might not afterwards be a matter of dispute to define what were the principles of the united body; or which body had abandoned its principles in the union; or whether the united body was to be formed by giving up the distinguishing principles of both. And all the terms of union before these now proposed by the Associate Presbytery left these things in doubt. By the rejection of these terms the union then appeared to be at rest, and well would it have been for the peace of the church had it never been revived, until there appeared some actual evidences of real agreement in sentiment between the two bodies.

CHAPTER III.

Revival of the Union-Terms drawn and agreed upon by some members privatelySubject again introduced into Presbytery-Basis proposed-Objections statedUnion closed by the casting vote of the Moderator-Protest of Messrs. Marshall, Clarkson, and others-Remarks on the Union-The Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania continued-The organization of the Associate Reformed Synod -Remarks-Notices of those who voted for and acceeded to the Union.

We have already noticed that the Associate Presbytery of New-York had closed a union with the Reformed Presbytery, in the absence and without the knowledge of all the other brethren concerned; if their agreeing to the terms proposed at Pequa, 9th of June, 1779, can be called a union.

Mr. Robert Annan, who was the first to propose the union and its principal advocate, all along, was much grieved and disappointed at the failure of his scheine in the Presbytery of Pennsylvania.

He determined, if possible, still to effect it, and accordingly came to Middle Octorara, where Mr. Smith was then set. tled; Mr. Smith being about to dispense the Sacrament of the Supper, on the last Sabbath of October, of that year, (1781.) Mr. Annan offered his assistance on Saturday; Mr. Smith hesitated about employing him, as he was now in connection with the Reformed Presbytery. Mr. Annan told him if he did not employ him, he would go next day and preach for Mr. Cuthbertson of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Mr. Smith then agreed to employ him. Thus Mr. Smith on

his own authority and responsibility, entered into christian and ministerial communion with a minister, who was avowedly in another connection. This step on the part of Mr. Smith gave such offence to his congregation, that many communicants declined partaking of the ordinance on that occasion.* Thus both these men practically adopted the system of inter-communion, which has occasioned so much disturbance and confusion in several branches of the church since that time.

On the Wednesday following, the Associate Presbytery met at Pequa. The members present were Mr. Proudfit, Moderator, Messrs. Marshall, Clarkson, Smith and Murray, ministers; and Messrs. David Houston, John M'Kay, Robert Hunter, and William Bailey, ruling elders. Mr. Annan was, also, present, and a motion was made to grant him a seat, which motion did not prevail. Mr. Annan continued, however, to attend the mecting on that, and the succeeding day, until the Presbytery rose. After Messrs. Marshall, Clarkson, and the elders had retired, Mr. Annan, and the other members who remained, went into a Conference upon the subject of reviving the union. At this meeting, which was got up by Mr. Annan and Mr. Smith, the latter of whom had again become zealous for the union, it was agreed that those who were present should act for themselves in the matter of the union, without regard to the minds of their absent brethren.† To this step, though evidently a disorganizing and divisive course, the union scheme, doubtless, ultimately owed its success. Mr. Annan had now become determined to accomplish his object by some means; and if he should not be able to carry all the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania with him, he was determined to carry as many as he could :-to create a division among the members was necessary to fulfil this object. The Presbytery of Pennsylvania consisted at this time of seven ministerial members, viz: Messrs. Henderson, Marshall, Clarkson, Logan, Proudfit, Murray and Smith. And the three who remained after the above meeting of Presbytery, to confer with Mr. Annan, resolved to act independently of the other four. Divide and conquer, is a maxim, of the successful application of which, Mr. Annan was not ignorant. And as it was manifest no union with the Reformed Presbytery could be effected in accordance with the principles of the Secession Church, as stated in the propositions agreed to at Philadel phia, in April preceding, another plan was adopted by the brethren who remained at Pequa. A new set of propositions,

* Marshall's Vindication, page 25.

+ Mr. Annan's Narrative, page 15.

as a basis of union, was drawn up by them and transmitted to the members of the Reformed Presbytery, with a request to meet in Conference on the 29th of the next month, at Donegal. With this request the members of the Reformed Presbytery complied. This Conference was attended by all the members of the Reformed, but by Mr. Smith only of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Annan, who was resolved not to return home until he effected the union, of which scheme he flattered himself as the author. At this meeting which took place on the 29th of November, 1781, the new terms were agreed to on the part of the Reformed Brethren, and, also, by Mr. Smith and Mr. Annan. Mr. Annan, having so far succeeded in carrying his favorite project as to have several members of the Associate Presbytery pledged to adhere to it, whether their brethren did, or did not, and thus having virtually divided the Presbytery of Pennsylvania, returned home. Mr. Smith, who was a man highly gifted, especially as a public speaker, directed all his efforts to secure a majority in favor of the plan, by the next meeting of Presbytery, which was not to take place until the ensuing summer. And in order to try the minds of the people, and to involve, and consequently, as far as possible, to secure those already favorably disposed towards a union on the principles now proposed; he and others fearing to await the decision of Presbytery began immediately to hold ministerial communion with the Reformed Brethren. This was the occasion of much confusion and disturbance in many of the congregations on both sides. The people became divided in sentiment; and confidence and affection cooled among the ministry. In con. sequence of the great confusion and disorder that now prevailed, it had been agreed that a day of fasting and humiliation should be observed by the members of Presbytery on the day immediately preceding their meeting for business, which was accordingly observed; Mr. Logan preaching in the forenoon from Lam. iii. 40, Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord,' and Mr. Clarkson in the afternoon from Isa. lix. 2, 'But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear.'

The union was again brought up, notwithstanding the unanimity with which the Philadelphia propositions of April, 1781, had been adopted and considered as the ultimatum upon the subject. Several copies of the basis proposed by

* Vindication of the Associate Presbytery, page 27.

Messrs. Smith, Proudfit and Murray, of the Presbytery of Pennsylvania, and by Mr. Annan of the Presbytery of NewYork in October preceding, and agreed to by the members of the Reformed Presbytery, on the 29th November, at Donegal, were presented to the Presbytery. These copies not agreeing either in language or number of articles, Messrs. Proudfit, Murray and Smith withdrew, and agreed on one which they offered as a true copy, which was read. Before judicially considering it, it was proposed and agreed, that the Philadelphia propositions, and those now presented, should be read over. A vote was taken which should be read first; the majority decided in favor of those now presented. They were accordingly read over, article by article, and after the reading of each, the question was put, "Approve of this ar ticle as a part of the basis of union with the Reformed Presbytery or not." The following were the articles of basis, with the exceptions taken to them at the time, noted down by Mr. Marshall, the Clerk of Presbytery.

"ATICLE 1. Election, redemption, and the application thereof, are of equal extent, and for the elect only.

"The question was put, Approve of this article as a part of the basis of union with the Reformed Presbytery? It was carried, Approve. Mr. Marshall moved it might be marked, he did not approve, as he thought this article was not so explicit as the 4th and 5th propositions agreed to at Philadelphia, last year.

"ART. 2. Magistracy is derived from God as the Almighty Creator and Governor of the world, and not from Christ as Mediator.

"Carried, Approve.

"ART. 3. Whereas magistracy proceeds from God as the Creator and Governor of the world, and the profession of the true religion is not essential to the being of civil magistrates: and whereas protection and allegiance are reciprocal, and as the United States of America, while they protect us in life and property, at the same time do not impose any thing sinful on us, we therefore judge it our duty to acknow ledge the government of these states, in all lawful commands, that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.

"Carried, Approve. Mr. Marshall craved it might be marked that he did not approve of it, as it came in the place of the first proposition agreed to last year at Philadelphia.

"ART. 4. The above proposition is not to be understood in an opposite sense to that proposition relative to civil go

vernment, on which the union between the Associate Presbytery of New-York and the Reformed Presbytery have agreed: but only as a plain and undisguised explication of one point of truth, in which we have the best reason to believe the whole body are united.

"Carried, Approve. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Clarkson craved it might be marked that they objected against this, as having a reference to the articles of agreement made by the Associate Presbytery of New-York with the Reformed Presbytery. These articles they conceived to be ambiguous, and it would be difficult to know what the real sense of this ar ticle is, when it is only to be explained by those. The articles agreed to in June 1779, at Pequa, are those in which the Associate Presbytery of New-York did coalesce with the Reformed Presbytery, and there are several of them which relate to civil government, and this articlé does not define the one referred to. By these articles agreed to at Pequa, June 1779, and ratified by the Associate Presbytery of NewYork, we are led to believe that scriptural qualifications are necessary to the being of the magistrate when made so by the people that the kingdom of providence in all the natural ordering of things to their natural end is in the hand of Christ the Mediator-that the Bible is the formal rule of magistrates in the execution of their office-all which are Erastian, Popish, and dangerous tenets, which have been a source of great distraction and ruin in the world, and therefore we choose to oppose them.

"ART. 5. As no opposition of sentiment, relative to the important duty of covenanting, appears on either side; it is mutually agreed, that the consideration of it be referred to the councils and deliberations of the whole body.

"Carried, Approve. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Clarkson craved leave, and it was granted, that it might be marked that they objected to this, because it was a new mode of union, to refer points in question to be decided by the body when united. It is well known Seceders and the Anti-government party have very different views about covenanting; the first are for renewing the covenants of their ancestors in a suitableness to their own circumstances, the last adhere to the solemn covenants in their original form. In place of this Mr. Marshall and Mr. Clarkson declared their adherence to the third proposition drawn up last year at Philadelphia.

"ART. 6. Though no real or practical subordination to the Associate Synod of Edinburgh, in a consistency with Presbyterian principles, can be pled, yet from the most wise