MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATE SYNOD.

In the present number we present our readers with the minutes of the late meeting of Synod, entire. The proceedings of our highest church judicatory, naturally excite a lively interest. We look to this assembly as the ordinance of God for maintaining the purity of doctrine and worship, and the peace, harmony and union of the militant church. Scattered over an extensive district of country, contending against opposition of all kinds, and enemies innumerable; without the means of frequent and friendly intercourse, when assembled in Synod, they verify in their experience the meaning and force of the proverb,-"As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." It is a meeting of brethren,-of men holding the same faith,-actuated by the same principles, and contending for the same high and holy cause. Under such circumstances, if they do not find their hearts warmed, and their weary souls refreshed, it must either be because they have some ambitious schemes, apart from the general good, which cannot be gratified, or because the spirit of defection has seized upon them. But we have no reason to suppose that such is the case in a single instance, but rather the reverse. And what added more than ordinary interest to the late meeting, was a renewing of the covenant of our fathers, at this most seasonable time. We subjoin a part of the solemn Bond into which they unitedly entered, and may the Lord give grace to pay the vows.

“WE, all and every one of us, though weak in ourselves, yet knowing that we can do all things through CHRIST who strengtheneth us, in reliance on the grace contained in the covenant of promise, as sufficient for us in devoting ourselves to the LORD in a covenant of duty; We do, with OUR HANDS LIFTED UP to the MOST HIGH GOD, hereby profess, and, before God, angels, and men, solemnly declare, that we desire, to give glory to the Lord, by believing with the heart, confessing with the mouth, and subscribing with the hand, that in him we have righteousness and strength. Desiring to be found in CHRIST, we acknowledge him to be the only propitiation for our sins; and through divine aid according to the measure of grace given unto us, we do with the whole heart, take hold of his surety righteousness, as the only ground of our access to, and acceptance with GOD; we set our seal to all the promises of GOD, which are in him YEA and in him AMEN, receiving them as our charter for the heavenly inheritance; we avow his word to be our perfect and only rule of faith and practice: and, confessing the blindness of our minds, through which we are inclined to err from the right ways of the LORD, we take his SPIRIT for our only guide, to lead us, in the use of appointed means, into all truth revealed in his holy word, renouncing all those pretended new revelations of the SPIRIT, and traditions of men, which add to it, or take away from it. We avouch the Lord to be our God; and in the strength of his promised grace, we PROMISE and SWEAR, by the great and holy name of the LORD OUR GOD, that we shall unfeignedly endeavour to walk in his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hearken to his voice, in love to him who hath delivered us out of the hand of our enemies; and to serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

"And seeing many at this time in a state of progressive apostacy from the eanse and testimony of JESUS CHRIST, and many snares are laid to draw us after them; though sensible that we are in ourselves as liable to go astray as

any, yet, entreating the Lord to hold up our goings in his paths, that our footsteps slip not, and trusting that through his mercy we shall not be moved for ever, we do solemnly ENGAGE before Him who liveth for ever and ever, that in every place where we may in providence be called to reside, and during all the days of our life, we shall continue steadfast in the faith, profession, and obedi : ence of the true REFORMED RELIGION, in DOCTRINE, WORSHIP, PRESBYTERIAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT and DISCIPLINE, as the same is held forth to us in the word of God, and received in this church, and testified for by it, against the manifold errors and Latitudinarian schemes prevailing in the United States of North America.

How different this from the spirit that actuates too many of the assemblages of our modern Babel builders! By external union, and professed brotherly love, they vainly imagine to stop the cavils of infidels; but the unbelieving world, though blind to their own condemnation, can see that they are really disunited, though in a state of juxtaposition. When the professing people of God learn to prize truth more than all things else, to buy it and sell it not, then, and not till then, may they reasonably hope to confound the spirit of infidelity.

There are many other things connected with the late meeting of Synod, some of which will hereafter be adverted to, calculated to encourage the people of God in the way of well doing, and to strengthen their faith in the sure mercies of our covenant God.

There is a considerable improvement in the apppearance of the Statistical Tables, but still they are very incomplete, many settled congregations as well as vacancies being left blank in the tables; and from the Presbyteries of Cambridge and Ohio, no statistical tables accompanied their reports. We make mention of this in the hope that more attention will be given to the Statistical Tables, and that they will continue to improve till they become accurate sources of information.

The statistical table referred to in the report of the Western missionaries, did not come to hand. Should it be forwarded it will be hereafter inserted.

We cannot feel contented to close this notice without suggesting the importance of using more care in drawing up official documents. There are two or three cases in the present minutes of unpardonable bungling, in some of the reports, obviously the effect of sheer carlesness. Such articles should not be drawn in a style repulsive to the ordinary reader; for we neither feel ourselves authorised, willing, nor capable, to alter, even the phraseology, of official documents. It is an irksome, and generally a thankless task, in ordinary cases, besides too great a tax upon time and patience; therefore, we seldom engage in it, to any great extent, un der any circumstances.

MINUTES

Of the Associate Synod of North America, at their Meeting a Pittsburgh, May 27th, 1829, and continued by adjournment, being their twenty-eighth Annual Meeting.

Pittsburgh, Wednesday, May 27, 1829.

The Associate Synod of North America met and was consti Tuted with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Anderson, the senior minister present, in the absence of Mr. Pringle, Moderator.

MEMBERS PRESENT.

Of the Presbytery of Miami.

Messrs. David Carson and James Adams,* ministers.
Of the Presbytery of Muskingum.

Messrs. John Walker, Thomas Hanna, Daniel McLain, Jr. Joseph Clokey, Samuel Irvine* and Andrew Isaac, ministers.Alexander Hammond, William McCracken, Joseph McKee, and William Harvey, ruling elders.

Of the Presbytery of Ohio.

Messrs. Alexander Murray, Elijah N. Scroggs, David Imbrie, Thomas McClintock, Daniel McLean,* Sen. John Donaldson,* Isaac Beggs,* David Goodwillie, Jr. and Matthew Snodgrass,* ministers. John A. Scroggs, Thomas Christie and James McKenzie, ruling elders.

Of the Presbytery of the Carolinas.

Mr. Andrew Heron, minister.

Of the Presbytery of Chartiers.

John Anderson, D. D. William Wilson, Thomas Allison James Ramsay, D. D. David French, Alexander Wilson and Alexander Donnan,* ministers. James Todd, David Reid, Jr. Willian McCreary, John McNary, James Brownlee and Hugh Lusk, ruling elders.

Of the Presbytery of Allegheny.

Mr. Joseph Scroggs, David Blair, Robert Bruce, D. D. Hugh Kirkland, and John Dickie, John France, ministers. James Young and William Crawford, ruling elders.

Of the Presbytery of Cambridge.

Mr. James Martin,* minister.

*

Of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. Mr. Thomas Beveridge* and Archibald Whyte, Jr. ministers. Ordained missionaries-Messrs. James P. Miller and John Kendall.

Without charge-Mr. Thomas Ferrier,* Samuel McLane,* ministers.

The names marked thus (*) were not present at the opening of Synod.--6

VOL. VL.

Messrs. John Lawrence, Hugh Crawford, Henry Blair, Hugi Arthur, James Morrow, and James Nisbet, Robert Harvey, T. Coon, ruling elders."

The minutes of last year were read, during the reading of which the following members appeared and took their seats, viz: Robert Bruce, D. D. Messrs. Alexander Donnan and James Adams, together with John Lawrence, Hugh Crawford, Henry Blair and Robert Harvey, ruling elders.

The following committees were appointed.

Of Supplies-Messrs. Allison, Kirkland, Murray, Hanna, Heron and Adams.

On the Funds-Messrs. Walker and Young.

To prepare the draught of an Act for a Fast-Dr. Anderson and Mr. Allison.

Messrs. Carson and Heron were appointed a committee of arrangement.

Adjourned till 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
Closed with prayer.

Thursday, May 28th.
The Rev. James Ad

Synod met and was opened with prayer. ams preached last evening from 1 Tim. iii. 15. Last clause"The church of the living God, which is the pillar and ground of the truth."

Members present as above, together with Messrs. David Imbrie, Thomas McClintock, Daniel McLain, sen. John Donaldson, Hugh Kirkland, Andrew Isaac, Samuel Irvine, Isaac Beggs, Matthew Snodgrass, and David Goodwillie, Jr, ministers, and Hugh Arthur, and James Morrow, ruling elders.

Read the minutes of last sitting.

The Rev. John Walker was chosen Moderator.

Papers being called for, reports were given in from the follow ing Presbyteries.

THE REPORT OF THE PRESBYTERY OF, THE CAROLINAS. In those parts of the land in which we live, the signs of the times are mostly of a gloomy aspect. The divinity of our saviour is warmly opposed by some, and but coldly defended by others; the doctrine of universal salvation which open a door for unbounded licentiousness, is preached and heard with greediness; latitudinarian schemes are commonly maintained and reduced to practice; the Hopkinsian leaven is fomented; ordinances are much neglected and gross immoralities encouraged or tolerated. The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no mercy, nor truth, 10. knowledge of God in the land.

Among the people under our care, there are some redeeming appearances. We do not boast, nor indeed have we any occasion to do so, but it is confidently believed there are in our congregations some knowledge, some love to the truth, some zeal for the glory of God and the purity of his worship; and

These elders were not present at the opening of Synod, and the minutes do not inform us to what Presbytery they belong. We have therefore been obliged to place them as above, in order to present, at one view, the whole number of ministers and elders present. Number of ministers present, 38.Number of elders present, 23. Total, 61.

when we consider that the greater part of them have been almost entirely destitute of pastoral care, even since their organization, we cannot but deem it matter of astonishment that there are among us so many vestiges of original Presbyterianism. We have hitherto been as the bush in the wilderness, which burnt with fire and was not consumed.

With the exception of Mr. Mitchell, your itinerants came into our bounds, and we hope our vacancies are refreshed by their labours. We have not however, received the amount of supply which your appointments led us to expect. Mr. Ingles was so long employed in Mr. Andersons charge, that but few of our societies had an opportunity of hearing him; and Mr. Hindman through indisposition and the ungenerous appointments of the Miami Presbytery, was more than a month behind the time fixed by your authority: besides as both he and Mr. Thompson claimed the privilege of returning before your present meeting, our realization must fall considerably short of our expectations.

The past cannot be altered, but we cannot close our report without complaining of the order given us by the last Synod, to supply Mr. Anderson's pulit during two months of his absence on the Missouri mission. Our weakness was not duly considered and to prevent such large commands in future, we feel ourselves called to state, that this Presbytery consists of only four active nembers. Messrs Dixon and Mushat are inefficient through age and imbecility; and Messrs. Heron and Wallace are so distant that they cannot cooperate with us.

Concerning the Testimony of the Associate Synod of Original Seceders, we have nothing further to report than that we have not yet been so happy as to see it.

We have made no attempts to raise funds for the United Hall, but if the site that may be fixed on, should accord with our views, a liberal subscription will be easily and cheerfully raised.

In this Presbytery it has long been customary for each minister to spend four Sabbaths annually in the vacancics, and twelve months ago it was resolved that all monies received for such labours should be thrown into Presbytery's fund. By this means upwards of fifty dollars have been collected, of which we have ordered thirty to be forwarded for the use of Synod. THOMAS KETCHEN, Moderator. ALEXANDER GRIER, Clerk.

April 14th, 1829.

REPORT OF THE PRESBYTERY OF MUSKINGUM.

No very material changes have occurred in our congregations generally since our report of last year. Amidst the opposition of the world, and of those who are enemies to a particular testimony for truth, we have the gratification of observing the gradual advancement of the cause of Christ, and in many instances an increased attachment to that cause, as witnessed for by this Synod. The call for the Rev. Andrew Isaac, from the congregations of Londonderry and Sharon, reported last year, has been accepted, and the instalment took place on the 17th September last. At the same meeting of Presbytery the Rev. Samuel M'Lane tendered the demission of his charge; after his reasons, and duly weighing all circumstances, we judged it necessary to accept it: the congregations were accordingly placed on the list of vacancies.

The portion of supply assigned to this Presbytery has all been received, with the exception of Mr. Samuel Hindman and Mr. Douthet, neither of whom supplied the time appointed by Synod. The former came into our bounds three months, the latter one month, before the time of their respective appointments. As the Presbytery had no knowledge of these changes, these probationers preached without any Presbyterial appointments, in consequence of which some of our vacancies have suffered severely for the want of supply. Nor have they given us any reason whatever, in justification of this procedure. We cannot but consider such conduct disorderly, and we judged it our duty