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To the cHURCHES UNDER THEIR care,
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CITY OF DETROIT, COMMENCING OCTOBER 13, isjø.
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To THE CHURCHES AND PROFESSED Followens of our LoRD Jesus CHRIST,
UNDER THE CARE or, or IN connection witH, THE SYNod of Michigan :
“Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and
( from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
DEAR BRETHREN–It is with peculiarly solemn and painful emotions, that
we, the ministers and elders, comprising the Synod of Michigan, undertake
at this time, to address to you this our epistle, and to pray you to receive
from us the words of exhortation and counsel. Our hearts have been deep-
ly affected, in hearing of the feeble and languishing condition of many of
the churches—of the difficulties and embarrassments which they have to
encounter—of the dangers to which they are exposed, of the active influ-
ences at work to seduce some of you from your steadfastness in the faith,
and from your relation to us. t .
Spread over a wide extent of country, covering the entire peninsula of
this young, healthful, and rapidly growing State, as do our Pres-
byteries, we feel a deep sense of obligation, as far as possible, to meet
the demands and exigencies the many vacant churches and destitute re-
gions, which naturally turn their imploring eyes to us, by reason of their
early preferences and predilections for that system of doctrine and form of
government, which, as Presbyterians, we have adopted, and in our ordina-
tion vows solemnly engaged to support. Not that we feel inclined to un-
furl a rival banner, to promote any measures tending to exalt Presbyterian-
ism, to the injury or at the expense, of sister churches, whose preferences,
for their modes of faith and discipline, may be as honest and as influential
as ours. We would not, for one moment, interfere with the organizations
or labors of any Evangelical denomination, whom the Lord has blessed and
prospered, as pioneers or successful occupants of the waste land to be
occupied and brought under the dominion of our divine Redeemer. We
deprecate the idea of collision and contention, of rivalry and Jealousy, among
those who have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all,
who is above all, and through all and in all;" especially, believing, as we do,
4
that in order to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith WG are called,”
we are all and severally bound, as well in relation to our brethren of other
denominations, as to those of our own different sects, mutually and recipro-
cally to walk “with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, for-
bearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit
in the bond of peace.” t
But, while we gratefully recognize the active and benevolent efforts of
Evangelical denominations, and are anxious to promote brotherly regards
and Christian co-operation, we nevertheless feel, that peculiar duties and
responsibilities devolve on us, in relation to that part of the population of
our State, whose religious affinities, habits of education, and former relas,
tions, lead them to look to us, more especially and immediately, for the ins
stitutions of Christ, and the preaching of the gospel. We feel grateful for
that confidence and regard, dear brethren, which you entertain toward us;
and owe you a debt of love in return, which we are anxious to discharge.
Bear with us then, dearly beloved, while we turn your attention to some of J
the more immediate and imminent evils and dangers, to which, you are
exposed; and receive the word of exhortation we address to you, in the
same spirit of love which dictates it. . . ; , ,
Our letter, brethren, is not a mere form or ceremony. We are moved,
if we mistake not, by the impulses of Christian fidelity and love. You are
placed, as it seems to us, in circumstances of peculiar interest, if not of
unusual exposure. Outs, brethren, is with great propriety, denominated
“the age of temptation.” To aid you in averting existing dangers, is our
present purpose and hope. You will not ascribe it to excessive confidence
in our own wisdom, or a want of confidence in yourselves, that we thus
frankly'embody our advice. We mean it for ourselves as much as for you.
The severe pressure now, resting with unrelenting severity, brethren, on
all the secular interests, of the country, deeply cndangers the purity and in-
tegrity of your Christian profession. You will be strongly tempted to
practise an easy conventional morality in the management of your pecu-
niary difficulties, incompatible with the cominand to “abstain from all ap-
pearance of evil.” Instances illustrating the reality and magnitude of this
danger, are, unhappily, frequently occurring. "Gospel morality should
fasten its ligatures as strongly upon social as upon individual life. Chris-
tians even are very apt to suppose, that as, members of a common partner-
ship or corporation, they may, with impunity, participate in transactions,
from which, in their private relations, they would honorably and instinct-
ively shrink back. Christian purity, and peace of conscience, cannot con-
sist with a principle like this. Moral responsibility is not thus to be
thrown off, at will or convenience, like a surperfluous garment. It is not
icapable of being thus cut up, parcelled out, and frittered away. The con-
secrated moral power of the church over the world, will be worse than
5
lost, the instant she takes the position, that human agency and accounta-
bility are not everywhere, positively and perfectly commensurate.
The same remarks apply with equal force, to the too common practice of
resorting to an artificial transfer of property, under the plea of protecting
it against an iniquitous or wasteful alienation. If, in a season of undue
excitement, you have incurred liabilitics, which expose you to severe and
unmorited losses and reverses, better, a thousand times better, that you
suffer your property to be wasted, than your character—that you sacrifice
your worldly prospects, rather thau your hopes for eternity; that you pas-,
sively descend to the depths of an unmerited poverty, rather than you
should deprive the ministry of the privilege of pointing to you, breth-
ren, as a living epistle, worthy to be known and read of all men.
Their bow cannot abide in strength, so ſong as it is credibly reported that
Christian professors entrench themselves in defences, which Bible princis
ples would certainly reprobate and condemn. It cannot be doubted, that
“he who hateth suretieships is 'sure,” and that he is far more a gainer
morally than commercially, by heeding the injunction. In a state of fever-
ish excitement, and of seeming prosperity, through generous but mistaken
impulses, the scripture law on this subject, has been disastrously disregar-
ded. From all these contaminations and consequent perils, we solemnly
exhort you brethren, to “keep yourselves pure.” *
As guardians of Zion's purity and peace, we notice another immorality,
which is seriously prevalent. We refer to a common use of Sabbath-hours
by professors of religion. To the palpable sin of owning stock in Sabbaths
desecrating establishments, to the sin of voluntary Sabbath-day journies,
and needless labor on the Sabbath, to the sin of Sunday-visiting and recres
ations, we make now no allusion. From vices so obvious, we trust you
are free. At any rate, if evils of such magnitude still linger among you,
we would only enjoin that the hand of an impartial discipline be applied at
once—to prune them wholly away. Our minds now contemplate a form
of abuse less noticeable to the common eye. Again and again, have we
been startled to find, as new opportunities for observation have been ten-
deréd to us in the providence of God, that the Sabbath-day reading and con-
versation of church members, are so secular, and so indiscriminate, as to
amount to nothing less than an actual profanation. To talk about religion,
and religious men, and religious customs—to discuss the relative merits of
different singers, is often deemed quite strict enough. Nay, worse than
this. It is alarmingly common for heads of families to converse about
fashions, and food, and politics, and business oven, and all without apparent
blushing or remorse. The power of the Sabbath, and all its indispensable
sanctities are fast giving way before the sure undermining of such fashions
able Atheism. Brethren, in the name of the great God of the Sabbath, we
call upon you to sanctify the Sabbath in your very hearts, and with your
\
6
very tongtics. Unless you do this, its promised blessings will never be
yours—its visible and growing profanations will nover be done away.
Some of you are in danger from ovils incident to attempts to change your
ecclesiastical polity, made by thoso whose influence may not be as pro-
pitious to your spiritual Interests, as at first you might be led to imaginc.
Of the churches, belonging to this Synod, or in connection with them, there
are not a few entirely destitute of pastoral labors. Some of these prefer
Presbyterian organization, having their session or elders chosen by them
as their “representatives,” to excrcise judiciary powers, and to propose and
prosecute with the concurrence and co-operation of tho members such social
Incasures as may be judged most to promote their spiritual prosperity. Others
are cithor Presbyterian or Congregational, connected with our Presbyteries,
on the “plan of Union,” called “the accommodation plan,” adopted in 1801?
by the General Association of Connecticut, and General Assembly of the
Presbyterian church in these United States, according to the general pro-
visions of which, the advantages of Presbyterian or Congregational governs
ment, can be secured to tho Presbyterian or Congregational member, ac-
cording to his or her respective predilections or preferences. We look
upon that arrangement, as one made in great wisdom ; and as having re-
ceived the sanction and abundant blessings of God's providence during the
| 1st 40 years. According to that plan. It is provided, that wherever, in our
new settlements, thore may be found both Presbyterians and Congrega-
tionalists, who are not of sufficient number and ability, nor disposed to
support, cach a charch distinctly and separately organized, after their pre-
ferred form, there they might unite in one church, and at the time of their
organization make their own election, according as the majority might
determine, whether, after the manner of democratic republicanism, by choos-
ing a session, or after the more democratic mode still, by retaining the
Congregational form, and reserving the right of judging to all the members
of the church ; but, that havingºnado that j obligations of a sacred
nature bind them mutually and reciprocally to adhere to their engages
ments, and to respect their pledges thereafter. Whether the Presbyterian
or Congregational form of government is preſerred, the plan provides, that
the church put itself under the care of a Presbytery, and if Presbyterian,
participate in its counsels by an elder, or member of scssion duly delegated
to represent them, and if Congregational, by a member of a standing com-
mittee, chosen by the church faſter the manner of the Cohgregationalist
churches of New England. This plan concedes to the church so formed,
full liberty to call and employ a minister, either of the Presbyterian or
Congregationalist order, its members may determine, and imposes no obs
ligation on him to Locomo a member of Presbytery, if he belong to a Cons
gregational Association, nor to attach himself to a Conglogational Asso-
clation, if he belong to a P1csbyt ly, it also socures to Cvely men,bct
7
of the church, the right of trial according to the forms preſerred by him
if he be Presbyterian, and the church have a Presbyterian organization, by
a session, with the right of appeal to Presbytery; 2nd if he be a Congrega-
ionalist, by the right of appeal from the session to a Congregational coun-
cil, or if, the church have not a session, but be organized after the Congres
gational plan, it secures to the Congregationalist all he can wish, viz.: trial
by the church, with right of appeal to a council, and if he be a Presbyterian,
after trial by the church, the right of appeal to Presbytery, where the matter
finally rests. There is no opportunity offered, according to the provisions of
this plan, for tyranny and oppression, where its principles and stipulations are
faithfully adhered to. It has given us pain to learn, that in some cases,
where we believe this plan has not been understood, we have been accused
of attempting to exercise dominion, and to lord it over God's heritage.
It has been said, that every Congregational church connected with a Pres-
bytery subjects all its members, Congregational or Presbyterian, to the con-
trol of Presbytery. This is not the fact. The system is the result of expes
rience. It has contributed under God, to the wonderful growth and enlarge-
ment of the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the State of New York,
and on the Western Reserve, and will not fall, when honestly adopted and
adhered to, to advance the religious prosperity of the churches of Michigan.
We regret, however, most deeply, that there should have been any prejudi-
ces excited or impediment thrown in the way of its operation among us.
Erroneous and unfounded statements have been circulated in relation to it,
and churches, in some instances, which had been originally Presbyterian,
and others which had a Presbyterian organization upon the accommodation
plan, have been induced—in order to frustrate the action of discipline ses
cured and mutually pledged to all the members at the original organizas
tion of the church—to change, by a vote of a majority, their organization’
and by a sudden transforming process, release themselves from the social ob-
ligations which they had assumed, and which they owe to a minority of
their brethren. The ordination vows of Elders, ordained after the solemni
ritual of the Presbyterian rch, involve heavy responsibilities, from
which, no vote of a church, f, resolution of men, nor vote of a Presbys
tery, can release the members of a session. God is a party, in overy church
covenant, and the ordination vow of an elder involves a solemn engages
ment, with the church and with God, to exercise spiritual watch and care,
according to the principles and plan then adopted, and covenanted to be ob-
served. God, in His providence, may release men in various ways, from
their obligations to exercise the office of a ruling elder, where there is no
foundation for impeachment and process of discipline; or they may
Judge it their duty, in cases where no complaint against moral characs
ter can be preferred, but only, as thoy are individually or personally ame-
nable tº God, to demit their office,—and a church also may desire it in par-
8
Licular cases, for which cases provision is made in the Presbyterian sys-
tem of discipline, so that the rights of conscience may, in every respect
be guarded ; but for elders and sessions for the purpose of frustrating the
provisions of the plan of union, of sustaining their own doings, of pre-
venting the action of discipline, and of superseding the judgment of their
brethren in Presbytery, with whom they stand related, thus to propose, and
co-operate with a majority of the members of a church to each and every
one of whose members they have solemnly pledged the benefits to accrue
from the action of the system adopted, is, in our opinion, a measure calcus
lated, in the highest degree, to bring reproach upon the church of Christ,
and to sanction the growing contempt of moral and social obligations, so
productive of mischief, and of various forms of swindling practised by cor-
porations and others who contrive to get rid of legal liabilities.
In all things it behooves the followers of Christ to set an example of
that honesty, sincerity and faithfulness to engagements and contracts,
which, iſ lacking, will vitiate all other pretensions to piety. The good
man “sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;” and if we cannot
abide this test, we certainly have no right to believe that we shall abide
in the tabernacle of the Lord, or hope to dwell in his holy hill. t
We do not invite Congregational churches, already formed, and happily
prosecuting their master's work, to come and join us, if they do not desire
it. We have no proselyting zeal of this sort. We bid them God speed,
and will hold it our privilege to have, fellowship with them, as far and as
long as they have the evidence of God's word, and consistently adhere to the
good old puritanical principles of the churches of New England, for which
our fathers, both Congregational and Presbyterian, successfully contended
against the oppression of popery and prelacy, and in the maintenance of
which they asserted those principles of liberty and independence which
under God, have contributed to the birth, growth and enlarged prosperity
of these United States. - *
We do most earnestly entreat you to be on your guard against those
forms of church polity and movements which originate in the spirit of rival-
ry, and are sustained by the spirit of º, It is not everything which
bears the name of Congregationalism, that is identical or allied with the
Congregationalism of New England. Some of the most pestiferous er-
rors and heresies and gross delusions of the day, are propagated under the
form, and claim to have the sanctions of Congregationalism : nor do we
deny that Presbyterianism, too, has its caricatures, but whether it is under
the one form or the other, that spurious, schismatic and erratic movements
are made, and appeals addressed to you, we entreat you to be on your guard,
and to beware how you are drawn away, from your steadfastness. Dear
brethren, we beseech you to “mark them which cause divisions and offens
ces contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For
A
9
they that are such, serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly,
and by good works and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple.”
In reference to the prosclyting measures of other denominations,
should any of you be assailed, or insidiously plied by them, we say to you,
that in all cases it behooves you well to examine the principles and spirit
of those who may directly or indirectly solicit you to unite with them. See
to it that they are approved of God, and that their fellowship will promote
your own personal piety, and conduce to your increased activity and exs
tended usefulness in the cause of God. There are situations in which we
believe, that the followers of Christ are bound to have fellowship with those
of his servants from whom in some respects they may differ, and who
will not require them to violate the dictates of their consciences and to re-
linquish their principles. We long to see the day when mutual forbearance
and love between the different Protestant denominations will be better un-
derstood and practised, while they more effectually co-operate for the ad-
vancement of the church of Christ. In all such cases we say to you, “let
every one be persuaded in his own mind.”
But where any will come to you, and proclaim, either privately or in
their public ministrations, that they, and they pnly who are allied to them,
are the true church of God, who profess and display an exclusive spirit,
pronouncing all who have not been ordained after their manner, and receiv-
ed authority in the line of their alleged apostolical succession, to be “ gross
impostors,” and seek by various pretences, to withdraw you from your pre-
sent relations, we feel impelled to say to you; look well to your motives
and your ways, Should you be told, that the visible church is “the ark
of safety,” that it is essential to enter the pale of one denomination which
excludes all other Evangelical christians differing from them in their form
of government and ecclesiastical polity, and will not have ministerial fele
lowship with their ministers and churches-—be on your guard lest you offend
any of Christ's flock, and draw limits for your christian love and obliga-
tions, which He will never sanction, but condemns. If they tell you that
you will find peace and ease in their fellowship, beware lest it be that of
the prophets who “ sow pillows to the arm pits” and cry “peace and
safety,” when God hath not spoken peace. If they tell you, that they are
the true church, and call upon you to renounee your baptism, and be intro-
duced to the pale of their sect, by thus publicly disowning your present
tovenant relationship to God, see to it that you be not involved in the
condemnation of those who say “stand off for we are holier than thou.”
If they appeal to your pride, and seek to flatter you by telling you that wealth
and fashion and superior moral, civil and social excellence pertain to them,
yield not to such delusive motives. These things will captivate the world-
ſy minded, ambitious aspirers, and those who “desire to make a fair show
(of religion) in the flesh,” but they can never preval with the true and
i0
..)
faithful friend of Jesus, who “esteems the reproach of Christ greater richos
than the treasures of Egypt.”
Most of you, brethren, profess to be Presbyterians. Ernestly and af-
fectionately do we conjure you to eschew all bigotry, sectarianism, and in-
tolerance, as the bane of moral and intellectual improvement, as certain
death to a fervent and spiritual piety. But we would not that you should
encourage the suspicion that you are not perfectly honest men in every
thing, or that you have really no intelligent reason to give why you pre-
fer your own churchspolity to any other. To a community who are al-
ready Presbyterians by profession, we do not offer to re-argue the respect.
ive claims of your own and other denominations. But we do insist that
your profession is a very solemn proceeding. It involves the duty of do-
ing all you can, by Christian measures, to carry it out, and maintain it be-
fore the world. How can we fail to question the sincerity or the Intellis
gence of a man who puts on the livery of one denomination, and then dis-
tributes his influence equally among them all A very close approximation
to this, is fast becoming common. By all means cherish a fervent love to
all Christians—co-operate cheerfully with them all, wherever and whenev's
£r you can, in advancing the common cause of your common Lord. Cau-
tiously abstain from everything that would gratuitously wound their feel-
ings, or impede their legitimate growth. This you may do, and yet your
covenant obligations to your own denomination, be deemed significant and
sacred. We do not expect you to become or continue Presbyterians. You
are so now—and we only ask, we only wish, that you evince the consisten-
cy between your professions and your practice. Why not maintain your
own polity with an unwavering and manly zeal 2 Is there one, whose
genius, if fairly developed, is more truly republican Is there one, whose
discipline, if wisely administered, is better adapted to exalt and enlarge the
dominion of Christian truth 2 Is there a simpler, purer, more liberal, more
Catholic faith, or discipline Why, then, should you decline to be active
and vigilant, in the propagation of a polity, which you deem to be nearer
to the genius of Christianity and the dictates of reason, than any other ?
Do not, we beseech you, lift a ruthless hand, to demolish or deface a sys-
+em, already tested by experience, already hallowed by time. The spirit of
reckless innovation is less allied to real improvement, than that of a cool
nd wary conservatism. Y $ { *
. There are evils peculiarly rife among us at this day, incident to the ats
tempts of errorists of different creeds to commend themselves to your re-
ligious regards, and by their specious pretences lead you astray. Not a few
of our churches have been seriously injured by the substitution of a schiss
matic spirit for the spirit of Jesus, and by the plausible manner in which
their religious sympathies and sensibilities have been operated on by those
who have laid claim to superior piety. Such persons have ordinarily begun
11
to excite disaffection towards a settled pastor—by circulating suspicions as
to his piety and faithfulness—by construing his opposition to their proposed
measures, as proof of his deadness, or want of religion—by intimating that
they, who are generally young persons and devoid of families, are willing
to do the labor of preaching, and for a less sum than is given to the settled
pastor, thus appealing to the cupidities of the church,--by great show
bf zeal and commiseration for the cause of Christ—by influencing the mem-
bers to change their ecclesiastical relations and form of government—by mis-
representing the Presbyterian form—by pleading for greater liberty, and
raising the loud cry of ecclesiastical tyranny and oppression—by copious ex-
'hibitions.of tears, and abundant complaints in public prayer to God about the
church or pastor—and by professions of their own happiness and wonderful
attainments in holiness. Whatever does not accord with their views, or
does not meet their plans is generally and severely censured. THEIR
feelings and spirit, and piety, are made the standard. Christians are asked
to look at them, and learn from them what true religion is, and while Christ
is proclaimed to have made them what they are, still Christ is not the im-
mediate object kept in view, nor the standard by which others are required
to judge, but themselves. They abound in the recital of their own feelings,
and, working on the sympathies, sensibilities and conciences of feeble mind-
ed, tender hearted Christians, they persuade them to make confessions of
private feelings, and to renounce their hopes asChristians, thus making ships
wreck of former Christian reputation, steadfastness, and piety, exalting
themselves on the ruins thus produced, and destroying the general and effi-
cient influence of Christian piety upon the unbelieving, by confirming them
in their skepticism, and by justifying them in all their charges of hypocrisy
against the foul slanders of Christians generally. ad
We do not mean to say, or to insinuate any thing against the most live-
ly, active, and devoted spiritual piety. On the contrary, we urge you nev-
er to rest or be satisfied, but as you are growing more and more like to Jesus
Christ, imbibing his spirit, and reflecting his image. “As he was in the
world, so are we,” if we are his. We urge you not to look at any man
or set of men as your standard of piety, but to Jesus Christ, “the author
and finisher of our faith.” “For they that compare themselves with theme
selves are not wise.” Christ is the model of excellence, which we are
bound to imitate; and the moment a man begins to push himself forward,
to tell of his spiritual attainments, and to hold himself up as a standard for
your imitation, that moment be on your guard. “Believe not every spirit
but try the spirits whether they be of God.” The apostles and disciples
of old, though endowed miraculously with extraordinary gifts, did not exalt
themselves. They sought rather to hide themselves behind the Saviour,
and to fall at his feet, or loudly to cxtol him and urge others to believe
12
ipon him and to love him and his cause. Not one of them claimed to be
perfect, and sounded his own praise. &
There is such a thing as deceiving by professed self-denial. The papists
have furnished abundant specimens of sanctity of this description, who
even practiced mendicity, to exalt their claims to a devoted piety. We
should not think it strange, that in the very lowest form of mendicity there
should be found a mercenary spirit. The spirit of prophecy has told us
that it will be, in the last days, as it was of old. “There were false proph-
ets also among the people, evon as there shall be false teachers among you
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that
bought them, and bring upon them swift destruction. And many shall
follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the ways of truth shall
tº be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned
words make merchandise of you.”
We can but glance at some of the dangers incident to the purity and
stability of your religious faith. Allow us to remind you of the
insidious methods usually employed to propagate error. It is never by
holding it up naked and alone before the mind. It would be most hazards
ous to conclude that you or your children are safe ; nay, that you and they
may not be imbibing essential error, merely because no gross absurdities,
no standing forms of heresy, have been propounded. The disseminators
of error are too wise and too wary; too well apprised of their own weak-
ness, ever to risk error alone. If you are ever to be enticed from the sims
plicity of the truth as it is in Jesus, and from the good old paths, in which
your fathers walked, the process will be covert, cautious, gradual, stealthy,
slow. We do not, therefore, apprehend that you will ever be openly urged
to become perfectionists. Perfectionism, frankly so named, will never;
probably be pressed upon your acceptance; no, the syren song will only
celebrate the praises of a more complete sanctification—and that song may
lull you into a profound sleep—too profound for our feeble voices ever to
apprise you of your danger. The acknowledged imperfections of your
experience will form the first stanza in the lullaby of your coming dream,
and the ensnarer will keep below the truth, and stop far short of what your
own humiliating consciousness would most readily concede. Next follows
a recital of tho gospel provisions for perfect sanctification, all in the dialect
of uncommented Scripture—all true and animating and glorious. A string
of truisms will be set with Scripture pearls—each reflecting the lovely im-
age of some one of God's own truths—and yet so set as to dazzle, mislead;
bewilder. Step by stop, the incautious mind will be led along; till the final
admission seems to be inevitable. But whom once it is made, the Sabbath,
the ministry, social, and secret prayer, all God's instituted means of grace
and salvation are dispensed with--and the sou) is cut loose from the re-
straints of truth and conscience, judgment and cºrnity, And yet are not
13
one or two simple questions sufficient to explode the whole sophism, which
lies concealed under this beautiful drapery 3 Is not a profound, self-aba-
sing humility a constituent element of all true picty Can our relations
to God be discovered and appreciated, without exciting the very feelings of
the Patriarch, when he cried, “Behold I am vile !” If not, then it follows
to a certainty, that the nearer one approximates to perfection, the less dis-
posed will he be to proclaim it ! It follows to a certainty, that whenever
and wherever you hear one proclaiming his own freedom from sin, that
very proclamation proves him to be but a poor proficient in that self-knowl-
edge, which is a never failing element of sanctification. It is a form of
, that Pharisaism which is another name for spiritual pride.
Brethren, were you all favored with the iustructions of a competent min-
istry, we might have spared our pains. One half of your whole number
are not thus favored, and your exposure is thus fearfully enhanced. The
Christian ministry is, God's selected instrumentality for training the
intellect and the conscience of the world. Consequently, when it is dis-
pensed with, every important interest of the community is endangered and
injured. No church or congregation was ever so poor, that they could af.
ford to do without the ministry. It costs too much to do without the
ministry, for any people, rich or poor, to be able to meet the loss, and the
expenses. Let “the times be never so hard,” let it involve never so much
inconvenience, or expense, to sustain the ministry, it will cost one thou-
sand fold more, in a pecuniary point of view to dispense with, than to sup>
port it. God has adjusted the whole moral system, with reference to the
increasing employment of just this very agency. Everything, therefore,
where this is wanting, runs down, and gets into confusion and disorder.
Your prospects, and your children's, and children's children's Oh, how fears
fully are they overcast and beclouded, for both worlds; and above all, for
eternity, if you and they are to do without a preached gospel ! It need not
be so. We maintain that a right appreciation of the value of preaching
will procure it. Yes, Brethren, this is our ground, deliberately taken.
Do you not know that in instanses, not a few, the ministers of Michl-
gan have sacrificed one half of a fair compensated support, in order
to give you the gospel Now we assert confidently, that this rule, adop-
ted by all the churches, will procure the preaching of the gospel for them
all ! Is it not so, that the same self-denial carried into the families of all
our church-members, which is often submitted to by the ministry, would
comfortably sustain that ministry, in every church Brethren, this is a
solemn view Oh, when shall it once be All our churches supplied with
competent pastors Oh, come that blessed day ! “Then will there be
songs and everlasting joy on cvery head, and sorrow and sighing will flee
- N. N.F.L},OCG, Moderator,
away.”
E. CHILD, Perm't Clerk,
Ex T R A CT s
FROM THE MINUTEs of THE SYNod of Michigan, AT DETROIT,
* * t \ s
t { % * 1. -
DETRort, Oct. 13, 1842.
Synod met agreeably to adjournment, in the first Presbyterian church in
Detroit, and was opened with a sermon, by Rev. O. P. Hoyt, the Modera-
tor, from 2d Peter iii. 3, 4–4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in
the last days scoffers, walking after their own ſusts, and saying where is
the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep, all things con-
tinue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” º
After public worship, the Synod was constituted with prayer.
The roll being called, the following ministers and elders answered to
their names, and took their seats :
{ * FROM THE PRESBYTERY of DETRoit.
Ministers—George Duffield, A. S. Wells, George Hornell, Reuben Arm-
strong, Lemuel P. Bates, J ohn Beach, Warren Isham, Philander Bates, Mis
lo N. Miles, Robert R. Kellogg, P. S. Vannest, George Eastman, M.
Meigs. * t *
Elders—E. P. Hastings, C. Hastings, H. Harrington, A. Norris, J.
Allen, J. Norris: *
PRESBYTERY of MonRoE.
Ministers—J. L. Tomlinson, E. N. Nichols, Rev. Mr. West.
Elders—William H. Boyd. .
t - PRESBYTERY of St. Joseph. t f
Ministers—Noah Cook, N. M. Wells, N. Kellogg, H. H. Northrop, C.
Corey.' * *
Elders—Charles,Carlton. - ſº a w
t . Presbyterv of was renaw.
Ministers—Ira M. Wead, C. G. Clark, G. P. King; Seth Hardy, Jo-
seph S. Whiting.
* Elders—P. M. Sage, Charles Moseley, Wm. Ruckman, M. Kenney.
* , Presbytery of Marshall.
JMinisters—Elijah Buck, William Page, John P. Cleaveland, Elias Child.
Elders—A. Wilcox. *:
PRESBYTERY OF KAi,AMAzoo.
JMinisters—O. P. Hoyt, Calvin Clark.
Riders—N. A. Balch, S. H. Jones.
16
. ...? - I) EC], A RATION OF Sº NTI MII:NTS. - \
The Committee appointed at a previous meeting, to present a Declar-
tion of Sentiments to this Synod, made the following Report, which was
accepted and adopted :
That they are strongly impressed with the conviction that such agitas
tion and distrust as might have existed two or three years since, to the
extent of calling for some stich measure as was contemplated in this aps
pointment, have chiefly passed away. They would, therefore, recommend
to the Synod, the adoption of the following resolution, to wit :
Resolved, That the Synod are perfectly satisfied with the doctrines and
siandards of the church, viz.:--The Wesminister Confession of Faith and
Catechisms, as adopted by the Presbyterian Church in the United States
of America. - ;
- costingent ExPENSEs. *
The stated Clerk of the several Presbyteries, being called upon to report
what had been done in their respective bodies, since the last meeting of the
Synod, in reference to raising the amount of monies apportioned agreeably
to the report of a Committee on the Contingent Expenses of the Synod,
severally reported. : -
The stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Detroit, stated that the subject
had been laid before that body, and that the sum of forty dollars had been
collected. a
The stated Clerks from the other Presbyteries, severally stated that nº
thing had been done in reference to the matter;in their bodies. yº y
Whereupon it was resolved that their reports be accepted, and that the
delinquent Presbyteries be directed to make suitable offorts, the ensuing
fear, to raise the amount assigned them.
- officers of BENEvoBENT societies.
The Committee to nominate officers for several Benevolent Sociéties
for the ensuing year, made the following report, which was adopted :
Home Missionary Society—Hon. Levi Baxter, President; Hon. George
O. Whittemore, 1st Vico President; Edward Moore, Esq., 2d Vice Presis
dent ; Rev. O. P. Hoyt, Secretary : E. P. Hastings, Esq., Treasurer; E.
Bingham, Abiditor. - -
Education Society-–Major Benjamin F. Larned, President ; Edwin Kels
logg, Esq., 1st Vice President: Dr. Edwin N. Colt, 2d vice President;
Rev. Ashbel S. Wells, 33cretary ; Horace Hallock, Treasurer; E. Bing-
haº, Auditor. •
Foreign Mission Society--Eurotas P. Hastings, Esq., President; Col.
F. W. Curtºnous, is: Vico ('ºsi lon: ; S. P. Mi
i
A. W.
oorehouse, ſºsq., 2d Wicc
President : Rev. E. N. Nichols, Secretary : 1. 13inghatº, Esq., Treasurer ;
IIorace ; Jailock, Aalitor.
!3
17 .
FrtATE&NAL CORRESPÖNDENCŞ. }
• ‘The Committee appointed to consider the proposal of the General As-
sociation of Michigan, to open a fraternal correspondence between that
body and Synod, reported,+respectfully recommending to Synod a hearty
reciprocation of the feelings of their Congregational neighbors and breth-
ren, and the appointment of a delegation of one minister and one elder,
to represent Synod at the next meeting of the Association. That Synod
further recommend to Presbyteries under our care to reciprocate a
similar correspondence with the local Congregational conferences of church-
es so far as may be found to be mutually agreeable and convenient. Their
report was accepted and adopted.
Resolved, That the Clerk of the Synod be a committee to nomainate said
$elegation. * *
MARSHALL coluggº.
The Committee appointed to inquire into the history and condition of
Marshall College, reported as follows, viz.: “That so far as they can
ascertain, it appears that the report of the “College Committee recorded
"on page 104, was given as inſormation for the benefit of the members of
Synod as to their doings up to that ditc—that from verbal statements made
by thembers of that Committee, it appears that the Committee met with
serious cmbarrassments, both in their atter&pts to obtain a charter from the
‘Legislature, and subscriptions from individuals, in consequence of the erro-
néous impression and belief, that an institution under the patronage and
‘care of the Synod of Michigan, would of course be sectarian ; that the
'Committee, therefore, in prosecuting their application to the Legislature,
waved the peculiar features of the Synod's fostering care contemplated in
‘the Michigan Cöllege, which it had been proposed to establish, and having
associated themselves with other gentlemen, accepted a charter from the
Legislature of this State, granted for a College located at Marshall, called
“Marshall College,” and that from that time the object of the Synod to es-
tablish a College under their immediate patronage and care, had ceased to
be prosecuted, and therefore present the following resolution for the adop-
\tion of Synod.
'Resolved, That the College Committee of the Synod, or so called,
“Trustees of Michigan College,” appointed by the Synod of Michigan,
were entirely superseded by the action of the Legislature of the State of
Michigan incorporating a College under the style and title of the “Marshall
“College Corporation,” and that the Synod, as such, are not, and sever'have
been in any way committed to the character or plans of “Marshall Col-
lege,” nor are they in any way responsible for its movements, failure, or
success.
Whereas, the second Centennial Anniversary of the Westminster As-
sembly will occur during the next summer, therefore
18
Resolved, That it be recommended to the ministers connected with the
Synod, to take such notice of the occurrence as they may deem best adapted
to extend among our people a knowledge of the standards of our churches. +&
Resolved, That the Publishing Committee procure the publication of
one thousand copies of the pastoral letter, and any other parts of the min-
utes of this meeting as they may deem proper, in a painphlet form, for the
#enefit of the churches in our bounds.
tº t * TRAct society. 4.
. The Committee to whom was referred the inquiries of the Rev. L. C.
Rouse, Agent of the American Tract Society, respecting the employment
of Colporteurs, or Sub-Agents for the sale of the bound volumes, and other
publications of this Society, in this State, beg leave to report-
That they have had this subject under consideration, and would state, as
the result of their deliberations, that they regard this enterprize as exs
ceedingly important, and adapted to do good both in our cities and villa-
ges, and especially in the more sparsely populeted settlements of our State
which are destitute of the ordinary means of religious instruction.
The publications of this Society, are that Christian literature which is
permancntly adpated to repel error-to awaken the careless sinner—to
convict and convert him, and to render Christians perfect and entire, wants
ing nothing. &
Our population is, for a new State, intelligent—they have a taste for
religious reading, and are more hungry for this choice intellectual food
than they have ever been in former years, and disposed to supply them-
selves according to the measure of their ability. If not supplied with pub-
lications of this character, they will be with others less valuable, or actus
ălly pernicious, or they will do with none at all, and then the coming gen-
eration will be without a taste for reading, or steeped in error.
We believe; also, that great good would be done, especially in those
wide spread moral desolations in our State where the Gospel is not regu-
larly preached, by the visits of such agents, from house to house, and by
their efforts to induce ministers and benevolent persons to engage in the
blessed work of supplying every family with the publications of this Socis
ety, and where there is a church and pastor, or stated supply who will co-
operate with such Agents in this work, we are sure they will be surprised
at their success and delighted with the effect upon themselves and upon all
who can be engaged in the perusal of these volumes. In other States,
where the pečuniary embarrassments of the times are felt as deeply, to say
the least, as in our own, this work is prosecuted with thrilling success, and
why should it linger in Michigan If it is said that we can accomplish
nothing for the want of suitable men and means, we reply that in re-
spect to money, our poverty is deep and profound, and although we are able
to do but little in Čotºparison with the ability of former years, yet some-
19
thing may be raised for this object by industrious, pious, and talented
agents. And we feel that it is vastly in portant that that little should bo ac-
complished, if for no other reason than to give excrcise to the benevolent
affections, and that we may not get into the habit of giving nothing at all
for religious and benevolent objects.
It is understood, also, that one or more suitable men for a sub-ageney
can be obtained, and we trust that the American Tract Society are able
to help us so far as to become responsible for the support of at least two
sub-agents, and relying upon their sales and collections for remuneration,
they will select and appoint them for this field of labor.
As a Synod, we take a deep interest in this cause, and pledge ourselves
to recommend it to the churches under our care, and to do ſor it personal-
ly, as individuals, all that is in our power.
IJNIVERSITY OF MICIII GAN .
Resolved, That the Synod take a deep interest in the prosperity of the
University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor; and while we gratefully recognize
the equal right of all religious denominations and citizens of the State to
avail themselves of the benefits of the University, and while we disclaim
all desire to exercise any ecclesiastical influence or control over or in its
government; we cherish strong confidence in the present management of
the institution, and earnestly hope that it will continue to be so conducted
as deservedly to possess the confidence of the Christian community in the
State.
SABBATH DESIGCRATION,
Resolved, That this Synod hereby reprobate and condemn, as of evil ex-
ample and disorganizing tendency, the action of the last Legislature,
granting permission to the Commissioners of Internal Improvements, to
run the cars on the Sabbath, and virtually encouraging them to do the
.831ſle , *
Resolved, That inasmuch as the action of the Legislature was not obli-
gatory upon the commissioners, the Synod equally condemn the voluntary
determination of the Board, openly to trample on the sanctity of the Sabs
bath, by the running of cars on that day, and especially as they are without
even the poor excuse of being obliged to transmit a Sabbath mail,
Resolved, That the Synod earnestly recommend to all the members of
our, churches, and of the friends of good order and Christian morals gener-
ally, to petition the Commissioners on Internal Improvements to desist
entirely from the farther running of cars on the Lord's day—and in case of
failure before the Board, to petition the next Legislature to pass such pro-
hibitory act as shall entirely remedy the evil in question.
Resolved, That the churches of Brooklyn and Manchester have leave, if
they wish, to withdraw from the Presbyteries of Marshall and Washtenaw,
and unite with the Presbytery of Monroe.
26
Resolved, That the ministers of the Synod now pledge themselves tº
present the cause of Missions to their respective congregations, and soli-
eit contributions to the same during the present year.
* - washTENAw MEMORIAL * †
The Committee on the Washtenaw Memorial made the following re-
port, which was adopted. *
1. The Synod disclaim all wish or intention to censure the Presbytery
of Washtenaw in any resolutions which have been passed, growing out of
the difficulties in the Dexter church.
2, That as the difficulties in said church, out of which the proceedings
of the Synod have originated, have been amicably adjusted, necessity for
any further action in the case is superceded, so far as the original cause of
the proceedings is concerned,
8..That as the brethren of the Washtenaw Presbytery wish to carry up
to the General Assembly, the question “whether a stated supply and one
Elder is a Constitutional Session to do business,” the Synod. unite with
$
them in such reference. º
There being no further business, the Synod adjourned to meet in Whité
Pigeon; on the second Thursday of October, eighteen hundred and forty-
three. & 1. *
Closed with prayer, singing, and the Apostolic Benediction.
f : N. KELLOGG, Moderator.
(Attest,) ELIAS CHILD, Permanent Clerk.
STATISTICs.
The Synod of Michigan is composed of six Presbyteries, viz:
‘The Presbytery of Detroit comprises seventeen ministers and thirty-
two churches—five are settled pastors, seven stated supplies, and one an
Evangelist, and the rest without charge-sixteen churches remain vacant.
The Presbytery of Monroe consists of ten ministers and fifteen church-
eS ; of these ministers there are one pastor elect, six stated supplies, one
missionary, and two without charge ; seven churches vacant. 7 '
The Presbytery of St. Joseph consists of eleven ministers, and twens
ty churches. f
The Presbytery'of Washtenaw consists of eleven ministers and sixteen
churches ; of the former, five are pastors, two stated supplies, one Profes-
isör in the University, and three without charge. * #
The Presbytery of Marshäll consists of eight ministers and sixteen-
churches. * 3.
. The Presbytery of Kalumazoo consists of six ministers and five
churches. * * . . . g #
The above isthé amºunt of statistical information furnished at the last
Sessions of the Synod. ſº &
§ * , ,
GEO. DUFFIELD, stated Clerk.