EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE SY^OD OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. SESSION XI.—182? T //. “TAXT TlrrfC T >, (its: / sjlt&O. lpiA,t**i+CA^*.OsQ- ?L£-ccr— h)—rf<C , ^tXAA^<jutjL 2ATOACCZ+^IA ~IU~. jQ^ ixcrTr^oClH Sxdul ?/(- JZeTr ^a.. _ — /%.. /3. 2cCL££h^<-^— O^cArt^A: S (Uz_ T^cTch. ^>TT~ %J (X c JfL+u~C4- 7 UdiM-c^CLst^ 'HcJC ^3- ■«^ - S. S3. hT^CLe- (JlUtX C£Uy CPUlcxcAjL^b/Llc IculA J^y-aT-c l33u2Ahs-*-*-7A. « Tic S- 111 3s>?x2LAAr^tr, — (TcAAL,i^l—. (Tic- jt’+y ~ZlA-y, v/ 13LICXJCA<^ (yjtci&uc^TL. (o^u^tljl fkuiuru., ^d^Uyt^Cr^ /SiSiCsl ZC/o-ch^- IfcziAi^- 7’A^l<jjL£La-4^_ • " (&JU+£*PGZL3 . Z'2l&cc**yl H<A^ A-. l/^oliyiXr ^CX^cujT- . ___ flzzThJL. t/^OcACj QZi^e_aJ%^. yt(T/ . MINUTES OF THE SYNOD. 148 SESSION XI.—1825. New York, August 2, 1825. The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church met, agreeably to adjournment, and was opened with a sermon by the Rev. JAMES R. WILLSON, from Mark i. 4, John did baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptism of repent¬ ance for the remission of sins. The Synod then adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o’clock, A. M. August 3, 1825, 9 o'clock, A. M. The Court met, agreeably to adjournment, and was call¬ ed to order by the Moderator. The Court proceeded to ascertain the members of the present Synod, when it appeared there were present from the Northern Presbytery, the Rev. Dr. M’LEOD, GILBERT M’MASTER, JAMES CHRYSTIE, JAMES MILLIGAN, MELANC- THON IS. WILLIAMS, JAMES II. WILLSON, SAMUEL M. WILLSON, Ministers; Messrs. ANDREW GII FORD, ROBERT SPENCE, THOMAS CUMMINGS, and SAMUEL G. WRIGHT, Ruling Elders. From the Philadelphia Presbytery, Rev. Dr. W YLIE, JOHN GIBSON, SAMUEL W. CRAWFORD, Min¬ isters; JOHN M’KI NLY and ROBERT ORR to alternate, DAVID GRAHAM and JOHN THOMSON, Ruling Elders.— From the Presbytery of Pittsburgh, Rev. WILLIAM GIB¬ SON, Dr. BLACK, JOHN CANNON, GAVIN M’MILLAN; no Ruling Elders. From the Western Presbytery, Itev. ROBERT LUSK, SAMUEL WYLIE, Ministers; no Ruling ELDERS. From the Southern Presbytery, Rev. HUGH M’- MILLA N; no Ruling Elders. 144 MINUTES OT THE SYNOD. Rev. James Milligan was chosen Moderator, and Dr- Black continued as stated Clerk. Rev. Samuel W. Craw¬ ford was appointed assistant Clerk. The Rev. William L. Roberts was introduced to the Synod by the Rev. Gilbert M’Master, as an ordained Min¬ ister and member of the Northern Presbytery, and settled in the congregation of Patterson. Mr. Roberts was invi¬ ted to a seat in Synod. He took his seat accordingly. The Synod proceeded to the appointment of Committees. The following committees were appointed. A Committee for unfinished business, Messrs. Black and Crawford. A Committee for Presbyterial Reports, Messrs. Willson and Chrystie. A Committee for the Signs of the Times, Mr. Chrystie and Dr. Wylie. A Committee on Discipline, Messrs. Cannon, Samuel M. Willson, John Gibson and Gilbert M’Master. A Committee for Foreign Correspondence, Rev. Dr. M’Leod and Gilbert M’Master. A Committee for Miscellaneous business, Messrs. Wil¬ liams, Roberts and Wylie. The Synod agree that the committee on the Theological Seminary be abolished, the business of that committee hav¬ ing fallen into the hands of the superintendents. Enquiry was made at the Clerk if he had written to the Bethel congregation, as directed. Answered in the affir¬ mative. Receiving and hearing Presbyterial Reports was made the order of the day for to-morrow. The Court adjourned till 9 o’clock, A. M. to-morrow. Moderator concluded with prayer. MINUTES OF THE SYNOD. 145 JEodetn loco, Jlugu&t 4, 1825. The Court met, pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order b.y the Moderator. Same members ut antea. TttP"minutes of last sederunt were read, and business called up. The order of the day was receiving and hearing Presby¬ terial reports. The Northern Presbytery were called to report. They were not in a state qf readiness. The Philadelphia Presbytery presented a report which was read and referred to the committee on Presbyterial reports. The Presbytery of Pittsburgh presented their report, which was read and referred to the committee on Presby¬ terial reports. The Western and Southern Presbyteries presented their reports, with accompanying documents, all of which were referred to the committee on Presbyterial reports. After reading and referring the Presbyterial reports, the unfinished business was called up. Enquiry was made at the members severally, whether the fast and thanksgiving days appointed at last meeting of Synod had been attended to. The answer was satisfac¬ tory. A communication was received from the Rev. Stephen N. Rowan, D. D. addressed to the Moderator of this Synod, conveying an extract from the minutes of the General As¬ sembly of the Presbyterian Church, as follows: “At a meeting of the General Assembly of the Presby¬ terian Church, in the United States of America, on the 51st. day of May last, the following resolution was presented through the committee of overtures, and adopted, viz. Resolved, that a committee be appointed by this Gener¬ al Assemble, to confer with a similar committee to be ap¬ pointed hv the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. i 46 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD. should they deem it expedient to appoint such a commit¬ tee, and to prepare a plan of correspondence between the two bodies. The Rev. Stephen N. Rowan, D. D. the Rev.JBMffi»W. Baldwin, and the Rev. Robert M’Cartee, were appointed a committee agreeably to the above resolution.” “A true extract from the minutes. Attest. EZRA STILES ELY, stated Clerk of the General Assembly. Philadelphia, July 25, A. D. 1830”* After considering this communication the Synod agreed to the following resolution: Whereas, A communication was made to this Synod, from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, informing, “that a committee had been appointed to confer with a similar committee to be appointed by the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, should they deem it expedient to appoint such a committee, and to prepare a plan of correspondence between the two bodies:” And, whereas, the Rev. Stephen N. Rowan, D. D. the Rev. Elihu W. Baldwin, and the Rev. Robert M’Cartee,' were appoint¬ ed that committee, agreeably to the above resolution, therefore, Resolved, unanimously, that a committee of three be appointed to meet and confer with the committee ap¬ pointed by the General Assembly, and that the Rev. Alex¬ ander M’Leod, D. I). the Rev. John Gibson, and the Rev. Samuel AG. Willson be that committee, and that this com¬ mittee report to Synod as soon as possible. Resolved, that the chairman of the above committee com¬ municate to the chairman of the committee of the General Assembly, the resolution of this Synod. Resolved, that the Clerk of Synod be ordered to have in readiness at the opening of each Synod, a report of the un¬ finished business lying on the minutes. Adjourned (ill to-morrow at 9 o'clock, A. M. MINUTES OF THE SYNOD. 147 Eodem loco, August 5, 1825. Pursuant to adjournment, Synod met and constituted. Same members ut antea. The minutes of the former sederunt were called for. Unfinished business was called up. The treasurer of the fund of the Theological Seminary, Mr. Robert Orr, presented his report, in part, which was read; but as it was not yet completed, time was allowed him to finish it. And in the mean time, an auditing com¬ mittee was appointed, consisting of Rev. Samuel Wylie and Thomas Cummings, to audit this report, as soon as it shall be in readiness. The committee on Presbyterial reports, reported in part, in relation to the reports of the Philadelphia and Western Presbyteries, in which reports, certain members of this court had been implicated. On motion, a committee consisting of Dr. M’Leod, Rev. James R. Willson and Hugh M’Millan, was appointed on this part of the Presbyterial committee’s report, with authority to call for persons and papers, and report thereon to this Synod, with all convenient speed. Mr. Lusk presented a remonstrance from the congrega¬ tion of Walnut Ridge, assigning reasons for the non-atten¬ dance of a ruling elder from that quarter. The reasons were sustained. A paper entitled a private petition from the congregation at Princeton, Indiana, and a paper entitled a petition from Walnut Ridge, were received and referred to the commit¬ tee on Discipline. The committee on the Signs of the Times, reported on causes of fasting and humiliation. They read a draught of causes calling upon us to essay this duty. This draught, with a slight amendment, was adopted. The Board of Superintendents of the Theological Semi¬ nary, reported—That they had met, April 2, 1825, and organised a Board: that they found in the Seminary three 148 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD students of Theology, belonging to the Reformed Presbyte¬ rian church, viz. Messrs. James Johnston, Gordon T. Ewing, Thomas €. Guthrie, and one, viz. Mr. Samuel Smith, a member of the Associate Reformed church. Mr. Johnston had completed his course in the Seminary, and was dismissed, duly certified. The Board proceeded to tile examination of the remaining students. They deliv¬ ered a variety of Theological discourses—were examined at large on the Greek and Hebrew languages—natural and moral philosophy', in their various ramifications, &c. &c. They had attended one year in the Seminary. From an examination, conducted during the whole week, it was ev¬ ident that the young men had prosecuted their studies with great diligence, and considerable success.