of 
 that Synod, that there was but one Presbyterian church in 
 Trumbull Presbytery, one in Lorain, and one, I think, in 
 Medina. But as the stated clerk of the Synod affirmed at 
 the Auburn Convention, that there was no Presbytery in the 
 Synod but what had at least two Presbyterian churches, we 
 shall give to those Presbyteries two each ; and then the re- 
 sult, as nearly as I am able to ascertain, will be as follows : 
 
 Grand River, 35 churches, 2 Pres'iyterian and 33 Congregational. 
 
 Portage, 24 churches, 3 Presbyterian and 21 Congregational. 
 
 Huron, 25 churches, 15 Presbyterian and 10 Congregational. 
 
 Maumee, 8 churches, 2 Presbyterian and 6 Congregational. 
 
 Trumbull, 18 shurches, 2 Presbyterian and 16 Congregational. 
 
 Lorain, 12 churches, 2 Presbyterian and 10 Congregational. 
 
 Cleveland, 10 churches, 4 Presbyterian and 6 Congregational. 
 
 Medina, 13 churches, 2 Presbyterian and 11 Congregational. 
 
 Total, 145 churches, 32 Presbyterian and 113 Congregational. 
 
 As there are no reports for 1837 from the Presbyteries of 
 Trumbull and Lorain, they may have lost some of their 
 churches or received some during the last year, which would 
 alter the aggregate number of churches ; but we presume 
 the above does not vary very materially from the truth. 
 
32 
 
 3. The prevailing feelings among the people are decidedly 
 in favor of Congregationalism. A few years ago a commis- 
 sioner from the Reserve to the General Assembly stated, on 
 the floor of the Assembly, that the churches there, if kindly 
 treated, vv^ould soon become fully Presbyterian. When the 
 report of his speech reached those churches they were much 
 displeased, and many letters were written to him from vari- 
 ous quarters, complaining that he had misrepresented them. 
 If they had their choice, uninfluenced by their ministers, a 
 large majority of them, it is believed, would join a Congre- 
 gational Association. But their ministers, knowing their 
 great partiality for Congregationalism, dispense with as 
 much of the forms of the Presbyterian government as pos- 
 sible, and by this means prevent them from going off' — tell-' 
 ing them, at the same time, that if they will hold on a little 
 longer, the time may come when an Association can be 
 formed. 
 
 After the meeting of the General Assembly in 1835, a plan 
 was drawn up, by several ministers, to change the order of 
 the church, and a convention was called for that purpose ; 
 but through the influence of Dr. Beecher and others it was 
 deferred. In the fall of 183G another convention was call- 
 ed for the same purpose, and an Association was formed — 
 but not without considerable opposition from a number of 
 ministers who were present. One of them opposed it for 
 the following reason, viz. that if they would put it off' one 
 year more, the new school would have the majority in the 
 General Assembly; in which case the old school would 
 probably secede, and then they would have the ground.* 
 But their remonstrances did not avail. Several laymen 
 stated in reply, that when their churches were organized on 
 the accommodation plan, it was understood to be tempora- 
 ry — that after the country became more populous they were 
 to have their Associations, as they had been accustomed to 
 in New-England. 
 
 * This minister was a member of the Auburn Convention, and advocated 
 sending up commissioners to the General Assembly " to fight every inch of 
 ground." 
 
33 
 
 When the news of the proceedings of the last Assembly 
 reached the Reserve, some of the ministers thought they 
 ought to attempt nothing more, but organize a Congrega- 
 tional Association. The Ohio Observer came out to this 
 effect ; but letters from New-York and Philadelphia changed 
 their minds. The churches, it is believed, would generally 
 be in favor of such a measure. 
 
 4. A few years ago, Congregational ministers were fre- 
 quently received into their Presbyteries, at least into some 
 of them, without answering the constitutional questions ; 
 but of late, since the practice was censured by the General 
 Assembly, the constitutional questions have generally, and 
 perhaps always, been propounded. 
 
 5. A few years ago, after the Assembly had passed a res- 
 olution refusing to receive committee men as commission- 
 ers, the Presbytery of Grand River, in order to have a lay 
 representation whose seat would not be disputed, appointed 
 a man who had been a ruling elder in the state of N. York, 
 (my informant thinks at Troy,) though he was then, at the time 
 of his appointment, a member of a Congregational church. 
 
 6. A majority of the ministers, and of the members in 
 most of the churches, accord in doctrines and measures with 
 Mr. Finney. This is inferred, concerning the ministers, from 
 the fact, that about two years ago a paper was signed, by 
 fifty ministers or more, inviting Mr. Finney to become Pro- 
 fessor of Theology in the Western Reserve College ; and 
 concerning ministers and people both it may be inferred 
 from the fact, that Mr. Lucius Foote has attended protracted 
 meetings pretty extensively on the Reserve, and was gene- 
 rally approved by the ministers and churches, though there 
 were some exceptions. Mr. Foote, it is said, agrees sub- 
 stantially with Mr. Finney, but goes farther than the latter 
 in some points, from what is called old school theology. 
 
 7. A gentleman who lived a number of years on the Re- 
 serve has informed me, that he frequently heard it spoken 
 of among the ministers, that they are reforming the Presby- 
 terian church, working out the old leaven, &c. and that in 
 a few years more they will succeed. 
 
34 
 
 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 As the object which we have in view in making the pre- 
 ceding statements is to enable the churches to judge how 
 far the acts of the last General Assembly can be justified, 
 we shall now make some remarks on this point. 
 
 1. It is notorious that errors and irregularities of an alarm- 
 ing character have prevailed in those Synods for 8 or 10 
 years past. This is strongly confirmed by the facts which 
 we have stated above, and by the admissions of various in- 
 dividuals residing in their bounds. 
 
 2. These errors and irregularities have obtained such an 
 influence, and are extended over so large a territory, that 
 taken in connection with the sympathy which is felt for 
 them in some other sections of the church, it is exceedingly 
 difficult to rectify them by ordinary process. This position 
 we believe will be denied by few who have noticed the pro- 
 gress of events as they have occurred in our church for a 
 few years past. 
 
 3. The abrogation of the plan of union opened a door, it 
 was thought, for reaching the evils, both easy and effective ; 
 and hence the Assembly resorted to this course. The pro- 
 priety of this measure, and its application to these Synods, 
 are the points at issue between the two parties. 
 
 Concerning the measure itself, viz. the abrogation of the 
 plan of union, we wish to correct two or three mistakes 
 which appear to be current in regard to it. 
 
 1. It has been often asserted, and is extensively believed, 
 that the General Assembly proposed the plan. From Dr. 
 McAuley's speech on this subject, in the last Assembly, it 
 would seom our Connecticut brethren themselves are un- 
 der this impression. But whoever entertains such a belief 
 is labouring under a mistake. It has doubtless arisen from 
 the fact that the only authority which has been relied upon 
 for the history of the affair, is the Assembly's Digest, which 
 
35 
 
 unfortunately contains only a part of the record. A recur- 
 rence to the Minutes of the Assembly for 1800 and 1801, 
 will show that the plan was proposed by the General Asso- 
 ciation of Connecticut, and not by the General Assembly. 
 
 In the Minutes for 1800 is the following : " The Rev. 
 Dr. Jonathan Edwards, the Rev. Asa Hylliar and Jonathan 
 Freeman were appointed delegates from this Assembly to 
 the General Association of Connecticut," &c. Not a word 
 is said about instructing them to negotiate a plan of union. 
 In the Minutes of 1801 we find their report as follows : 
 " The delegates from the General Assembly to the General 
 Association of Connecticut report, that they have attended 
 according to appointment through the whole course of the 
 sessions of the General Association. That besides the busi- 
 ness peculiar to the churches of Connecticut, the General 
 Association appointed a committee to confer icith a committee 
 that may he appointed hy the General Assembly, on measures 
 ichich may promote union among the inhabitants of the new 
 settlements and the missionaries to those settlements, as ap- 
 pears hy the inclosed paper ^ 
 
 Immediately after the committee had reported, the paper 
 referred to above was read ; the minute concerning which 
 is as follows : " A communication was read from the Gen- 
 eral Association of the state of Connecticut, appointing a 
 committee to confer with a committee of the Presbyterian 
 church, to consider the measures proper to be adopted by 
 the General Association and the General Assembly for es- 
 tablishing a uniform system of church government between 
 the inhabitants of the new settlements who are attached to 
 the Presbyterian form of government, and those who prefer 
 the Congregational form. Ordered that the said communi- 
 cation lie on the table. Succeeding this, on the same page, 
 is the following : " The Rsv. Dr. Edwards, McKnight and 
 Woodhull, the Rev. Pvlr. Blatchford and Mr. Ilutton were 
 appointed a committee to consider and digest a plan of gov- 
 ernment for the churches in the new settlements, agreeably 
 to the proposal of the General Association of Connecticut, and 
 report the same as soon as convenient." Then follows 
 
36 
 
 the report of this committee, as contained in the Digest, 
 page 297. 
 
 2. It has been often affirmed, that during the whole pe- 
 riod of 36 years in which this plan has been in operation, 
 no objection has been made to it ; and that consequently it 
 is to be considered as having received during this long pe- 
 riod the silent approbation of the whole church. But this 
 is a mistake. First, it is not true, in the sense intended by 
 those who revert to it, that the plan has been in operation 
 for so long a time. I mean in such a sense as to give to the 
 fact that force which it is supposed to have in determining 
 its validity. For 10 or 12 years after it was formed, its in- 
 fluence upon the church was scarcely felt ; and for as many 
 more, the evils growing out of it had not developed them- 
 selves as they have since that time. The plan was origi- 
 nally intended not as the medium through which Congrega- 
 tionalism would be perpetuated in the Presbyterian church ; 
 but to give opportunity for Congregationalists (if after learn- 
 ing the character of our system they approved of it) to be- 
 come Presbyterian. This remark applies to both parties in 
 the arrangement. The ministers of Connecticut were fa- 
 vourable to the Presbyterian form of government ; one fea- 
 ture of it was already in existence in their churches, and 
 they felt willing (not to say desirous) to have their people who 
 should emigrate to other states become Presbyterian. This 
 idea, we think, is clearly implied in the account which Dr. 
 McAuley gives of the interview of the committee of the 
 Assembly with a committee of the Association, in 1826. 
 "As to the union, they had said that it had not been gone 
 into for their accommodation, but for ours ; that they had 
 agreed to it for two reasons : first, because it was a help to 
 many New-England people in the infant settlements towards 
 obtaining gospel ordinances ; and secondly, because it as- 
 sisted the Assembly in sjjreading Presbyterianism through 
 that region." But instead of spreading Presbyterianism, it 
 has, in a large number of cases, spread Congregationalism 
 under the Presbyterian name. Presbyteries have not only 
 been formed of Congregational materials, but with an ex- 
 
37 
 
 press stipulation that they might always remain so, and 3'et 
 continue in the Presbyterian church. And then, by such 
 a construction of the plan of union as was never intended 
 by the original framers, they claimed the right of sending 
 commissioners, who were not ruHng elders to the General 
 Assembly. This is the point of time at which the plan 
 ought to be dated, if it is designed to have any bearing on 
 the constitutional question ; because at this time, and not 
 before, were its effects upon our church order fully mani- 
 fest ; and this would be not 36 years ago, but less than 20. 
 
 We are now prepared to say, secondly, that as soon as 
 these effects of the plan of union were perceived, objections 
 began to be made to it, and they have been repeated at 
 different times, and in one form or another, ever since. In 
 1826, a commissioner from the Rochester Presbytery was 
 received by the Assembly, who was not a ruling elder ; but 
 a protest was immediately entered against it, signed by 
 forty-two members. The same year, as appears from Dr. 
 M'Auley's speech in the last Assembly, which we have quo- 
 ted above, the committee from the Assembly to meet a sim- 
 ilar committee from the Association of Connecticut, brought 
 up this subject, iii connection with that for which they were 
 especially appointed. The particulars he does not give us, 
 but we cannot perceive why it should have come up at all, 
 except because it was a kindred topic to that for the con- 
 sideration of which they had been appointed, viz. the prac- 
 tice of allowing their delegates to vote in the General As- 
 sembly ; and because dissatisfaction with the one, necessarily 
 imphed dissatisfaction with the other. And it would seem, 
 from the remarks of the committee of the Association, that 
 they did so consider it. Their remarks appear to be a re- 
 ply to some complaint in regard to its operation which fell 
 from the committee of the Assembly. 
 
 In 1831 a committee-man was received by the Assembly 
 as a commissioner from Grand River Presbytery ; against 
 which a protest was entered, signed by 67 members. A 
 part of this protest we shall transcribe. " The articles of 
 agreement alluded to in the begiiming of this paper," say 
 
3S 
 
 they, referring to the plan of union of 1801, "are supposed 
 to give this individual, and all others similarly situated, a 
 seat in this assembly. That agreement is altogether anom- 
 alous to our form of government, and, so far as it does ex- 
 tend, is in derogation of it." . . . . " Those articles can never 
 cover this case, because they expressly stipulate the church 
 session and Presbytery, as the church courts to which these 
 " committee men" may have access in the character of rul- 
 ing elders, and mention no others. As the grant was in dero- 
 gation of the rights of the eldership, and adverse to the nature 
 of our church government, it is manifestly just such a grant 
 as, if valid at all, could only be so within the strict import 
 of its own terms. We do not feel called on to discuss the 
 fact, whether those articles, thus interpreted, are constitu- 
 tional or not. If, however, they are so construed as to place 
 members here, who are, by our constitution, forbidden to 
 be here, or as in any degree to affect the principles of the 
 organization of this house, as clearly defined in our books, 
 then it is manifest that the articles must be considered ut- 
 terly null and towZ." The answer of the Assembly to this 
 protest, (drawn up by a member from the Western Re- 
 serve,) contains the following : " The conventional agree- 
 ment, or treaty, above referred to, (meaning the plan of 
 union,) expressly provides that laymen, of the character 
 there contemplated, shall be admitted to the Presbyteries 
 on an equality with elders. If therefore there is, in con- 
 nection with this subject, an infraction of the Constitution, it 
 is in the treaty itself, and the only proper remedy for the 
 supposed evil would he found in a regular jjroceeding to 
 amend or annul the said treaty" 
 
 But though the Assembly received the commissioner 
 above referred to, they adopted a resolution that " the ap- 
 pointment, by some Presbyteries, as has occurred in a few 
 cases, of members of standing committees to be members 
 of General Assembly, is inexpedient, and of questionable 
 constitutionality, and therefore ought not, in future, to be 
 made :" yet the very next year, that same Presbytery dele- 
 gated two committee men as commissioners to the Assembly ; 
 
39 
 
 but their commissions, after having been placed in the hands 
 of a committee, were withdrawn. At the same meeting 
 there was a commissioner from a Presbytery in Westei'n 
 New- York, who was neither an elder nor a committee man : 
 but being commissioned as an elder, and no body present 
 being acquainted with the circumstance, he was received 
 as a member. The next year a committee man appeared 
 from the Presbytery of Oswego, and would have been re- 
 ceived, (as his commission did not specify his true charac- 
 ter) ; but one of the members, who had incidentally become 
 acquainted with the fact, made it known to the house ; 
 when leave was given him to withdraw his commission. 
 These facts show with what tenacity those Presbyteries 
 which were formed in pursuance of the plan of union, ad- 
 hered to the practice of sending up commissioners, even af- 
 ter the Assembly had adopted a resolution against it ; and 
 the course which the Assembly pursued, in regard to them, 
 was an expression of disapprobation against their interpre- 
 tation of the plan, if not against the plan itself. In 1835, 
 the Assembly resolved that no more churches should be or- 
 ganized on the plan of union ; and in 1837 the plan was ab- 
 rogated. Thus for 1 1 years previous to this last act, there 
 was evidently a growing dissatisfaction with the manner in 
 which the plan of union was found to operate ; its constitu- 
 tionality was more than once called in question, and intima- 
 tions were given, in no doubtful language, that the Assem- 
 bly ought either to " amend or annul" it. 
 
 3. In connection with these facts, let it be remembered 
 that the churches formed on the plan of union had become 
 very numerous — that their feelings and policy were at va- 
 riance with strict Presbyterial order — that in many instances, 
 doctrines were held which are inconsistent with our Stand- 
 ards, — and that, claiming a right, from the provisions of the 
 plan, to be represented in the General Assembly, they had 
 well nigh obtained an ascendancy in that body, and were 
 rapidly bringing about a revolution in the church. Under 
 such circumstances, it appears to me, that if an act of this 
 kind could ever be justified, the Assembly ought to be sus- 
 
40 
 
 tained. In the speech of Dr. M' Auley, before referred to, 
 he says, "he readily conceded that the plan was extra- 
 constitutional. The wonder was, that it ever should have 
 been considered as otherwise ; but those who entered into 
 the arrangement considered the necessity of the case as aris- 
 ing above the constitution." If the necessity of the case was 
 Sufficient to justify the forming of this union, even though 
 it is acknowledged to have been extr-a-constitutional, the ne- 
 cessity of the case will now justify its abrogation ; espe- 
 cially as the act, so far from being " extra-constitutional," 
 was imperiously demanded on constitutional gi'ounds. 
 
 4. It is said, by those who are opposed to the measure, 
 that the Assembly were bound, before passing such an act, 
 to ask the consent of the other contracting party ; meaning 
 either the General Association of Connecticut or the church- 
 es formed on the plan of union. Were they bound to ask 
 the consent of the Association ? For an answer to this ques- 
 tion, we refer the reader to the opinion of G. Wood, Esq., 
 as published in the New York Obsei-ver. " I do not think 
 that this plan of union formed, or was the result of a compact 
 between the General Assembly and the Association of Con- 
 necticut, so as to render it obligatory upon the General As- 
 sembly to carry into effect the measure, or to continue its 
 operation any longer than they should deem proper.". . . ." It 
 may be questioned whether the assent of the Association 
 to the adoption by the Assembly of this plan was necessa- 
 ry. The Congregationalists to be affected by this plan were 
 out of the jurisdiction of that Association, and beyond their 
 control ; but they no doubt felt themselves under a moral 
 influence, which rendered it a matter of delicacy and expe- 
 diency on the part of the General Assembly, to obtain the 
 assent of that Association. But supposing the assent of the 
 Association to have been indispensable ; when it was given^ 
 they had nothing further to do with the plan. It then be- 
 came the measure of the General Assembly alone, to be 
 dropped, or acted upon, or modified as they should deem 
 advisable." If this opinion be correct, then the churches 
 alone, if any body, were the party to be consulted. On 
 
41 
 
 this point \Te have only to observe, that if there is obliga- 
 tion on either side to ask the consent of the other before 
 the connection might be dissolved, this obligation must be 
 equally binding upon both. But have the churches ever 
 felt any obligation of this kind ? Have they not always con- 
 sidered it as optional with them whether they continued 
 their connection with the Presbyterian church or not ? and 
 have they not always acted on the principle, that whenever 
 they believed it to be more for their advantage to become 
 independent or to join an Association, they were at liberty 
 to take such a step, without asking the consent of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly ? As a matter of courtesy, they have gene- 
 rally notified the Presbytery to which they belonged, that 
 they were about to change their ecclesiastical connection ; 
 but not from a belief of the existence of any contract with 
 the Presbytery which obliged them to do so ; and it has 
 frequently happened that the Presbyteries have had no 
 knowledge of their intention until after the formation of 
 their new alliances. If, therefore, the churches formed on 
 the plan of union have not understood the plan to involve 
 any obligation upon themselves of the kind supposed, it 
 would be unreasonable in them to maintain that any such 
 obligation rests upon the Assembly, or to expect that any 
 overture should be made to them by the Assembly, asking 
 their consent for a dissolution of the union. 
 
 It remains now to inquire whether the Assembly, after 
 having abrogated the plan of union, can be justified in ap- 
 plying the act, in the manner they did, to these four Synods. 
 In relation to this, we remark, 
 
 1. That it was anticipated by the opposers of the mea- 
 sure, that the eflTect of the vote abrogating the plan of union, 
 would be restrospective. For proof of this we refer again 
 to Dr. M'Auley's speech in the last Assembly. He said, 
 " he had no desire to see this accommodation plan perpet- 
 uated, or even continued for many years ; but he had a 
 strong fellow-feeling with those churches who were affected 
 by its abrogation." ....'■' If, indeed, he could be assured 
 C 
 
42 
 
 that the churches in question would not be broken up and 
 scattered to the four winds, he would willingly enter on the 
 measure proposed ; for he wished at some time to see an 
 end of the plan. He hoped that, at any rate, ample time 
 would be allowed them finally to decide upon their eccle- 
 siastical relations ; and if this had formed a part of the plan, 
 he should have made no opposition to it." On what prin- 
 ciple were these remarks made ? Clearly on this, that un- 
 less special provision was made by the Assembly, modify- 
 ing and restricting the act so as to prevent its taking effect 
 immediately, upon the churches already formed on this 
 plan, he expected that such would be the result. 
 
 2. While we are willing to admit there are difficulties in 
 applying the act according to any method which we have 
 heard proposed, including the one adopted by the Assem- 
 bly, we think the latter on the whole less liable to objec- 
 tion than any other. If these various measures were now 
 before the church for consideration with a view to the fu- 
 ture adoption of one of them, we should feel ourselves 
 called upon in the discussion of the subject to notice them 
 severally in their order, and examine their relative propri- 
 ety ; but as this is not the case, we shall simply consider a 
 few things in regard to the measure which has been adopt- 
 ed — reverting to some of the others incidentally as far as 
 they may be involved in the discussion of this. 
 
 It will not be denied by any acquainted with our Consti- 
 tution, that the most legitimate mode for the Assembly to 
 act upon the churches is through the Synods. Suppose, in 
 the case under consideration, they had attempted to act up- 
 on the Presbyteries, or (as some believe they ought to have 
 done) directly upon the churches. In the former case it 
 might have been said, they had assumed the prerogatives 
 of the Synod, and in the latter that they had taken into 
 their hands a work which belongs exclusively to the Pres- 
 byteries. Those very individuals who now oppose the 
 measures of the Assembly, would have objected with as 
 much earnestness, we have reason to believe, to the other 
 course. They have virtually objected to it already in se- 
 
43 
 
 veral of the Presbyteries by the adoption of resolutions, 
 " assuring the churches under their care, that the plan of 
 union, so far as they are concerned, is still in force, and its 
 stipulations will be preserved by them inviolate." 
 
 It is urged against the application of the vote to Sj/7iods, 
 that those bodies, as such, could not have been formed on 
 the plan of union, but were regularly constituted according 
 to the directions of the Book ; and therefore they cannot 
 be affected by the abrogation of the plan. As to the man- 
 ner in which Synods are brought into existence, we admit 
 that all of them, except the first, must necessarily be or- 
 ganized alike, viz. by the division of other Synods — and 
 agam, that they all must necessarily be alike in being com- 
 posed of at least three Presbyteries. But suppose one or 
 two of the three Presbyteries of which a particular Synod 
 is composed, though they bear the name of Presbyteries, 
 are in reality Congregational Associations ; would the 
 Synod in this case be regularly constituted 1 Or suppose 
 the Presbyteries generally of which it is composed, though 
 consisting in part of Presbyterian churches, have in them so 
 large a number of Congregationalists, as to give to the 
 Presbyteries a Congregational character ; would a Synod 
 composed of such Presbyteries be a regular Synod accord- 
 ing to our Constitution ? Must it not, on the contrary, be 
 styled, speaking in strict propriety, a Congregational 
 Synod, however agreeable to the Constitution may have 
 been the mere form of its erection ? On the same principle, 
 though churches alone, in the first instance, could be or- 
 ganized on the plan of union, yet as churches in connection 
 with their pastors compose Presbyteries, and Presbyteries 
 compose Synods ; if such a number of the churches are 
 formed on this plan, as to control the action and policy of 
 the Presbyteries and Synods, the latter, for aught we can 
 perceive to the contrary, must also be regarded as organ- 
 ized on the plan of union. 
 
 Again, it is objected that this mode of applying the act 
 operates unjustly ; as many of the churches in those 
 Synods are strictly Presbyterian. If tliis objection be valid, 
 
44 
 
 it would effectually close the door against any action what- 
 ever ; except by dissolving the churches formed on the plan 
 of union, and directing them to organize anew — at least, all 
 such churches as are partly composed of Presbyterian 
 members. There would be the same reason to complain 
 of the injustice of an act, which disowns a Presbyterian 
 member as of one that disowns a church. It is true that 
 the mode of remedying an evil by acting upon communities, 
 often if not always subjects individuals among them to tem- 
 porary inconvenience, who. if they were not thus connected, 
 could not justly be brought into such circumstances. But, 
 if the measure is necessary for the public good, and provi- 
 sion is made by which (if they avail themselves of it) they 
 will not in the end be aifected injuriously, they ought not to 
 complain — especially if the evil to be remedied could not 
 be easily reached in any other way. 
 
 In order to ascertain v/hcther those acts are just, it is im- 
 portant to understand their true nature. Were they acts of 
 excommunication, as many affirm ? or did they leave the dis- 
 owned Synods in this respect, just as they stood before ? If 
 any farther proof be deemed necessary beyond the declara- 
 tion of the Assembly, this question may be easily answered 
 by a reference to facts. At a meeting of the Synod of Albany 
 which took place a few days ago, among other ministers were 
 present from abroad, there were three from Western New 
 York ; one of them from the Synod of Utica, another from the 
 Synod of Geneva, and a third from the Synod of Genesee — 
 and they were all invited to sit as corresponding members — 
 in which invitation the old school members of the Synod un- 
 animously concurred. Would they have done it if they had 
 regarded those Synods as excommunicated ? Certainly not. 
 This fact is of itself a sufficient answer to the charge, and 
 ought to rebuke those who may attempt to excite popular 
 indignation against the Assembly on the ground that those 
 Synods have been " exscinded," " cut off," " expelled," with- 
 out citation or trial. They have the same christian stand- 
 ing as ecclesiastical bodies which they had twelve months 
 ago. All that the Assembly has done is simply to dissolve 
 the connection which has hitherto subsisted between them, 
 
45 
 
 and tell them that hereafter tltey must act by themselves. 
 Though many individuals in those Sjmods accord with the 
 views and policy which have long distinguished the Presby- 
 terian church, yet, considered as a whole, they have depart- 
 ed from those opinions and usages ; and they have become 
 so numerous that, instead of being under the control of the 
 Assembly as it was formerly constituted, they have assumed 
 the control themselves, and are rapidly changing the char- 
 acter of the church. Under these circumstances, the x\s- 
 sembly have said to them : we will not disturb your eccle- 
 siastical relations, as they exist among yourselves — but we 
 cannot consent to have the Presbyterian church revolution- 
 ized and remoddled through your instrumentality ; especial- 
 ly, as you came into it at first only by courtesy and com- 
 promise — and we, therefore, regard it as right and proper 
 to inform you that, from this time forward, you shall not be 
 represented in our body. Is not this a fair statement of 
 what the Assembly have done ? If so, (and we believe it 
 cannot be successfully controverted,) we cannot perceive any 
 substantial reason for the charge of injustice — especially as 
 the individuals and churches who (as is alleged) ought to 
 have been excepted, were brought under no censure, and the 
 door was left open for them to form a reunion with the As- 
 sembly, if they should think this more for their edification, 
 and for the glory of God than to remain connected with 
 those Synods. 
 
 Suppose then the Assembly to have taken a correct 
 course in applying the abrogation of the plan of union to 
 Synods taken as a body ; the only question which remains 
 to be settled is,whetherthese four Synods have any such con- 
 nection with the plan of union, as to be affected by its abroga- 
 tion ? The statistics which we have collected concerning 
 them are intended to have a bearing principally upon two 
 points — first, to show what they were when they were or- 
 ganized — and secondly, what they are now. In regard to 
 the Synod of the Western Reserve, there is no occasion for 
 a single remark. A simple inspection of their history is 
 sufficient to show that they were constituted with reference 
 to the plan, and have continued so to the present time. It 
 
46 
 
 was a Congregational body then, and it is substantially so 
 now. 
 
 One of the Presbyteries belonging to the Synod of Utica, 
 viz. the Presbytery of Oneida, did not grow out of this plan 
 — but in a few years after it was organized, it received so 
 large an accession of Congregational churches, as nearly to 
 lose its Presbyterian character — and from that time to this, 
 it has had a sufficient number to exert a strong influence in 
 the Presbytery adverse to strict Presbyterial order. All 
 the other Presbyteries were the legitimate offspring of the 
 plan of union — and they bear a close resemblance to their 
 parent at the present time. Besides their large numerical 
 proportion in favour of Congregationalism, there is a strong 
 predilection among very many for that mode of government, 
 including so)ne of their ministers. To the facts already 
 stated on this subject may be added the following : Seve- 
 ral years ago, a clerical brother who had resided ten or 
 twelve months in the bounds of one of the Presbyteries be- 
 longing to this Synod, informed me, (and it has been re- 
 cently confirmed by another brother,) that a number of 
 ministers in that Presbytery* belonged to a Congregational 
 Association, and were acting members both of the Presby- 
 tery and Association at the same time — that in one case a 
 candidate who was refused license by the Presbytery, ap- 
 plied immediately afterwards to a part of the same men ; 
 who, laying aside their Presbyterial character, and acting 
 in the capacity of Congregational ministers, made out and 
 subscribed his licensure. 
 
 The Synod of Geneva not only grew out of the plan of 
 union, but when it was first organized, it had not the ma- 
 terials to form a Constitutional Synod. Two of the Pres- 
 byteries out of three of which it was composed, were the 
 twin daughters of the Middle Association, and so far as ap- 
 pears from any documents to which I have access, they 
 were substantially Congregational, though they had received 
 the name of Presbyteries. Probably the Association was 
 divided, and those two Presbyteries formed out of it, for 
 
 * The Presbytery referred to was Watertown. 
 
47 
 
 the purpose of enabling them to organize a Synod ; as the 
 Synod was constituted very soon after. But since that 
 time, accessions have been made, and changes have occur- 
 red, to alter considerably its original character. The Pres- 
 bytery of Geneva can scarcely be said to have been formed 
 in pursuance of the plan of union — and perhaps the same 
 remark may be made concerning the Presbyteries of Bath 
 and Chemung ; though the latter have materials in them 
 that were originally Congregational, and one of them is 
 composed in part of such churches at the present time. 
 We may be mistaken in regard to the original character of 
 these two Presbyteries ; but so far as we have learned, if these, 
 in connection with the Presbytery of Geneva, had been the 
 constituent parts of the Synod, no great objection could 
 have been made to it. At least, if the Synod had been or- 
 ganized in 1836 (which is the date of the Presbytery of 
 Chemung,) those three Presbyteries were, at that time, suf- 
 ficiently Presbyterian to constitute a regular Synod. All 
 the other Presbyteries, making two-thirds of the whole 
 number, were formed in close connection with the plan of 
 union ; and they are still, to a great extent. Congregational 
 bodies. How far this circumstance ought to be regarded 
 as affecting the constititutionality of the Synod as at present 
 organized, especially when taken in connection with the fact 
 first alluded to, viz. that it owed its existence to the plan of 
 union, and had, at that time, only one regular Presbytery, 
 we leave it for the reader to judge. 
 
 Most of the churches belonging to the Synod of Genesee 
 were undoubtedly formed in pursuance of the plan of union, 
 and in their original organization they were generally Con- 
 gregational. At the present time, though only one-third of 
 them are nominally of this description, a considerable num- 
 ber of the remainder are Presbyterian only in name, and if 
 not prevented by counter influences, would probably change 
 their order. Possibly three Presbyteries might be selected 
 who are sufficiently Presbyterian in their character and 
 feelings, to constitute a regular Synod; but, taken as a 
 whole, we are inclined to the opinion that, rather than give 
 
4S 
 
 up the plan of union, the}' would secede from the Presbyte- 
 rian church, and either perpetuate a kind of mixed Pre^by- 
 terianism, or become Congregational altogether. 
 
 In conclusion, we have only to observe, that unless those 
 brethren who are disposed to object to the proceedings of 
 the last Assembly can show us " a more excellent way" for 
 reforming the church than that which has been adopted, we 
 are bound to sustain the Assembb: in what they have done ; 
 and let those individuals and Presbyteries (if there be any 
 such) who desire to be excepted, take the necessary steps 
 for this purpose ; while those who prefer to remain as they 
 are can operate by theuot-W; . It gives me pleasure to 
 know, that there is so large a nvnnber in those Synods who 
 are advocates for truth and good order ; and it may, per- 
 haps, be more for the advancement of Christ's kingdom, for 
 them to remain where they are (if they feel inclined to such 
 a course) than to break off from their present connection. 
 The acts of the last General Assembly have given an im- 
 pulse in favor of truth, which has extended to every part of 
 the church ; not excepting those portions of it which have 
 been disowned. The present is therefore a favorable op- 
 portunity for tliose brethren of this character, whom the 
 providence of God has placed in those Synods, to exert 
 themselves for the suppression and correction of error and 
 irregularities. With the Divine blessing on their efforts, 
 they have more ground to hope for success than at any for- 
 mer period for ten years past. In this view of the subject, 
 if in no other, they may acquiesce with cheerfulness in the 
 proceedings of the Assembly ; and hereafter, when we trust 
 they will see, as the final result of those measures, that in- 
 teresting part of the Saviour's heritage restored to the pu- 
 rity and loveliness of primitive Christianity, they will not 
 only approve, but revert to them with devout gratitude to 
 God.