Annals of the American Pulpit: Presbyterian

In 1801, a "Plan of Union between Presbyterians and Congregationalists in the New Settlements" was formed, with a view to prevent disagreement between the two denominations, and to facilitate their coöperation for the support of the ministry and other Christian institutions. This arrangement continued thirty-six years; and under it were formed hundreds of Churches in the States of New York and Ohio.

For some time previous to 1830, it had been apparent that there were really two parties in the Presbyterian Church, which, though not often brought into actual collision, had occasion, sometimes, in meeting a test question, to indicate their distinct existence. But the celebrated case of the Rev. Albert Barnes, which occurred about that time, developed more decidedly the opposing elements, and marked the formal commencement of a controversy which was destined, after a few years, to result in another division of the Church. Of this controversy I forbear entering into any details; partly because it would be irrelevant to my purpose, and partly because the controversy is too recent to form a legitimate subject for impartial history. Suffice it to say that, after a scene of intense and protracted conflict, continued till the year 1837, the "Plan of Union' was abrogated, and the four Synods of Genesee, Geneva, Utica, and the Western Reserve, were adjudged as no longer "constituent parts" of the Presbyterian Church; and the division thus commenced was consummated the next year. Since that period, the Presbyterian Church has consisted of two distinct Bodies, entirely independent of each other.

In 1837, previous to the exscinding of the four Western Synods, the Presbyterian Church contained 23 Synods, 135 Presbyteries, 2,140 ministers, 2,865 Churches, and 220,557 communicants. In 1857, the Old School Body contained 31 Synods, 155 Presbyteries, 2,411 ministers, 3,251 Churches, and 244,825 communicants. The New School Body, at the same date, contained 26 Synods, 114 Presbyteries, 1,595 ministers, 1,679 Churches, and 139,115 communicants. The aggregate of both Bodies is as follows:57 Synods, 269 Presbyteries, 4,006 ministers, 4,930 Churches, and 383,940 communicants.

Notwithstanding Presbyterianism has never prevailed extensively in New England, it has had a distinct and independent existence there from a very early period. The French Church in Boston, which was formed of Huguenots, in or about the year 1687, was the first church organized on a Presbyterian basis; but it was continued no longer than while their public worship was conducted in the French language. The first Presbyterian organization in New England, of any permanence, dates to about the year 1718, when a large number of Presbyterians, with four ministers, migrated to this country from the North of Ireland. For some time, in cases of difficulty, the ministers and elders were wont to assemble informally, and hold what might be called pro re nata meetings; and occasionally, where they were unable to reach a satisfactory result, they asked advice of the Synod of Ireland.

This state of things continued without much modification till the year 1745, when the ministers resolved, as preparatory to the step they were about to take, to observe, in connection with their congregations, the third Wednesday of March, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. On the 16th of April following, the Rev. Messrs. John Moorhead of Boston, David McGregore of Londonderry, and Ralph Abercrombie of Pelham, with Messrs. James M'Keon, Alexander Conkey, and James Hughes, met in Londonderry, and being "satisfied as to the Divine warrant, with dependance upon God for counsel and assistance, they, by prayer, constituted themselves into a Presbytery, to act, so far as their present circumstances will permit them, according to the Word of God and the Constitutions of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, agreeing to that perfect rule." This Body was called "the Boston Presbytery" and met according to adjournment, in that town, on the 13th of August, 1745.

There is a chasm in the Presbyterial Records, from the close of the year 1754 till the 24th of October, 1770. At this time, the Presbytery consisted of twelve congregations, and as many ministers. At a meeting held at Seabrook, N. H., on the 31st of May, 1775, the Presbytery resolved to divide itself into three distinct Bodies-namely "the Presbytery of Salem," "the Presbytery of Londonderry," and "the Presbytery of Palmer;" and the three Presbyteries, thus organized, were then formed into a Synod, called "the Synod of New England," which held its first meeting at Londonderry, on the 4th of September, 1776.

At Boothbay, Me., on the 27th of June, 1771, a new Presbytery was erected, called "the Presbytery of the Eastward,"-consisting of three ministers, and four ruling elders, representing four churches. It had no connection with the Boston Presbytery, and its origin is said to have been in some way connected with the removal of the Rev. John Murray to Boothbay. It never exhibited on its roll above eight ministers. Its last recorded adjournment (now known) was "to meet at New Boston, N. H., on the first Wednesday of October, 1792." The only relic of this Presbytery that I have been able to discover, is a curious old volume in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Jenks, of Boston, printed in 1783, with the following title:-"Bath-Kol. A Voice from the Wilderness. Being an humble attempt to support the sinking truths of God against some of the principal errors raging at this time. Or a joint testimony to some of the grand articles of the Christian Religion, judicially delivered to the Churches under their care. By the First Presbytery of the Eastward."

In September, 1782, the Synod of New England, finding their numbers considerably reduced in consequence of existing difficulties, agreed to dissolve, and form themselves into one Presbytery, by the name of “the Presbytery of Salem." For two succeeding years, this Presbytery met regularly in different parts of Massachusetts Proper; but after this, its meetings were held only in the District of Maine. Its last meeting was held at Gray, September 14, 1791, at the close of which it adjourned sine die.

The Third Associate Reformed Presbytery, afterwards called the Associate Reformed Presbytery of Londonderry, was formed in Philadelphia, October 31, 1782, and held its first meeting within its own bounds, at Londonderry, N. H., on the 11th of February, 1783. It ceased to belong to its original denomination in 1802, and was an independent Presbytery until 1809, when it was received into the Synod of Albany, and has since continued under the name of the Presbytery of Londonderry.

The Presbytery of Newburyport was formed by the concurrent action of the Presbytery of Londonderry and the Synod of Albany. It held its first session in Boston, on the 27th of October, 1826, and its last on the 20th of October, 1847,-when it became reunited to the Presbytery of Londonderry.

The Presbytery of Connecticut, consisting of several ministers and churches previously belonging to the Presbytery of New York, was constituted by the Synod of New York on the 15th of October, 1850, and held, its first meeting at Thompsonville on the 29th of the same month.

CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX.

[On the left hand of the page are the names of those who form the subjects of the work-the
figures immediately preceding denote the period, as nearly as can be ascertained, when each
began his ministry. On the right hand are the names of those who have rendered their testi-
mony or their opinion in regard to the several characters. The names in Italics denote that
the statements are drawn from works already in existence-those in Roman denote communi-
cations never before published, and, in nearly every instance, specially designed for this work.]

SUBJECTS.

1683. Francis Makemie..
1692. Josias Mackie.....
1698. Jedediah Andrews
1705. George McNish...
1708. Jonathan Dickinson

1712. George Gillespie
1717. Robert Cross....

1718. William Tennent..

WRITERS.

.Rev. I. W. K. Handy.

Dr. Franklin.