Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
[…]
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH
FOREIGN CHURCHES
OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
[…]
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH
FOREIGN CHURCHES
Dr KILLEN, as Convener, read the following as the report of this Committee, and also subjoined letter from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, addressed to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland:-[…]
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND
REV. AND DEAR BRETHREN, - […] The man of sin is determined to supersede us in the vast and beautiful inheritance of this our Western valley. He is sending from Europe myriads of men, darkened and enslaved to him; millions of money, managed by his wily priests to the best account which the wisdom of this world can dictate, in order to possess the land and control the destinies of this great Republic. Gorgeous temples are built; political power is courted; innumerable bands of virginity are formed; abounding and insidious efforts to seduce the children of Protestants into their schools are detected; and even the effrontery of demanding from the State an expulsion of the Bible from common schools, and a part of the public revenue to support their own education, has come on us to alarm and arouse our apathy.
At this meeting of the Assembly, held in Cincinnati, one of the strong centres of Popery in the United States, we have determined, with almost perfect unanimity, that ‘Baptism in the Church of Rome is not valid’, thus cutting loose the last embarrassment which entangled our arms in the conflict with Antichrist, and taking what we think at more important position in the advancing stage of this great controversy. Doubtless, your sympathies with our opposition to Romanism are greatly enlivened by the recent munificence of your Government to the College of Maynooth. It is but another development of essential ambition in this ‘mystery’ to blend herself with the arm of secular power, ‘to reign over kings,’ ‘to corrupt the earth with her fornication,’ and ‘deceive all nations with her sorceries.’ […]
May the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
JOHN M. KREBS, Moderator
WILLIAM M. ENGLES, Stated Clerk.
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 27th, 1845. WILLIAM M. ENGLES, Stated Clerk.
I herewith transmit eight copies of the printed minutes of the General Assembly, for the year 1845; on page sixteen of which may be found the action on slavery referred to in the foregoing letter.
WILLIAM M. ENGLES, S.C.
The minutes were not in Court. […]
Mr [William] CROTTY [of Birr, and an ex-Roman Catholic priest] wished to advert to that part of the letter in which the American Church had declared baptism by the Roman Catholic Church to be invalid. He hoped the Assembly would not commit themselves by countenancing such a proceeding. If they did so the consequences would be, that they would deny their ministerial functions altogether, and unchristianise the whole Church. If the statement were true, Luther and Knox were never baptised. He protested against the position the had taken, and he thought the Assembly should intimate in their address that they did not concur with the proceeding.
Dr [Robert] STEWART [Broughshane] said it was a most important question that they had decided, and he agreed with the views entertained by Mr Crotty. The Jewish Church was exceedingly corrupt when Christ was on earth; and although the Scribes and Pharisees sat in it, yet He approved of the ordinances administered therein. He (Dr Stewart) would hesitate before he came to the decision to which the American Church had come; and the question was, should they take any notice of it at all. If they printed the letter it would appear that they had given their approval to it. (Cries of “No, no.”)
Mr [H. W.] MOLYNEAUX [First Larne] said, if they were understood to affirm the sentiments of every letter they published, they would have long since placed themselves in a very awkward situation.
The MODERATOR asked if it would not be better to submit the matter to a Committee for consideration. They were at present unprepared to come to a decision on so important a finding.
Mr [William] NIBLOCK [Second Donegal] said the Assembly had long since acknowledged the ordination of a Roman Catholic priest to be valid, and why not baptism?
The voice of the Court was in favour of leaving the matter to a Committee.
Banner of Ulster, 10 July 1846