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ADVENTURES IN TEXAS, 
 
 CHIEFLY IN 
 
 THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1840; 
 
 WITH A DISCUSSION OF 
 
 COMPARATIVE CHARACTER, 
 
 POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS AND MORAL; 
 
 ACCOMPANIED BY 
 
 AN APPENDIX, 
 
 Containing an humble attempt to aid in establishing and conducting 
 
 Literary and Ecclesiastical Institutions with consistency 
 
 and prosperity, upon the good old foundation 
 
 of the favour of God our Saviour. 
 
 BY W. L. M^CALLA. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 
 
 184 1. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2007 witii funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/cliarterbylawsliouOOdallricli 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The occurrences here published, are called 
 " Adventures," instead of a tour, journey, or 
 journal; because, for the sake of brevity, much 
 that would belong to a journal is omitted. 
 Through a great desire for making my book as 
 small as possible, it w^as at first w^ritten with- 
 out the affair of "The Hospitable Hunter." 
 An earnest remonstrance against that particu- 
 lar omission, induced me afterward to write 
 it, and to place it in Chapter IX., to which it 
 chronologically belongs. The narrative was 
 at first written upon the plan of concealing the 
 name of the author, and the names of almost 
 all other persons concerned. This original 
 design is now so far changed as to publish the 
 writer's name; and thus to expose him to the 
 
charge of egotism, which he had hoped to 
 escape. In mitigation of this offence, he hopes 
 that the reader will give him due credit, for the 
 jugulation of matter which would have filled a 
 large volume, besides the olla podrida of an 
 Appendix. If any error be found, it is hoped 
 and requested, that an explanation, correction, 
 or defence may be allowed in the same paper 
 or some other. May that best of all friends, 
 who powerfully and sweetly supported the 
 author in all his adventures, grant a blessing 
 with the publication of the few w^hich are here 
 related. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Voyag;e in a schooner. Its want of cleanliness, and comfort. It takes 
 up the Captain and crew of a wreck. A trial of sleeping on the 
 deck, ihe cabin-floor, the locker, the state-room, and the steerage. 
 Profanity of the Captain and crew. Gale oif Cape Hatteras. An- 
 other blow. Danger of suffocation. Ax'rival at Galveston. Kind- 
 ness of the people. Communion. Education. Delightful and ad- 
 vantageous situation of the city ------ 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Galveston Bay, and the City of Houston. Commence the tour of 
 Texas alone, on an Indian pony. The animal escapes, and leaves 
 the traveller to can-y his baggage through the mud, during the after- 
 noon, and lodge, dinnerless and supperless in a tree, during the 
 night. Hardly any fatigue or weakness, but great comfort and en- 
 joyment. Pony recovered 18 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 An apprenticeship of a couple of days, to a veteran Texan traveller 
 from Kentucky, to learn the mysteries of wilderness journeying. — 
 Lodge in the open air near some wagoners, who, with their wagons 
 and oxen, had just crossed a deep bayou by swimming.— Joined in 
 worship, and showed great kindness.— Roused from slumber by rain 
 falling in the face.— Narrowly escaped submersion in crossing the 
 bayou on a tree thrown over it . .... 25 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Walk after the pony twenty miles. A frontier dwelling. A ride by 
 the compass. Obliged to camp out. Symptom of the approach of 
 Indians or wild beasts. Arrival at Austin, and preaching without 
 offence, against sins which it is not lawfiil to mention in some Pres- 
 byterian congregations in the United States, for fear of being consi- 
 dered personal. Kindness of the cabinet. God's blessing regularly 
 asked by the landlord or some other, at the meals of the chief hotel 
 in this capital of Texas ! *8 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Encamp aloiie on leaving Austin. Travel with a detachment of Texan 
 mounted Men. Adventure with a Mexican hor^e who was for all 
 doctrine and no practice. Drenched with a nocturnal tempest ; in 
 which permitted to siirig. A taste of military service - - 32 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Leave the army at Bexar to travel alone to Goliad. Warned against 
 the attempt, as fraught with danger. Camanchees pursuing a Mex- 
 ican on the raid. Travel with twelve Mexican Indians who had nine 
 ox carts. Leave them at hed-time, and take shelter in a remote island 
 of timber during a violent storm and tlie remainder of the night. 
 Pass them in the morning. Overtaken by tAVo of them, when stop- 
 ping for dinner. Overtake five others who had passed in the morn- 
 ing. Found that a sermon against Popery, fandangos and horse- 
 stealing would be considered rather jjersonal. Pony saved by a ruse 
 the first night, and lost the next night by a moment's neglect 37 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Found at Victoria a i-eal Mexican gentleman at last, in an old pack- 
 horse, successor to pony. Long walk. Fresh venison supper and 
 breakfast in a solitary encampment on the Arenoso. Bay and river 
 of la Bacca. The valley decked with pools like those of David's 
 valley of Baca I Land of milk and honey. Exposure to the sun. 
 Dangerous sickness. Saved from death by the kindness of God and 
 of a Texan family .--.-.--43 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Riding through the rain, once and again, immediately after recovery. 
 A noble hunter on the West Caranchua Creek. Wild road to the 
 East Caranchua ; after swimming which, sleep safely under a tree, 
 in wet clothes. Texan hunter's song * - - - - 48 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Another hospitable hunter ---.-_. 52 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Sickness on the Brasos. Religious character - - - 54 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Sickness on the Bayou, and on the Island. Wonderful goodness of 
 God, and kindness of the people ----- 55 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Political, religious, moral character. Notice of Mr. Edward's account 
 of Texas, as greatly worse tlian the United States - - 62 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Mr. Edward's contrast of tlie Eastern and Western sides of the Sabine 
 cursorily examined, in regard to forgery and perjury ; swindling and 
 Swartwoutism ; assaults, robberies, and rapes ; gambling and shaving ; 
 stealing and ])awn-broking ; Ellslerism and murder ; barbarism, irre- 
 ligion, and hypocrisy -------63 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Testimony and conduct of Texas in relation to Popeiy better than tliat 
 of otlier countrit-s -------.85 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Far niore show than reality in much of the Protestantism of the United 
 States -- 88 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Antichristian common law punishes a man for exposing corruption 
 in the United States, whereas the ccmstitution of Texas says that 
 *' In all prosecutions for libels the truth may be given in evidence." 
 Thieves always object to a search ----- 93 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The reason that the character of the United States sometimes appears 
 superior to that of I'exas is, that some of their churches, which form 
 their character in part, hold too much the Exoteric and Esoteric po- 
 licy of the Pagan i)hilosophers and the Popish priests - 99 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Texas under a great disadvantage, from a dearth of ecclesiastical titles 
 of nobility, indis].>e]isable to liberty and religion : whereas literaiy 
 clouds have long sprijdcled the United States with D. D.'s, as libe- 
 rally as that blessed man, Moses, scattered L. L.'s (lice and locusts) 
 through the land of Eg)'pt . - - - - - 119 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Texas under a great disadvantage, ever since that savage battle of San 
 Jacinto, from a dearth of gold and gowns ; holy vestments and holy 
 
water ; the revolution having driven these beauties of holiness over 
 the Rio Grande : whereas England, and the United States, and 
 Mexico, are favoured with a great revival of these comforts, in Ox- 
 ford, and Princeton, and Saltillo 132 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 Proposed Charter of the Galveston University, in the Republic of 
 Texas 149 
 
 Charter and By-laws of a Church, according to the Bible, the Presbyte- 
 rian Constitution, and Calvin's Institutes. - - - - 156 
 
 Correspondence between Dr. Moriarty and others, in which he declines 
 a discussion of Popery with W. L. M., although he w^as understood 
 to have thrown the gauntlet to Protestants. Similar fact in Pitts- 
 burgh some years ago .--.-.- 170 
 
 Skeleton of Principlts and Practices maintained by a Pastor who tried 
 to be consistent ---176 
 
 Ecclesiastical Manual - .-178 
 
ADVENTURES IN TEXAS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Voyage in a schooner. Its want of cleanliness, and comfort. It takes 
 up the Captain and crew of a wreck. A trial of sleeping en the 
 deck, the cabin-floor, the locker, the state-room, and the steerage. 
 Profanity of the Captain and crew. Gale off Cape Hatteras. An- 
 other blow. Danger of suffocation. Arrival at Galveston. Kind- 
 ness of the people. Communion. Education. Delightful and ad- 
 vantageous situation of the city. 
 
 Leaving a pleasant home, in a lovely city, 
 on a bleak, blustering wintry day, my condi- 
 tion was truly miserable, if it were not for the 
 Christian religion. Oh! what light it gives in 
 darkness! what support in desolation! There 
 had been positive predictions of certain death, 
 if I should sail in such a vessel, in such a sea- 
 son. These predictions were founded in the 
 nature of things, and none but an almighty 
 arm prevented their literal fulfilment. In such 
 a voyage, my shattered constitution may be 
 said to have passed through the valley of the 
 shadow of death; and none but the Resurrec- 
 tion and the Life kept my soul and body to- 
 gether. I can never sufficiently express my 
 gratitude to God, for directing that my first 
 2 
 
14 
 
 voyage should be such as it was, and that I 
 should bear it alone, and especially without 
 having any female under my care. 
 
 The filth alone, which was with me a minor 
 consideration, would have taken her life. This 
 part of the war was opened with the breaking 
 of two bottles of castor oil, poured abundantly 
 over my cloak, and kept in operation, until 
 every body and every thing was sufficiently 
 anointed. Making bread was the way to 
 clean the cook's hands, when they were full 
 of black greasy dirt. A clean towel or table- 
 cloth, was a matter that called for three cheers 
 from the passengers. The captain cursed the 
 steward for losing two towels, which would 
 nearly have supported a growth of vegetation. 
 The defence of the accused was, that he saw 
 the captain's pet hog running about the deck 
 with one of them in his mouth, and the cook 
 had taken the other to wrap round the bread ! 
 
 To some, a scarcity of such fare would not 
 have been such an affliction as it was to many 
 of us. For a partial starvation, and an allow- 
 ance of water for awhile, the captain pleaded 
 the length of the voyage, which was his own 
 fault; and the addition of the captain and crew 
 
 of the , of New York, taken off of the 
 
 wreck, with some supplies which were a help 
 to ours. Every one believed that the wreck 
 was made to defraud the insurance company. 
 
 Before the arrival of the captain and some 
 
15 
 
 of the company, I slept below. For five nights 
 of subsequent cruel delay, I occupied my sleep- 
 ing contrivance on the deck, notwithstanding 
 the wind and rain and cold. When this be- 
 came impossible, I occupied the floor of the 
 cabin, the locker, and the remote berth in the 
 state-room, which I had engaged. To keep a 
 young friend from perishing, I gave up this 
 last, and went for the last few nights to the 
 steerage, which turned out to be the best quar- 
 ters, although, while there, I did not escape a 
 toothache, which made my face swell. 
 
 There was a great deal of praying on board. 
 The captain and crew prayed regularly for 
 the damnation of every part of the vessel, and 
 of every thing, and every person connected 
 with it. There were two Sabbaths on which 
 Providence permitted me to preach twice a 
 day. Through the whole voyage, I was ex- 
 pected, as the patriarch of the company, to 
 occupy the seat of honour at the first table, 
 and ask a blessing: besides which, at the dawn 
 of every day, except one, I was enabled, even 
 when sick, to sing a hymn. 
 
 About the time of my silent morning, (silent 
 from exhaustion,) we were near being wrecked 
 off* Cape Hatteras. The next night, our cap- 
 tain exhibited an infatuation which some could 
 not believe possible. As we were in another 
 gale, out at sea, he appeared determined to 
 save his provisions, by making the sickness of 
 
16 
 
 the cabin passengers deeper and more lasting. 
 Under pretext of the wind and rain, which 
 were excessive, he insisted upon keeping the 
 gangway closely shut, although our stove was 
 full of coal, and the gas was filling the cabin 
 in deadly quantity. Seeing him inexorable to 
 our separate or united voice, it was evident 
 that a hideous death by suffocation stared us 
 in the face. The prospect of death is made 
 pleasant through the divine Redeemer; but not 
 when hastened by one's own instrumentality, 
 either active or passive. I told the passengers 
 that if I must die, I preferred, as the scene of 
 my departure, the deck, with its wind and rain, 
 to a dungeon, with its fire and gas. With a 
 glad prospect of a happy change, I put on my 
 pilot-coat, and my cap with its straps, and 
 sought the bow of the vessel. Through igno- 
 rance, I passed along the leeward, instead of 
 the windward side of the vessel, and was within 
 a hair's breadth of being lifted over the bul- 
 warks by the gale. As it was, the rain wet 
 me almost as much as the sea would have 
 done: but it gave me a blessed opportunity of 
 witnessing God's wonders in the war of the 
 elements, and the rolling of the dark yet fiery 
 ocean. How truly miraculous is the grace 
 of God, when unutterably tender thoughts of 
 home, did not prevent me from enjoying the 
 present scene, and the prospect of soon leaving 
 it. The captain was soon informed of the af- 
 
17 
 
 fair, and saw plainly that the passengers would 
 hold him awfully responsible for the con- 
 sequences. Their desperation also probably 
 made them utter menaces, which struck him 
 with a panic. He accordingl}^ relinquished 
 his cruel determination, and I was soon found, 
 
 and informed of the fact, by young Mr. , 
 
 a hardy and kind-hearted revolutionary Texan. 
 
 The unworthiness of the captain, was in 
 danger of producing dissatisfaction with the 
 excellent Texan consul of the port from which 
 we sailed. From our knowledge of that gen- 
 tleman, and his transactions, some of us were 
 convinced of his innocence and worth, and 
 endeavoured to convince others. 
 
 My reception at Galveston was such, that 
 some have represented me as thinking the citi- 
 zens inhospitable. Painful indeed would it be 
 to me, if they were to believe such a report. 
 While my breath lasts, I trust that my heart 
 will beat with gratitude to God, and gratitude 
 to them, for the treatment received at their 
 hands, and at the hands of their fellow-citizens 
 throughout the republic. There I had the 
 grateful but unsought honour of administering 
 the first eucharist ever administered on the 
 island : several clergymen being present. The 
 Galvestonians soon had a' meeting upon the 
 subject of education, and adopted a plan, which 
 may be found in our Appendix, No. 1. Preju- 
 dices against Galveston prevail through much 
 2* 
 
18 
 
 of the country. Some say that it will perish 
 by inundation, some by conflagration, some by 
 pestilence. My limits do not allow me to enter 
 upon this discussion. Let me only say, that to 
 me it w^ould be a source of everlasting thank- 
 fulness, if God would permit me to spend my 
 days in a place which a mistaken fancy has 
 so dreadfully doomed. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Galveston Bay, and the City of Houston. Commence the tour of 
 Texas alone, on an Indian pony. The animal escapes, and leaves 
 the traveller to carry his baggage through the mud, during the after- 
 noon, and lodge, dinnerless and suppi-rless in a tree, during the 
 night. Hardly any fatigue or weakness, but great comfort and en- 
 joymt-nt. Pony recovered. 
 
 Leaving Galveston, I enjoyed for a season 
 the hospitality of the bay, and the city of Hous- 
 ton, the former seat of government. Here, 
 consulting my moderate purse, I purchased 
 and mounted a poor little ugly worthless In- 
 dian mare, and proceeded, in high style, to 
 *take the tour of Texas. Inferring, correctly, 
 that she could swim, I was preparing to try her 
 powers in this duty, at New- Year's Creek, in 
 such a way as might keep my clothes and bag- 
 gage dry. A pedestrian stranger persuaded 
 me to drive her across, and to take my bag- 
 
19 
 
 gage over a rough log bridge, which he had 
 just discovered above. He tried in vain to 
 catch her as she landed; and I refused to tax 
 his kindness, by retarding his journey, and was 
 thus left to manage the matter alone. For a 
 couple of miles, I tried stratagems and foot- 
 races; but finding the little Indian too cunning 
 and too fleet for me, I returned to the creek, 
 and corded into one pack, my saddle, bridle 
 and blankets, saddle-bags, great coat and um- 
 brella, loaded whip, short-sword, and sundries. 
 I was now about to encounter a degree of 
 fatigue, which an intelligent Houstonian had 
 lately told me, was the cause of speedy death 
 to many emigrants in Texas. It became me, 
 therefore, to take a nearer view of that, which 
 in a more distant prospect, had been so accep- 
 table. Committing my cause and myself, and 
 my loved ones, to God our Saviour, and shoul- 
 dering my pack, I co nmenced my march, with 
 a psalm and tune, lately learned in the island. 
 My road lay through an alternation of small 
 savannas, and deep, dark, miry Brasos bot- 
 toms, kept wet with a shade of timber, and an 
 impenetrable clothes-tearing undergrowth ; to 
 which I would sometimes vainly fly for relief 
 from the mud, and be driven back the next 
 moment to the mire, as the least of two evils. 
 A gentleman on the Bay, had presented me 
 with a nice little leathern cup, with which I 
 occasionally slaked my thirst, from the abun- 
 
20 
 
 dant rain water settled in the road. March- 
 ing and binding, and re-binding, modelling and 
 re-modelling my pack, with tedious and busy 
 stratagems to catch the runaway, occupied 
 the latter half of the day, at the end of which 
 I found myself crossing another Httle prairie, 
 and peeping into the mouth of another Brasos 
 bottom, which, to one in my circumstances, 
 was too much like a den of death, for me to 
 enter it with a good conscience. For my 
 accommodation through the night, I chose a 
 residence resembling that of an ancient pro- 
 phetess, who "dwelt under the palm-tree of 
 Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel" She 
 chose the basement story, which, in my loca- 
 tion, would have been rather damp, and sub- 
 jected me, moreover, to be dispossessed by 
 prior claimants. 
 
 Travellers had told me, in Galveston, that 
 in passing through the rattle-snake and tiger 
 country of San Antonio, they had lodged in 
 the trees, in a travelling hammock, fastened to 
 the boughs by the four corners. It is a little 
 amusing, that thus furnished, they could not 
 secure themselves better; for the corner of one 
 hammock had given way, and discharged the 
 sleeper upon his feet ; and the faithless fasten- 
 ing of another had emptied its tenant upon his 
 head and shoulders. Cautioned by the mis- 
 haps of others, far better accommodated than 
 myself, I ascended the tree, and drew up my. 
 
21 
 
 worldly wealth by cords previously arranged. 
 These cords and straps served to connect two 
 boughs, so situated as to answer for the sides 
 of my bedstead. After a proper adjustment 
 of clothes and saddle-blankets, I renewedly 
 committed myself to the God of Bethel, be- 
 sought him to bless the dear ones at home, and 
 to give success to my undertaking, with the 
 people and with Congress, so that the latter 
 should not expunge his all-precious name from 
 our charter, as a wealthy citizen of Galveston 
 had threatened that they should. With the 
 hymn, "On Jordan's stormy banks I stand," I 
 lay down softly and safely. I always wake two 
 or three times in the night; and, on this occa- 
 sion, my first awaking found my knees and feet 
 very cold, and a stitch in my side. Experience 
 had taught me, that to go to sleep without a 
 removal of these evils, was very dangerous. 
 Through the favour of Heaven, these symp- 
 toms were soon removed by standing up in 
 the tree, more closely wrapped than I had 
 been when lying. I then sat on a bough, and 
 leaned against the trunk of the tree, and took 
 a second nap; after which, I lay down again 
 in my bed, with more careful wrapping than, 
 before, and slept until after sunrise. 
 
 Travellers are sometimes discouraged from 
 penetrating a new country, by such occurren- 
 ces, at the commencement of their journey. 
 They cannot bear the mud of the Brasos, and 
 
22 
 
 Ihey sometimes refuse to come farther than 
 the city of Houston, because the streets are 
 muddy. Such travellers remind me of the 
 character given to the people of Lower Ca- 
 nada, by one of their own fellow-subjects, a 
 gentleman from England. We were com- 
 mencing a ride from St. John's, on Lake Cham- 
 plain, toward Montreal and Quebec. "Now," . 
 said the Englishman, " we are beginning to 
 travel among a people who pull down their 
 barns, to get clear of the manure." To my 
 certain knowledge, the mud of Houston does 
 not exceed the mud of Lexington, Kentucky, 
 when it was of the same age. 
 
 When loaded with my pack, and wading 
 through the mire of the Brasos bottoms, I 
 sometimes came to a stand, not exactly know- 
 ing whether I should sink or swim in the road 
 before me. I will ask the liberty of here re- 
 cording the substance of some of my soliloquies 
 on such occasions. Looking at the rich soil, 
 the superior of which I never saw, I would 
 say, " Is this the country which a Spanish 
 writer says is not worth conquering? Is this 
 the country to repel the traveller? This is my 
 darling Kentucky over again. Gladly would 
 the industrious enterprise of New England and 
 New Jersey, exchange their rocks and sands 
 for the rejected manure of Canada, and the 
 mud of Kentucky and Texas. In the floun- 
 dering operations of days long past, I never 
 
23 
 
 encountered mud too deep for the God of 
 Moses to draw me out of it." Thus saying, I 
 would dash through, with a consciousness of 
 the renovated vigour and activity of youth. 
 
 Between the Rio Guadelupe and the Salado, 
 toward Bexar, I afterward saw the nest of an 
 eagle, on a tree not higher than my roost on 
 the Brasos. In my spirited walk through the 
 day, without dinner, and my lofty perch at 
 night, without supper, I gave full credit to the 
 God of Isaiah, for the fulfilment of such pro- 
 mises as the following: "He giveth power to 
 the faint, and to them that have no might, he 
 increaseth strength. Even the youths shall 
 faint and be weary, and the young men shall 
 utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord 
 shall renew their strength: they shall mount 
 up with wings as eagles: they shall run and 
 not be weary; and they shall walk and not 
 faint." 
 
 During the previous night, I had slept in a 
 bed with curtains, and in a safe house, while 
 it was assailed by a tremendous norther, and 
 a heavy rain. Now, that I was exposed in a 
 tree, with Spanish moss for curtains, the air 
 was bland, and the moon beautiful, and all 
 nature seemed to be resting, as the traveller 
 reposed, under the smiles of the God of Bethel. 
 
 A counterfeit comfort is sometimes enjoyed 
 through the day, the fallacy of which is ex- 
 posed in the moment of awaking, during the 
 
24 
 
 night. Then the trouble which had been kept 
 at bay by an artificial excitement, enters the 
 heart in triumph, and revels in its writhing 
 agony. For this I looked at the close of each 
 season of slumber, and thrice did I find the 
 citadel in peace and safety, in the keeping of 
 a triune guard, who waited to smile and whis- 
 per words of truth and love. 
 
 It is wonderful to see what a new face is 
 put upon every thing, by faith in a dying, 
 rising Jesus. In situations the most unlikely, 
 God sometimes condescends to be so sensibly 
 and powerfully present with the soul, as its 
 satisfying portion, that a wilderness is turned 
 into a paradise, danger into safety, and trouble 
 into comfort. So completely did the joy of 
 the Lord remove from my naturally timid 
 heart all feeling of fear or vexation, that I felt 
 then, and I feel now, that the attempt of a bear 
 or a panther to chmb after me, would only 
 have added to the beauty and entertainment 
 of the adventure. I was more than willing to 
 die: but such a happ}^ issue I could not expect 
 from such an assault, while my conscience 
 binds to self-defence against man or beast. I 
 felt certain, that He who had, through the toil 
 of the day, made my feet like hinds' feet, could, 
 in the danger of the night, make my hand like 
 David's hand. 
 
 Providence caused a dear kind Texan, after 
 a long search, to recover my pony. 
 
25 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 An apprenticeship of a couple of days, to a veteran Texan traveller 
 from Kentucky, to learn the mysteries of wilderness journeying.— 
 Lodge in the open air near some wagoners, who, with their wagons 
 and oxen, had just crossed a deep bayou by swimming.— Joined in 
 worship, and showed great kindness.— Roused from slumber by rain 
 falling in the face.— Narrowly escaped submersion in ci'ossing the 
 bayou on a tree thrown over it. 
 
 On the ridge which separates the waters of 
 the Brasos and the Colorado, I fell in with a 
 Kentuckian, who had now been a Texan for 
 nnany years, who lived nnuch on horseback, 
 and for the sake of liberty and economy, pre- 
 ferred the primitive way of journeying, by 
 waiting upon himself, and lodging under the 
 trees. As my purse also required economy, I 
 asked leave to take the place of an apprentice, 
 to learn all the lawful mysteries of wilderness 
 travelling. Of course we cooked our dinner 
 where we could find shade and water. On 
 our second day we came again to a combina- 
 tion of these comforts near the setting of the 
 sun. We were then on the west of the Colo- 
 rado, and a bayou was before us, about ten 
 feet deep, in consequence of a late rise in the 
 river. Empty wagons, from Austin, drawn 
 by oxen, and driven by sturdy Texans, had 
 just crossed to our side by swimming. Al- 
 though the Mexicans are considered timid, I 
 have seen drivers of that nation perform a si- 
 3 
 
26 
 
 milar exploit in crossing the Guadelupe river. 
 When we had heard from the men the depth 
 of the bayou, my Kentuckian, to feel my pulse, 
 asked me what w^as to be done. I readily pro- 
 posed swimming He preferred another plan ; 
 to which I at once assented. 
 
 After the wagoners had chosen their camp- 
 ing ground we chose ours, where we ate our 
 bread and meat with cold water mixed with 
 sugar, to save the time of kindling a fire for 
 coffee. The wagoners then, by invitation, ga- 
 thered around our tree, where I led in a psalm 
 and a prayer. One of them confessed that 
 they were a wild, wicked set ; but their reve- 
 rent behaviour during worship formed a strik- 
 ing contrast to the conduct of a dozen Mexi- 
 cans on the Sevilla creek in my subsequent 
 journeying. After worship my congregation 
 retired to their fire, where the youngest of their 
 number had been left to see that the supper 
 was not spoiled. My companion went with 
 them to enjoy a little of that gossip in which 
 travellers from different quarters are disposed 
 to indulge. As there was no dew that night 
 I spread my blanket beyond the shade of the 
 tree, to have a fairer view of the heavens, while 
 I indulged in the luxury of another hymn. 
 One of the wagoners drew near, and stood 
 unobserved, as fm imagined, until I was done. 
 He came with a kind invitation to me to regale 
 myself with a cup of their hot coffee. 
 
27 
 
 I was roused in the night by the rain falling 
 in my face. My Kentuckian and the wagon- 
 ers favoured me in getting shelter. The in- 
 vitation to coffee was repeated in the morning ; 
 after which one of them lent us his axe and 
 his services to cut down a tree across a part 
 of the bayou higher up; over which we took 
 our baggage, after having driven our horses 
 over, to be caught and fastened by this obliging 
 stranger. On this occasion, as in the crossing 
 of New-year's creek, I had a hair-breadth 
 escape from being submersed. I had taken 
 the more dangerous duty in crossing, to re- 
 quite my Kentuckian for his kindness. 
 
 The reason of my having no trouble about 
 the catching of my pony, was that during the 
 day I had purchased a lariat from a Mexican. 
 It was thirty feet long; and as it was left fas- 
 tened to the neck, a person taking up the drag- 
 ging end secured the animal. The wagoner 
 who caught it, and who cut down our tree, I 
 had the pleasure of seeing long after on the 
 Navidad, 
 
38 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Walk after the pony twenty miles. A frontier dwelling. A ride by 
 the conij)ass. Obliged to camp out. Symptom of the approacli of 
 Indians or wild beasts. Arrival at Austin, and preaching without 
 offence, against sins which it is not lawful to mention in some Pres- 
 byterian congregations in the United States, for fear of being consi- 
 dered personal. Kindness of the cabinet. God's blessing regularly 
 asked by the landlord or some other, at the meals of the chief hotel 
 in this capital of Texas I 
 
 A FEW miles below Bastrop, but on the west 
 side of the river, my companion had a friend 
 to whose house he took me. A late fever had 
 been followed with boils as usual in that coun- 
 try, and I was then troubled with one which 
 was becoming aggravated by the necessity of 
 gripping the saddle with the knee. With con- 
 fidence in God I prayed, in the name of Christ 
 the divine Redeemer, that he would either 
 cause my host to invite me to rest, or that I 
 might be enabled to ride or walk. The last 
 alternative was granted, and after a walk of 
 twenty miles, I lodged in a truly hospitable 
 dwelling made of split logs with the ends stuck 
 in the ground. Between this and the Caman- 
 chee Indians there was no other white family. 
 
 The next morning I rode five miles, guided 
 by the compass, and fell into a promised road 
 which brought me in sight of the president's 
 house in Austin, about the middle of the after- 
 noon. As the river was between us, I endea- 
 voured to find a crossing. In pursuit of this 
 
29 
 
 very desirable object I crossed streams, climb- 
 ed hills, traced paths, breasted ravines and 
 obstructions, and penetrated thickets until dark ; 
 when it became necessary to camp out. Pro- 
 vidence brought me to a very suitable spot, 
 where there was an abundance of wood for 
 keeping up a large fire during a cold night. 
 
 My zeal for avoiding such a situation had 
 prevented me from stopping for dinner, and 
 therefore occasioned a more abundant supper 
 of bread and meat; with which the God of 
 Jacob, the best guide and protector, seemed 
 to give his blessing. Pony and I had drunk a 
 mile or two back, and although my encamp- 
 ment did not afford water for coffee, it was 
 very fine for pasture. Trees were scattered 
 through the grass, at a distance from each 
 other, so that when the horse was hitched to 
 one of them, it had a free range for thirty feet 
 in every direction. To give it every advan- 
 tage I generally changed the tree before going 
 to bed, and after my first and second naps 
 through the night. On going out for that pur- 
 pose, before lying down this evening, the pony 
 lifted its head quickly, and while standing 
 stock still, looked intensely at one of the two 
 thickets, between which my fire was kindled. 
 I knew the sagacity which the animal had ac- 
 quired from its Indian education; and I also 
 stood and listened, until a stick was plainly 
 heard to crack, as if under a cautious foot. 
 3# 
 
80 
 
 In a moment I remembered the case of a bro- 
 ther Kentuckian whose life was saved in the 
 first settlement of that country, by regarding 
 that sign of approaching Indians. I also re- 
 membered the earnest remonstrance of Gene- 
 ral Houston and others against my coming to 
 Austin, especially alone, so soon after Indians 
 had entered it at night, killed and scalped two 
 white men, and stolen fifty or sixty horses. 
 
 My regular course was to saddle and mount, 
 and seek a distant seclusion, without fire. But 
 the attempt might be fatal, and even success 
 might be so, on account of the coldness of the 
 night, and my liability to suffer by chill, or 
 cold, or toothache, or rheumatism. 
 
 If Indians were there, they must view my 
 very large fire as an indication of stupid rash- 
 ness, or an attempt to entrap them. In self- 
 defence I endeavoured to encourage the latter 
 conclusion. As they would watch and inter- 
 pret every movement, I strutted up to the op- 
 posite thicket, and said, as if to an ambuscade, 
 " Now, boys, keep a good look-out to night ; 
 and take unerring aim at every villain that 
 shows his face." After this I stalked to my 
 blanket with the confidence of a chief who 
 believes that his guard will do their duty. 
 
 Jonah, under his gourd, and Elijah, under 
 the juniper-tree, have long been great blessings 
 to me. Through grace I try to shun quarrel- 
 ing with my Maker, and to avoid rebellious 
 
31 
 
 longings after an escape fit)m this life, and also 
 all sinful neglect of the means of safety. In 
 my circumstances, watching all night to guard 
 against an uncertain danger, would produce a 
 certain evil. My conscience, therefore, per- 
 mitted me to lie down and sleep, not knowing 
 in which world I might awake. 
 
 On that night, as on many others, I was in 
 that state of mind which the world considers 
 insane superstition. I was in circumstances 
 in which General Houston himself would have 
 apprehended, though without fearing, an un- 
 seen enemy : yet my mind was graciously 
 clothed with a solemn composure ; with an 
 assured conviction that the Captain of the host 
 of Israel stood by me; and that he would 
 either mercifully preserve my life, or take me 
 to a better life, through his atoning blood, his 
 imputed righteousness, and his regenerating 
 Spirit. 
 
 The next day was the Sabbath ; and I ar- 
 rived at Austin about 11 o'clock, dismounted 
 at the place of meeting, and, as they had no 
 other preacher, gave them a discourse then, 
 and another after dinner. I prayed for mur- 
 derers, adulterers, swearers, liars, sabbath- 
 breakers, gamblers, and drunkards; and testi- 
 fied against such characters; but invited them 
 to come, and take of the water of life freely. 
 My host was at the head of their best hotel. 
 He approved of my sermons, and was not 
 
32 
 
 aware of their bein^ unacceptable or offensive 
 to others. The Vice President and lady were 
 among my hearers, and the whole cabinet 
 showed me kindness. The Secretary of State, 
 and other high officers, boarded with my land- 
 lord, and their deportment was such as might 
 be expected at a table where the blessing of 
 God is invoked by the pious proprietor, or 
 some other suitable person ! A strange^ fact 
 for a place of which so many hard things are 
 said. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Encamp alone on leaving* Austin. Travel with a detachment of Texan 
 mounted Men. Adventure with a Mexican horse who was for all 
 doctrine and no practice. Drenched with a nocturnal tempest ; in 
 which permitted to siag. A taste of militai'y service. 
 
 From Austin I desired to visit Bexar and 
 Goliad : even if I should travel by the com- 
 pass much of the way. Evil things were fore- 
 told of any one who should expose himself 
 alone in a region so watched by the Caman- 
 chees. To avert this danger, a part of the 
 way, I was advised to travel with a company 
 of Texan regulars, and another of volunteers, 
 all mounted, soon to leave Austin in that di- 
 rection. The President was so kind as to give 
 me in charge to the commander of the de- 
 
33 
 
 tachment, and he introduced me favourably to 
 the other officers. Perceiving a symptom of 
 a rapid march, a little management seemed 
 necessary in favour of my poor little Indian 
 to keep it from giving out. We crossed the 
 river near tow^n in the evening, and the troops 
 encamped on the bank, under the hill. I w^ent 
 up the river, climbed the hill, entered the prai- 
 rie, and built a good fire on a skirt of timber, 
 where I again enjoyed in sweet soUtude the 
 society of Him who dwelt in the bush. 
 
 After breakfast an armed horseman, in a 
 complete suit of buckskin, approached my fire. 
 I called to inquire if the troops were in motion, 
 informing him that I was considered one of 
 the party. " Humph," said he, with some 
 vexation, "I came to discover the origin of 
 that smoke. Do you not see them yonder in 
 the prairie?" They had gone around me, 
 and my view had been obstructed by the trees 
 which had sheltered me. I advanced a few 
 steps and beheld the lovely sight, only a mile 
 ahead. With my fresh animal I overtook them 
 at leisure. 
 
 In Austin I had been introduced to a volun- 
 teer who was exceedingly pleased with his 
 horse, and thought him the best on the ground. 
 He then reared and pitched as if he longed to 
 charge the enemy. On this first day of the 
 journey, his spirit and strength failed so fast 
 that his mortified rider was permitted to fall 
 
34 
 
 back and try what means he could to keep 
 him from utterly sinking. 
 
 A subaltern persuaded him that when passed 
 by the rear guard and all, he would still be 
 picked up by a few who were to leave Austin 
 after us, expecting soon to overtake us. This 
 hope appeared blighted by intelligence, provi- 
 dentially received, that a few miles behind us, 
 horses were seen at full speed in the prairie, 
 with bridles and saddles, but no riders. Vul- 
 tures w^ere sometimes seen hovering near us, 
 as if saying, " The Camanchees, in whose 
 wake we always sail, are near." He was left 
 by every one but myself; and repeatedly inti- 
 mated that I also ought to leave him, and con- 
 sult my own safet}^, and that of my pony, 
 which was likely to be heavily taxed in pulling 
 
 his horse along. At last I said, " Mr. R , 
 
 I wish you to be at ease on that subject ; my 
 mind is made up : I cannot leave you. If the 
 Camanchees take you, they take me also. I 
 am with you, sir, for life or death." We then 
 took it in turns ; one of us riding my pony and 
 leading his, and the other walking and whip- 
 ping his along. 
 
 He was a man ordinarily given to hard 
 words; and the insensibility and stubbornness 
 of his Mexican horse would sometimes swell 
 his anger to the bursting point, and rather than 
 hurt my feelings he w^ould explode with — 
 " Bless the horse." It reminded me of a prayer 
 
35 
 
 sometimes uttered with a similar spirit, in be- 
 half of my being in Abraham's bosom. 
 
 God would not let us die, and we arrived in 
 camp by night-fall. My companion called out 
 to his friends, and said, " There is the man 
 who said that he was with me for life or 
 death." I declined very thankfully an invita- 
 tion to take shelter under a blanket tent with 
 some others, and made my bed under a tree. 
 We were roused by a pitiless storm of thunder 
 and lightning, wind and rain. I walked out, 
 as usual, to see after my pony, and was soon 
 wet to the skin, so that my boots began to fill. 
 When I returned I stood by a gentleman 
 whom I took for an officer ; and asked him if 
 in such an uproar of the elements there would 
 be any thing contrary to order in singing a 
 hymn. He thought not. I then, with real hap- 
 piness, sang, to the tune of Captain Kid, the 
 following words. 
 
 ** In this whole world below, 
 
 ^11 around, 
 
 To its bound, 
 Through hill and valley too, 
 
 God is found. 
 The growing of the corn, 
 The lily and the thorn, 
 The pleasant and forlorn, 
 
 All declare, 
 
 God is there, 
 In prairies drest in green, 
 
 God is seen." 
 
 Before bed-time I had reported myself to 
 
36 
 
 the sergeant-major of the volunteers, as an 
 applicant for the honour of performing mihlary 
 duty in his corps, during the remainder of our 
 short acquaintance. He lent me his rifle and 
 accoutrements, and placed me on the rear 
 guard in the morning. One of my comrades 
 reminded him that such service during the 
 day exempted him from standing as a sentinel 
 at night. I solicited that it might not so ex- 
 empt me ; and requested that if he had confi- 
 dence in me he would give me that v^atch and 
 that post where the grip was. Said he, " I ob- 
 serve that you are aware that the post of dan- 
 ger is the post of honour: but you shall be 
 gratified." I cordially thanked him, and was 
 afterward informed that he was as good as his 
 word, in assigning me places where it was 
 expected that the attack would be made if 
 the enemy came. 
 
37 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Leave the ai-my at Bexar to travel alone to Goliad. Warned against 
 the attempt, as fraught with danger. Camanchees pursuing a Mex- 
 ican on the road. Travel with twelve Mexican Indians who had nine 
 ox carts. Leave them at bed-time, and take shelter in a remote island 
 of timber during a violent storm and the i*emainder of the night. 
 Pass them in the morning. Ovei-taken by two of them, when stop- 
 ping for dinner. Ovei'take five others who had passed in the morn- 
 ing. Found that a sei-mon against Popei-y, fandangos and horse- 
 stealing would be considered rather personal. Pony saved by a ruse 
 the first night, and lost the next night by a moment's neglect. 
 
 Citizens and soldiers, officers and men, ap- 
 peared to agree that a more dangerous road 
 still, was that which lay before me, from Bex- 
 ar to Goliad. Yet that road I felt myself 
 bound to try, without waiting for company. 
 On leaving Bexar I met a couple of American 
 Texans, who said, that such an undertaking 
 without company, and with no weapon but my 
 short sword, required strong faith. 
 
 My first stop was at a Mexican's, after a 
 ride of eighteen miles. There I was informed 
 that only an hour before my arrival, two Ca- 
 manchees, on fleet American horses, no doubt 
 stolen, had pursued a Mexican to the house of 
 a neighbouring Mexican, and would certainly 
 have destroyed him if his refuge had been a 
 little more remote. Moreover, a party of these 
 daring Indians had, the day before, taken off 
 about fifty or sixty horses from the neighbour- 
 hood, forty of which were from one caballado, 
 their word for herd of horses. I was told that 
 4 
 
SS vi.- ■"* 
 
 since the late slaughter of their chiefs, who 
 attacked the Texans in the talk at Bexar, they 
 were determined to take life wherever they 
 could. Yet if I must go, my host advised me 
 to seek the protection of a party of Mexicans 
 ahead of me, who were going with wagons to 
 the bay of La Bacca for goods. My prayers, 
 reasonings, conclusions, and determinations 
 are recorded above. 
 
 The next day I called and inquired at the 
 house to which the Mexican was said to have 
 been chased, and found the thing involved in 
 some mystery. I then rode thirty-three miles, 
 and overtook and encamped with the above- 
 mentioned party, on the Sevilla creek, on 
 which Patton's rancho was soon after attacked 
 by Indians. Mine were all Mexican Indians ; 
 only one speaking English. During the heat 
 of the next day they rested five or six hours, 
 and continued their evening drive until nine 
 o'clock, during a long increase of thunder and 
 lightning. When w^e stopped it was evident 
 that an overwhelming fall of rain was just at 
 hand. I therefore called to the interpreter, 
 and requested that he would see if I could not 
 get possession of one of the empty carts, of 
 which there were nine to their twelve men. 
 He had expected such an application, and was 
 prepared with bitterness to interrupt and si- 
 lence me. As if 1 had not heard him, I began 
 my question again; and was interrupted more 
 abruptly and unkindly than before. With- 
 
39 
 
 drawing silently to some groves remote enough 
 for complete retirement, I selected one, on the 
 far side of which I hitched my pony to a tree, 
 around which to feed abundantly at the end of 
 a thirty foot lariat, a valuable article, with the 
 use of which, pony and I, now become vete- 
 ran cam/pers, were well acquainted. Just as I 
 had gathered every thing under a tree, and 
 spread my umbrella, the aqueducts on high 
 were opened with power : but I knew that a 
 friend stood at the floodgate. I welcomed the 
 thunder as the voice of a Father, and the 
 lightning as streaming from the chariot wheels 
 of a Saviour. After the shower I got a cold 
 supper out of my saddle-bags, and slept well. 
 
 When I was equipped the next morning, 
 five mounted Indians appeared on the road, 
 inclining towards me. For me to attempt to 
 fly from such an enemy would have been pre- 
 posterous. I therefore stood cross-legged, 
 carelessly leaning against the pony, until I 
 saw their intention to keep the road which 
 was some distance from me; and then we ex- 
 changed salutations with a wave of the hand. 
 
 The wagoners set ofl* much earlier than I; 
 and after some miles I had the pleasure of 
 giving each of them a smiling salutation as I 
 passed. I was particularly courteous to their 
 commander, who made no other return but a 
 steady look of ferocity, which it is hard for 
 any but an Indian to equal. 
 
40 
 
 About noon I came to shade and water suit- 
 able for dinner. From the level of the prairie 
 there was an abrupt descent to a second bank, 
 and thence a similar one to a small but deep 
 pool, probably fed at the bottom by a spring. 
 Preparing to make a fire on the second bank, 
 I heard human voices aloft, and on looking up, 
 saw a couple of Indians which I soon recog- 
 nized as belonging to the wagoners, and im- 
 mediately beckoned them to come down. The 
 caravan had only two horses, which they kept 
 hitched to the tails of the carts, which were 
 altogether drawn by oxen. These horses 
 were now in the hands of my two visiters. 
 They came down, and found me with my coat 
 off, and my weapon displayed in its beauty, 
 without my back ever being toward them 
 when we were near. I got them to kindle my 
 fire, boil my coffee, and hand it to me, while 
 I sat under a tree. I then intimated that the 
 fire was at their service, to prepare dinner for 
 their company, on which errand I supposed 
 they had come in advance. 
 
 But in this I was mistaken : their business 
 was with me ; and a conference was directly 
 commenced between their chairman and my- 
 self, though neither of us could speak the lan- 
 guage of the other. They were at a loss to 
 know my office and occupation. By signs I 
 could see that they wished to ask which I be- 
 longed to, the secular or the spiritual depart- 
 
41 
 
 ment: and I answered the latter ; after which 
 they appeared satisfied, and retired and re- 
 clined in a shade beyond the pool. Their 
 estimate of my travelling treasure might de- 
 pend upon the credit given to my answer: 
 and on comparing their interest in my affairs, 
 with the treatment received from their inter- 
 preter last night, and their chief this morning, 
 I concluded that to saddle and mount slowly 
 and lazily was my duty. 
 
 This soon brought me up with the five other 
 Mexican Indians of the morning, taking their 
 dinner at another place of shade and water. 
 Their leader spoke a little English, and gave 
 me directions to Goliad, with a parting com- 
 pliment to my pony. They soon overtook me, 
 and I had the honour of occupying the left of 
 the chief, while the others rode two and two 
 behind us. A loose horse followed, between 
 which and my pony he frequently but vainly 
 attempted a trade. After one of these failures 
 he spoke back to one of his young men in a 
 way which excited some suspicion that I was 
 not in as good company as I had at first ima- 
 gined. 
 
 He asked me if I had danced fandangos 
 with the ladies of Bexar, during my stay in 
 that place. He let me know that he had en- 
 joyed that pleasure ; arid on comparing notes 
 I found that when the forty horses were stolen 
 from one cahallado on this •side of Bexar, he 
 4* 
 
42 
 
 must have been about that place on his way 
 to that city of fandangos. 
 
 He seemed anxious to know whether I 
 should stay in Goliad, or where I should stay 
 that night. By this time I was unwilling to let 
 him know. 
 
 At a great distance before us, in the prairie, 
 two ill defined figures appeared on horseback. 
 My companion suddenly galloped far ahead, 
 and in that gait sallied out of the road and 
 back again; out of the road and back again; 
 during which repeated evolutions the figures 
 at a distance stood still, and at the end of 
 them, they and the chief galloped to a point 
 of meeting, off the road, while his young men 
 continued to follow me as if I were fully in- 
 stalled the lieutenant of the band. He re- 
 turned to my side; and on arriving in Goliad 
 I found a great stir about stolen horses, after 
 which my fellow-traveller had been hired to 
 go, but had returned without success. 
 
 To preserve my animal, I lodged in a lovely 
 grove, far from the road, five miles this side 
 of the place. The next day, as I was dining 
 under a tree near the Coleto, he passed me, 
 and inquired about my going to Victoria, whi- 
 ther he also was going, as his family resided 
 there. 
 
 On my arrival there in the evening, while I 
 was telling my hospitable, pious and intelligent 
 host that I apprWiended danger of horse- 
 
43 
 
 thieves, and therefore felt anxious to secure 
 my pony in a good inclosure, the animal and 
 its beautiful lariat disappeared and we saw 
 them no more. At the same time my compa- 
 nion was missing, and several other horses 
 disappeared. I concluded that on the Guade- 
 lupe and the San Antonio the name of Ca- 
 manchees was a very convenient cloak for 
 Mexican murderers and horse-thieves. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Found at Victoria a real Mexican g^entleman at last, in an old pack- 
 horse, successor to pony. Long walk. Fresh venison supper and 
 breakfast in a solitary encampment on the Arenoso. Bay and river 
 of la Bacca. The valley decked with pools like those of David's 
 valley of Baca ! Land of milk and honey. Exposure to the sun. 
 Dangerous sickness. Saved from death by the kindness of God and 
 of a Texan family. 
 
 Consulting my purse as usual, I purchased 
 an old broken-down Mexican pack-horse: and 
 after dressing him into something twice as 
 well looking as his rider, I drove him before 
 me thirteen miles, to the Carcitas creek, where 
 I dined and took a nap under a tree. Gentle- 
 men, having business in Victoria, have some- 
 times spent their nights on this creek in the 
 open air, to keep their horses from joining the 
 Infallible Church, as my Indian pony had done. 
 I had such a lodging that night on the banks 
 of the Arenoso, where some hunter had left a 
 
44 
 
 fire not yet utterly extinct, and a sufficiency of 
 venisonj killed that morning, to make me a 
 good supper and breakfast. A little later and 
 the wolves would have precluded me from 
 this delicious treat. 
 
 There I took a wrong road, and went to 
 Dimmitt's landing on the bay of La Bacca. 
 Soon after my journey the papers announced 
 the march of a hostile force along my road, 
 burning Victoria and Lmnville, a place on the 
 bay, called from a man to whom I was intro- 
 duced. It appears that the invaders tried to 
 pass for Camanchees, but spoke Spanish, like 
 my friends on the San Antonio. 
 
 As the place for which I designed to set out 
 in the morning was up the river, I made an 
 acute angle at the bay, and saw a country 
 which, to me, appeared somewhat peculiar, in 
 the lagoons with which the vicinity of the 
 river was decked. Bodies of pure, limpid 
 stagnant water, in which animals dare not 
 bathe, are common through the country; but 
 these were uncommonly large, and difficult of 
 safe access, the verge of their craters being 
 precipitous, and yet soft ; and the water far- 
 ther below them than in others. A weak horse 
 might be irrecoverably mired in trying to 
 drink. Mine was so cautious from age and 
 experience, that for a day he joined the total 
 abstinence society, rather than risk the con- 
 sequences of a drink, even in places where 
 
45 
 
 cattle had evidently obtained this refreshment. 
 Thus these reservoirs, and others through the 
 land, are extremely pleasant and useful, while, 
 by their very structure, Providence preserves 
 them from contamination. Until my journey 
 through Texas I never appreciated so highly 
 such passages of Scripture as the following: 
 " Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; 
 in whose heart are the ways of them, who 
 passing through the valley of Baca make it a 
 well; the rain also filleth the pools." " I will 
 make the wilderness a pool of water." Until 
 I wrote these passages I never observed the 
 remarkable coincidence in the names, David's 
 valley of Baca, and my valley of the river la 
 Bacca, If the Mormonites knew this singular 
 fact, they might be in danger of making Texasr 
 their promised land ; especially as its prairies 
 produce more milk, and its forests more honey 
 than perhaps any other country. 
 
 In the heat of the day my place of repose 
 was so inadequate, that during my sleep, the 
 shade passed away, so that the scorching sun 
 beamed upon my naked head, and occasioned 
 my pulse to beat like a hammer. This, with 
 my imprudent walk the preceding day, sub- 
 jected me to an attack of ague and fever the 
 next morning, so that I lay in a stupor all day, 
 in a house where 1 was kindly treated. As it 
 was expected that my disease would intermit, 
 the next forenoon found me at a house of en- 
 
46 
 
 tertainment on the Navidad, resolved to go on, 
 with divine permission, though in a state of 
 health which promised a speedy termination 
 to my earthly journey. 
 
 There I became acquainted with Colonel 
 
 , a revolutionary Texan, who lived on the 
 
 same river, ten miles off my road. He ex- 
 pressed a decided conviction that continuing 
 to travel in such a state of health must soon 
 lay me low. He declared that weeks of rest 
 and nursing were necessary to my preserva- 
 tion. He said that his deceased father and his 
 surviving mother were Presbyterians. Under 
 the same roof with the latter, he and some of 
 his brothers and sisters still lived, and he ven- 
 tured to answer for all, that they would esteem 
 my company a favour, and take pleasure in 
 endeavouring to restore me to health. 
 
 After such an address from a citizen of that 
 calumniated country to a shattered old pil- 
 grim, I took the liberty of withdrawing to an- 
 other apartment, to enjoy in secret ihe luxury 
 of weeping, and communing with home and 
 with heaven. 
 
 Our arrangement was, that he should first 
 go home, and then meet me about sunset at an 
 intermediate plantation, with a view to an 
 evening ride of four miles afterward. Taking 
 care, as usual, to get the course, as well as the 
 road, I soon had to leave the latter for the for- 
 mer, and in due time came to a house, the 
 
47 
 
 master of which told me that my rendezvous 
 was less than a mile in advance, and that a 
 path going from the corner of his fence would 
 lead me to the place. On coming to the cor- 
 ner of the fence I took the most probable one 
 of about thirty paths which appeared in view, 
 and after riding more than a mile, the dark- 
 ness made my compass useless, and after se- 
 veral other miles without a house, I turned 
 back. Between ten and eleven o'clock I came 
 to a plantation where all had gone to bed ex- 
 cept two young men, the elder of whom I 
 found to be the kind wagoner, mentioned in 
 chapter 2d, above, who caught my pony after 
 swimming the bayou, and cut down a tree on 
 which my Kentucky friend and I carried over 
 
 our baggage. He told me that Colonel 
 
 had waited for me until 9 o'clock, and would 
 return for me the next day, which he did ac- 
 cordingly. 
 
 At his house, a gland which a few days 
 before presented an ordinary waxen kernel, 
 rapidly grew to twice the size of a hen's c^^g. 
 My host went to Texana, about thirty-five 
 miles, and could not get either of two physi- 
 cians to leave their patients; and we sent for 
 a plain, unlettered neighbour, who sometimes 
 did good, in the absence of a regular physi- 
 cian. He considered it dangerous to open the 
 tumour with the lancet, and applied to it a 
 poultice of honey, and the yelk of an egg. 
 
48 
 
 With the constant use of this remedy, as sim- 
 ple as Isaiah's prescription for Hezekiah, the 
 gland was so rapidly restored by the God of 
 Isaiah, that on the next Sabbath, I was en- 
 abled to preach at the house, and on the next 
 Tuesday, to resume the road; leaving a debt 
 of gratitude never to be cancelled. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Riding through the rain, once and again, immediately' after recorery* 
 A noble hunter on the West Caranchua Creek. Wild road to the 
 East Caranchua ; after swimming which, sleep safely under a tree, 
 in wet clothes. Texan hunter's song. 
 
 On the second day after my departure, I 
 rode through a heavy rain, to a hospitable 
 dwelling on the West Caranchua Creek, whose 
 owner had wielded the axe at the taking of 
 Goliad'; who shot a cougar, or American tiger, 
 in a cane-brake, the moment that a growl in- 
 formed him that he was devouring a carcass, 
 within a few steps; and who killed nine pan- 
 thers in the last year. His shot-pouch was 
 made of the skin of an ounce, or leopard-cat, 
 and he had once seen an old leopard killed by 
 his companions. Hardly any of these beasts 
 are more courageous, or dangerous, than the 
 peccary, or Mexican hog, when it is excited. 
 
 Their miles are like their ears of Indian 
 
49 
 
 corn, half as long again as others. Accord- 
 ing to this naeasurement, my next clay's jour- 
 ney was ten miles, at first winding through a 
 timbered swamp, and then through a prairie, 
 which would have been called a lake, if the 
 grass had been a little lower, or the water a 
 httle higher. 
 
 After a ride of a few miles, there was a 
 heavy rain driven by the wind. Then the 
 road utterly disappeared, in consequence of a 
 combination of deep water and overgrowing 
 grass. I returned to the last visible trace, and 
 tried again to catch the distant trail, but in 
 vain. My animal began to sink deeper, and 
 to show the increasing caution of one accus- 
 tomed to bogs. 
 
 If Christianity can make one happy in such 
 circumstances, it must be a sweet religion. 
 Men may talk as they please about madness, 
 or imagination, or delusion; but the heart 
 knows its own gladness, as well as its own 
 sadness. That was a happy day to my soul; 
 a day of filial communion with the God of my 
 salvation. Deeply convinced that he was the 
 Author alike of creation and revelation, I saw 
 him in the early sunshine, the gathering clouds, 
 the pelting storm, and the trackless waste. 
 God was glorious; Christ was precious; and 
 the sound of his faithful promises arose above 
 the tempest. A graciously composed confi- 
 dence in his presence and power, goodness 
 5 
 
50 
 
 and truth, enabled me to admire and enjoy the 
 grandeur of his works, and to use, without a 
 quivering nerve, the means of self-preservation. 
 
 Having been directed to the general course 
 in the morning, my pocket compass declared 
 that, in a few moments, I had turned far too 
 much toward the south; and that if I ever re- 
 covered the road, it must be on my left. I 
 accordingly kept the course prescribed in the 
 morning. After several hours of laborious 
 "wading, the sun shone again, and I struck the 
 East Caranchua. Taking advantage of its 
 wooded windings, by going from point to 
 point, northw^ard, I found the road, and the 
 legitimate crossing of the stream. As I had 
 been informed, it was too deep to ford ; but my 
 old Mexican swam like a duck. God says, 
 "When thou passest through the waters, I 
 will be with thee, and through the rivers, they 
 shall not overflow thee." This promise was 
 repeatedly fulfilled to me, though no swimmer. 
 I turned my horse out to grass, w^ell hobbled; 
 as I had been told in the morning, that other- 
 wise he might be picked up by some herd of 
 mustangs, (the wild horses of the country,) 
 which are as complete horse thieves, as if they 
 had served a regular apprenticeship in the 
 confessional. 
 
 Every thing was so wet, that I failed in 
 kindling a fire: but the materials gathered for 
 that purpose, served to improve my bed. To 
 answer my prayers, and keep me from sleep- 
 
51 
 
 ing so soundly in nay wet clothes, as to incur 
 ague or rheumatism, or cold or toothache, 
 Providence allowed Beelzebub, (that D. D. who 
 claims the fly department,) to enliven me with 
 about fifty thousand musquitoes: but many of 
 them shared the fate of their brethren under 
 Santa Anna. If my late host had left any 
 panthers alive, God kept them out of my sleep- 
 ing or waking visions. To me, the promise 
 (in Ezek. xxx,iv. 25), was truly and literally ful- 
 filled, " And I will make with them a covenant 
 of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease 
 out of the land; and they shall dwell safely in 
 the wilderness, and sleep in the woods." 
 
 Will the reader indulge me in here copying 
 the Texan hunter's song? 
 
 How rich are the prah'ie and grove ! 
 
 How pleasant does Texas appear! 
 Bears, peccaries, buflTalos love 
 
 To dream they may always live here. 
 
 Hares, doves, quails and grouse may be seen. 
 Near poultry and swine on the road; 
 
 Deer, turkeys, cows, horses maintain 
 'Mong wild cats and wolves their abode. 
 
 See panthers and antelopes there. 
 Such contrasts in churches have sate. 
 
 And ounces and cougars, though rare, 
 The rifle is sealing their fate. 
 
 So justice shall sinners destroy. 
 
 And all but believers must die: 
 May we a blest portion enjoy, 
 
 With Christ in the prairies on high! 
 
9S 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Another hospitable hunter. 
 
 A MOUNTED hunter, with his rifle, passed so 
 near me on the prairie, that I saluted him. A 
 look of unaccountable austerity, was all the 
 return that I could perceive. It soon began 
 to rain, and I asked protection at the first 
 house. Two men told me, that the man of the 
 house was not at home. ** Is there no woman 
 of the house?" I inquired. " There is not a fe- 
 nnale belonging to the place," w^as the answer. 
 " Then," said I, " it must be a dreary place, in- 
 deed. But will not you venture to give shelter 
 to a traveller?" They replied, "There can 
 be no objection, as far as we are concerned." 
 
 After my horse was disposed of, and we had 
 conversed awhile, one of them withdrew, and 
 the other informed me that he suspected me 
 to be a clergyman, and that he felt anxious 
 about my situation, after the return of my 
 landlord: "for," said he, "he is a man of vio- 
 lent passions, and sometimes extremely pro- 
 fane." Circumstances convinced me that I had 
 seen him emerge from his own forest, and God 
 prepared me for another and a nearer meeting. 
 
 Supper was kept waiting, and long after 
 dark, the noise of the rain upon the roof was 
 interrupted by his call at the gate. My kind 
 informant went out to meet and soften him, 
 
53 
 
 and aided in hanging up a newly killed deer 
 in the gallery. I stood opposite to the door, 
 through which my hunter entered, with his 
 rifle and accoutrements, and bloody hunting- 
 shirt; disdaining, as before, to nod, or open his 
 lips, or give any sort of salutation. He slowly 
 turned to a corner of the room, where he de- 
 liberately deposited his gun, and hung up his 
 powder-horn, and shot-pouch. Silence per- 
 vaded the apartment. It was high time for 
 me to pull trigger; begging pardon of certain 
 dainty D. D.'s, who once found such a figure 
 the only thing to be laid hold of, in a number 
 of " Honesty," which, however, hit the centre. 
 In the faith of God's promises, I fired away, 
 with a free and fearless address, such as has 
 opened the heart of many a Kentuckian. The 
 hunter tardily faced about. His countenance 
 was clothed with the sweet smile of a waking 
 infant. We shook hands, with a laconic but 
 cordial greeting. 
 
 He permitted me to ask a blessing at supper, 
 and at every meal which I ate in his house. 
 He permitted me to choose my own sleeping 
 place, and he spread a musquitoe-bar for my 
 comfort. He did not use a profane word, nor 
 indulge in one fit of passion; but allowed me 
 to hold family prayer, morning and evening, 
 during my stay. On account of the long and 
 violent rain, my stay was protracted by his 
 affectionate entreaty. In despite of this, I at 
 
54 
 
 last departed, in a short interval of fair wea- 
 ther, with a friendly solicitation to call and 
 tarry, if I should travel that way again. It is a 
 strange country: may the blessing of our God 
 and Saviour abide with its dear inhabitants. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Sickness on the Brasos. Religious character. 
 
 From the time that I entered that belt of 
 country which lies near the Gulf of Mexico, 
 I had been faithfully warned, that a weakly 
 stranger, travelling through it in the heat of 
 summer, must sicken and die. I was exhorted 
 to take the beach, and stick to it as far as Gal- 
 veston, or to return to the upland's, whose roll- 
 ing prairies, covered with grass and groves and 
 flowers, invigorate and intoxicate the traveller. 
 The amazing fertility of this forbidden terri- 
 tory, and its apparent safety, after acclimation, 
 are inducements not to be resisted by many. 
 By shunning it, I should have made an imper- 
 fect experiment, and missed many pleasant 
 and valuable acquaintances, whom I hope to 
 see in the upper Canaan. 
 
 " No chilling winds or poisonous breath, 
 Can reach that happy shore ; 
 There sin and sickness, pain and death, 
 Are felt and feared no more." 
 
55 
 
 In a close forest, between Brazoria and 
 Columbia, under a hot sun, without a breeze, 
 I feh that the threatened calamity was begun. 
 But one look upward changed its complexion, 
 and I was happy. In sight of the last men- 
 tioned city, God brought me to a house never 
 to be forgotten. With undissembled sorrow, 
 the family expected to bury me among their 
 friends. A son-in-law, then on a visit to the 
 house, consented to undertake my case, al- 
 though he had retired from the practice of 
 medicine. With the blessing of God on skil- 
 ful treatment and kind nursing, I was soon 
 well enough to deliver a discourse in town, 
 and another on the San Bernard river, whither 
 I went, with a party of pious friends, to visit a 
 pious family. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 sickness on the Bayou, and on the Island. Wonderful g^dness of 
 God, and kindness of the people. 
 
 My last night on the Buffalo Bayou, was 
 the most painful in Texas. In turning, and 
 rolling and rising, and wrestling with the An- 
 gel of the Covenant, I had some gleam of 
 hope, that ihe disease then beginning, would 
 speedily close my eyes, and that the predictions 
 of my never seeing Galveston again, might be 
 
fulfilled. But the next day, I was taken by one 
 of its hospitable citizens to his residence. 
 
 In that wholesome atmosphere, my com- 
 plaint was slow in maturing: but, on a certain 
 Tuesday, I had to go to bed. From that un- 
 til the next Tuesday, I recollect hardly any 
 thing that occurred, except that at one time I 
 took medicine from a kind female hand, and 
 at another time, from my affectionate host. I 
 was afterward told, that on Thursday morn- 
 ing, a couple of my intimate friends asked me 
 if i knew them, and I answered in the nega- 
 tive. I was told of words, on Friday also, 
 which are obliterated from my memory. For 
 a few seconds, on Saturday evening, I opened 
 my eyes, and clearly recognised my host, and 
 other dear friends, passing from the bed, and 
 about the room, with countenances so strongly 
 marked with solemn anxiety, that, to this mo- 
 ment, the scene appears alive before me. I 
 immediately closed my eyes, and relapsed into 
 a state of perfect insensibility, without even a 
 dreaming thought. 
 
 Every one considered that to be my last 
 sleep. No person expected me to revive. A 
 dear friend put in his claim to my body, that 
 it might be deposited in the centre of a circle, 
 which was in the middle of his fine garden. 
 Three physicians, and a number of gentlemen 
 and ladies, moved with sympathy for a sister 
 about to be left a widow, in a distant city, 
 
57 
 
 gathered into the apartment, and were appa- 
 rently waiting around the bed for the last 
 breath. God opened my eyes upon the scene. 
 My attending physician eagerly asked if I 
 knew him; then the consulting physicians the 
 same; then all the friends, male and female. 
 Though extremely feeble, my answers were 
 generally satisfoctory. I asked what day of 
 the week it was, and was told by the Doctor, 
 that it was the forenoon of Tuesday, and that 
 my case was dangerous. I then told him, that 
 as his profession acknowledged the existence 
 of idiosynchrasieSy I hoped that they would 
 make a liberal allowance for one in the pre- 
 sent case. If they would, I assured them that 
 God would restore me; and if they would not, 
 I was doomed to certain death. On their 
 earnestly inquiring into particulars, I told them 
 that the use of watermelon was absolutely 
 necessary to my recovery. I obtained a hesi- 
 tating consent from all three. 
 
 They and the company then dispersed, and 
 left a couple of real friends to give me medi- 
 cine, and every thing that was right. I longed 
 for the promised melon. My friends endea- 
 voured to play me off, and out-general me, by 
 such tender attentions as make my heart melt 
 with gratitude to this moment. I saw that the 
 second thoughts of my medical friends had 
 differed from the first, and that my attending 
 friends knew what they were doing. 
 
58 
 
 I watched the door for the entrance of some 
 man of Texan eccentricity, in whom I could 
 confide, to break the obnoxious private orders. 
 Vain was that watching, through a long day 
 and a protracted night. I felt that that skir 
 mishing, which often precedes the mortal con- 
 flict, was now beginning; and that there was 
 enough of corporeal energy left to make the 
 struggle violent. A portion of this energy was 
 spent in rising to my knees, for the last time, 
 and once more addressing Heaven in that 
 attitude. A door ajar, screened me from the 
 watching friends who succeeded those of the 
 day. They heard groans, but God heard 
 groans, words, and thoughts. I felt ashamed 
 to ask for life, because I had so long panted 
 for deliverance: but I told my heavenly Fa- 
 ther, that if it were his will to preserve me 
 from a death resembling that of the gibbet, and 
 to restore me to my family and friends, I knew 
 that he could easily send some daring Texan, 
 who would give me a watermelon, in spite of 
 my amiable but mistaken friends. 
 
 The day began to dawn, as I lay down. At 
 that moment, a man somewhat muffled, en- 
 tered the room, came to the bed-side, and 
 thrust his head under the musquitoe-net to my 
 ear. In a tone intended for me alone, he said, 
 " I understand they wo'nt give you any water- 
 melon." " No," I answered, " and for that I 
 must die." " It is strange," replied he, " how 
 
59 
 
 it could hurt a man that wants it so much. If 
 a body would give you some, would you pro- 
 mise to take it moderately, and to spit out the 
 pulp?' "Ah! that I would!" said I. He then 
 showed that a melon was concealed under his 
 muffling; and he immediately proceeded to 
 feed me with it, by means of a spoon brought 
 for that purpose. "You have enough, now," 
 said he, " and Pll give you more after a while." 
 I then began to sing the words recorded in 
 chapter V., above. Thinking that I soon fal- 
 tered, he said, " You've sung enough for your 
 strength, I'll do the rest;" and he finished the 
 verse. I then observed to all present, that 
 through the mercy of God, I felt confident of 
 a speedy recovery. 
 
 As might be expected, the city rang all that 
 day, with the din of this strange occurrence; 
 and I was praying that it might not displease 
 my beloved medical friends. They were all 
 alongside the next morning, with decks cleared 
 for action. The battle was begun by a broad- 
 side from the admiral's ship. "Well!" said 
 the Doctor, "I suppose you have no farther 
 need of us now, as you have taken matters 
 into your own hands." I answered, "Doctor, 
 I admire you, and your brethren, and your 
 profession. It is true, I have spoken with be- 
 lieving confidence, of my recovery; but this 
 was with the expectation of God's blessing 
 upon your skill. Even that remedy, which 
 
60 
 
 was so refreshing, was used by your express 
 permission. I asked it as an indulgence to an 
 
 idiosynchrasy. You said yes. Dr. and 
 
 Dr. were asked, and I understood each 
 
 as giving his consent in plain terms. Now, 
 wherein have I shown any self-w^ill, or violated 
 any known order?" They all three burst into 
 a laugh, and said, ** We hope that, in your 
 travels hereafter, you will do us the justice to 
 state, that Texas produces excellent water- 
 melons." " Yes, Doctor," I replied, " and I 
 can also state that it has excellent physicians." 
 
 Land was now in view: but many a mari- 
 ner has been wrecked in trying to reach it. In 
 a few days, I saw several instances, in which 
 the neglect of medical advice might have been 
 fatal, and several in which nothing but the 
 divine hand kept me from a relapse. 
 
 How good God was, in putting it into the 
 hearts of the physicians and the citizens to 
 nurse me so kindly and sweetly! Was ever 
 mortal more highly favoured ? All things ap- 
 peared to be mercifully ordered. From my 
 bed, I could plainly see through the windows. 
 For some distance, they overlooked the prai- 
 rie, and beyond it the Gulf of Mexico, as far 
 as the eye could reach. While the gentle 
 breeze was fanning me, as with angel's wings, 
 the sun was shining with such a clear, bright 
 beauty, that I was constrained to ask, " Is it 
 possible that an Italian sun can equal this?" 
 
61 
 
 My perception of the beautiful and sublime 
 in God's works, appeared to be in a healthy 
 state, and my sense of human sympathy, cour- 
 tesy, and kindness, was very quick ; and in my 
 sickness and convalescence, both taste and 
 gratitude had delightful exercise. 
 
 But these were the least of the blessings in 
 which I was permitted to revel. The Sun of 
 Righteousness arose upon me with healing in 
 his wings. The Spirit of consolation breathed 
 upon my heart. The gieatness and the good- 
 ness of Jehovah, in the plan of redemption, 
 appeared so stupendous, and he was pleased 
 to enable me to lay hold of his covenant w^ith 
 so strong a consciousness of the fact, as to fill 
 me with a comfort of sw^eet serenity, and a 
 joy of awful brightness. A mortifying know- 
 ledge of my own helplessness and unworthi- 
 ness, manifestly increased my amazement at 
 the condescending majesty upon which my 
 faith was allowed to gaze. How blessed must 
 heaven be, when so much happiness attends a 
 glimpse of glory ! 
 
62 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Political, religious, moral character. Notice of Mr. Edward's account 
 of Texas, as greatly worse than the United States. 
 
 Providence has restored me to the port 
 whence I sailed for Texas. All speak, as be- 
 fore, against the country, and the character 
 of its people. That such an impression should 
 be made upon the American and European 
 mind, I cannot wonder, when I look at a vo- 
 lume now before me, published in 1836, by Mr. 
 D. B. Edward, an apparently pious Scotch- 
 man, in which he represents travellers as find- 
 ing things " BAD, BAD, SUPERLATIVELY BAD," 
 
 " as soon as they had crossed the Sabine line,^' 
 which separates Texas from the United States. 
 Notwithstanding Mr. Edward's severe con- 
 demnation of the dear little republic, he is 
 pretty much that sort of man with which I 
 should like to discuss a question; because he 
 agrees with me, in adopting the canonical 
 Scriptures, and the Calvinistic Presbyterianism 
 of the Scottish kirk, the Westminster Assem- 
 bly, and the reformed schools of Saxony, Hol- 
 land, and Geneva, where God graciously re- 
 vived true religion, true morality, and true 
 democracy. A man of truth and charity, can- 
 dour and good sense, will aid me to do justice, 
 in the examination of the following topics. 
 
63 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Mr. Edward's contrast of the Eastern and Western sides of the Sabine 
 cursorily examined, in regard to forgery and perjury; swindling and 
 Swartwoutism ; assaults, I'obberies, and rapes ; gambling and shaving ; 
 stealing and pawn-broking ; Ellslerism and murder ; barbarism, irre- 
 ligion, and hypocrisy. 
 
 Fifteen years before my birth, and that of 
 he present Constitution of the United States, 
 Dr. M'Sparran, an Episcopalian nnissionary to 
 Rhode Island, wrote a series of letters to Dub- 
 lin, which were published there with the fol- 
 lowing title, viz. " America Dissected^ being a 
 full and true account of all the American colo- 
 nies, showing the intemperance of the climate, 
 excessive heat and cold, and sudden violent 
 changes of weather, terrible and mischievous 
 thunder and lightning, bad and unwholesome 
 air destructive to human bodies, badness of 
 money, danger from enemies; but, above all, 
 the danger to the souls of the poor people that 
 remove thither, from the multifarious wicked 
 and pestilent heresies that prevail in those 
 parts. In several letters, from a reverend di- 
 vine of the Church of England, Missionary of 
 America, and Doctor of Divinity. Published 
 as a caution to unsteady people, who may be 
 tempted to leave their native country." 
 
 For the author's name, the Ledger refers 
 to Potter's History of Narragansett, and then 
 gives the following extract, viz. " There are 
 here, which is no good symptom, a vast many 
 
64 
 
 law-suits more in one year, than the county of 
 Derry has in twenty ; and Billy McEvers has 
 been so long your father's and your honour's 
 constable, that he would make a very good 
 figure on the bench of our courts of sessions 
 and common pleas, and no very contemptible 
 one on those of our courts of assize and gene- 
 ral gaol delivery. The Novanglians in gene- 
 ral, the Rhode Islanders in particular, are the 
 only people on earth who have hit on the art 
 of enriching themselves, by running in debt. 
 This will remain no longer a mystery, when I 
 have related to your honour that we have no 
 money among us but a depreciated paper cur- 
 rency ; and this, in the current of thirty years, 
 has dwindled down from 6s. and 8d. to 4s. per 
 ounce. He who disposes of his goods on long 
 credit, and another who lends his money at 
 lOd or even 15 per cent., the first loses his 
 profits, and the last some of his principal, be- 
 sides all the interest. Indeed, a new act of 
 the British Parliament, ill-penned, passed last 
 winter to restrain us, but such things are only 
 Bruta Fulmina, and we shall go on I doubt 
 in our old way of paper emission, unless the 
 Lord in mercy to us, should dispose the sove- 
 reign power to vacate our patent, and prevent 
 our destruction, by taking us out of our own 
 hands." 
 
 In later days, Mrs. Trollop and other tra- 
 vellers, have appeared disposed to draw such 
 a portrait of the United States, as they thought 
 
05 
 
 would sell well among their enemies. Sin- 
 cerely do I pray that' God, for Christ's sake, 
 would preserve my pen from being moved by 
 a censorious or an avaricious temper, by a 
 man-fearing or a man-pleasing spirit. 
 
 The notorious and undisputed fact, that emi- 
 nent villains frequently cross the Sabine, west- 
 ward, is strangely and generally taken as irre- 
 fragable proof of the greatly superior corrup- 
 tion of Texas over the country whence this evil 
 comes. But the pupil is not necessarily wiser 
 than his teacher; nor is the stream of corruption 
 necessarily higher than its source. If pious 
 missionaries should cross in as great numbers 
 as reprobates, would it argue the extinction or 
 decay of religion in the churches which sent 
 them, or the superiority of religion in the 
 country to which they are sent? This argu- 
 ment has two edges, in another respect. The 
 enemies of light and liberty in Europe, either 
 by concert or strange accident, have turned 
 toward our shore such a current of ignorance 
 and vice, disorder and violence, that it may be 
 safely believed, that many scores of European 
 villains land in the United States, for every 
 single one that crosses the Sabine. Does this 
 show that the States are necessarily worse 
 than the European dens from which these 
 vipers have crawled? This is evidently a fal- 
 lacious criterion of national or individual cha- 
 racter. If, then, every case is to stand upon 
 6* 
 
f^6 
 
 its own merits, permit me to show some rea- 
 sons for differing from Mr. Edward, in his 
 contrast of the two sides of the Sabine. My 
 topics shall be briefly clustered as follows: 
 
 1. Forgery and perjury; swindling and Swart- 
 woutism ; assaults, robberies and rapes; gam- 
 bling and shaving; stealing and pawn-broking. 
 Citizens of the States mourn that these crimes 
 have attained an alarming height, among high 
 and low, rich and poor, white and black. The 
 subject is noticed by the Public Ledger as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " The Rising Generation, — About five hun- 
 dred young robbers, it is estimated, daily per- 
 ambulate the streets of New York, stealing 
 every thing they can lay their hands on. An- 
 other detachment visit the auctions, cut the 
 bags, baskets and barrels, and carry off an 
 immense quantity, by the ^homoipathy princi- 
 ple,' of a little at a time. Another set steal 
 the mechanics' tools, nails, lead and other arti- 
 cles from public and private buildings. Our 
 own city can boast of a similar band, which, 
 if not so numerous, are equally as daring.'^ 
 
 Travellers through Mexico represent it as 
 a nation of thieves. If Texas, lying between 
 the two countries, were as bad as her enemies 
 believe, it would be no wonder. Going there 
 as a stranger, and prepared to settle among 
 their worst, I took a good supply of locks and 
 keys, and other fastenings, with necessary 
 arms, and a noble bull-terrier, (a present,) for 
 
67 
 
 a watch-dog. I soon entered a hospitable re- 
 treat, in a part of the city very remote from 
 my dog, locks, and arms. There I lodged 
 many weeks, my watch lying on the table 
 every night, and the doors not fastened. In 
 my journey through Texas, I was informed 
 that this was a prevailing custom, and that few 
 cases of theft occurred. 
 
 If in the overland transportation of goods, 
 an accident happen to the wagon, the driver 
 leaves it unprotected, and goes in search of 
 help, without fearing spoliation in his absence. 
 On one such occasion, a box was lost; and, 
 on his complaining, the neighbours were not 
 satisfied with discovering and restoring it: 
 they felt that the culprit had fixed a stain upon 
 the character of the road, which it became 
 them to wipe oflT. They accordingly demand- 
 ed his appearance before his honour, the cele- 
 brated Judge Lynch. He refused, with rifle 
 and Bowie-knife in hand. They quietly waited, 
 caught him napping, tied him to a tree, cut a 
 good hickory, and proceeded to work. After 
 the first stroke, which was severe, he loudly 
 begged a parley, and promised most solemnly, 
 that if they would let him oflf without farther 
 punishment, he would, ever after, make an 
 honest living, like his neighbours. During nis 
 few remaining years, he kept his word. I af- 
 terward saw his widow. 
 
 2. Ellslerism. This, like Frances Wright's 
 social fellowship, may be taken as a euphemism 
 
68 
 
 for all that may be expected in a woman and 
 her disciples, when she leaves a polluted cha- 
 racter in Europe, and visits the numerous 
 cities of America, exhibiting her naked person 
 to mixed assemblies for money. This Pagan 
 outrage upon all delicacy and decency, mo- 
 desty and propriety, has, it is said, many vir- 
 tuous female spectators, wherever this Tarta- 
 rean messenger chooses to make her filthy 
 display. 
 
 Female Mexico is said to be generally Ells- 
 lerian: but, judging of the female population 
 of Texas, by those with whom I became ac- 
 quainted, in high and low life, in city and 
 country, I am under the impression, that this 
 princess of moral contagion might traverse the 
 Protestant republic, without finding as many 
 female gazers, as she has often had in the At- 
 lantic cities, in one single disgraceful night. 
 
 This is the natural growth of theatrical in- 
 stitutions, of which the Texans know but little 
 as yet; while in a single city of the United 
 States, they have lately increased from one to 
 six, under the nose of a prolific, powerful, and 
 pampered clergy, who are waiting very pru- 
 dently and patiently, until some undiscovered 
 region of the North will set on foot an Ame- 
 rican Anti'dancing-naked-woman Society; and 
 then the thing will go like wild-fire to the op- 
 posite extreme, until good women will be for- 
 bidden to show their honest faces at church, 
 
69 
 
 at the peril of immediate abolition by Oberlin 
 Lynch law. 
 
 The Bible requires churches and their offi- 
 cers to do their duty, whether others will or 
 not. The true God can save by many or by 
 few. But the modern custom of moving in 
 non-ecclesiastical masses, is thought to take 
 away individual and ecclesiastical responsi- 
 bility. And now, while Frances Wright's dis- 
 ciples are meeting on Saturday, " to raise the 
 genius, and to mend the heart," by gazing at 
 a naked sister of charity, and are meeting on 
 the Sabbath to reform society, by denouncing 
 coercive law, private property, marriage, and 
 religion, each soldier and officer of the church 
 militant, knowing that prudence,. ihsit cardinal 
 grace, is the better part of valour, takes special 
 care of his own precious scalp, and patiently 
 
 waits for the aforesaid American Anti 
 
 from the North, to come and help them ; and 
 then it is not improbable that the naked Athe- 
 ists will be burnt and drowned for witches, 
 and the blame laid upon Orthodoxy, as usual. 
 When these voluntary masses undertake what 
 the church has neglected, they are very apt 
 to move to the opposite extreme, with the im- 
 petuosity of a hurricane, or a herd of Texan 
 mustangs in a stampedo; and the preachers 
 have to go with them, from the same coward- 
 ice which made them wait for them. Thus 
 religion bears the blame. 
 
 Immediately after writing the above sen- 
 
70 
 
 tence, I was satisfactorily informed that a 
 couple of young Ellslerian gentlemen, soon to 
 close their minority, went to the theatre last 
 night, purchasing their tickets, with money 
 procured by pawning property, obtained from 
 a widow's store, by that Agrarian operation, 
 now very popular, which used to be called 
 robbery; but is now called an improved social 
 arrangement. This morning, restitution was 
 made by their weeping parents, when they 
 discovered the tendency of the theatre, and 
 the Agrarian Sunday lectures and debates, 
 " to raise the genius, and to mend the heart," 
 and to improve our social institutions. They 
 promised to send one of their hopefuls to sea, 
 and the other to the House of Refuge, and 
 earnestly entreated that the affair might be 
 concealed from the Ledger. If they die in 
 their sins, because preachers are too prudent to 
 warn them, upon whom shall their blood be? 
 
 3. Murder. It is probable that the stiletto 
 has prevented Mexico from having more than 
 twice her present population. Considering the 
 cheapness and quietness of employing a bravo, 
 they are amazed at the absurdity of a man's 
 exposing himself in a duel. As duelling is 
 prohibited in Texas, some among them have 
 made a great deal of noise, by their fondness 
 for planning accidental street encounters. But 
 I am under a sincere impression, that their 
 whole republic does not furnish as many mur- 
 ders as a single state, or a single city of the 
 
•71 
 
 United States. To candid, intelligent, and 
 vigilant explorers of both countries, I appeal 
 for the probability of this opinion. 
 
 It is true that in the States, a white man or 
 "woman is hardly ever condemned and punish- 
 ed for murder, or other capital offences; but 
 this greatly multiplies cases, and makes them 
 more aggravated. A young woman kills and 
 conceals her infant, and is condemned for the 
 concealment only. A barbarian citizen, with 
 force and aggravated brutality, violates his 
 own daughter, and is condemned for incest. 
 Another deliberately puts a pistol-ball into the 
 head of his daughter, for marrying against his 
 will, and he is pronounced insane. Another 
 knocks his wife down with a loaded cart-whip ; 
 and while she neither speaks nor resists, he 
 proceeds, with wonderful leisure, to a pro- 
 tracted process of jerking, pulling, tying, and 
 dragging her by the hair of the head, with 
 deliberate applications of the whip, until the 
 soul leaves the body. This is pronounced a 
 second degree case, and his term of imprison- 
 ment has expired. A woman joins a foreigner 
 in poisoning her husband, and that is a case of 
 no degree at all. A Democrat in Congress is 
 unfairly killed with a rifle; and the Whigs suc- 
 cessfully plead as an off-set, that the Loco- 
 focos, with their President at their head, are 
 famous for duelling, and that none of the fair- 
 est. While a member of a Legislative Assem- 
 bly has the floor, the Speaker leaves the chair, 
 
n 
 
 has a Bowie-knife encounter with him, kills 
 him, is expelled by the House, and tried and 
 acquitted by a jury. Thus hardly any white 
 person is found guilty of murder, and the wil- 
 ful, wanton, and malicious destruction of hu- 
 man life, is becoming extremely flagrant. 
 
 As a remedy for so dreadful an evil, prelati- 
 cal wisdom has advised the abolition of capital 
 punishments, the substitution of confinement, 
 as a more severe and efficient punishment, and 
 the passing of the strictest laws against secret 
 weapons. Some of the Northern American 
 Anti — 's, called Peace Societies, propose put- 
 ting the axe to the root of the tree, by sup- 
 pressing all weapons, offensive and defensive, 
 visible and invisible, and adopting the practice 
 of passive obedience and non-resistance. 
 
 It has given me no little pain, to find that 
 in Texas, this degrading doctrine is viewed 
 too favourably by some professing godliness. 
 It is well calculated to prejudice their brave 
 patriots against religion. This is the very 
 thing that the Mexicans desired and attempted^ 
 and which they would again attempt and ac- 
 complish, if the Texans would recede from 
 their noble stand for liberty. The Mexican 
 government intended to lay the axe to the root 
 of the tree, when they required the Texans to 
 give up their arms, leaving only one gun to 
 five hundred men. The affair of Goliad shows 
 the fate of unarmed men, even under a pro- 
 mise of safety. Texans are firmly and justly 
 
73 
 
 convinced, that if Fannin's men, exhausted as 
 they were, had kept their arms, they would 
 have been conquerors, instead of victims. Let 
 that diabohcal massacre, by pretended Chris- 
 tians, in violation of plighted faith, be a last- 
 ing answer to the doctrine of passive obe- 
 dience and non-resistance. A general submis- 
 sion to the disarming order of Mexico, would 
 only have made a wider devastation. This is 
 the history of Santa Anna, and of all the boot- 
 ed Santas of Popery, time immemorial. The 
 Texans were too heretical to believe, that pas- 
 sive obedience to such saints, was the way 
 to prevent murders and massacres. Instead, 
 therefore, of meekly relinquishing all but one 
 gun to five hundred men, there are few indi- 
 viduals without a gun, and some have half a 
 dozen, with a quantum sufficit of pistols and 
 Bowie-knives. 
 
 Let the dupes of a false and deceitful mo- 
 rality, and the effeminate advocates of a spu- 
 rious refinement, scorn such a statement if 
 they please. Let their delicate nerves twitch 
 hysterically at the mention of weapons which 
 their enervated ethics have associated with all 
 that is vulgar, vile, cruel, and savage. I envy 
 them not those characteristics by which they 
 are distinguished from heroes who drew law- 
 ful weapons in the lawful defence of their 
 dearest relatives and rights. So daring was 
 their enterprise, and so magnanimously con- 
 7 
 
74 
 
 ducted, that their conquered enemies were 
 sometimes compelled to be their panegj^rists. 
 Their severe accuser, Mr. Edward has re- 
 ported the compliment of Dominic Ugartechea, 
 the Mexican commander of the fort at Velas- 
 co. Knowing how little justice or mercy his 
 countrymen showed to their enemies, his heart 
 was touched by an exploit of Texan magna- 
 nimity. After the garrison was thinned and 
 dispirited during a bloody conflict, their com- 
 mander was recognized as actively taking a 
 post of danger where many had fallen. With 
 a simultaneous impulse, the Texan rifles were 
 silenced, as if to implore a brave man to let 
 them spare his life. He was obliged to say 
 " that such a people were unconquerable ; as 
 they would by their humanity gain as many 
 hearts as they could heads by their valour." 
 How frequently do valour and humanity dwell 
 together ! and to my certain knowledge, cow- 
 ardice and cruelty are often connected. 
 
 If the Texans are wise, they will never let 
 their hands be tied by any moral or religious 
 quackery, however specious. Men pretend to 
 be more faithful than Abraham, the father of 
 the faithful, when he armed his household, and 
 pursued, fought, and conquered the conquerors 
 of kings. They would pretend to be more 
 heavenly than David, the man after God's own 
 heart, who composed some of his most lovely 
 inspired psalms, with his sword in his belt, and 
 his warriors near him. I seek not to be " righ- 
 
75 
 
 teous over much," or " wise above that which 
 is written:" and in these respects those per- 
 sons err wlio think that the Old and New Tes- 
 taments contain two difierent religions; or 
 that the law of love enjoined in the latter is 
 not taken from the former. 
 
 Even that perverted saying of our Saviour, 
 " All they that take the sword shall perish w4th 
 the sword," is an echo of the old law, " Whoso 
 sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood 
 be shed." Thus whether murder is perpetrated 
 by retail or wholesale, the divine law, in the 
 Old or New Testaments, puts the guilty to the 
 sword. The necessity and consequent univer- 
 sality of this law, among those who have little 
 but the light of nature, claim for it some re- 
 spect, and the criminal codes of all Christen- 
 dom attest its divine origin and perpetual ob- 
 ligation. They understand the Bible in its 
 obvious sense, that the individual murderer 
 shall be capitally punished; and that all they 
 that take the sword for lawless invasion or 
 usurpation shall be defeated in battle. The 
 temporary repeal, suspension, or evasion of 
 this divine law, by juridical and theological 
 charlatans, and perjured jurors, has always 
 shown its bitter fruits, in the multiplication of 
 murders, and the public harm. 
 
 4. Barbarism and irreligion, A countryman 
 of mine, remarkable alike for power and pride, 
 courage and credulity, says that a Kentuckian 
 
76 
 
 means a Christian and a gentleman, (The 
 Ledger says that a Christian " means a repub- 
 lican and a gentleman.") With as much cor- 
 rectness he might say that this is the very 
 meaning of the word Texan, He appears, 
 however, to think that there is a crime by 
 which this honourable character may be for- 
 feited, for the more suitable sobriquet of half- 
 horse half- alligator. Daring, in the proper place, 
 to reprove barbarism and irreligion, in the 
 face of calumny and cruelty, and without au- 
 thority from our Vatican, is this crime. 
 
 Texas is too poor and persecuted to stand 
 fair with other nations. Strangers seldom go 
 there with high expectations, and many are 
 favourably disappointed in the character of 
 the people. This remark may apply more or 
 less to all my journey through that country, 
 with the exception of four or five towns. A 
 few of the facts which make favourable im- 
 pressions may be rehearsed in the order in 
 which they happened. 
 
 On a happy communion Sabbath at Inde- 
 pendence I was the oldest of four clergymen 
 present, and had the honour of dispensing the 
 Eucharist to the worthy pastor, and his flock, 
 and his travelling brethren. After the dismis- 
 sion a lady told me that she had seen me in a 
 distant city where her relatives were still liv- 
 ing. She begged that on my return, I would 
 inform them of what I had witnessed and en- 
 
77 
 
 joyed ; " for," said she, " they think that we 
 are among savages." 
 
 At the close of Chapter IV. notice was taken 
 of the practice of asking God's blessing at the 
 table of the first hotel in the Texan capital. 
 With the accomplished landlady in her chair, 
 the conversation is such as a Christian and a 
 gentleman may enjoy. In the course of my 
 strange pilgrimage I have been at public ta- 
 bles in cities, towns and villages, from Quebec 
 to New Orleans. It is pleasant to witness the 
 order and propriety observed at many of them: 
 but where, in their long line, is this behaviour 
 connected with a habitual acknowledgment of 
 the Triune God, the only Saviour. 
 
 Barbarism and irreligion are sometimes ex- 
 hibited in loathing the subject of religion, and 
 a contemptuous treatment of its ministers; espe- 
 cially when they are old and ugly, poor and 
 ill dressed. I was not without misgivings on 
 this score, when approaching a wealthy habi- 
 tation on the Brasos, about six miles above 
 Velasco, where it enters the Gulf. The gen- 
 tleman of the house was not a Christian; nei- 
 ther was the rich husband of a lady whom I 
 found there on a visit to his wife. The ladies 
 themselves did not profess religion ; but if they 
 had been assured that the rugged stranger be- 
 fore them was Elijah sent on a special message, 
 they could hardly have behaved more reve- 
 rentlv, listened to instruction more eagerly, or 
 7* 
 
78 
 
 united in prayer and praise with more apparent 
 interest. It appeared to me that God had pre- 
 pared their hearts anxiously to desire the truth, 
 and mine gladly to declare it. 
 
 In the close of Chapter X. above, mention 
 is made of an excursion from the Brasos at 
 Columbia to a place on the San Bernard. By 
 an arrangement of the previous day we as- 
 sembled from several points in the neighbour- 
 hood, early in the morning, at the mouth of a 
 bayou, where we embarked in a large and ex- 
 cellent canoe, brought for the purpose, by the 
 gentleman to whose house we were going. 
 As I was not yet fully recovered from my late 
 dangerous sickness, they gave me the bow, 
 where I might enjoy a semi-reclining posture. 
 When we had been some time afloat, I asked 
 my beloved physician, who was situated next 
 to me, if he could not raise some spiritual song 
 in which we could all join. To one of the 
 psalms of Dr. Watts, which I had long known 
 by memory, he struct up a noble Scotch 
 march, which I had learned in boyhood, al- 
 though I have forgotten its name. Having 
 found what an excellent psalm tune it is, I often 
 sing it, and call it by the name of San Bernard, 
 until some Scotchman will inform me belter. 
 The river praised God; and on looking over 
 our happy company of eight, it was found that 
 seven were professors of religion. 
 
 The house to which I was last taken in 
 
79 
 
 Galveston, contained four gentlemen and two 
 ladies, all f>rofessors of religion ; and the four 
 gentlemen, (two of them lawyers,) taking it in 
 turn to lead in family worship. The families 
 in the neighbourhood also were pious; and the 
 city contains perhaps as good society, and as 
 remote from barbarism and irreligion as any 
 in the States. 
 
 It was observed above, that four or five 
 towns belonging to my route did not make a 
 favourable impression. During my short slay 
 in San Felipe de Austin, and in Washington, 
 there appeared to be a remarkable devotion to 
 the billiard table in the former place, and to 
 the race-course in the latter. Subsequent in- 
 formation convinced me that the obvious in- 
 ference was not an unjust judgment. 
 
 It becomes me to speak cautiously of the 
 ancient and once populous and opulent Mexi- 
 can cities Bexar and Goliad, on the San Anto- 
 nio river. It can hardly be expected that I 
 can think so highly of them as do the priests 
 of their own church. High European autho- 
 rity in that communion, in their ^' Annales de 
 la propagation de la foiy^ claims a Catholic 
 population of 20,000 souls, in Texas. The 
 present lords of the soil have a very sparse 
 mixture of Papists. Add to these the Popish 
 settlements of Santa Fe and San Antonio, and 
 then muster the Camanche Indians, who, like 
 the millions of Mexican Indians, are Roman 
 
80 
 
 Catholics, and it is barely possible that you 
 can find that number. But these Indians, 
 though citizens of the Popish Zion, are not 
 citizens of Texas, but in a state of open hos- 
 tility to her. 
 
 Concerning the Aborigines converted by 
 Spaniards to Popery, their "Annals" above- 
 mentioned, state that " the primitive race of 
 red-skins having become Christian and civil- 
 ized, united with its conquerors by frequent 
 intermarriages, nov^ forms the basis of the 
 population." The same "Annals" claim great 
 credit to Popish Spain for " assimilating them 
 to her own people, by imparting her faith and 
 her manners.'^ 
 
 It is not probable that the eight millions of 
 Mexico have more than half a million of what 
 we would call white men. They have proba- 
 bly several millions of pure Indians, and many 
 negroes, with every sort of mixture between 
 whites, blacks, and reds, with and without 
 marriage. 
 
 As for the Camanches of Texas, they ap- 
 pear to have been favoured with very little 
 more than the faith and manners of the priest- 
 hood abovementioned : and these I do not envy 
 them, although the "Annals of the Propaga- 
 tion of the Faith" say that they have "be- 
 come Christian and civilized;" and although 
 Dr. Milner, a late most eminent Popish eccle- 
 siastic and writer of England, represents such 
 
81 
 
 American savages as having "opened their 
 hearts to the mild and sweet truths of the gos- 
 pel, and become models of piety and morality, 
 nor less so of industry, civil order and po- 
 hty." 
 
 This somewhat resembles the character 
 given some years ago by a good humoured 
 military explorer, of the Indians beyond the 
 Rocky mountains. Once and again he ap- 
 peared struck with admiration at their exces- 
 sive piety. I think they even knew when the 
 Sabbath came: but he thought that they car- 
 ried their horse-racing and other gambling on 
 that day to an unnecessary length. I believe 
 that the same remark has been made about the 
 same way of spending that sacred day among 
 their Italian brethren at Rome, under the eye 
 of their supreme and infallible, with their 
 saints and angels all at hand. 
 
 I am not aware of any advance which the 
 Camanches have made in Christianity and ci- 
 vilization, beyond the use of their wooden 
 crosses, arrant lying, cowardice and cruelty, 
 and an industrious application to the business 
 of stealing and training horses, to be used in 
 surprising and burning towns, carrying off the 
 spoil, and making a speedy escape from a 
 fourth of their number. 
 
 When the "Annals of the Propagation of 
 the Faith" represent Texas as "suffering a 
 most deplorable religious destitution," they 
 
82 
 
 doubtless have reference to the fact that since 
 the revolution has delivered the people from 
 the impositions and extortions of a tyrannical 
 and debauched priesthood, the most of them 
 have taken themselves and their religion into 
 Mexico, and left such "a deplorable religious 
 destitution" behind, that the Sabbatical cock- 
 pit at Bexar is falh'ng into decay, for the want 
 of an infallible priesthood to put gaffs on the 
 fovi^ls, and to superintend this edifying exercise 
 of the Lord's day. The priest that is left 
 there is so much afraid of Protestant obser- 
 vation that he has not spirit to rally the faith- 
 ful to the celebration of this game, incorpo- 
 rated though it is, with the faith and manners 
 of Popery. 
 
 On account of such declensions a Roman Ca- 
 tholic of the place told me that there w^as no 
 religion at all there now. This, however, was 
 the language of discouragement: for the spirit 
 and substance of Popery are still exhibited in 
 the zeal of many to get some sort of a gun, 
 and spend that holy day in hunting; and in 
 their regular attention to the fandango at night, 
 as they are destitute of a theatre, that more 
 approved Popish means of grace, for the Sab- 
 abth evening. 
 
 Since Texas, by the glorious revolution, has 
 shpt through the fingers of the mother and 
 mistress of all churches, emissaries of a more 
 decent and imposing character are sent to re- 
 
83 
 
 claim lliem. May the wings of a divine, a 
 holy, and a gracious Protector be spread over 
 them. 
 
 5. Hypocrisy, Infidels sometimes speak of 
 hypocrisy as the Hopkinsians do of selfishness, 
 as constituting the essence of all sin. Ac- 
 cording to this standard, the Texans occupy 
 high ground; and yet it is that very position 
 which gives effect to the shafts of their ene- 
 mies. Their accusers may sometimes be far 
 worse, under a most specious appearance. 
 
 We will suppose that the United States are 
 divided into political parties called A and B. 
 Party A detects party B in atrocious forgeries 
 and perjuries; and troubles the waters about 
 it. Then party B detects party A in scanda- 
 lous perjuries and forgeries, and makes an 
 outcry about that. Then the two parties unite 
 in a sort of mutual political absolution, and 
 make the whole country as clean and white as 
 the priests make the Mexicans and Caman- 
 ches; while poor Texas is "suffering a most 
 deplorable religious destitution" of such crimes 
 or comforts. 
 
 The States are considered a Christian coun- 
 try; and a man cannot be judge, juryman or 
 witness, unless he profess to believe in a God, 
 and in a future state of rewards and punish- 
 ments. If a modern CJniversalist or an an- 
 cient Sadducee, who believes in neither, were 
 to scrutinize the verdicts of our juries, could 
 
H 
 
 he, in thousands of cases, deny them the right 
 hand of fellowship? They swear by the Au- 
 thor of life, and the Judge of all, that they 
 will decide according lo law and evidence. 
 The evidence makes out a clear case of ag- 
 gravated murder; and the laws of God and 
 man ordain capital punishment. The jury 
 are conscientiously opposed to taking life; 
 and therefore very conscientiously violate their 
 oath, by deciding against law and evidence; 
 and thus they multiply murders, v^'hich, in their 
 turn, multiply perjuries. Do these men be- 
 lieve in a God, and in future rewards and 
 punishments? If not, who shall set bounds to 
 prevailing hypocrisy? 
 
 What can be thought of churches, where, 
 for filthy lucre's sake, myriads of ministers and 
 people of opposite principles and practices pro- 
 fess the same creed ? An ecclesiastical body, 
 putting the first match to a train which ex- 
 ploded 60,000 doctrinal hypocrites, spreads its 
 shield over such practical hypocrites as swear- 
 ers, liars and Sabbath-breakers, gamblers and 
 drunkards. All this after a grand purgation 
 and professed reformation. ** If they do these 
 things in a green tree, what shall be done in 
 the dry?" 
 
85 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Testimony and conduct of Texas in relation to Popery better than that 
 of other countries. 
 
 PorERY is a name which ought not to fright- 
 en a Scotchman. He believes it to embody 
 all that is meant by Antichristian apostacy, 
 ignorance, and arrogance; cunning and hy- 
 pocrisy; tyranny and cruelty; immorality, 
 blasphemy, and idolatry. For the proof he is 
 willing to appeal to Popish books of acknow- 
 ledged authority, and to all authentic history, 
 Popish and Protestant.* 
 
 How do Texas and the British empire, and 
 the American states stand in relation to this 
 evil ? In their " unanimous declaration of in- 
 dependence," the Texans have stated against 
 the Mexicans that "the whole nature of their 
 government has been forcibly changed, with- 
 out their consent, from a restricted federative 
 republic, composed of sovereign states, to a 
 consolidated central military despotism, in 
 which every interest is disregarded, but that 
 of the army and the priesthood; both the 
 eternal enemies of civil liberty, the ever 
 ready minions or power, and the usual instru- 
 ments OF TYRANTS." 
 
 * See Appendix No. 3, where this has been offered, 
 8 
 
To a nation of Texans, not, probably, equal 
 in number to the population of Boston or Bal- 
 timore, God gave deliverance from Santa 
 Anna, the tool of Popish priests, backed by 
 eight millions of Popish Mexicans. The Bri- 
 tish empire once experienced a similar deli- 
 verance, and her political and religious esta- 
 blishments are based upon that revolution, and 
 she wishes to acknowledge the freedom of her 
 Anglo Saxon blood in Texas. But in Daniel 
 O'Connel she also has to face a Santa Anna, 
 the tool of Irish priests, backed by millions of 
 Irish Papists. Behold the lion creeping into 
 his cage ; and, until lately, allowing this Popish 
 agitator to keep the door ! Under such keep- 
 ing we wonder not to see Irish magistrates re- 
 moved, and their places filled with Papists: 
 neither are we astonished at the bold attempt 
 to wrest from the kirk of Scotland her char- 
 tered rights. 
 
 Some may not know that the commander in 
 chief of the army of the United States publicly 
 gave as a toast, ** The health of the Pope, and 
 prosperity to the Roman Catholic religion;" 
 that in the American states it is now a fashion 
 to make Roman Catholics judges of our civil 
 courts; that the chief justice of the Supreme 
 Court of the United States is an avowed Ro- 
 man Catholic; and that the administration 
 which put him in had a correspondence with 
 the Pope, which occasioned his modest Holi- 
 
87 
 
 ness to refuse any interference in our politics! 
 The published reply of course declined mak- 
 ing any application for such interference, ex- 
 cept for the purpose of reconciling contending 
 brethren ! Roman Catholic writers show that 
 this is the regular way in which the Popish 
 powers of Europe correspond with their dear 
 supreme pastor, for the purpose aforesaid; and, 
 as was intended in the present case, the Pope 
 and his cardinals, and bishops, and priests, and 
 people, all turn Democrats pro hac vice. But 
 the " brethren" will not stay reconciled, but 
 have turned out the Pope's dear son, and the 
 probability is, that in a short time the Pope 
 and all his followers will turn Whigs; and I 
 am afraid that the Whigs are too ready to 
 court them, as the Courier and Inquirer of 
 New York is doing. 
 
 Texas is very small among the nations: but 
 while they will stand to their Declaration on 
 this subject of supreme interest to the cause of 
 light and liberty, they have no superior on the 
 face of the earth. 
 
88 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Far more show than reality in much of the Protestantism of the United 
 
 Stales. 
 
 As this is the religion of the Bible, in oppo- 
 sition to the uninspired traditions of corrupt 
 men, we are safe in considering it the religion 
 of Christ, in opposition to that of his pretended 
 vicar. To discover the theology and morality 
 of Christianity, Protestantism says, " Go to 
 the Bible:" and to the Bible it directs you, to 
 ascertain the true government, discipline, and 
 worship of the Christian church. 
 
 Christianity is the light of the world ; and 
 is the true source of its best literature, liberty, 
 peace and prosperity. When the Christian 
 church is in a sound state, it is a lamp placed 
 upon a stand ; it is the salt of the earth. Ten 
 such men as it then contains would have saved 
 the cities of the plain from a shower of fire 
 and brimstone. Ten millions of pagans could 
 not do so much, let their wealth be ever so 
 great, or their outward behaviour ever so 
 fair. 
 
 When Mr. Edward wrote against Texas in 
 1836, they had more than ten praying believers, 
 united to Christ and to one another by invisible 
 ties ; for the Mexican Papists had not allowed 
 them to have a visible Protestant church. 
 Since the revolution they have a number of 
 
congregations organized, and are beginning to 
 erect buildings for worship. I heard a few 
 preachers of several denominations, from 
 England and the United States, all preaching 
 the pure gospel, as far as my knowledge goes. 
 The Presbytery of Brasos, lately constituted 
 at Independence, is intended as a mother to 
 the Calvinistic Presbyterian church in Texas. 
 If, by the Spirit of God, they steadily adhere 
 to their scriptural constitution, they will always 
 treat the Scriptures as of paramount authority; 
 and in doing so, whether few or many, they 
 will be a blessing in the land. Their excel- 
 lence or their value does not depend upon 
 numbers or wealth, but upon the presence of 
 God, and their maintenance of his word, in 
 matters of doctrine and practice, government, 
 discipline and worship. If they or the churches 
 in the United States forsake the Lord and the 
 provisions of his word, the salt has lost its sa- 
 vour; and if the light which is in them be 
 darkness, how great is that darkness ! There 
 is no irreligion so great as that which is sancti- 
 fied by a high profession of religion. The 
 Christian is more safe in the society of the 
 world than among such professors. A church 
 is less injured by dissolution than by continu- 
 ing under such management. 
 
 That the American churches have a con- 
 sciousness of an approach to such a condition, 
 would appear from the length to which they 
 8* 
 
90 
 
 have gone, in substituting people of the world 
 for professors, in the offices and rights of the 
 church. I once asked a truly eminent Pres- 
 byterian Doctor of Divinity, how he could ac- 
 count for the general substitution of the non- 
 professing trustee for the scriptural and con- 
 stitutional deacon. He said that the change 
 was reluctantly made from the necessity of 
 the case. He said that men of the world are 
 often men of business, and liberaHty, and ge- 
 nerosity ; whereas, officers taken from among 
 professors of religion often have souls so in- 
 tolerably contracted, that a thousand of them 
 would have room enough to rattle in a mus- 
 tard seed! What a church that must be, of 
 which this is a true description ! and what 
 pastors they must be, who can be easy and 
 silent, and accessory to such degradation! 
 
 It was not denied, nor does any one dispute, 
 that this remark appHes as correctly to the 
 scriptural elder as to the deacon ; so that con- 
 sistency requires that this officer also should 
 be superseded, as has been the practice in 
 some places, by the Committee-man, 
 
 But when we have disposed of elders and 
 deacons, we are far from being done with 
 contracted souls and rusty rattlers. Look at 
 that preacher, of whom a mischievous wit too 
 justly said, that it took seven of his sermons to 
 convey one idea ! Being in the power of 
 worldlings he was afraid to teach the doc- 
 
91 
 
 trines of religion, he was afraid to reprove 
 sin, he was almost afraid to tell his hearers 
 that ihey had souls even as large as the thou- 
 sandth part of a mustard-seed, lest the men 
 of business, and liberahty, and generosity- 
 should dock his salary. A witness lately told 
 me that on a certain occasion one of them 
 came, half-slewedy from the race-field, in a 
 great hurry to meet the Board, and regulate 
 the church. Yet the preacher had not a soul 
 sufficiently enlarged by grace, to reprove 
 gambling or drunkenness, because this would 
 be accounted an imprudent personality, and 
 the Presbytery and Synod might come down 
 upon him for imprudence: and in this he re- 
 sembles a thousand others; all of whom would 
 have room enough to rattle in a mustard-seed. 
 Consistency requires that these should be su- 
 perseded by itinerants, lay-preachers, city- 
 missionaries, and non-professing literary lec- 
 turers and political editors, who have souls 
 large enough to reprove vice ; while these 
 " D — umb i) — ogs" are pleasing themselves 
 with the rattle of a D. D. and a black gown, 
 and a choir and an organ, and a golden pulpit, 
 and sofa pews. But these pews ought to be 
 soft, because they are to accommodate non- 
 professing pewholders, Jews and Gentiles, Pa- 
 pists and Liberalists, who are now, for the sake 
 of consistency, called to the important duty of 
 choosing church officers, and regulating church 
 
92 
 
 matters, instead of the communicants, whose 
 souls are unhappily in these days so small, and 
 dry, and husky, that they are utterly unfit to 
 discharge the functions of members, deacons, 
 elders, or ministers. Thus to cleanse the sanc- 
 tuary, the church must be turned out of doors, 
 or bound hand and foot in its own house. 
 
 And this is called Protestantism, the religion 
 of the Bible; that precious Bible which pro- 
 claims liberty to the captive, and the opening 
 of the prison doors to them that are bound; 
 that infallible charter of the church's rights, 
 which declares every one a thief and a robber 
 who does not come in through the door. 
 
 One of the blackest features of this evil is 
 the reason which is given for such a subver- 
 sion of a divine institution. It is because men 
 of the world are " men of business, and libe- 
 rality, and generosity :" or, to be plain, they 
 are men of fortune, and able to make pur- 
 chases and donations; and they are men of 
 influence and enterprise, who can draw forth 
 the fortunes of others. Thus ecclesiastical 
 rights, denied to poor Christians, are given to 
 non-professors for their money; contrary to 
 the letter and spirit of the second chapter of 
 James, Simon Magus would pass for a busi- 
 ness man, liberal and generous ; yet Peter re- 
 jected money offered upon such degrading 
 terms. Poor Peter ! What a rough Christian 
 he was, like the old Scotch reformers ! But 
 
93 
 
 he was a fisherman, and probably swann the 
 streams and slept under the trees like a Texan 
 hunter, until he was not fit to be an officer or 
 a member of one of our Protestant churches. 
 If he had taken Simon's money, and got him- 
 self a D. D. and a black gown, and proclaimed 
 himself a Pope, he might have been a gentle- 
 man, and a man of fortune, and had many 
 friends, which things are now "the chief end 
 of man." 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Aiitic'hi-isiian commun law punishes a man fur exposing curruption 
 in ihe Unittd States, whereas the constitution of Texas says that 
 ** In all prosecutions for libels the truth may be given in evidence." 
 Thieves always object to a search. 
 
 This ragged pile of ponderous, multifarious, 
 unrighteous, absurd, and contradictory deci- 
 sion, appears, hke unwritten constitutions, and 
 Popish traditions, a relic of evil days. I am 
 sorry that Texas has lately adopted it. Before 
 its adoption, however, she cast an anchor to 
 windward against one of its prominent cor- 
 ruptions, and the only one which occasions me 
 to introduce the subject. It is the rejection of 
 evidence for the truth of words alleged to be 
 slanderous. In public prosecutions for libel it 
 rejects the truth when ofl^ered in justification. 
 If iniquity has worn such a brazen front that 
 
94 
 
 the words need no proof, but are palpably 
 and notoriously true, then " the greater the 
 truth the greater the libel;" says this venerated 
 monument of ancient wisdom and justice!! 
 According to this maxim the Bible is the great- 
 est libel that was ever published ; Moses, and 
 the prophets and apostles were the greatest 
 slanderers that ever lived; and the prosecu- 
 tions and persecutions of Christ and all his 
 faithful servants and martyrs, were according 
 to sound law, and are good precedents for fu- 
 ture decisions. 
 
 It is an Antichristian shield most used by 
 those who most need it. When M'Gavin of 
 Scotland wrote against the priests, they reco- 
 vered damages, without allowing him to prove 
 the truth of his statements. When a Pitts- 
 burgh editor made some statements intended 
 to show that the propagation of Popery in 
 schools was unaccountably calculated to divert 
 the propagation of the race from its legitimate 
 channel, he was taught that our Protestant 
 country could not admit proof of Popish cor- 
 ruption. The priests endeavoured to teach a 
 similar lesson to a Baltimore editor ; but found 
 that laws were like cobwebs, to catch little 
 flies and let big ones escape. 
 
 Pretended Protestants have found this Anti- 
 christian muzzle for a faithful ministry conve- 
 nient for their use also. Antipas was a pastor 
 in the Brasos presbytery, not of Texas, but of 
 
05 
 
 the United States. Mr. Weathercock, a New- 
 school Presbyterian pastor, clinging to an 
 Old-school presbytery, nnet Antipas in the 
 street, and said, "Do you know that one of 
 your communicants has several houses in this 
 city, built and used for the accommodation of 
 frail sisters of charity?" Antipas declared 
 his ignorance ; but said that if it were true, 
 he would expect Mr. Weathercock to be a 
 witness, or procure other witnesses. Antipas 
 could see a composed satisfaction in the coun- 
 tenance and manner of Weathercock, as if it 
 would not kill him to see Antipas and this pa- 
 tron of celibacy go to the bottom together. 
 It was discovered that this gentleman was 
 Mr. Cyclops, a non-professor, at first a friend 
 to his pastor, but afterward compelled to for- 
 sake him, and join his enemies, on account of 
 conscientious scruples against his imprudent 
 and impolitic practice of preaching up all the 
 ten commandments, whereas Cyclops thought, 
 like the Papists, that nine were enough. In a 
 way which we need not explain, he became a 
 worthy member of the Board, to regulate the 
 church. He and Mr. Dingdong, the "half- 
 slewed" gentleman from the race-field, and 
 Mr. Challenge, a twin brother, and their com- 
 panions, were headed by General Santa Pa- 
 tria ; all of them non-professors, with large 
 souls, " men of business, liberality, and gene- 
 rosity." But Antipas was too contracted to 
 
80 
 
 appreciate their worth, and one day told the 
 presbytery that if the existence of the Cyclo- 
 pean nunnery were disputed, there w^as testi- 
 mony then in the house to prove it. It was 
 not disputed, and the advice of counsel, and 
 threats of the common law, hindered commu- 
 nicants from embodying it in a memorial. 
 
 On one occasion a lawyer urged Antipas 
 to study the use of euphemisms. In return 
 Antipas asked the lawyer how he would de- 
 scribe the character of General Santa Patria. 
 The wary counsel answered, " Every one 
 knows him to be a sev^ere lender of money.^^ A 
 friend of the general one day described, with 
 vehement eloquence, the overweening avarice, 
 the utter heartlessness, the cold-blooded cru- 
 elty, and the unprincipled villany of any one 
 who follows the business of a shaver. At the 
 close of his effusion he appeared to recollect 
 the application which every one would make 
 of his rhapsody; and he said rather hastily, 
 "Now I wish you to understand that I am 
 not talking about General Santa Patria." 
 
 Others, however, who feared God more 
 than the common law, declared that " Among 
 them [the trustees and their supporters mean- 
 ing] are found, moreover, Universalists, Pa- 
 pists, swearers, hars. Sabbath-breakers, gam- 
 blers and drunkards." Professional counsel 
 was employed (Antipas not objecting,) to pro- 
 secute before the presbytery, for these words, 
 
97 
 
 and such others as they chose. According to 
 the divine law, and the constitution of Texas, 
 " in all prosecutions for libels, the truth may 
 be given in evidence." The whole of the 
 above sentence was established by testimony. 
 The accuser himself did not deny that it was 
 true. He only desired Antipas to be convicted 
 of slander, according to the common law, 
 which punishes a man for telling the truth. 
 Among all the ecclesiastical judges who tried 
 the case, there was only one whom I know to 
 have taken this ground; and he was soon 
 after very near being convicted of slander for 
 telling the truth against the Antichristian abo- 
 mination, with no more prudence than Antipas 
 exhibited in telling the truth against the seven 
 Presbyterian abominations. 
 
 Some may suppose that the church courts 
 which were justly prominent in disowning 
 sixty thousand Pelagian Congregationalists, 
 would certainly take some steps for disowning 
 Universalists, Papists, swearers, liars, Sabbath- 
 breakers, gamblers and drunkards. But some 
 of the offenders shrewdly hinted that such 
 measures would empty the church ; and a 
 high presbyter expressed a great unwillingness 
 to destroy a tribe in Israel ! What a tribe ! 
 
 In documents presented by them they had, 
 upon the professed ground of their charter,* 
 
 * See Appendix, No. 2, for a Charter and By-Laws of 
 anotlier sort. 
 9 
 
98 
 
 declared themselves members of the 
 
 Presbyterian church. To this day they con- 
 tinue to be thus recognized. The priests would 
 demand confession, contrition, penance, and a 
 regular absolution : but none of these Popish 
 proceedings have been observed by the pres- 
 bytery. Permitting the true church to depart 
 penniless, they have secured their property to 
 their enemies, under their name, and the organ 
 of the society lately reports them as in a flou- 
 rishing condition. 
 
 Last night I heard a lecture representing 
 the Jesuits as in a flourishing state. How 
 could they be otherwise, since their Presbyte- 
 rian proceedings in the Sandwich Islands? 
 
 Before they could arrive at this happy con- 
 summation they had to wake up some mem- 
 bers of the presbytery which had not attended 
 much for a long time. Among them was 
 Weathercock, the New-school hanger-on; who, 
 after his first vote for sanctifying the nunne- 
 ries, against which he had given information 
 as a nuisance, found that the casting vote of 
 the moderator would do to finish the matter, 
 and slipped out like a man that had seen a ghost. 
 They are now sweetly sheltered under the 
 wings of the presbytery and the common law, 
 as if neither the light nor the lightning of hea- 
 ven could reach them there; and can talk as 
 sentimentally as their patrons, about the wick- 
 
99 
 
 edness of Texas, in whose capital I preached 
 against seven abominations, without any one 
 supposing that it was imprudent or improper. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The reason that the character of the United States sometimes appears 
 superior to that of Texas is, that some of their churches, which form 
 tlieir character in part, hold too much the Exoteric and Esoteric po- 
 licy of the Pagan philosophers and the Popish priests. 
 
 Much of a country's character depends 
 upon its own policy concerning it. Great ef- 
 fects are produced by the testimony of the 
 church, and its policy in testifying. It is hard 
 for the best judge always to escape from the 
 mental reservations and equivocations, the de- 
 ceit and falsehood, in which men indulge un- 
 der the cloak of religion. A late anonymous 
 WTiter, professing to be a convert from the 
 Popish priesthood, affirms that the exoteric and 
 esoteric policy of the ancient Pagan philoso- 
 phers is in full operation among the Roman 
 Catholic priesthood. I should be glad if it 
 had gone no farther. The exoteric of Pagan- 
 ism says that there are gods, and a future state 
 of rewards and punishments; the esoteric de- 
 nies both. The exoteric of Popery presents 
 the celibacy and poverty of the priesthood: 
 
100 
 
 the esoteric makes havoc in the virtue and pro- 
 perty of the community. 
 
 Those who expose their hypocrisy in a faith- 
 ful manner, and from a right motive, are 
 humbly walking with those who rebuked the 
 inconsistent Pharisees, for giving alms with 
 one hand, and destroying widows' houses with 
 the other. Those ministers who are utterly 
 averse to bearing witness for God against fla- 
 grant immoralities, ought to retire from office 
 with a D. D., for they are dumb dogs which 
 cannot bark. And those who confine their 
 rebukes to other countries and other churches 
 may resemble dogs which are quiet while the 
 burglar is in the house, and which are howl- 
 ing at the moon the rest of the night. They 
 construct such a testimony as is not a burden 
 like that of the ancient prophets. The burden 
 of the faithful witness is increased by their 
 neglect, and too often by that treacherous cru- 
 elty which is sometimes connected with cow- 
 ardice. What think ye of a watchman on the 
 walls of Jerusalem, who never winds his horn 
 except for Samaria, and will sacrifice any bro- 
 ther watchman who will blow an alarm for the 
 Holy City. 
 
 The Calvinistic Presbyterian church is, in a 
 certain sense, my Jerusalem. Tn it I was or- 
 dained. One of its congregations unanimously 
 called Antipas as their pastor. Before his ae» 
 ceptance they unanimously agreed to the most 
 
101 
 
 rigid principles and practices contained in this 
 publication, in our constitution, or in the Bible.* 
 Soon afterward a prayerless, swearing Sab- 
 bath-breaker refused to repent or reform. 
 During ten pastoral visits, conducted with af- 
 fectionate importunity and prayer, he despised 
 instruction and defied authority. He was then 
 regularly accused, tried, and condemned. 
 
 Instead of appealing, he and the Board of 
 Trustees took measures more efficient. They 
 stopped the pastor's salary, precluded commu- 
 nicants from the pews, and filled them with 
 creatures of their own choosing, so as to oc- 
 casion the remark afterward to be true, that 
 among them and their supporters are Univer- 
 salists. Papists, swearers, liars. Sabbath-break- 
 ers, gamblers and drunkards. These carried 
 every thing before them. About a year they 
 kept the congregation from singing, because 
 the spiritual authorities would not let a divine 
 ordinance be conducted by a specimen of in- 
 decency and profanity, set up by them as a 
 Colonel Plucky to throw contempt on God and 
 his house. At a congregational meeting, held 
 in the church, I saw a trustee strike a deacon 
 in the face, after which commencement they 
 proceeded to beat and bloody and tear off the 
 clothes of officers, members and friends of the 
 church, who were but ill prepared for such a 
 
 * See Appendix, No. 4. 
 9* 
 
102 
 
 mode of electing trustees, and therefore gave 
 ihem the ground. 
 
 Among the many exploits of valour per- 
 formed on that occasion, permit me to record 
 one or two. After Mr. Challenge, who struck 
 the first blow, had beaten several, he stepped 
 up to the pastor, who was standing in his own 
 pew, and challenged him to a fist fight in the 
 aisle of the church, forthwith. General Santa 
 Patria, that " severe lender of money," was 
 at the head of their forces, whom he called 
 his Donnyhrook hoys. Four or five of his he- 
 roes were trying to draw and quarter one of 
 the church's friends, and the General was seen 
 firmly holding the right arm of the person thus 
 assailed. A powerful exertion disengaged the 
 arm, but left the coat sleeve as a trophy to 
 some great warrior whose finger nails left an 
 abrasion of the skin which the arm long re- 
 tained. 
 
 Who this great warrior was has never yet 
 been ascertained, as the General modestly de- 
 clines the honour. When the affair was inves- 
 tigated before an alderman, a witness deposed 
 that when he saw the General holding a man, 
 w^hile others were beating him, he seized him 
 and asked him what he was doing. Said the 
 General, " I am saving the man." " And what 
 did you answer to this?" asked the Denny- 
 brook lawyer. "I told him that he was a 
 COWARDLY rascal;" said the witness. The 
 
103 ^r 
 
 same subject was before the presbytery, and 
 the same testimony given, the General being 
 present. " If you had said that," observed 
 the hero, " I would have beaten your brains 
 out." " Oh, we are very brave before the 
 presbytery !" observed Antipas. 
 
 This great man and his six official aids in 
 saving the church by stripping and beating 
 them, wrote and signed a letter to the presby- 
 tery, threatening Antipas with personal injury, 
 if the presbytery did not remove him. Anti- 
 pas, seeing that impunity for past violence was 
 w^hetting their appetite for blood, wrote and 
 signed another letter, by which he hoped to 
 bring the whole dispute to a speedy termina- 
 tion, with but little expense, and upon the very 
 plan proposed by the General and his staff. 
 He proposed that General Santa Patria be the 
 only one to inflict the personal injury; that 
 Antipas be the only one to receive it; that 
 they use none but nature's arms, as law, and 
 argument, and justice are rejected; and that 
 matters in dispute go to the party whose leader 
 shall keep the field. Although these terms 
 originated in the General's own movement, he 
 never agreed to them, but only answered, 
 months afterwards, by some hasty verbal ex- 
 pression, as vague as the one used to the wit- 
 ness about beating his brains out: and that 
 too in the presence of the presbytery, and in 
 violation of order, as before. Although some 
 
lt)4 
 
 of the presbytery appeared zealous to con- 
 demn and banish without hearing the intended 
 victim, a divine hand kept them from succeed- 
 ing. 
 
 The General was as unsuccessful in an effort 
 in the civil department. Antipas was brought 
 before an alderman under a charge of leading 
 in a riot. He was happy to think that he was 
 following his blessed Master, and the holy 
 martyrs to the tribunal, and probably to prison 
 and to death. God was his only witness, yet 
 the alderman could not bind him over, merely 
 for seeing his friends stript and beaten, and for 
 refusing a challenge to an amateur fist-fight in 
 a church. His escape from prison was not 
 his own fault, for in such a cause he was wil- 
 ling to go: neither was it the fault of the wit- 
 nesses ; for they were still more willing to send 
 him. But from their swearing before the civil 
 and ecclesiastical tribunals, Anlipas has learned 
 much of the moral condition of this commu- 
 nity, and much of the cause of that condition. 
 
 Some people seem surprised at the accumu- 
 lation of frauds and falsehoods, perjuries and 
 forgeries in the commercial and political world. 
 It does seem strange, when we consider the 
 great increase of churches in numbers and 
 wealth and splendour; in societies and boards 
 and doctors ; and how flourishing they are re- 
 ported to be. This is the exoteric of the mat- 
 
105 
 
 ter. The esoteric is rottenness and dead men's 
 bones. 
 
 The exoteric of a solemn ordination is, 
 "Do you promise to be zealous and faithful in 
 maintaining the truths of the Gospel, and the 
 purity and peace of the church; whatever 
 persecution or opposition may arise unto you 
 on that account r' The esoteric is, " I cannot 
 maintain the truths of the gospel, because that 
 would give offence. I cannot maintain the 
 purity of the church, because I should empty 
 it of people, and they would empty it of a 
 pastor ; and how imprudent it is to get into 
 scrapes, and be cast out of the society of one's 
 clerical brethren !" 
 
 In a ministerial installation. Faithfulness, 
 Faithfulness, resounds in seven solemn thun- 
 ders, in the charges to the pastor and the peo- 
 ple. This is the exoteric. The esoteric endea- 
 vours to break the neck of a pastor who will 
 not break his vow ; and it rewards an Iscariot 
 band who threaten and rob him, and endeavour 
 to swear him into prison. 
 
 When a Jesuitical worldling, or a mere 
 party drone, preaches a church to death, his 
 departure by death or other removal must be 
 noticed in dismissions, recommendations, eulo- 
 gies and puffs, in records and religious papers. 
 He is represented as an apostolical preacher, 
 a Solomon and a saint. Readers who never 
 knew him are amazed that the church or the 
 
106 
 
 land can survive such a loss. This is the ex- 
 oteric. The esoteric is, " Poor fellov^, what a 
 goose he was !" or, " Herod himself was not 
 so great a foxJ'^ 
 
 Some years ago an eminent seminary was 
 crying Peace, peace ; the church is in no dan- 
 ger ; except from such alarmists as the detest- 
 able iVntipas. This is the exoteric. The eso- 
 teric is, If we had made a bold movement 
 twenty years ago, the church might have been 
 saved; but now it is too late!! Just after these 
 public declarations of peace and safety, and 
 these private groans of cowardly despair, the 
 God of the Bible and the reformation brought 
 up the church to the maintenance of Christian 
 doctrine and order. This eminent seminary 
 then chimed in with the General Assembly in 
 disowning sixty thousand communicants; and 
 in a public declaration that errors had been 
 embraced which " affect the very foundation 
 of the system of Gospel truth ;" and which, 
 if persisted in, must indefinitely promote " the 
 most RADICAL and pestiferous heresies.'' This 
 is the exoterical, to which they solemnly put 
 their Doubly Dignified hands. What is the 
 esoterical? We have safe possession of our 
 Boards and seminaries and endowments; funds 
 amounting to $175,000 have been justly se- 
 cured to us by the honourable Supreme Court; 
 we will now set up a New School candidate 
 for the chair of the General Assembly, and 
 
107 
 
 show to the world that the church will not 
 stand by the Old School Assembly of '37 in 
 their radical measures. This seminary is 
 called eminent, because among the ecclesiasti- 
 cal " princes, the governors and captains, the 
 judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the she- 
 riffs, and all the rulers of the provinces," they 
 have something like the standing of *' an image 
 of gold, whose height was three score cubits, 
 and the breadth thereof six cubits." " Then an 
 herald cried aloud," and keeps crying every 
 year, "To you it is commanded. Oh people, 
 nations, and languages, (Oh churches, presby- 
 teries, and synods,) that at what time ye hear 
 the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, 
 psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music," 
 whether Old School or New School, Radical 
 or Latitudinarian, ye shall fall down and give 
 due homage, in praise and in pence, to the 
 most worthy seminary, or refuse, at the peril 
 of a furnace, with the heat of which my ther- 
 mometer is quite familiar. This is the exoteric. 
 The esoteric is, that seminary has done us 
 more harm than any other enemy! 
 
 The exotejic of Protestant Presbyterianism 
 is, that the divine Redeemer is the Supreme 
 and Infallible Head of the church ; that his 
 ministers and people are free, and that while 
 they obey him, and obey their brethren in the 
 Lord, they do well. The esoteric is, that an 
 aspirant, great or small, worthy or unworthy, 
 
108 
 
 useful or mischievous, succeeds in mounting 
 the saddle, and surrounding himself with a 
 mongrel corps of connexions and dependents, 
 satellites and sycophants; all of whom forth- 
 with become great men, ride over their more 
 honest neighbours, and claim implicit obedi- 
 ence, in virtue of their wearing the epaulet of 
 the autocrat. If any officer be found in the 
 ecclesiastical gate, who will not bow to a 
 usurper or his favourites in preference to 
 Christ, then let a gallows be made of fifty cu- 
 bits high, and let him be hanged thereon, even 
 if it be without a full and fair hearing. 
 
 The church is exoterically the salt of the 
 earth, and is full of pompous bustle in scatter- 
 ing itself throughout the earth. That body 
 which professes the purest creed, which was 
 prominent in a recent reformation, and which 
 is built upon the hill of a powerful denomina- 
 tion, knowingly cherishes esoterically, Univer- 
 salists and Papists, swearers, liars and Sab- 
 bath-breakers, gamblers and drunkards. Are 
 these the salt of the earth? Would Texas be 
 profited by the transfer of such a flourishing 
 congregation? I solemnly declare that I know 
 not such a nest in their republic, including their 
 army and navy. It w^ould be better for it to 
 have Linnville burned again, or la Fite revived, 
 than to be invaded by such a synagogue. 
 
 I had some suspicion of the true state of 
 the case, when I set sail for that country. 
 
109 
 
 Two things induced an humble longing, that, 
 Hke Jonah, I might be thrown to the sharks. 
 One was that I was myself a great sinner, and 
 should rejoice to be delivered from evil, and 
 received into the liedeemer's rest: another 
 was, that I saw and knew by a fair and per- 
 sonal examination, such a sort and degree of 
 corruption in that Jerusalem which I loved 
 better than life, that like Elijah under the ju- 
 niper tree, my soul was sick of life. Often 
 have I thought of him, when in my solitary 
 journey, I rested under a live-oak, and saw 
 and admired these inferior glories of Elijah's 
 God. That God knew^ that it was he who had 
 graciously compelled me to be faithful with 
 the loss of all things. 
 
 Since the writing of the last sentence here 
 recorded, I have been faithfully warned, that 
 nothing which a man says of immoralities, 
 from the perpetration of which he has been a 
 sufferer, can have any weight in the commu- 
 nity; because all will believe the exposure to 
 be the result of self-interest, or personal resent- 
 ment. Out of respect to the quarter from 
 which this argument came, I wish to meet it. 
 I wish to tell the honest truth with respect to 
 this suffering, as well as the use which is 
 made of it. When on the ocean, I had an 
 argument with a learned infidel, w^ho, though 
 personally friendly, politely endeavoured to 
 trace all that I said for religion, to the preju- 
 10 
 
110 
 
 dice of education among orthodox Presbyte- 
 rians, and connexion with them. I told him 
 sincerely, that my attachment to Calvinistic 
 Presbyterianism was, by the grace of God, in 
 despite of the considerations to which he re- 
 ferred it: that if he would sum up all the 
 wrongs which I ever received from Jews, Pa- 
 gans, and Papists, from Universalists, Unita- 
 rians, and infidels, they would not near equal 
 the wrongs which I had suffered from ortho- 
 dox Presbyterian ministers, elders, deacons, 
 trustees, and pew-holders. When they have 
 sometimes behaved with brutality, members of 
 other denominations, even Jews and Catholics, 
 have sometimes treated me with fraternal af- 
 fection. Yet this did not in the least diminish 
 my affection for the true system of religion, 
 because it was from God, who never wronged 
 me, but forgave my own sins, and saved me 
 from the malice of others. If my connexion 
 could move me to any thing, it would be to 
 flatter them, as they flatter one another in 
 their sins, or to forsake them, and flatter the 
 world, as they do. This is the way to titles, 
 popularity, and wealth. That man must be 
 very much heated, who knows our affairs, and 
 will deny that going with the current would, 
 according to human calculation, have gained 
 me as happy a portion as my neighbours. I 
 early sat down and counted the cost of the 
 course which I have taken. I have now^ fol- 
 
in 
 
 lowed it long enough to know, what no man 
 can know, who does not try it. My great 
 ambition is to be a faithful servant of God and 
 his church, and to take the consequences, like 
 a good soldier, with faith and patience. I 
 have endeavoured to declare the whole coun- 
 sel of God, whether men would hear or for- 
 bear; and a man who will sacrifice every 
 thing, and incur every danger for the sake of 
 doing wrong, or doing right from a malicious 
 motive, makes a bad bargain. As far as I 
 know myself, I do not hate, but love sinners; 
 and if I did not, 1 firmly believe that those 
 unspeakable comforts with which God has fill- 
 ed my soul in adversity, would utterly vanish. 
 For the sake of these comforts, I bless God for 
 the afflictions. Although they have sickened 
 my soul, yet it has been but for a moment, and 
 a visit from the great Physician has made the 
 pain productive of unutterable pleasure. I did 
 not wish to see again the place where the 
 deepest corruption was flagrantly cherished by 
 church authorities: but since God has so or- 
 dered, and ordered me to testify against it, I 
 am perfectly willing to go to prison and to the 
 grave, in winter or summer, in his blessed ser- 
 vice. In the light of God's countenance, I feel 
 no more afraid of generals and D. D.'s, of fines 
 and imprisonments, than I felt afraid of the 
 Mexican Indians, or the wolves of Texas. 
 Sometimes iniquity becomes so strong, that 
 
112 
 
 nothing but blood will open men's eyes to its 
 enormity. If, instead of being enriched by 
 their money, I should die to do them good, 
 they may then see whether I loved them. 
 
 As to the incompetency of testimony, when 
 the witness has suffered wrong, I would ask, is 
 Moses a good witness against Egypt, or against 
 Israel ? He suffered wrong from both. Is Jere- 
 miah to be set down as interested, prejudiced, 
 and incompetent to testify against gross public 
 corruption, because it put him into a dun- 
 geon? Does David's persecution by the court 
 and the army, disqualify him for testifying 
 against Saul and Doeg? At such conclusions, 
 even a devout Papist would cross himself and 
 say, 
 
 '* Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, 
 Pwrtect the bed that we lie on." 
 
 Were these four evangelists, and the other 
 writers of the New Testament, unworthy wit- 
 nesses, because they declared things which 
 they knew, and from which they had suffered? 
 The matters which I have stated, were publicly 
 investigated, and engraven on the records of 
 church courts, which had been foremost in 
 discarding myriads of Pelagian Congregation- 
 alists, and who were as solemnly bound to de- 
 liver the church from Universalists and Papists, 
 swearers, liars and Sabbath-breakers, gam- 
 blers and drunkards. 
 
113 
 
 When in a darker age and dispensation, 
 Benjamin transgressed at Gibeah, did the rest 
 of the tribes patronise the offenders, and pro- 
 nounce them in a flourishing condition? "All 
 the people arose as one man" against them, 
 not only to pronounce, but to execute the sen- 
 tence of the law. The church courts have 
 strangely declared them guilty, and treated 
 them as meritorious, to the manifest encour- 
 agement of corruption. 
 
 "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; 
 they knew not the Lord." So say the church 
 courts against these offenders. Eli said, "Nay, 
 my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: 
 ye make the Lord's people to transgress." Yet 
 in their impenitent, unreformed state, Eli con- 
 tinued them as officers in good standing, as 
 has been done in the present case; and the 
 Spirit of infalhbility has decided, that in doing 
 so, he honoured his wicked sons more than his 
 Maker; who therefore told him, "Them that 
 honour me, I will honour; and they that de- 
 spise me, shall be lightly esteemed." *' In that 
 day, I will perform against Eli all things which 
 I have spoken concerning his house; when I 
 begin, I will also make an end. For I have 
 told him, that I will judge his house forever, 
 for the iniquity which he knoweth: because 
 his sons made themselves vile, and he restrain- 
 ed them not." 
 
 The great secret was then, as it is now. 
 10* 
 
114 
 
 Eli and his sons had all good appetites; and 
 God told them, that both the trangression and 
 the neglect of discipline, were " to make your- 
 selves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of 
 Israel, my people." If all these offerings had 
 been withdrawn, until they performed their 
 duty, they would probably have been more 
 conscientious. 
 
 The purse of $175,000, offered to the win- 
 ner in the late race of reformation, gave an 
 unwonted beauty to orthodoxy, and greatly 
 increased the number and zeal of its advocates. 
 Many who once spurned and persecuted An- 
 tipas as a disturber of the peace, now occupy 
 the ground for which he suffered; and there is 
 not one of them but what would come com- 
 pletely and immediately to the mark, for a 
 moral, as well as a doctrinal reformation, if 
 their trustees and pew-holders were to come 
 to a unanimous determination, that ewery min- 
 ister's salary should cease, until measures were 
 adopted and executed, for delivering the church 
 from the guilt and disgrace of fostering Uni- 
 versalists and Papists, swearers, liars and Sab- 
 bath-breakers, gamblers and drunkards. If a 
 reward of a D. D. and a splendid dwelling, 
 and a wealthy salary, were given to every 
 minister in our connexion, who should succeed 
 in delivering the deacon from the usurping 
 trustee, and the communicant from the Si- 
 monaical pew-holder, as they have already 
 
115 
 
 delivered the elder from the committee-man, 
 there would soon be a marvellous illumination 
 of understandings and consciences on these 
 subjects. Every authority from Scripture, 
 every section of our Constitution, every word 
 of Calvin's Institutes, and every argument and 
 illustration from analogy, would be like a nail 
 in a sure place. Instead of making passive obe- 
 dience and non-resistance the cardinal graces, 
 the land would teem with soldiers for the holy 
 war. There would be an unaccountable con- 
 version of every prudent Barnabas into a faith- 
 ful Boanerges. Instead of being magnetized to 
 sleep by the sapient stupor of dumb dogs, the 
 country would be startled into life, by the 
 horrific howling of a thousand wolves. 
 
 But the communicants must continue to be 
 sold to the pew-holders, the deacons to the 
 trustees, and humble Christians to the seven 
 abominations, until a reformation shall be pro- 
 fitable to the clergy, or until the clergy, like 
 their reformed fathers, shall graciously prefer 
 the favour of God, and the spiritual prosperity 
 of his church, to earthly tithes, titles, and 
 temples. 
 
 When this spirit is wanting among the 
 clergy, it will evaporate from the church, and 
 tfie community corrupts, because the salt has 
 lost its savour. Among human beings, whether 
 Popish or Protestant, the want of real religion 
 is made up by an endless increase of outward 
 
116 
 
 show, and self-glorified liberality, which only 
 nourish their pride, avarice, and ambition. 
 To these amiable graces, they give the name 
 of meekness, prudence, and charity; the latter 
 of which is so lavished upon worldly, wicked 
 men, that there is none to spare for a disinte- 
 rested, faithful reprover of iniquity, even when 
 he confines himself to his own parochial limits. 
 If, after the unworthy invasion of those limits, 
 he find himself obliged to reprove clerical pro- 
 tectors of gross and indubitable corruption, it 
 is not because he loves the work of rebuking 
 these earthly supremes and infallibles, more 
 than he loves the gibbet: but because the pro- 
 vidence of God and their own act, have called 
 him out of his beloved seclusion, to a public 
 testimony for that God whom the sons of Eli 
 have insulted, and for that church which they 
 have knowingly corrupted. If this testimony 
 may be accepted of God, his blessing will fol- 
 low it, either in the repentance or the confu- 
 sion of the guilty. 
 
 After Haman's disappointment, they ought 
 not to calculate upon establishing their abused 
 power by desertions, proscriptions, and end- 
 less calumnies. Condemning the innocent, and 
 justifying the guilty, are both alike odious to 
 God, and dangerous to men, and especially to 
 ministers. They well know that God has long 
 protected an obnoxious individual against these 
 weapons, although they have been wielded 
 
117 
 
 against him by ordained platoons. They know 
 that in the earlier stages of the late refornna- 
 tion, he acted and sufiered alone: yet his des- 
 pised testimony against the intrusions of Pe- 
 lagian Congregationalism, has been unexpect- 
 edly established even in his lifetime; and that 
 too by persons who would be glad to oblite- 
 rate all such acts and sufferings from the page 
 of history. That was the glorious and worthy 
 work of an Omnipotent Agent. He yet lives, 
 and loves his own cause. 
 
 Some may feel very confident of my defeat, 
 from the belief that I now stand alone, in as- 
 serting the purity of the church, and the rights 
 and liberties of deacons and Christians, against 
 the intrusions and usurpations of trustees and 
 pew-holders, Universalists and Papists, swear- 
 ers, liars and Sabbath-breakers, gamblers and 
 drunkards. Let them trust, if they will trust, 
 in generals and their hosts; let them trust in 
 money made by distilling and rectifying, and 
 retailing and receiving, and shaving ! ! My con- 
 fidence is in the Lord of hosts, a tried friend, 
 who has upheld me alike in the city and the 
 desert. I know in whom I have trusted, and 
 that wherever I live, or wherever I die, whe- 
 ther here or in Texas, on the ocean, or be- 
 yond it, God will give success to the good 
 cause, and will measure with the line of de- 
 struction, the exoteric and esoteric policy of 
 Pagans, Papists, and Pharisees. 
 
118 
 
 Divine smiles of acceptance and encourage- 
 ment, brighter than a Texan sun, fairer than a 
 Texan moon, and blander than the breeze 
 kissing their flowery prairies, assure me that 
 my labour shall not be lost, nor my sufferings 
 be in vain. If God should permit those who 
 endeavoured to swear away my character, 
 and imprison my person, to renew their as- 
 saults, and procure more liberal and success- 
 ful witnesses, for the one or the other, I trust 
 that they will find me, as they have hitherto 
 found me, willing to face the brigades of my 
 Master's foes, and willing, in the faith of his 
 promises, to spend and be spent in his good 
 cause, and in his sweet service; loving my 
 enemies, and rejoicing in the good of his 
 people, and in the hope of salvation to my 
 helpless, guilty, unw^orthy soul, through the 
 blood and righteousness and spirit of my divine 
 Redeemer. 
 
119 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Texas under a great disadvantage, from a dearth of ecclesiastical titles 
 of nobility, indispensable to liberty and religion : whereas literary 
 clouds Imve long sprinkled the United States with D. D.'s, as libe- 
 rally as that blessed man, Moses, scattered L. L.'s (lice and locusts) 
 through the land of Egypt. 
 
 The truly learnedbiographer of Dr. Rodgers, 
 (Dr. Miller, now of Princeton,) asserts ** the 
 gradual depreciation of the value of honorary 
 degrees in later times," both in Europe and 
 America. ** What a contrast," lie exclaims, 
 ** between that state of public sentiment, and 
 public habit, which permitted President Dick' 
 insoriy President Burr, President Edwards, Pre- 
 sident JDavies, the apostolic Tennents, Mr. 
 Whitefield, and a long catalogue of similar 
 men, to descend to their graves without a Doc- 
 torate; and that which now lavishes the title, 
 on juvenility, on ignorance, and on weakness, 
 with a frequency altogether unworthy of the 
 dispensers of literary honour !" 
 
 When honorary statues were the rage, a 
 man was once asked why there was none for 
 him. " I would rather be asked why there is 
 none, than why there is one for me," was his 
 answer. Which is the most in need of a Doc- 
 torate, the apostolic Gilbert Tennent, William 
 Tennent, George Whitefield, or the aforesaid 
 Dr. Juvenility, Dr. Ignorance, and Dr. Weak- 
 ness? Now, Dr. Witherspoon, in his Ecclesi- 
 
120 
 
 astical Characteristics, says, "It is with charity 
 in [such matters,] as with charity in supply- 
 ing the w^ants of the necessitous; we do not 
 give alms to the rich, but to the poor." 
 
 But to secure the full benefit of it, the title 
 ought to be fully written out, and fairly trans- 
 lated, like the Scriptures, or the common 
 people will be in perpetual perplexity about 
 the meaning of D. D., as they are about the 
 letters O. K. in party politics; and they may 
 be as capricious in changing the meaning. At 
 first, O. K. was General Jackson's seal of ap- 
 probation upon all that his successor did; and 
 afterward, when that successor was removed 
 from office, O. K. was turned wrong end fore- 
 most, and interpreted ''lacked oitV^ As D. D. 
 is given to many ecclesiastics who are wrong 
 end foremost, that title also is subject to the 
 same vicissitude, unless its meaning is fixed, 
 like the Hebrew words, by punctuarian ad- 
 ditions. 
 
 Those who know a clergyman to be irrita- 
 ble from disease, might mistake D. D. to mean 
 a Dumpish Dyspeptic; those who know that 
 he has resorted too much to brandy for a cure, 
 might think that it meant a Dram Drinker. 
 Knowing as well as the above quoted biogra- 
 pher, that juvenility, ignorance, weakness, du- 
 plicity, cowardice, and ambition, are their 
 most prominent characteristics, others may 
 be in danger of interpreting the D. D. as mean- 
 
121 
 
 ing Diffuse Declaimer, Dismal Dreamer, Dull 
 Disciple, Dizzy Dolt, Dastardly Drone, or Dare 
 Devil, Double Dealer, or Dumb Dog; the lat- 
 ter of which is a scriptural title, exceedingly 
 suitable to those who are for letting error die 
 a natural death. 
 
 To all such, a D. D. may be of service, as a 
 vote and an office in an Old-school Presbyte- 
 rian Church, are of service to Universalists 
 and Papists, swearers, liars and Sabbath-break- 
 ers, gamblers and drunkards. 
 
 If the gallows had its due, a D. D. might 
 occasionally be found, which some might in- 
 terpret DuPLiciTER DAMNATus, or (louhly doom- 
 ed, to be excluded from the company of popes, 
 priests and nuns in purgatory. 
 
 But most people prefer explaining a D. D. 
 to mean Dulce Donum, a sweet bribe, which, 
 like the Regium Donum, the Bait of John Bull, 
 is intended to catch such gudgeons as may be 
 gulled in that way. That there are many fish 
 of this description in our ecclesiastical waters, 
 is well known to the British Parliament, and 
 the trustees of colleges; both of which secular 
 establishments are excellently qualified to ap- 
 preciate and reward such clerical juvenility, 
 ignorance and zveakness, as may stand in need 
 of their charity. The sweetness of this bribe, 
 is as evident as tliat of " wafers made with 
 honey." This fact, together with its resem- 
 blance, in size and shape, to a couple of grains 
 11 
 
122 
 
 of coriander seed, in connexion with the wor- 
 ship which has been paid to this sacred rehc 
 of the most remote nntiquity — but the infer- 
 ence is too plain; a word to the wise is enough. 
 
 Some have asserted that this title is incon- 
 sistent with the spirit of Presbyterianism, the 
 parity of the clergy. But it is questionable 
 whether that parity could be preserved with- 
 out it. Let any one look at it, and he will 
 see, with half an eye, that D. D. upon Mr. 
 Weathercock, like two panniers upon a Mexi- 
 can ass, is the heau ideal of equality. It is the 
 only way to equalize things which are other- 
 wise incurably uneven. 
 
 Let us consider one of the contrasts furnish- 
 ed by the learned biographer of Dr. Rodgers. 
 On the one hand, w^e will take President Dick- 
 inson, and on the other hand, some untitled 
 son of a Dickins, who is remarkable for no- 
 thing but juvenility, ignorance and weakness, 
 or pride, avarice and ambition. Without a 
 D. D. to the latter, how can a parity exist? 
 With this title to the weaker vessel, they ba- 
 lance as exactly as a bag of corn taken to 
 mill in some countries, with the grain in one 
 end, and a stone in the other. If upon trying 
 the experiment, it should be found that the 
 stone end is still too light, let D. D.'s be multi- 
 plied, as they were in the Council of Constance, 
 where it took two hundred of them to balance 
 two untitled men, John Huss and Jerome of 
 
123 
 
 Prague, who were punished, a la common law, 
 for telling the truth. 
 
 For the same crime, Martin Luther's D. D. 
 was taken from him, by the authority which 
 conferred it: and they never gave one to John 
 Calvin; so that he, like Whitefield, was per- 
 mitted to descend to his grave, to the tune of 
 Roslin Castle, without a D. D. to serve as a 
 head-stone and a foot-stone; the consequence of 
 which is, that no one knows at this day where 
 he was buried, except the Roman priests, who 
 occasionally hear unearthly wailings and bowl- 
 ings arising from his ashes, almost as frightful 
 as if he were a pope in purgatory. 
 
 As for Calvin's worthy disciple, John Knox, 
 it is suspected either that he did not need it, 
 or that he did not duly appreciate it, as he was 
 notoriously a rough Christian, like the Apostle 
 Peter. That semi-barbarism which he learned 
 from Calvin, the democrat, he transmitted to 
 his followers, who in the fifth chapter of "The 
 Second Book of Discipline," made D. D. a 
 designation of school-masters, whose business 
 it was to teach divinity in the Bible and in the 
 catechism, " without such application as the 
 ministers use." But there is no account of the 
 Doctors of that day trying to hinder ministers 
 from making such application as was right in 
 ministers. 
 
 When I look at the seventh sub-section of 
 the ninth section of the first article of the Con- 
 
124 
 
 stitution of the United States, I recognize the 
 fruit of that Presbyterian democracy which 
 Knox learned at Geneva. "No title of nobility 
 shall be granted" at home, "or title of any 
 kind whatever^^ received from abroad, by any 
 "person holding any office of profit or trust 
 under" this government. A duke might be with- 
 out a dukedom, Dux a non Ducendo; his title 
 might be a mere Dulce Donum: yet these revo- 
 lutionary heroes could say, "Timeo Danaos, 
 et dona ferentes;" and therefore prohibited the 
 appearance of evil, as clergymen ought to do, 
 and as they profess to do. But those who 
 know how D. D.'s find their way to the offices 
 and appointments of church courts, and to 
 wealthy congregations, good or bad, and what 
 it costs to oppose their titles, and how many 
 opposers are bought up by these titles, like 
 Irish patriots by British pensions, may con- 
 sider this honour not an empty name, but like 
 titles of nobility, intended to support the throne 
 by surrounding it with aristocratical institu- 
 tions. What else can move the same college 
 to scatter its D. D.'s indiscriminately among the 
 champions of two opposing parties, which dif- 
 fer as diametrically as Jansenists and Jesuits, 
 Christians and Mahometans? 
 
 Instead of this liberal habit of spuing honours 
 upon all sorts, whether they w^ant them or not, 
 Dr. Rodgers' biographer suggests " a dignified 
 course of discrimination and reserve in bestow- 
 
125 
 
 ing" them. This, however, is too much like 
 the Eutopian vision of a well-regulated theatre, 
 and will infer the usefulness of dukedoms 
 among our statesmen, as well as of doctorates 
 among ecclesiastics. What a contrast in the 
 regard shown by statesmen to their political 
 constitution, and by clergymen to their in- 
 spired constitution!! The ecclesiastical doc- 
 tors and popes of our Saviour's day, were 
 called Rabbi, Master, and Father; which last 
 is equivalent to papa or pope. The Supreme 
 Head of the Protestant church, when discuss- 
 ing the very topic now before us, lays down 
 the law in such words as the following: "Be 
 not ye called Rabbi ; " Neither be ye called 
 Masters:" "And call no man your Father (or 
 Pope) upon the earth." Does this forbid a 
 man to be a pope, more plainly than to be a 
 doctor? And is either less plainly prohibited, 
 than titles of nobility are in our political con- 
 stitution? 
 
 But to my mind, the unlawfulness of this 
 secular, literary intrusion into things spiritual, 
 is hardly more evident, than its arrogance, 
 inconsistency and absurdity, especially among 
 Presbyterians. Mr. Gale, a young licentiate, 
 requests ordination and installation from a 
 Presbytery, which has a practical control over 
 a college, the trustees of which are clever men 
 in the departments of law, medicine, mechanics 
 and commerce. Immediately after the ordi- 
 11* 
 
126 
 
 nation and installation, application is made to 
 the trustees, by the minister's friend, for the 
 granting of a doctorate to the new pastor, that 
 he may be upon an equality with young Breeze, 
 of the same village. After a refusal from the 
 college, the friend has sufficient perseverance 
 and influence to obtain an interlocutory hear- 
 ing before the Presbytery, through whose in- 
 fluence he had failed. He very respectfully 
 acknowledges his obligations for this inter- 
 view, and affectionately requests an answer to 
 a few honest questions, from an unpretending 
 layman. We shall give the number of the 
 questions, with the names of the parties. 
 
 1. Friend, Is not the ministerial office from 
 Christ, the Head of the Church? Presbytery. 
 Yea. 
 
 2. Friend, Is it not the most important, 
 honourable, and responsible office on earth? 
 Presbytery. Yea. 
 
 3. Friend. Is it lawful, in our day, to confer 
 an office of such transcendant responsibility, 
 gravity and elevation, upon men as young as 
 Timothy? Presbytery. Yea. 
 
 4. Friend. Do not profou7id knowledge and 
 aptness to teach, belong to the scriptural requi- 
 sites of a gospel minister? Presbytery. Yea. 
 
 5. Friend. Is not a Doctor of Divinity a man 
 6{ profound knowledge and aptness to teach, in 
 matters of religion? Presbytery. Yea. 
 
 6 Friend. Does the Doctorate come from 
 
127 
 
 Christ, the Head of the Church? Presbytery. 
 Nay : but from a literary institution. 
 
 7. Friend, Are the men who confer the 
 Doctorate^ ordained of God to that end, as gos- 
 pel ministers are, to transmit their office to 
 others ? Presbytery* Nay : but they are secu- 
 lar men, not always possessing or professing 
 religion or literature. 
 
 8. Friend. Should the church submit to such 
 judges the qualifications of her gospel minis- 
 ters, in relation to profound knowledge and apt- 
 ness to teach ? Presbytery, Nay : The less is 
 blessed of the better. 
 
 9. Friend, Why are Doctorates conferred? 
 Presbytery, To elevate the ministerial charac- 
 ter, by offering an incentive to application and 
 improvement. 
 
 10. Friend, Why are not Doctorates given to 
 all gospel ministers alike? Presbytery, Because 
 some, like your friend, Mr. Gale, are unworthy 
 of it, through juvenility, ignorance, and weak- 
 ness ; and because the title is depreciated, by 
 being multiplied, and indiscriminately con- 
 ferred. 
 
 11. Friend, Does not your platform maintain 
 the parity of the clergy ? Presbytery, Yea. 
 
 \Z, Friend, Is it not an evil sign, to love to 
 be called of men. Rabbi, Rabbi? Presbytery. 
 Yea. 
 
 13. Friend, Gentlemen; your patience in 
 hearing and answering my inquiries, will be 
 
128 
 
 greatly enhanced, if you will have the goodness 
 to correct any mistake which I may have made. 
 In answer to my 4th and 5th questions, you 
 admitted that a Doctor of Divinity should have 
 profound knowledge and aptness to teach; and 
 that a minister of the gospel should have no- 
 thing less. 
 
 In answer to my 1st, 6th, 7th and 8th ques- 
 tions, you admitted that the gospel ministry 
 was from Christ, through the instrumentality 
 of men appointed and qualified for that end ; 
 and that the Doctorate was not from Christ, 
 nor through men appointed or qualified to 
 judge of a man's knowledge or ability to teach 
 divinity. 
 
 Under questions 10th and 5th, you pro- 
 nounce my friend Gale too ignorant and weak 
 for a Doctorate, which requires a man to have 
 profound knowledge and aptness to teach; al- 
 though you had just ordained him to the office 
 of the gospel ministry, which, in question 4th, 
 requires a man oi profound knowledge and apt- 
 ness to teach; and which, in question 2d, you 
 pronounce the most important, honourable and 
 responsible office on earth; and although you 
 had lately been instrumental in the ordination 
 and doctoration of the prudent, compromising, 
 managing, courtly, wealthy, and highly con- 
 nected young Breeze, who has not half the 
 knowledge and ability of my upright and 
 downright friend. 
 
129 
 
 In questions 2d, 3d and 10th, you consider 
 yourselves right in conferring upon nny young 
 friend, as Paul conferred upon Timothy, an 
 office for teaching divinity^ which is of divine 
 authority, and of transcendant responsibility, 
 gravity and importance, and yet you pro- 
 nounce his juvenility unworthy of the earth- 
 ly, unauthorized title of Teacher of Divinity, 
 though conferred by unordained and incompe- 
 tent judges of his teaching abilities, in matters 
 of divinity. 
 
 Although in question 8th, you admit that the 
 less is blessed of the greater, and that laymen 
 cannot confer the scriptural office for teaching 
 divinity, yet in questions 6th and 10th, the 
 greater is blessed of the less, with an unscrip- 
 tural title for teaching divinity, of which you 
 say, some are unworthy, who, you say, are 
 nevertheless worthy teachers of divinity, in the 
 opinion of the only competent judges. 
 
 In question 11th, you profess to maintain 
 the equality of all your ordained teachers of 
 divinity; and yet in questions 9th and 10th, you 
 are furnished by tradition, and not by scrip- 
 lure, with an extra-title of teachers of divinity, 
 which is to distinguish, by the decision of in- 
 competent judges, the high from the low, the 
 worthy from the unworthy, the learned and 
 able from the ignorant and weak; and which, 
 as a precious prize, is to be set before clerical 
 racers, to accelerate them in industry and im- 
 
130 
 
 provement; or rather, according to question 
 12th, they who love, like young Breeze, to be 
 called of nnen Rabbi, Rabbi, are excited by 
 this offered prize, to pursue that course of pru- 
 dent compronfiising, courtly nnanagement, and 
 treacherous sycophancy, for which he was 
 rewarded with a D. D., and to avoid that up- 
 right and downright course for which his supe- 
 rior is denied this title, 
 
 Moses said, " Would God that all the Lord's 
 people were prophets, and that the Lord w^ould 
 put his Spirit upon them." Did Moses think 
 that the nnultiplication of prophets depreciated 
 the title, when the Spirit went along with it? 
 Yet after you have declared by the solemn 
 imposition of hands, that you believe my friend 
 to be formed of God for a teacher of divinity, 
 you deny to him and others like him, your 
 honorary and unwarranted title of Teacher 
 of Divinity, because, like an article of mer- 
 chandise, it is depreciated by multiplication, 
 as in question 10th- 
 
 With one breath you complain, that you 
 have a most lamentable scarcity of ordained 
 teachers of divinity; and with the next, you 
 complain of the lamentable increase of hono- 
 rary Teachers of Divinity, because the value 
 of your D. D., like that of the Samaritan Dove's 
 Dung, in 2 Kings vi. 25, depends upon the sur- 
 rounding scarcity. The text referred to will 
 show^, that during that famine, four cab loads 
 
131 
 
 of D. D.'s were worth just as much as one 
 Ass's Head; and down to our day, the lamen- 
 table multiplication of D. D.'s and Ass's Heads 
 has been in such a ratio, that they continue 
 to bear the same relative value. With grati- 
 tude for your indulgence, these things are 
 humbly suggested to your acknowledged judg- 
 ment and talents, piety and integrity. 
 
 The interlocutory closed, the Presbytery 
 was called to order; and the following overture 
 was moved and seconded, put and lost, viz. 
 
 Whereas ministerial parity is of the essence 
 of Presbyterianism ; 
 
 And whereas a virtual prelacy is the corner- 
 stone of ministerial parity, as Governor M*Duf- 
 fee would say ; 
 
 And whereas the extensive and almost in- 
 discriminate distribution of Doctorates has 
 greatly depreciated their value as an aristo- 
 cratical distinction, and as an incentive to 
 improvement, and a recompense for it; 
 
 And whereas our Patrician clergy, with 
 deference be it spoken, sometimes need a sti- 
 mulus, and deserve a recompense, as well as 
 our Plebeian clergy, as the Bishops of some 
 churches are stimulated or rewarded with an 
 Archbishopric; 
 
 Therefore, Resolved, that when a Presbyte- 
 rian Doctor has been so far stimulated, that 
 the clerk of the market, or a board of physi- 
 cians, shall pronounce him worth four cabs of 
 
132 
 
 D. D.'s, he shall be entitled to the higher hono- 
 rary degree of A. H., or rather C. A., Caput 
 Asini, as the Vulgate has it, in 2 Kings vi. 25 ; 
 a degree which Martin Luther, in his Table 
 Talk, has given to some of the Fathers. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Texas undei* a great disadvantage, ever since that savage battle of San 
 Jacinto, from a dearth of gold and gowns ; holy vestments and holy 
 water ; the revolution having driven these beauties of holiness over 
 the Rio Grande: whereas England, and the United States, and 
 Mexico, are favoured with a great revival of these comforts, in Ox- 
 ford, and Princeton, and Saltillo. 
 
 If any should be at a loss to account for my 
 unwonted zeal in favour of titles and habits, 
 I would merely whisper in their ear, what 
 ordained lips w^hispered in mine, the other day, 
 that many big bulls of our bashan will con- 
 scientiously oppose any cause which I may 
 espouse. Consequently, the only way in which 
 I can profit these brothers of charity, is to take 
 them by the wrong end, as the Irishman did 
 the pig. 
 
 The resolution of the Presbytery of New 
 Brunswick, on the subject of gow'ns, reads as 
 follows : 
 
 " Resolved, That this Presbytery consider it 
 becoming and proper, that ministers of the gos- 
 pel, in the exercise of their public offices, should 
 
133 
 
 revive the practice of wearing the gown; and 
 that it be recommended to the members of this 
 body, when they deem it expedient, to act in 
 conformity with this suggestion." 
 
 In a few days, the Ledger published the fol- 
 lowing paragraph: 
 
 " Gowns, — We are informed that the Pres- 
 bytery of New Brunswick, which met last 
 week, recommended their brethren in that 
 clergy, to adopt the Episcopal habit of wear- 
 ing gowns in the pulpit." 
 
 This occasioned him soon after to receive 
 and publish the following communication: 
 
 ** For the Public Ledger. Messrs. Editors — 
 The Ledger is for once mistaken, in calling 
 the wearing of gowns in the pulpit an Episco- 
 pal habit, as if it were peculiar to the Episco- 
 palian Church. The clergy of the Church of 
 Scotland, of the Reformed Churches on the con- 
 tinent of Europe, and indeed very many of the 
 Dissenters in England wear the gown. The 
 engraved portraits of many of the sturdiest 
 non-conformists come down to us in all the 
 solemn pomp of gown and bands and wig or 
 small cap. The stiff quarrel in England under 
 Elizabeth, was not about wearing of gowns, 
 (in which the reformed clergy seemed to he 
 agreed,) but the change of vestments — white to 
 black. — The Presbytery of New Brunswick are 
 only returning to the custom of their own 
 Church in former times. L. S. (y." 
 
 12 
 
134 
 
 Who L. S. C. is, we cannot tell ; but, from 
 the character of his communication, we infer 
 that he is, or will be, or ought to be a D. D.; 
 as he is evidently a great historian, and an 
 efficient advocate of proper clerical manners 
 and habits; and is fond of giving a seasonable 
 shove to the aforesaid revival. From him and 
 the presbytery and the seminary united, we 
 may gather that the gown is a vestment, white 
 or black — that it is, or ought to be, accompa- 
 nied with a wig, or cap and hands — that this 
 dress belongs not to Episcopacy, but to the 
 reformation; as the habits were adopted and 
 used by all the reformers, on the continent, in 
 England, and in Scotland — that a return to 
 this "solemn pomp," is a revival of reforma- 
 tion principles and practices, something more 
 important than a revival of true Protestantism, 
 and of Calvinistic Presbyterianism, in doctrine, 
 order, and morality. 
 
 As I desire to do all things decently and in 
 order, I feel slightly aggrieved by the high 
 authorities quoted above, for leaving so impor- 
 tant a matter as the cut, colour, and material 
 of the garment in such obscurity. Jn a glo- 
 rious revival, presbyters, doctors of divinity, 
 and theological professors, should remember 
 the responsibility which they incur, if for the 
 want of proper instruction, poor ministers 
 should get a white silk instead of black ; or a 
 black linen instead of white, or a Joseph's coat 
 
135 
 
 of many colours, or John the Baptist's camel's 
 hair, or something like the Apostle Peter's fish- 
 ing-coat, or a hunting-shirt of Paul's tent- 
 making fabric. 
 
 The only scratch of information which has 
 assailed the public cranium on this subject, is 
 from the pen of L. S. C. above ; where he as- 
 serts that on the part of the reformers, the 
 whole quarrel in the time of Queen Elizabeth, 
 was about " the change of vestments — white 
 to black." As I have not seen nor heard of 
 any thing in opposition to this from head-quar- 
 ters, and as the alledged old way is the one to 
 be revived, I take it for granted, than an outside 
 linen, as white, and of course as clean as that 
 which our first-rate butchers wear, is to be worn 
 in the pulpit, as a thing ^'becoming and projyery 
 The recommendation of the gown was accom- 
 panied by the ordination of a missionary to 
 Africa. The information therefore of L. S. C, 
 that the gown is not black, like the Africans, 
 but white, like Elizabeth's gown, may be of 
 some use in these times. 
 
 The fact, however, that Elizabeth's white 
 gowns and caps fitted all the reformers of her 
 day, is hardly consistent with the testimony of 
 many of her suffering clergy, who, in the year 
 1566, declared "that the surplice, or white 
 linen garment, came from the Egyptians into 
 the Jewish church; and that Pope Sylvester, 
 about the year 320, was the first that appointed 
 
136 
 
 the sacrament to be administered in a white 
 linen garment; giving this reason for it, be- 
 cause the body of Christ was buried in a white 
 linen cloth." This might leave room for other 
 habits; but the same clergymen proceed to 
 declare, that ^'all these garments had been 
 abused to idolatry, sorcery, and all kinds of 
 conjurations; for (say they) the popish priests 
 can perform none of their pretended consecra- 
 tions of holy water, transubstantiation of the 
 body of Christ, conjurations of the devil out of 
 places or persons possessed, without a surplice, 
 or an alhe, or some hallowed stole." 
 
 To preserve the credit of our friends, it is 
 necessary to dispose of this declaration as well 
 as we can. Otherwise, it is like a norther j 
 sweeping through a Texan tent. It scatters 
 "all these garments," white, black and grizzled, 
 ring-streaked, spotted and speckled, gowns, 
 bands and wigs. Perhaps, as these witnesses 
 suffered from the gown-mongers, they ought 
 hardly to be believed. 
 
 They state, "that neither the prophets in 
 the Old Testament, nor the apostles in the 
 New, were distinguished by their garments ;" 
 "that a distinction of garments (white or black) 
 in the Christian church, did not generally ob- 
 tain, till long after the rising of Antichrist ; for 
 the whole clergy of Ravenna, writing to the 
 Emperor Carolus Calvus, in the year of our 
 Lord 876, say, * We are distinguished from the 
 
137 
 
 laity, not by our clothes, but by our doctrines; 
 not by our habits, but our conversation,^ " 
 
 When Fox, the martyrologist, refused to 
 wear the apparel, they let him escape, but pun- 
 ished naany of their best ministers for the same 
 refusal. In their written apology, they show 
 that, distinguishing themselves by the badges 
 of idolatry, is contrary to the Scriptures and 
 the Fathers, among whom they quote Tertul- 
 lian " c?e Corona Militis;^' where he says, "If 
 it be a matter of infidelity to sit at the idol's 
 feasts, what is it to be seen in the habit or ap- 
 parel of the idolV^ With due deference to this 
 nornet of a Father, I would observe, that he 
 has some things nearly as bad as " the soldier's 
 crown,'' or Ehzabeth's gown. 
 
 But some of Elizabeth's reformers, in a let- 
 ter to Zurich, observe " that the ancient Fa- 
 thers had their habits, but not peculiar to 
 bishops, nor distinct from the laity." They 
 state, that " the Papists glory in this, that these 
 habits were brought in by them, for which 
 they vouch Otho's constitutions and the Roman 
 Pontifical." 
 
 In the time of King Edward VI., the clergy 
 were " so poor, that they could scarce afford 
 to buy themselves decent clothes." In that 
 reign, a Council of Bishops and Archbishops, 
 declared concerning these habits, that "at 
 best they were but inventions of popery, and 
 ought to be destroyed with that idolatrous 
 12* 
 
138 
 
 religion." When they became richer, they 
 revived the things which they had destroyed ; 
 and now are they reviving on, with their can- 
 dles and crosses ; and w^e are trying to revive 
 after them, until we shall all be as much re- 
 vived as Oxford, or Babylon the Great. 
 
 In Elizabeth's struggle to put her gowns 
 upon all the clergy, the Bishop of Durham 
 prayed the Earl of Leicester " to consider how 
 all reformed countries had cast away popish 
 apparel, with the pope." He calls it " the de- 
 filed robe of Antichrist;" and says, "since we 
 have forsaken popery as wicked, I do not see 
 how their apparel can become saints and pro- 
 fessors of the gospel." In opposition to him, 
 our Presbytery has said that it can become 
 saints and professors. Doctors will differ ! 
 Bishop Pilkinton observes, that " the Papists 
 blew the coals;" would it not be well to ex- 
 amine who are handling the bellows of our 
 revival? But he says that " the blame of all 
 was cast upon the Bishops." He thought this 
 unjust; and Bishop Grindal calls "God to wit- 
 ness, that it did not lie at their door that the 
 habits were not quite taken away,''^ Thus the 
 Bishops declare their opposition to the gown, 
 because it w^as the apparel of popish idolatry, 
 as the corona militis and vestis peregrina were 
 badges of pagan idolatry. 
 
 That it was used at all among them, is at- 
 tributable chiefiy to the stern inflexibility of 
 
139 
 
 Elizabeth ; and that, if we believe L. S. C. 
 from a regard to Presbyterian parity. To 
 maintain in a becoming and proper manner, the 
 equipoise of society, she required, that as she 
 wore the breeches the men should wear the 
 gowns. And when juvenility, ignorance and 
 weakness are in the balance, against experi- 
 ence, wisdom and strength, how can parity be 
 restored in so becoming and proper a manner 
 as by throwing into the lighter scale a lot of 
 revived gowns and wigs, candles and crosses, 
 with a pot of holy water? 
 
 But the Presbyterian divines of Zurich 
 wrote to Elizabeth's victims that the habits 
 " carry an appearance of the mass, and are 
 merely remainders of Popery :" " and approve 
 of the zeal of those divines who wish to have 
 the house of God purged from all the dregs of 
 Poperyy Beza, and seventeen of his Presby- 
 terian brethren of the Genevese clergy say, 
 ** As for the Popish habits, those men that are 
 authors of their being imposed, do deserve 
 most evil of the church, and shall verily an- 
 swer it at the dreadful bar of Christ's judg- 
 ment." Some of the London divines forsook 
 the habits as " idolatrous geare," and adopted 
 " a book and order of preaching, administra- 
 tion of the sacraments, and discipline, that the 
 great Mr. Calvin had approved of, and which 
 was free from the superstitions of the English 
 service." 
 
140 
 
 With characteristic plainness the Presbyte- 
 rian clergy of Scotland wrote to their suffer- 
 ing brethren in England, as follows ; " If sur- 
 plice, corner cap and tippet have been badges 
 of idolatry, what have the preachers of Chris- 
 tian liberty, and the open rebukers of all 
 superstition, to do with the dregs of the Romish 
 heastV^ That was a memorable Uberty taken 
 by Andrew Melville, when under trial, he took 
 hold of the lawn sleeves of his lordly Prelati- 
 cal judge, calling them Romish rags. 
 
 But the day has now come when the great 
 and powerful, the learned and titled descend- 
 ants of these faithful witnesses think it becom- 
 ing and proper to revive these dregs, and patch 
 up these j^ags; and there are some indications 
 that they esteem a revival of this " solemn 
 pomp^^ more important than a revival of the 
 doctrine, order and morality of Calvinistic 
 Presbyterianism, and Protestant Christianity. 
 
 The revival of the gown has the honour of 
 beginning in our great Theological Seminary, 
 where, under God, we desire to see a begin- 
 ning of all good things connected with religion 
 and the church. When Presbyterial officers 
 were giving way to committee-men; and 
 Presbyterial courts were broken by squadrons 
 mustered on the ground of elective affinity; 
 who proposed a revival of Presbyterianism, 
 and a return to constitutional ground ? The 
 policy and the Periodical of Princeton pro- 
 
141 
 
 posed a surrender to the enemy, by changing 
 the constitution, and reorganizing the whole 
 church upon their plan. This policy was re- 
 buked by " Honesti/,^^ who had heard that one 
 professor had written the article, and that the 
 others differed from him ; although silence 
 would make them sharers in his responsibility. 
 They were not satisfied with a silent responsi- 
 bility ; but came out and signed their names 
 to a public adhesion. 
 
 It is true, that after all the contempt which 
 they endeavoured to lavish upon their reprover, 
 the God of Honesty compelled them at last to 
 return to the constitutional ground which they 
 had gloried in forsaking. But no compulsion 
 is necessary in a revival of the gown ; which 
 appears, therefore, the more important revival. 
 I have heard that the professor who advocated 
 this measure differed from one or more of his 
 brethren. Experience, however, has reminded 
 me of the motto, "My country, right or 
 wrong." Doubtless, they will stick together. 
 
 A magnanimity above this adorns many a 
 man, ancient and modern, who makes no pro- 
 fession of Calvinism, Protestantism, or Chris- 
 tianity. Because a party policy was disho- 
 nest, it was rejected by Aristides and his pa- 
 gan adherents. It was General la Fayette's 
 lofty elevation above selfish, proud, ambitous, 
 party views, which made him a tenant of a 
 
142 
 
 prison instead of a throne. Who now stands 
 the highest, he or Napoleon? 
 
 We have some ecclesiastical niagnates, 
 who, like the great ones of Pagan and Papal 
 Rome, float in a medium of such polite and 
 learned nebulosity, that with them a man who 
 perseveringly prefers pure principle to popu- 
 larity, pelf, and party, must be the slave of an 
 insane superstition, a reckless imprudence, 
 or an incurable obstinacy; and must, in either 
 case, be treated as a pestilent fellow, whose 
 touch is contagion. 
 
 Some of the best friends that I have on 
 earth are men of D. D — s, and black gowns. 
 Shall I forget the great and glorious Eternal, 
 to flatter a beloved fellow-worm ? If my free- 
 dom and faithfulness should alienate them all, 
 and make me as solitary and desolate as in 
 the wilds of Texas, there can the presence of 
 God make me safer and happier far, than in the 
 cowardly enjoyment of all earthly friendship, 
 and all human praise. 
 
 It is the unjust steward, who, for his own 
 profit, favours his Master's debtors at his Mas- 
 ter's expense. If I understand a minister's 
 duty, he is a witness for God, and is bound to 
 stand by the Gospel, whether men will punish 
 or reward, praise or blame. Duty has often 
 required me warmly to oppose those whom I 
 should have been delighted to please : and yet 
 my opposition has been attributed to personal 
 
143 
 
 hostility or ambition ; and a Cisatlantic Semi- 
 nary has encouraged the surmise, of which 
 even Pelagian Congregationalists acquitted 
 me. 
 
 If during a life of what others call suffer- 
 ing, this heart has experienced Gospel bless- 
 ings, then I can witness that those blessings 
 unutterably excel in value the treasures of the 
 mine and mountain, the forest, field and flood. 
 In the present enjoyment of Gospel truth, the 
 soul is lifted above the finger of scorn, the 
 sneer of derision, the tongue of slander, the 
 hand of persecution, and the gloom of the 
 grave. Death in any shape, or in a thousand 
 shapes, shall be welcome in such a cause, and 
 with such help. 
 
 While I witness for the God of grace that 
 this is the experience of my heart, my enemies 
 can witness that this has been the language of 
 every ministerial act, without regard to friend 
 or foe, personal prejudice or prepossession. 
 
 That great and pious professors of theology 
 have greater attainments in knowledge and 
 experience no one pretends to deny. But why 
 did they oppose and retard the late reforma- 
 tion, until they saw that the church was hang- 
 ing over a precipice? They saw that they 
 must take the dreadful leap with it; and not 
 until then did they yield a reluctant consent to 
 its deliverance. Not so with the gown revival. 
 This was an enterprise worthy of their steel. 
 
144 
 
 If I were to oppose the proper means of re- 
 turning to Gospel truth, and then urge a return 
 to the gown, the superior importance of the 
 latter would be my reason. 
 
 The seminary knows that the order of dea- 
 cons is Scriptural and Presbyterian, and that 
 for a long time it has been practically abolish- 
 ed, to give room to the world. With all their 
 truly distinguished talents and opportunities, 
 has the zeal of God's house consumed them ? 
 As far as I know, this enviable consumption, 
 quoad hoc, they and their partizans have left 
 exclusively to an individual, unaided, unpitied 
 by them. Although I am not acquainted with 
 any Presbyterial act of theirs, recommending 
 the revival of an exploded office in God's 
 house, as becoming and proper, yet there is 
 such an act in favour of the gown; which, 
 therefore, is the more important matter. 
 
 When, after a long absence, Nehemiah re- 
 turned to Jerusalem, it grieved him sore to hear 
 of " the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in 
 preparing him a chamber in the courts of the 
 house of God." Nehemiah thought it becom- 
 ing and proper to revive the old order and mo- 
 rality of the house. He therefore "cast forth 
 all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the 
 chamber." Suppose that by a public visita- 
 tion of the house, and a judicial investigation 
 of its concerns, it had been proved and de- 
 cided, that there were seven chambers, occu- 
 
145 
 
 pied by Universalists and Papists, swearers, 
 liars and Sabbath-breakers, gamblers and 
 drunkards. Suppose that Eliashib had recog- 
 nized them as members and officers in the 
 house, and solemnly declared the house to be 
 in a flourishing condition. Would Nehemiah 
 have said Amen? Would he have been silent? 
 Would he have substituted the solemn pomp of 
 gov^ns and wigs, for a revival of Scriptural 
 order and morality? His conduct showed 
 that he esteemed the latter the more important. 
 If Princeton appear to think otherwise, per- 
 haps the reason is that their absence from Je- 
 rusalem has been longer than that of the Tir- 
 shatha. 
 
 When Lord Clarendon advocated gowns 
 and their accompaniments, in preference to 
 the doctrine, oiiler and morality of Scriptural 
 Protestantism and Calvinistic Presbyterian- 
 ism, he had the semblance of consistency, be- 
 cause he believed that the decorations of minis- 
 ters and churches constituted " the heauty of 
 holiness r Then the church of Rome may 
 well be called Most Holy^ and her golden orna- 
 ments most beautiful ; and Achan, the typical 
 Antichrist should be canonized as a martyr, 
 for his attachment to the beauty of holiness, 
 in the Babylonish garment, and the golden 
 wedge. 
 
 These are two sanctified beauties which 
 have a wonderful affinity for each other. In 
 13 
 
146 
 
 the second chapter of the Apostle James, we 
 find "a man with a gold ring in goodly appa- 
 reV^ He was a beautiful saint; and the 
 church, being in a revived arid flourishing 
 condition, said to him, "Sit ihou here in a 
 good place." But there came in also " a poor 
 man in vile raiment;" and they said to him, 
 " Sit here under my footstool." Being desti- 
 tute of the heauty of holiness, he was treated 
 as a revolting reprobate. 
 
 In the scarcity of golden wedges, under 
 Edward, the dignitaries condemned the Baby- 
 lonish gown : but the gold and the gowns re- 
 vived together, in after days; and ever since 
 Achan and Antichrist united them, it has been 
 hard to put them asunder. 
 
 It has even been suggested that the interests 
 of piety might be promoted, «nd incentives to 
 ministerial excellence increased, if the posses- 
 sion of a handsome gown and a good salary 
 might entitle the incumbent to the honorary 
 degree of G. G., except for the danger that 
 some of the readers of Walter Scott might 
 think, from their knowledge of the preacher, 
 that his title meant Goose Gibhy or Gown 
 Granny. 
 
 The Jews, the first members of the Christian 
 church, were strongly prejudiced in favour of 
 their splendid, costly, burdensome ritual. The 
 Pagans, who filled up the ranks were as strong- 
 ly prejudiced in favour of the becoming, sig- 
 
147 
 
 nificant, instructive pomp of their mystery of 
 iniquity, which had already begun to revive 
 the church in Paul's day. Antichrist, in his 
 maturity, united the desires and prejudices of 
 both, in preferring forms to faith, and habits 
 to holiness. Should this be countenanced in 
 whole or in part, by the ministers of that 
 Christ, who condemned Paganism, fulfilled 
 and abolished Judaism, and left a religion 
 so spiritual? On account of its unparalleled 
 simplicity, his followers were tempted in their 
 folly, to escape the cross, by the endless revi- 
 val of decorations, pomps and forms, which 
 had been exploded by the Master's order. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 Proposed Charter of the Galveston University, in the Republic of 
 Texas. 
 
 1. Whereas, wisdom is necessary to true 
 prosperity, and nations are destroyed for lack 
 of knowledge : 
 
 2. And whereas, education is, under Pro- 
 vidence, an important means of preparing the 
 young to succeed their seniors in the burdens 
 and responsibilities of society: 
 
 3. And whereas, the boasted advantages en- 
 joyed since the reformation, over the dark ages 
 which preceded it, are in some measure owing, 
 under Providence, to the liberal diffusion of 
 useful knowledge: 
 
 4. And whereas, a wise and powerful, just 
 and merciful God has lately removed from the 
 neck of our beloved country, a grievous yoke 
 of ignorance and tyranny, and thus bound her 
 citizens to use generous and diligent efforts for 
 the dissemination of light: « 
 
 5. And whereas, by a respectful petition 
 of a competent number of persons of esta- 
 blished reputation for philanthropy and patri- 
 
 13* 
 
150 
 
 otism, integrity, ability and humanity, it ap- 
 pears that the institution of a University in 
 the county of Galveston, for the instruction 
 of the young in all branches of useful learn- 
 ing, is likely to promote the real welfare of 
 this Republic : 
 
 6. And whereas, the honourable Congress 
 of Texas have already made some appropria- 
 tions for Literary establishments in the form of 
 Primary Schools, Academies and Colleges, and 
 may give farther encouragement to extraordi- 
 nary exertions for promoting the literature of 
 Texas: therefore, 
 
 7. Be it enacted by the Senate ond House 
 of Representatives of the Republic of Texas in 
 Congress assembled. That there be erected, 
 and hereby is erected and established, with the 
 permission of Heaven, in the county of Galves- 
 ton in this Republic, a University for the edu- 
 cation of youth in all those branches of learn- 
 ing which may, with the Divine blessing, exalt 
 and perpetuate the prosperity of the country, 
 by maintaining those sacred principles of truth 
 and morality, light, liberty and order, which 
 were suppressed in the dark ages, and revived 
 under better auspices. 
 
 8. Be it further enacted. That the said 
 University shall >t>e under the management,^ 
 direction and government of a number of 
 Trustees, not exceeding forty, or a quorum or 
 
151 
 
 Board thereof, not less than seven ; vacancies 
 to be filled by the Board. 
 
 9. Be it further enacted, That the first Trus- 
 tees of the said University shall be the follow- 
 ing persons, viz: M. B. Lamar, David G. Bur- 
 net, Levi Jones, Mosley Baker, C. M. Gahagan, 
 E. L. Holmes, A. Turner, Anson Jones, A. B. 
 Shelby, W. H. Jack, Samuel Houston, Willis 
 Roberts, J. P. Henderson, A. H. Philips, S. P. 
 Andrews, A. A. M. Jackson, Wm. Y. Allen, 
 B. C. Franklin, Jas. F. Perry, Jas. Love, M. L. 
 Smith, A. J. Yates, C. Van Ness, John Mc- 
 Cullough, John Hemphill, John B. Jones, Alex. 
 Sommerville, Abner S. Lipscomb, H. Stuart, 
 Jno. Menifee, J. S. Sydnor, Francis Moore> 
 J. P. Coyt, A. S. Johnson. 
 
 10. Be it further enacted. That the Presi- 
 dent of the University shall be ex officio Presi- 
 dent of the Board of Trustees, and the Pro- 
 fessors of the several Colleges shall be ex 
 officio members of the Board. Seven Trustees 
 shall constitute a quorum to do business ; pro- 
 vided always, that there shall be a majority of 
 said Board present at such meeting, who are 
 not Professors, and in questions relating to the 
 fiscal aflTairs of the institution, the Professors 
 shall be precluded from voting. 
 
 11. Whereas, the citizens of Galveston 
 having been disappointed in their original in- 
 tention and hope of applying for a Charter to 
 the Congress of 1839-40, considering the 
 
152 
 
 wants of the public as demanding immediate 
 action, and having on that account elected a 
 Board of Trustees, which proceeded to the 
 appointment of a President, Secretary and 
 Treasurer, and commenced and carried on 
 the business of the institution, upon the prin- 
 ciples of the present instrument, in the hopes 
 of its receiving the sanction of Congress as 
 soon as possible. 
 
 12. Therefore, be it enacted. That the 
 said organization, elections, appointments and 
 proceedings being consistent with the consti- 
 tution and laws of the republic, and with this 
 instrument, and calculated for the promotion 
 of the great interests of the country, be and 
 they hereby are ratified and confirmed. 
 
 13. Be it further enacted. That any orderly 
 change w^hich has taken place in the original 
 Board be confirmed. 
 
 14. Be it further enacted. That they be 
 allowed to meet on their own adjournments, 
 and if a quorum be wanting, that those who 
 are present may adjourn in the prospect of 
 obtaining a quorum. 
 
 15. Be it further enacted. That they -shall 
 appoint stated times for regular, annual or 
 semi-annual meetings. 
 
 16. Be it further enacted, That the Presi- 
 ■dent be authorized, and in possible circum- 
 stances, bound with due notice, to call extra- 
 ordinary meetings. 
 
153 
 
 17. Be it further enacted, That the said 
 Trustees shall, in their corporate capacity, be 
 liable for all the contracts, acts and liabilities 
 of those who have heretofore acted as Trus- 
 tees of said institution, 
 
 18. Be it further enacted. That this insti- 
 tution shall be entitled. The Galveston Uni- 
 versity ; by which name, style and title it shall 
 become and be a corporation or body politic 
 in law and in fact, to have continuance by tht 
 name, style and title aforesaid. 
 
 19. Be it further enacted, That it shall 
 have full power and authority to make^ have 
 and use a common seal, with such device and 
 inscription as they shall deem proper, and the 
 same to break, alter and renew at their plea- 
 sure. 
 
 20. Be it further enacted, That by the 
 name, style and title aforesaid, it shall be ca- 
 pable to sue and be sued, plead and be im- 
 pleaded, in any court or courts, before any 
 judge or judges, justice or justices, in all man- 
 ner of suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters 
 and demands whatsoever, and all and every 
 matter and thing therein to do, in as full and 
 effectual a manner as any other person or per- 
 sons, bodies politic and corporate, within this 
 commonwealth, may or can do. 
 
 21. Be it further enacted. That the said 
 institution and their successors, by the name, 
 style and title aforesaid, shall be able and ca- 
 
154 
 
 pable in law, according to the terms and con- 
 ditions of this instrument, to take, receive and 
 hold all and all manner of lands, tenements, 
 rents, annuities, franchises and hereditaments, 
 and any sum or sums of money, and manner 
 and portions of goods and chattels granted or 
 bequeathed to the said University or any of 
 its departments, to be employed and disposed 
 of according to the objects, articles and con- 
 ditions _of the donors, any misnomer or mis- 
 take notwithstanding. 
 
 22. Be it further enacted. That the said 
 Board and faculties shall be authorized and 
 empowered to make rules, by-laws and ordi- 
 nances suitable to their several departments, 
 and to do every thing needful for the good go- 
 vernment and support of the affairs of the cor- 
 poration, and its branches ; provided always, 
 that the said by-laws, rules and ordinances, or 
 any of them, be not repugnant to the constitu- 
 tion and laws of this Republic, or to this in- 
 strument. 
 
 23. Be it further enacted, that the Board 
 of Trustees of said University shall have pow- 
 er to establish and conduct primary schools 
 and academies for the education of both sexes, 
 and shall receive from the general fund appro- 
 priated by Congress for the support of common 
 schools, an equal portion of said funds with 
 other schools throughout the Republic. 
 
 21. Be it further enacted, That to advance 
 
155 
 
 from the commencement of this undertaking 
 to its completion, as Providence may afford 
 means and opportunities, the corporation shall 
 need no other enactment than the present 
 charter. 
 
 25. Be it further enacted, That to the 
 care and administration of the said corpora- 
 tion shall be committed the appropriations 
 made by Congress for the establishment of a 
 College in the county of Galveston, and to 
 encourage and aid them in the completion of 
 the contemplated organization. Congress does 
 hereby grant, 
 
 [See late laws of Congress, sec. 4th, page 
 121.] 
 
 26. Be it further enacted. That the respec- 
 tive sums due and payable to the Government 
 on account of grants, surveys, returns and re- 
 cords for the benefit of the said institution are 
 hereby remitted and donated to the same, and 
 the lands, buildings and other property belong- 
 ing to it are hereby declared to be free from 
 any kind of public tax. 
 
 27. Be it further enacted. That every 
 Trustee elected or appointed by the provisions 
 of this act, shall, before entering on the duties 
 assigned him as trustee, take and subscribe the 
 following oath before some judge or justice of 
 the peace, " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 
 that I will faithfully discharge the duties as- 
 
156 
 
 signed me as Trustee, to the best of my skill 
 and abilities, without partiality or affection. 
 
 28. Be it further enacted. That they shall take 
 effectual care that students of all denomina- 
 tions receive fair, generous, and impartial 
 treatment, and that means be used to examine 
 and promote the attainments for which the in- 
 stitution is established ; and they shall have 
 power to confer the degrees of Bachelor of 
 Arts, Master of Arts, Doctor of Medicine and 
 Doctor of Laws. 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 Charter and By-laws of a Church, according to the Bible, the Presbyte- 
 rian Constitution, and Calvin's Institutes. 
 
 CHARTER. 
 
 To all to whom these presents may come, 
 Greeting : 
 Know 3^e that we, whose names are here- 
 unto subscribed, desiring to promote the glory 
 of God, the salvation of ourselves and relatives, 
 and the best interests of our country and our 
 race; and being members of a Presbyterian 
 church, in connexion with, and in subordina- 
 tion to the Presbytery of the 
 Synod of and the General Assembly 
 of under the name of the 
 Church and also 
 
157 
 
 being citizens of this Commonwealth, and de- 
 sirous to acquire and enjoy the powers and 
 immunities of a corporation or body politic in 
 law, have agreed to take advantage of the 
 provisions of the act of 
 
 in such case made and provided, and in pur- 
 suance of the provisions of that act, have 
 agreed on the following articles. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 This Corporation shall be entitled, the item i. 
 
 Church, by which 
 
 name, style and title it shall become and 
 
 be a Corporation or body politic in law 
 
 and in fact, to have continuance by the 
 
 name, style and title aforesaid, awd/items. 
 
 shall have full power and authority to 
 make, have and use one common seal, 
 with such device and inscription as they 
 shall deem proper, and the same to break, 
 
 alter, and renew at their pleasure; 
 
 and hy the name, style and title aforesaid, item 3. 
 shall be capable to sue and be sued, plead 
 and be impleaded, in any court or courts, 
 before any judge or judges, justice or 
 justices, in all manner of suits, complaints, 
 pleas, causes, matters and demands, what- 
 soever, and all and every matter and 
 thing therein, to do in as full and effectual 
 a manner as any other person or persons, 
 bodies politic and corporate, within this 
 14 
 
t§9 
 
 Item 4. Commonwealth may or can do; and 
 
 shall be authorized and empowered to 
 make rules, by-laws, and ordinances; 
 and to do every thing needful for the 
 good government and support of the af- 
 fairs of the said Corporation: Provided, 
 always, the said by-laws, rules and ordi- 
 nances, or any of them, be not repugnant 
 to the constitution and laws of the United 
 States, to the constitution and laws of 
 
 Items, this Commonwealth, to the constitution 
 
 of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
 States of America, or to this instrument: 
 
 Item 6 and the said church and their succes- 
 sors, by the name, style and title afore- 
 said, shall be able and capable in law, 
 according to the terms and conditions of 
 this instrument, to take, receive and hold 
 all and all manner of lands, tenements, 
 rents, annuities, franchises and heredita- 
 ments, and any sum or sums of money, 
 and manner and portions of goods and 
 chattels, bequeathed to the said church, 
 to be employed and disposed of accord- 
 ing to the objects, articles and conditions 
 of this instrument, articles and by-laws 
 of the said church or the will or inten- 
 tion of the donors: Provided, always, 
 that the clear yearly value or income of 
 the messuages, houses, lands, tenements, 
 rents, annuities, or other hereditaments, 
 
159 
 
 and real estate of the said church, and 
 the interest of money, by the said church 
 
 lent, shall not exceed the sum of two item 7. 
 
 thousand dollars. 
 
 ARTICLE IL 
 
 The system of religion maintained by item i 
 this corporation shall, according to the 
 obvious tenor of its standards, be Calvin- 
 istic Presbyterianism, and its officers and 
 government shall strictly conform to the 
 Constitution of the Presbyterian church 
 
 in the The Corporation item 2. 
 
 shall have the power of making rules, 
 by-laws and ordinances: but the exercise 
 of that power shall be vested in the Ses- 
 sion of the Church, to be composed of 
 
 the pastor and ruling elders Also the item 3. 
 
 power of affixing the corporate seal, and 
 doing every corporate act, shall be vested 
 in that body : Provided, always, that such 
 rules, by-laws and ordinances shall not 
 be inconsistent with the constitution and 
 laws of the United States, or the State 
 
 of or with the princi- item 4. 
 
 pies and government of the Presbyterian 
 
 Church in the The caren^^^' 
 
 of the temporalities of said corporation 
 shall be confided in a Board of Deacons, 
 whose power over such temporalities 
 
shall not extend farther than a superin- 
 tendance and stewardship of the same, 
 and the execution of the directions of the 
 
 Church Session, in regard thereunto 
 
 Item 6. The number of ruling Elders and Dea- 
 cons, shall be left discretionary, as it is 
 in their ecclesiastical constitution, and 
 Item 7 their election and ordination and con- 
 tinuance in office shall be regulated by 
 the form of Government of the Presby- 
 terian Church in the and 
 also the calling, ordination, installation, 
 and continuance in office of the Pastor: 
 but some of those points which are alle- 
 ged to be obscure in that form of govern- 
 item 8. ment, are thus regulated ; viz every 
 
 member of the church, male or female, in 
 full communion, and no other, shall be 
 entitled to vote for the officers of the 
 Item 9. church The voting shall be by the rais- 
 ing of the right hand, and the time of 
 the election shall be fixed by the Church 
 Session, and announced for two succes- 
 
 itemiosive Sabbaths from the pulpit The 
 
 elections shall be held at the house of 
 worship occupied by the church. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 Item 1. The terms upon which individuals shall 
 be admitted to hold pews, shall be regu- 
 
161 
 
 lated by by-laws, and also the extent and 
 limitations of the property they shall ac- 
 quire therein: Provided, always, that woitems. 
 by-law shall authorize any individual to 
 intermeddle in the government of the 
 church, except such as are in full com- 
 munion therewith ; nor shall any qua- item 3. 
 
 Uficatlon of pew-holding be required of 
 such communicant. 
 
 RULES, BY-LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 
 
 ARTICI.E I. 
 
 Whereas the Charter of this church has au- 
 thorized it to use a seal, therefore it is ordained 
 that one be procured having the following su- 
 perscription, and that the said 
 seal shall be the seal of the corporation, and 
 as such, be used in all papers, deeds, and writ- 
 ings to which it shall be necessary or proper 
 to affix the corporate seaL 
 
 ARTICLE n. 
 
 The property of the church shall be given 
 in charge to the Board of Deacons, for their 
 superintendence, with liberty to employ suita- 
 ble persons to keep it in proper order : but the 
 building or buildings erected or kept for eccle- 
 siastical or spiritual uses, shall be at the dispo- 
 •fial of the Session Proper, for such uses. 
 14# 
 
1G2 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 As the salaries of the Pastor, the Precentor, 
 and the Sexton are paid by the church, they 
 have the exclusive right to fix or alter them. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 In such contingent expenses as every church 
 is liable to, the board is not at liberty to ex- 
 pend more than two hundred dollars in any 
 year, without a vote of the church. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 Though the church has the regulating of the 
 salaries, and has the powder of electing Pastors, 
 Elders, and Deacons, the choice of the Sexton 
 belongs to the Deacons, and the choice of the 
 Precentor to the Session Proper. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 The Deacons have the lifting of collections 
 in the church, though the Session Proper have 
 the exclusive right to order these collections. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 The meetings of the Board must be an- 
 nounced before the congregation ; but a press 
 of business may require and justify adjourn- 
 ments from day to day. 
 
163 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 It is desirable that to have every thing well 
 done, the labour and care connected with the 
 superintendence of the buildings, pews, burial 
 ground and other things, should be judiciously 
 distributed among the nnembers of the board. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 The Deacons shall choose from among 
 themselves, a President, Secretary, and Trea- 
 surer. 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 The President shall preserve order, expedite 
 business, appoint committees, except when the 
 board choose to do it, and sign all orders on 
 the treasurer for moneys. 
 
 ARTICLE XI. 
 
 The Secretary shall record the proceedings, 
 take care of the books and papers and seal, 
 affix the latter to such instruments as the board 
 may order, in conformity with the charter, 
 and attest all orders on the treasurer. 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 The Treasurer shall receive and account 
 for all the moneys of the church, coming into 
 his hands, pay all orders, when properly at- 
 tested, and give a quarterly report of the state 
 
164 
 
 of the funds to the board, and an annual re- 
 port to the Church, besides subjecting the 
 books and papers to the inspection of any 
 seven communicants, who may ask to see 
 them, at any time. 
 
 ARTICLE XIII. 
 
 The annual meeting of the Church is ap- 
 pointed on the Monday of 
 or if prevented, as soon thereafter as conve- 
 nient. 
 
 ARTICLE XIV. 
 
 The private and official conduct of officers, 
 is the subject of investigation in the regular 
 course of legitimate Christian discipline. 
 
 ARTICLE XV. 
 
 Pew-rent should be paid and the time 
 
 should be announced from the desk on the pre- 
 vious Sabbath. 
 
 ARTICLE XVL 
 
 Pews may be evacuated when their tenants, 
 after ten days' notice, are one year in arrears. 
 
 ARTICLE XVn. 
 
 When there are several applications for the 
 same pew, their claims may be decided by lot. 
 
165 
 
 ARTICLE XVIIT. 
 
 When there is a dispute between persons 
 renting the sanne pew, which cannot be settled 
 by the pew-agent, an appeal may be taken to 
 the board ; to whose decision the parties re- 
 fusing to submit will lose the right to the pew. 
 
 ARTICLE XIX. 
 
 Every one who shall have been a renter for 
 the term of and not in arrears, shall 
 
 be entitled to interment. 
 
 ARTICLE XX. 
 
 The renting of half a pew, with the above 
 qualifications, shall entitle a family to inter- 
 ment; that is, the parents and such of their 
 children as are under twenty-one years of age, 
 together with unmarried female children, of 
 any age, residing with their parents, and sup- 
 ported by them. 
 
 ARTICLE XXI. 
 
 The board shall have a discretionary power 
 of interring the widows and orphans of rent- 
 ers and members, providentially unable to pay. 
 
 ARTICLE XXII. 
 
 Strangers are to pay at the discretion of the 
 board for a place of interment. 
 
16G 
 
 ARTICLE XXIII. 
 
 The Deacons are expected to regulate the 
 duties and fees of the Sexton. 
 
 ARTICLE XXIV. 
 
 Communicants may nominate and vote in 
 the affairs of the church or congregation ; 
 which words properly signify the same thing. 
 See Form of Government, Chap. xiii. sect. 2, 
 and the Scripture there quoted. Compare 
 Chap. XV. sect. 4. It is unscriptural, unpresby- 
 terian, unfaithful, dangerous, and absurd, that 
 the peace and prosperity of a church should 
 be involved, that her ecclesiastical course 
 should be shaped, and her ecclesiastical destiny 
 decided, by the votes and acts of those who 
 are not ecclesiastical persons; who have not 
 adopted her constitution, not acknowledged 
 her obligations, nor entered her society in the 
 plain, open, honourable, easy and regular way. 
 
 ARTICLE XXV. 
 
 Our ecclesiastical constitution says, " Every 
 congregation shall elect persons to the office 
 of Ruling Elder, and to the office of Deacon, 
 or either of them, in the mode most approved 
 and in use in that congregation." See Form 
 of Government, Chap. xiii. sect. 2. The Scrip- 
 lure quoted in support of this provision, shows 
 that it should not ratify any unscriptural, and 
 
167 
 
 unconstitutional, and preposterous mode of 
 election, though such disorderly mode should be 
 most approved and in use in some church. It 
 also shows that it should not ratify the conduct 
 of some churches in omitting to elect Elders, 
 and of others in omitting to elect Deacons at 
 all, although such omission may be most ap- 
 proved and in use among them. It was in- 
 tended to confirm and protect an election of 
 officers, not the neglect of that important duty; 
 and, that it may be consistent with Scripture, 
 and scriptural fidelity, and the principles of 
 civil and religious liberty, and the principles of 
 common justice and common sense, as stated 
 in the last article above, it should protect a 
 lawful election, and not an unlawful one, how- 
 soever approved and in use the violation of 
 law may have been. It is lawful to elect by 
 voice, by ballot, or by hand. In conformity 
 with the usage of our denomination, our char- 
 ter adopts the latter. 
 
 ARTICLE XXVI. 
 
 In relation to the election of a Preaching 
 Elder, our constitution says, "No person shall 
 be entitled to vote, who refuses to submit to 
 the censures of the church, regularly admi- 
 nistered, or who does not contribute his just 
 proportion, according to his own engagements, 
 or the rules of that congregation to all its ne- 
 
168 
 
 cessary expenses. See Form of Government, 
 Chap. XV. sect. 4. Here are two requisites to 
 the elective franchise. The first is submission 
 to regular discipline, which certainly pre-sup- 
 poses a regular standing, contemplated in the 
 article preceding the last above. The second 
 is the payment of church dues, which certainly 
 does not exclude any Christian man or w^o- 
 man, who has no debts to pay. It does not 
 exclude a Christian wife, whose husband does 
 all the promising and paying for her. This 
 does not exclude Christians, male or female, 
 who sit with their parents, guardians, relatives 
 or friends, unless they have promised some- 
 thing which they can pay, but will not. It 
 does not exclude the poor Christian, who is 
 acknowledged by the proper authorities, to be 
 willing but unable to pay. It does not exclude 
 the Christian renter of one seat, nor one who 
 applies for a pew or seat, and cannot obtain 
 one. 
 
 ARTICLE XXVIT. 
 
 A Minister cannot constitutionally claim the 
 office of Moderator of the Session, before he 
 is lawfully constituted the President of the 
 Congregation. In an orderly call the congre- 
 gation invites him (not merely to preside in 
 the Session, for that is only a consequence, 
 but they invite him) to be the President of the 
 Congregation ; and in that chair he is inaugu- 
 
169 
 
 rated by the Presbyterial act of installation. 
 He is, therefore, first called and constituted 
 President of the Congregation, and he is then, 
 ex officio, as the Scotch Church expresses it, 
 Moderator of the Session. In considering the 
 title " Presidents of the Churches," exegetical 
 of the title "Bishops," this church agrees with 
 the best authorities, Jewish and Christian, an- 
 cient and modern. See Stuart's Collection, 
 Book 1st, Title 9th, Section 3d. Our Form of 
 Government, Chap. ix. sect. 3. Miller on the 
 Ruling Elder, pp. 38, 221. 
 
 ARTICLE XXVIIT. 
 
 The Session Proper embraces the Minister 
 and the Elders. The Session General is con- 
 stituted by the addition of the Deacons, when 
 invited to attend, and exercise their consulta- 
 tive power. Thus, without usurpation by the 
 Scriptural Elder, or degradation of the Scrip- 
 tural Deacon, the former has some powers 
 above the latter, although they are ordained 
 with the same vow, and are members of the 
 same Session: as the husband, without usur- 
 pation, is the head of the wife, without her 
 degradation, though they are the same flesh: 
 and as the Preaching Elder, without usurpa- 
 tion, has powers (such as preaching, and mo- 
 derating, ordaining and administering the sa- 
 craments) above the Ruling Elder, without 
 15 
 
170 
 
 any degradation of that important and ho- 
 nourable Scriptural officer. 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 Correspondence between Dr. Moriarty and others, in which he declines 
 a discussion of Popery with W. L. M., ahhough he was understood 
 to have thrown the gauntlet to Protestants. Similar fact in Pitts- 
 burgh some years ago. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 To Dr. P. E. Mori arty, of St Augustine's 
 Church, Philadelphia, 
 
 Sir: On my return, after a long absence, 
 certain gentlemen of this city showed me a 
 short correspondence between them and your- 
 self, which I will here take the liberty of 
 copying. 
 
 Philadelphia, Sept, 1, 1840. 
 Dr. Moriarty, 
 
 Dear Sir: Your numerous and able Lec- 
 tures on Romanism, have produced an excite- 
 ment in the public mind, which justifies the 
 idea that a public discussion, in the viva voce 
 form, of the comparative merits of Romanism 
 and Protestantism, as derived from a divine 
 authenticity, would be welcomed by both 
 parties. 
 
171 
 
 To the Protestants of our city, it is obvious 
 that you have made your Lectures on Roman- 
 ism the occasion for an attack upon Protes- 
 tantism. And to meet this attack in a manner 
 best calculated to elicit truth, and keep up the 
 interest which you have already excited, we, 
 in behalf of the Protestant interest of our city, 
 invite you to a public discussion of the above 
 important question, with some Protestant cler- 
 gyman who may feel willing to devote a few 
 evenings to the promotion of religious truth, 
 and the glory of Him by whom it has been 
 revealed. 
 
 An immediate answer in writing, will much 
 oblige your humble servants, 
 
 Geo. Fithian, 
 A. W. Dickson, 
 
 &C. &C. &iC. 
 
 To Messrs. Geo. Fithian, A. W. Dickson, and 
 others. 
 
 Gentlemen: A letter bearing your signa- 
 tures, along with those of many other persons, 
 was handed to me on this morning. The pur- 
 port of this letter is an invitation to a discus- 
 sion of the comparative merits of Romanism 
 and Protestantism. You request an immedi- 
 ate answer in writing. My answer is, that a 
 course of Lectures on the doctrines of the 
 Catholic Church, will be resumed by me, 
 
172 
 
 (please God,) on the first or second Sunday 
 of October, when yourselves and friends will 
 have an opportunity of learning the truth. 
 
 You style my Lectures — " Lectures on Ro- 
 manism," which language I consider imperti- 
 nent and offensive. Also, I beg leave to in- 
 form you, that I deem your letter, taken alto- 
 gether, a very unwarrantable intrusion. 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 P. E. MORIARTY. 
 
 St. Augustine's Church, Philad., "> 
 9th September, 1840. > 
 
 It was my intention to take or transmit to 
 you a respectful and innocent letter, as the 
 gentlemen in question have already done: but 
 your answer to them warns me that such a 
 liberty would be considered " a very unwar- 
 rantable intrusion." Mr. Hughes refused to 
 correspond with me, because I would not use 
 the word " Reverend,''^ in addressing him : and 
 now that he is a Bishop, he w^ould require me 
 to call him " Right Reverend,^^ or " My Lord.^^ 
 The above letter to you contains the requisite 
 reverence ; why are you not propitiated 1 
 
 But they call your polemical harangues 
 ^^ Lectures on Romanism ;^^ a language which 
 you pronounce " very impertinent and offen- 
 siveJ^ It is my full conviction, that they in- 
 tended to be perfectly respectful; and that they 
 did not use a single word which they thought 
 would be esteemed impertinent or offensive. 
 
173 
 
 If they had known that many who worship the 
 Roman Pontiff as the Supreme Head of the 
 Church, are at the same time infected with the 
 Romanophobia, they would doubtless have sub- 
 stituted some other word for ''Romanism.^' 
 But they will soon learn that every Roman 
 priest is in himself a sort of Index expurgato- 
 rius; and that when he is respectfully invited 
 to a public discussion to which he is averse, 
 he can find endless impertinences and scan- 
 dals, heresies and treasons, with unwarrant- 
 able intrusions in the invitation. And yet the 
 very man who thus condemns them for a polite 
 invitation to an honourable interview, sends in 
 the same letter, a less courteous invitation to 
 his correspondents and their friends, to come 
 to his lectures, that they may hear the truth. 
 
 To a Protestant the truth is a great attrac- 
 tion; and if you are sincerely and consistently 
 resolved to declare it, I wish no controversy 
 with you. You w^ill then tell the people that 
 Jacob never worshiped the top of his staff, 
 nor any other relic, as is falsely attributed to 
 him in your Latin and English Bibles. If you 
 are for the truth, you will oppose those lying 
 wonders which Scripture attributes to Anti- 
 christ. You will aid de Plancy in exposing 
 relic-mongers, who in different places have ten 
 heads, each passing for the head of St. Leger; 
 twenty jaws of John the Baptist ; a dozen and 
 a half arms of the Apostle James; and the 
 15* 
 
174 
 
 same number of bodies for Paul. If you are 
 for the truth, you will denounce the legends 
 of your Breviary, in which St. Dennis, after 
 having his head cut off, carried it in his 
 hands, in a walk of some miles. If you teach 
 the truth, you will expose that blasphemous 
 falsehood of Romanism, in which the " hoc 
 est corpus," or as some read it, the ^' hocus 
 pocus^^ of a priest professes to transubstan- 
 tiate a wafer into a divinity, and then sacrifice 
 and swallow him. 
 
 A written statement is now before me, from 
 several persons, who heard you on the last 
 mentioned subject, use such language of de- 
 fiance to Protestant ministers, as impressed 
 their minds with a belief that you were willing 
 to have a public discussion of the merits of 
 your system and ours. This had its eflfect in 
 causing the above letter to be taken to you; 
 and in causing me now to express a willing- 
 ness to meet you in public debate, if Provi- 
 dence so direct. You and I have both deh- 
 vered lectures. I am willing to subject mine 
 to the test of a public investigation. I under- 
 stand that you speak very confidently of the 
 weakness and folly of our views, and of the 
 strength and success of your cause and of your 
 lectures. Why then object to the ordeal ? 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 Wm. L. MCalla. 
 
175 
 
 Dr. Moriarty is not the first priest who has 
 endeavoured to gain credit for boldness, and 
 then retreated. When I was lecturing on 
 Romanism in Pittsburgh, some years ago, a 
 Mr. O'Riley acted in the same way, as will 
 appear from the following certificates of Mr. 
 Knox, viz. 
 
 On the 14th day of June, 1835, I heard a 
 sermon from Mr. O'Riley, the Roman Catholic 
 priest, in the cathedral in Pittsburgh; in which, 
 according to my understanding, he challenged 
 the Protestant sects to prove, in fair discussion, 
 that his church was either apostate, heretical, 
 or schismatic. 
 
 John Knox. 
 
 On this 15th day of June, 1835, I accompa- 
 nied Mr. MCalla to Mr. O'Riley, to know if 
 the above was correctly stated and understood. 
 After some conversation, he admitted the cor- 
 rectness of the above statement, but refused to 
 engage in public debate. 
 
 John Knox. 
 
176 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Skeleton of Principles and Practices maintained by a Pastor who tried 
 to be consistent. 
 
 A sermon was delivered on Jer. vi. 16: 
 "... ask for the old paths, where is the good 
 way. ..." The following is an abstract of 
 the principles and practices which it concisely 
 discussed, that it might be known, before the 
 call w^as accepted, whether the congregation 
 could agree with their pastor-elect. The notes 
 merely present the subjects, in many cases, 
 that the speaker who arranged them, might 
 form the propositions, and enforce them at the 
 time of dehvering the discourse. 
 
 Principles and Practices. 
 
 Living by faith — Covenant keeping — Consis- 
 tency — Making sacrifices for principle — Man- 
 fearing spirit— Man-pleasing spirit — Doing evil 
 that good may come, or good that evil may 
 come — Being accessory to others' sins — Re- 
 spect of persons — Respect of party— -Obedi- 
 ence to God rather than man — All for edifica- 
 tion — Ceasing from wrong instruction — Pro- 
 tecting the flock — Striving to excel — Zeal and 
 consistency, wise and obligatory; Radicalism 
 foolish and ruinous — Moderation good — Mode- 
 ratism bad — Liberality good — Liberalism bad 
 — Heretics and Schismatics rejected — Act and 
 
177 
 
 Testimony; Reformation principles — Polemics 
 — Stand for liberty — Tender consciences how 
 treated — Preaching the whole counsel of God 
 — Politics how treated — Emancipation good; 
 Fanny Wrightism bad — The rich — Personali- 
 ties — General and particular information from 
 the pulpit — Preaching on the Sabbath and on 
 week days — Prayer meetings — Bible classes — 
 Catechetical classes — Sunday schools under 
 the direction of the Session, and none but pro- 
 fessing teachers — Baptism confined to believers 
 and their seed — Marriages, not solemnize on 
 the Sabbath — Funerals, not attend on the Sab- 
 bath; and about speaking at the grave, in such 
 a way as to court popularity, or endanger 
 health — Young Men's meeting, for hearing 
 Jews and Samaritans alternately, rejected — 
 Preaching for others — Preaching with others 
 — Reading notices which ensnare the people, 
 rejected — Contributions — Agents — Protestant 
 mission — Sunday-school Union rejected, as be- 
 ing a combination against us — Societies for 
 education, missions, &c. — Colleges — Theologi- 
 cal seminaries — Boards: Always favour those 
 bodies which favour the doctrine, order and 
 morality of the Bible — Ecclesiastical organi- 
 zation preferable, cceteris paribus — Spiritual 
 and secular officers should be elders and dea- 
 cons; pew-holders not entitled to vote for 
 money — Government, discipline and worship 
 regulated by the spiritual department; to which 
 
178 
 
 last belong the psalmody and music of the 
 church — No singing by proxy — Certificates, 
 of no avail from unacknowledged bodies, and 
 do not bar examination from acknowledged — 
 Vending spirits — Sabbath — Family worship 
 indispensable — Theatre and dancing not al- 
 lowed. 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 Ecclesiastical Manual. 
 
 RULES OF ORDER FOR ECCLESIAS- 
 TICAL JUDICATORIES. 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Abuse of liberty to be avoided, 47 
 Adjournment, when no quorum, 3 
 when in order, 42 
 remove the main question, 54 
 Amendment, leg-itimate, 49 
 its rank, 45. 50 
 suspend the main question, 54 
 may partly preclude the merits, 47 
 to an amendment, 48. 52 
 Appeal, 40 
 
 Chairman, first named, 12 
 Clerk temporary, for one year, 4 
 file and endorse papers, 8 
 prepare roll for Moderator, 6 
 
 occasional docket for Moderator, 7 
 Clerk Stated, call roll, 4 
 
 read minutes, 5 
 Commitment, its rank, 45 
 
179 
 
 Committee, of bills and overtures, 9 
 judicial, 10 
 
 appointed by Moderator, 11 
 first named, chairman, 12 
 not sit during the session of the judicatory 
 
 without leave, 13 
 of the whole, 14 
 Decorum. See Order. 
 
 Discussion, precluded in an appeal on a point of order, 40 
 on a motion for adjournment, 42 
 on the previous question, 46 
 Dissent, 40 
 
 Division of the question, 18 
 Docket, standing and occasional, 7 
 Explanation, 30,31 
 
 Incidental questions, what, and their rank, 53 
 allow one speech, 30 
 suspend the main question, 54 
 Interruption of the Moderator, 21 
 
 of a speaker, 31 
 Interlocutory meeting, what, 16 
 
 not enter upon judicial business, 25 
 Judicial cases, solemnly announced, 24 
 
 not in interlocutory or Committee of the 
 
 Whole, 25 
 opening and closing, 26 
 Laying on the table. See Postponement. 
 Liberty without licentiousness, 47 
 Minutes read and corrected, 5 
 Moderator chosen for a year, 4 
 
 appoint committees, 11 
 Motion, seconded, repeated, or read, written, 17 
 first made, first put ; with limitations, 41 
 Order, in judicial pleadings, 26 
 
 incidental question, rank, 53 
 suspend main question, 54 
 address the Moderator standing, 27, 28 
 number of speakers and speeches, 29, 30 
 may explain, but not interrupt without leave, 
 30,31 
 
ISO 
 
 Order, in behaviour, 32. 34 
 in language, 33, 34 
 tried, 35-40. 
 of the day, rank, 43 
 
 remove the main question from the House, 
 54 
 Papers. See Reading. 
 Personality, arraigning motives, 33 
 Pleadings. See Judicial. 
 Postponement, equal to lying on the table, 51 
 
 indefinite, its effect on reconsideration, 23 
 Previous question, its rank, 44, 45 
 its form, 46 
 
 its requisite number, 46 
 arrests discussion, 46 
 its effect upon reconsideration, 23 
 easily abused, 46, 47 
 
 not allowed in Committee of the Whole, 14 
 Priority in rising to speak, 29 
 
 incidental question, its rank, 53 
 suspend the main question, 54 
 Private session, 5 
 Privileged questions, allow one speech, 30 
 
 their names, rank, and relation, 
 41-54 
 Protest, 40 
 Question divided, 18 
 removed, 54 
 incidental, "^ 
 
 privileged, >See those words, 
 previous, j 
 Quorum, appear, 1, 2 
 wanting, 3 
 
 of House, and Committee of the Whole, the 
 same, 14 
 Reading papers, incidental question, 53 
 suspend the main question, 54 
 Reconsideration, 23 
 Removing the question, 54 
 Reporter, 15 
 
181 
 
 Roll, general and particular, 5, 6 
 Speaking", one and the first up, 29 
 
 once on some questions, 30 
 
 twice on some questions, 30 
 
 again to explain, 30 
 Striking out a paragraph preceded by a motion to amend, 
 
 50 
 Incidental question suspends the main question, 54 
 Withdrawing a motion, restricted, 20 
 
 incidental question, remove the main ques- 
 tion, 53, 54 
 Writing a motion, 17 
 Yeas and Nays, 22 
 
 Introductory Address of the Moderator to his 
 successor in office. 
 
 Sir: It is my duty to inform you, and an- 
 nounce to this judicatory, that you are duly 
 elected to the office of their Moderator. The 
 regulations for your government and ours are 
 found in the Bible, the Constitution, and the 
 Rules of Order adopted by this body. May 
 the blessing of the Holy Trinity direct and 
 support you in duty, and give to this house, 
 and all under its care, wisdom, fidelity, and 
 prosperity under your administration. 
 
 1. Moderator Present, and Open with Prayer » 
 
 The Moderator shall take the chair at the 
 hour to which the judicatory stands adjourned; 
 shall immediately call the members to order, 
 and on the appearance of a quorum, shall open 
 the session with prayer. 
 16 
 
182 
 
 2. Moderator Absent. 
 
 If a quorum be assembled at the hour ap- 
 pointed, and the Moderator be absent, the last 
 Moderator present, or if there be none, the se- 
 nior member present shall be requested to take 
 his place without delay until a new election. 
 
 3. Quorum Wanting, 
 
 If a quorum be not assembled at the hour 
 appointed, any two members shall be compe- 
 tent to adjourn from time to time, that an oppor- 
 tunity may be given for a quorum to assemble, 
 and if necessary they may finally adjourn. 
 
 4. Roll, Moderator, and Clei^k, 
 
 If there be a quorum, they shall constitute, 
 
 call the roll, and (after marking the absentees) 
 
 shall choose a Moderator and Temporary 
 
 Clerk, who shall hold their offices for one year. 
 
 5. Minutes Read and Corrected, 
 The minutes of the last sitting shall be read, 
 and, if requisite, verbally corrected. 
 
 6. Roll Made. 
 It shall be the duty of the Clerk, as soon 
 as possible after the commencement of the ses- 
 sion, to form a complete roll of the members 
 present, and put the same into the hands of the 
 Moderator; and it shall also be the duty of the 
 Clerk whenever any additional members take 
 
183 
 
 their seats, to add their names, in their proper 
 places, to the said roll. 
 
 7. Dockets* 
 The temporary Clerk shall furnish the Mo- 
 derator with a docket suitable to the present 
 meeting; and a particular index and a standing 
 docket, suitable for the meetings in general, 
 shall be appended to this Manual. 
 
 8. Papers Filed and Endorsed. 
 It shall be the duty of the Clerk, immedi- 
 ately to file all papers, in the order in which 
 they have been read, with proper endorse- 
 ments, and to keep them in perfect order. 
 
 9. Committee of Bills and Overtures. 
 At every meeting there shall be a Commit- 
 tee of Bills and Overtures, to prepare and di- 
 gest business for the body. Petitions, questions 
 relating either to doctrine or order, and usually 
 all propositions tending to general laws, shall 
 be laid before the Committee of Bills and Over- 
 tures before they be offered to the Judicatory. 
 Any person thinking himself aggrieved by this 
 Committee may complain to the Judicatory. 
 
 10. Judicial Committee. 
 There shall also be appointed, at every meet- 
 ing, a Judicial Committee, to take charge of all 
 appeals and references brought to the court, to 
 ascertain whether they are in order; to digest 
 
184 
 
 and arrange all the documents relating to the 
 same ; and to propose to the judicatory the best 
 method of proceeding in each case. 
 
 11. Moderator appoint Committees. 
 It is the duty of the Moderator to appoint 
 all committees, except in those cases in which 
 the body shall decide otherwise. 
 
 12. Chairman of Committee. 
 The person first named on any committee 
 shall be its chairman, whose duty it shall be to 
 convene the committee. In his absence, this 
 shall be done by the next member present. 
 
 13. Committee not sit without leave. 
 No Committee shall sit during the sitting of 
 the judicatory without special leave. 
 
 14. Committee of the Whole. 
 There are some things which may be pro- 
 fitably referred to a Committee of the whole 
 House. The form of going from the House 
 into Committee, is for the Moderator, on mo- 
 tion, to put the question that the House do now 
 resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole, to 
 take under consideration such a matter, na ming 
 it. If determined in the affirmative, the Mode- 
 rator of the Judicatory gives place to the Chair- 
 man of the Committee nominated by himself. 
 Their quorum is the same as that of the House ; 
 and if a defect happen, the Chairman of the 
 
185 
 
 Committee, on a motion and question, rises 
 and reports the clause of their dissolution to the 
 Moderator of the Body, who resumes the chair. 
 When, through the lapse of time^ or the finish- 
 ing of business or other cause, it is right to 
 dissolve, a member moves that the Committee 
 may rise, and the Chairman report their pro- 
 ceedings to the House; which being resolved, 
 the Chairman giving place to the Moderator of 
 the House, informs him of the state of the busi- 
 ness referred to them ; and that he is ready to 
 make report when the House shall think proper 
 to receive it. If the House have time to re- 
 ceive it, a motion is made to that effect, and a 
 question put that it be received, and when. A 
 Committee of the Whole gives an opportunity 
 to the Moderator to partake in the discussion, 
 and the sense of the whole is sometimes bet- 
 ter taken, because in all committees every one 
 speaks as often as he pleases; a privilege, the 
 abuse of which, may cause the Committee pre- 
 maturely to rise, and be denied leave to sit 
 again. But a Committee of the Whole cannot 
 commit nor pre-question a subject, nor can it 
 adjourn as others may ; but if their business be 
 unfinished, they may report progress, and ask 
 leave to sit again, and at what time. 
 
 16. Private Session, and Reporter. 
 
 The judicatory may exercise the right to 
 sit in private, on business which, in their judg- 
 16* 
 
 A 
 
186 
 
 ment, ought not to be matter of public specula- 
 tion. And if at any time a reporter be mani- 
 festly guilty of producing such evils as this rule 
 would avoid, by unfair, unjust, false, and per- 
 nicious reports of the deliberations of this body, 
 such reporter, being convicted by his own pub- 
 lications, must not have another opportunity 
 of abusing the courtesy of the House, lest by 
 allowing mischiefs which it may lawfully and 
 honourably prevent, the judicatory may be a 
 partaker of the crime. 
 
 16. Interlocutory Meetings, 
 Besides the right to deliberate in private, 
 when circumstances justify it, the body may, 
 when necessary, hold interlocutory meetings, in 
 which the members may converse freely, with- 
 out the usual formalities of dehberation. 
 
 17. Motions Written if Required, 
 A motion made must be seconded, and after- 
 ward repeated by the Moderator, or read aloud 
 before it is debated ; and every motion shall 
 be reduced to wTiting, if the Moderator, or any 
 member require it. 
 
 18. Division of a Question, 
 If a question contain several parts, it may, 
 with the consent of the House, be divided into 
 two or more questions. 
 
 19. Filling Blanks, 
 When various motions are made with re- 
 
187 
 
 spect to the filling of blanks with particular 
 nnnnbers or times, the question shall always be 
 first taken on the highest number and the long- 
 est time. 
 
 20. Withdrawing Motions, 
 Any member who shall have made a mo- 
 tion shall have liberty to withdraw it, with the 
 consent of his second, before any debate has 
 taken place thereon; but not afterwards, with- 
 out the consent of the House. 
 
 21. Interruption in taking the Vote. 
 A member may not rise and speak at any 
 time, after the Moderator has commenced 
 taking the vote. 
 
 22. Yeas and Nays. 
 
 The yeas and nays on any question shall 
 not be recorded unless required by one third 
 of the members present. 
 
 23. Reconsideration, 
 
 A question shall not be again called up or 
 reconsidered at the same meeting at which it 
 has been decided, except by the consent of two 
 thirds of the members who were present at the 
 decision; and three-fourths, if the question to 
 be reconsidered has been removed by the pre- 
 vious question or an indefinite postponement. 
 In either case, the motion for reconsideration 
 must be made and seconded by persons who 
 voted with the majority. 
 
188 
 
 24. Judicial Business, 
 
 Whenever the House is about to sit in a 
 judicial capacity, it shall be the duty of the 
 Moderator solemnly to announce, that the Ju- 
 dicatory is about to pass to the consideration of 
 the business assigned for trial, and to enjoin on 
 the members to recollect and regard the high 
 character, as judges of a court of Jesus Christ, 
 and the solemn duty, in which they are about 
 to act. 
 
 25. Judicial Case not begun in Committee of the 
 Whole or Interlocutory. 
 
 No case including charges against any in- 
 dividual or individuals, is to be entered on in 
 Committee of the Whole, or in Interlocutory, 
 lest there be a prejudicing of the case. 
 
 26. Open and Close. 
 In the pleadiiigs of judicial cases, the party 
 who assumes the affirmative, shall have the 
 right of opening and closing. 
 
 27. Speak one at a time and standing. 
 
 A member, while speaking, shall, unless ex- 
 cused, stand up; and when he is done, shall sit 
 down ; and when more than three members 
 shall be standing at the same time, the Mode- 
 rator shall require all to take their seats, the 
 person only excepted who may be speaking. 
 
189 
 
 28. Decorum of the Speaker. 
 Every member, when speaking, shall ad- 
 dress the Moderator; and shall treat his fellow 
 members with decorum and respect. 
 
 29. Priority, 
 If two or more rise to speak nearly together, 
 the Moderator determines who was first up, 
 and calls him by name, whereupon he pro- 
 ceeds, unless he shall voluntarily sit down and 
 give way to the other. But the House may 
 not acquiesce in the Moderator's decision, in 
 which case the question is put, which member 
 was first up. 
 
 30. How often to speak* — Explanation allowed. 
 
 On privileged and incidental questions, no 
 member shall speak more than once; on all 
 other questions each member may speak twice, 
 but not oftener, without the express permission 
 of the House. But he may be permitted to 
 speak again to clear a matter of fact, or merely 
 to explain himself in some material part of his 
 speech ; or to the manner or words of the ques- 
 tion, keeping himself to that only, and not tra- 
 velling into the merits of it ; or to the orders 
 of the House, if they be transgressed, keeping 
 within that line, and not falling into the matter 
 itself. 
 
 31. Explanations not Interruptions. 
 
 A member must make his explanations in 
 
190 
 
 their proper place, and not in the midst of an- 
 other member's speech, without his consent. 
 
 32. Decorum of the House. 
 All violations of Christian decorum shall be 
 carefully avoided. Neither ought members to 
 leave the House during the transaction of busi- 
 ness, without permission from the Moderator. 
 
 33. Decorum and Personality, 
 Although the decent expression of a mem- 
 ber's views, concerning men or measures, sec- 
 tions or denominations, shall not, of itself, be 
 esteemed disorderly, yet no one is permitted to 
 use indecent language concerning prior deci- 
 sions or peculiar characteristics of this or any 
 other court of the church ; nor is he to deviate 
 from the subject to fall upon the person, by 
 using reviling or uncourteous words against a 
 member. The consequences of a measure may 
 be reprobated in strong terms ; but to arraign 
 the motives of those who propose or advocate 
 it, is personality, and against order. 
 
 34. Light, Prolix, and Desultory Speeches 
 forbidden. 
 
 It is important that members maintain all 
 proper and practicable gravity and dignity in 
 deliberation; that they attend closely, in their 
 speeches, to the subject under consideration, 
 and avoid prolix and desultory harangues. 
 
191 
 
 35. Member Called to Order. 
 When a member shall be called to order, 
 and the call is repeated by the Moderator, he 
 shall sit down until the Moderator shall have 
 determined whether he is in order or not. 
 
 36. Specification of Disorder. 
 Disorderly words shall be written and at- 
 tested, and the member permitted to deny or 
 justify, explain or apologize before a decision. 
 
 37. Moderator Consult the House, 
 Before a decision the Moderator may ask 
 the sense of the House, on a point of order, 
 where he is so disposed. 
 
 38. Member not Vote, but Withdraw. 
 The member concerned in the decision can- 
 not vote, and circumstances may make it his 
 duty to withdraw. 
 
 39. Consequence of Decision. 
 If the decision be in favour of the speaker, 
 he shall proceed ; and also (with deference to 
 the decision of the House) if it be against him, 
 unless prohibited. 
 
 40. Appeal from Moderator to the House, taken 
 without Debate* 
 If any member consider himself aggrieved 
 by a decision of the Moderator, it shall be 
 his privilege to appeal to the House; and the 
 question on such appeal shall be taken without 
 
192 
 
 debate. If still aggrieved, the member may 
 have his dissent or protest, with his reasons 
 entered on the records, or put on the file, if 
 delivered in a reasonable time before the rising 
 of the body. 
 
 41. Privileged Questions* 
 It is a general rule that the question first 
 moved and seconded shall be first put: but this 
 gives way to what are called privileged ques- 
 tions; and the privileged questions are of dif- 
 ferent grades among themselves. 
 
 42. Adjournment has Precedence. 
 A motion for adjournment shall always be 
 in order, and shall be decided without debate, 
 except that it cannot be received when the 
 House is voting on another question, nor while 
 a member is addressing the House. 
 
 43. Orders of the Day. 
 
 Orders of the day take place of all other 
 questions except for adjournment. 
 
 44. Previous Question, 
 
 The Previous Question takes place of all 
 others except adjournment and orders of the 
 day. 
 
 45. Indefinite Postponement — Lying on the Table 
 — Commitment — Amendment. 
 
 Next to the previous question a motion for 
 indefinite postponement takes precedency; next 
 
193 
 
 to this a motion to lay on the table, after which 
 commitment, which is before amendment. 
 
 46. Previous Question — Precludes Debate. 
 The previous question shall not be put unless 
 
 demanded by one-third of the members rising 
 for that purpose. This call shall put an end to 
 all discussion until the previous question is de- 
 cided. It is the only privileged question, (ex- 
 cept an appeal to the House, the motion for 
 laying on the table, or for adjournment,) which 
 shall preclude all debate both on itself and the 
 main question. It is a form of parliamentary 
 proceeding which may be easily abused, and 
 should not be resorted to except for important 
 reasons. When this question is called for by 
 the requisite number, the Moderator shall an- 
 nounce the fact ; and, after stating the main 
 question, shall say, " Shall the main question 
 be now put to vote, and decided immediately, 
 without farther discussion?" If this be de- 
 cided in the negative, the discussion of the 
 main question shall proceed ; if in the affirma- 
 tive, the main question shall be put and de- 
 cided according to the terms in which the 
 previous question is couched. 
 
 47. Liberty of Debate not Licentiousness. 
 As the previous question may be easily 
 
 abused, so may the liberty of touching upon 
 the merits of the main question in the discus- 
 sion of all other privileged questions. On some 
 17 
 
194 
 
 of them, circumstances may be such, that a full 
 discussion of the main question may be entirely 
 unnecessary, and may even degenerate into 
 prolix and desultory harangues, forbidden in 
 Rule 34. On a motion to amend, this may be 
 so manifest as to require the interposition of 
 the Chair. 
 
 48. Amendment Amended, 
 If an amendment be moved to an amend- 
 ment it is admitted; but it would not be admitted 
 in another degree ; to wit, to amend an amend- 
 ment to an amendment of a main question. 
 
 49. Legitimate Amendments. 
 No new motion or proposition shall be ad- 
 mitted under colour of amendment, as a substi- 
 tute for the motion or proposition under debate. 
 Yet amendments may be made so as totally to 
 alter the nature of the proposition, as from an 
 affirmative to a negative, or the converse. 
 
 50. Striking Out and Amending. 
 When a motion has been made to strike out 
 or agree to a paragraph, motions to amend it 
 are to be put to the question, before a vote is 
 taken on striking out or agreeing to the whole 
 paragraph. 
 
 51. Laying on the Table, hoio Operate, so Post- 
 ponement, 
 
 A motion to lay on the table shall be put 
 without debate, and is equivalent to a motion 
 
195 
 
 for postponing ; and if either be carried, the 
 motion or the business thus postponed or laid 
 on the table cannot be presented again on the 
 same day, though it may on any or every day 
 thereafter, if the mover choose to incur such 
 a responsibility. 
 
 52. Piling Privileged Questions* 
 Though several privileged questions may be 
 moved upon the same primary question, yet 
 they cannot be moved upon each other as by 
 committing an amendment, or amending a 
 commitment; postponing the previous question, 
 or pre-questioning a postponement; nor can 
 they be doubled upon themselves, as by post- 
 poning a postponement, or committing a com- 
 mitment ; except in the single case of amending 
 an amendment. 
 
 53. Incidental Questions* 
 But there are several questions which being 
 incidental to every one, will take place of every 
 one, privileged or not ; such as a question of 
 order arising out of any other question; a 
 matter of priority in rising to speak, (see Rule 
 29,) reading papers relative to the question be- 
 fore the House; and the question for leave to 
 withdraw a motion. 
 
 54. liemomng or Suspending a Question, 
 Such privileged questions as dispose of the 
 
 main question remove it from before the House, 
 
 17* 
 
196 
 
 as do also adjournments and orders of the day; 
 but it is only suspended by a motion to amend, 
 to strike out a paragraph, to withdraw, to read 
 papers, or by a question of order or priority ; 
 and stands again before the House when they 
 are decided. 
 
 55. Unfinished Business. 
 Business left unfinished at the last meeting 
 is ordinarily to be taken up first. 
 
 STANDING DOCKET, 
 
 From which a selection is to he made for particular 
 courts, and particular meetings. 
 I. Judicatory constituted or adjourned. 
 II. Moderator chosen, and inducted. 
 
 III. Clerks chosen. 
 
 IV. Roll called, and absentees marked. 
 V. Minutes read. 
 
 VI. Docket made out. 
 VII. Committees appointed. 
 
 1. 
 
 Bills and Overtures. 
 
 2. 
 
 judicial. 
 
 3. 
 
 on records above. 
 
 4. 
 
 on records below. 
 
 5. 
 
 on state of religion. 
 
 6. 
 
 statistics. 
 
 7. 
 
 missions. 
 
 8. 
 
 education. 
 
 9. 
 
 seminaries. 
 
 10. 
 
 finances. 
 
 11. 
 
 relifijious exercises. 
 
197 
 
 VIII. Examination of candidates. 
 IX. Free conversation on the state of reli- 
 gion ; in which concise and time-saving 
 suggestions may be made on one or 
 more of the following subjects : 
 
 1. Infidelity. 
 
 2. Vice. 
 
 3. Heresy. 
 
 4. Persecution. 
 
 5. Revivals. 
 
 6. Means of grace, scanty. 
 
 7. abundant. 
 
 8. longed for. 
 
 9. Ability or zeal to support the Gospel. 
 
 10. Observance of the Sabbath. 
 
 11. Week-day meetings. 
 
 12. Prayer meetings. 
 
 13. Monthly concert. 
 
 14. Pastoral visitations. 
 
 15. Family religion. 
 
 16. Education. 
 
 17. Literary institutions. 
 
 18. Theological do. 
 
 19. Sabbath-schools for whites. 
 
 20. blacks. 
 
 21. Classes for catechising. 
 
 22. Bible. 
 
 23. Bible societies. 
 
 24. Missionary " 
 
 25. Education " 
 
 26. Tract 
 
198 
 
 27. Moral societies. 
 
 28. Benevolent " 
 
 X. Reports from officers. 
 XL inferior courts. 
 
 XII. Resolution for next meeting. 
 
 XIII. Social prayer and praise. 
 
 XIV. Adjournment. 
 
 AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. 
 
 1. The Assembly of Divines which met at 
 Westminster in London, in the chapel called 
 King Henry Seventh's Chapel, on July 1, 1643, 
 was a council for the long Parliament, which 
 sat A. D. 1641-60. Its members were 10 Lords, 
 20 Commoners, and 121 Ministers, in all about 
 151, of whom about 100 gave constant attend- 
 ance. " They subsisted till Feb. 22, 1648-9, 
 about three weeks after the King's death, hav- 
 ing sat 5 years, 6 months, and 22 days, in 
 which time they had 1163 sessions. They 
 were afterwards changed into a committee for 
 (the examination, ordination, and induction of 
 ministers,) and met every Thursday morning, 
 till March 25, 1652, when the long Parliament, 
 being turned out of the House by Oliver Crom- 
 well, they broke up without any formal disso- 
 lution." They received from Parliament, first 
 6, then 8, in all 14 rules of order. N. 3, 83. 
 
 2. The 1st Presbyterian Synod, for the Pro- 
 vince of London, contemporary with the above, 
 
199 
 
 met in St. Paul's, May 3, 1647. It had more 
 than 100 members, 2-3 lay elders, and formed 
 9 rules of order. N. 3, 383. 
 
 3. G. A. Dig. 24, Rules, 16 
 
 4. Printed sh, 18 
 
 5. Appr. 1821, 43 
 
 6. Adopt. 1822, 40 
 
 7. Gov. 19, 2, 3. Disc. 422. 
 
 8. Sen. of U. S. 42. ^ 
 
 9. Lower House, > Jefferson's Manual. 
 
 10. Pari, of G. B. ) 
 
 11. Sutherland. 
 
 Adopted by the Presbytery of 
 at their stated meeting in 
 
 Adopted by the Synod of 
 at their stated meeting in 
 
 Adopted by the 
 
 of 
 
 THE END. 
 
/1Z0-J 
 
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