Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1, Thursday, June 12, 1845 Page: 4 of 8
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THE SOUTHERN BAPT1S0.V CON.
' ' T f ENTION. 4gL
." . : '
To their Brethren in the United States j
to the Gongregaiiofis connected with the
resnective'Churcfies: and to. all candid
. Men. i v;f
A painful division has taken placeiiHhe
Missionary operations' of the American
Baptists. We"" would explain the origin
the principlestand the objects of-that divi-
sion: or thcipeculiar circu instances in
which "the organization of the Southern
Baptist Convention became necessary.
Let not the extent of this disunion be ex-
affgerated. At the present time it involves
only the Foreign and Domestic Missions of
uie aenommation. ixqnnern ana oum-
ern Baptists are' still brethren. . They dif
fer in no article of the Faith. They are
guided by the same principles of gospel
Order. Fanatical attempts have indeed
been made in some quarters to exclude
us of the South -from Christian fellowship.
We do not retort these attempts ; and be
lieve their extent to be comparatively lim-
ited. Our christian fellowship is nor. as we
feel a matter tobe obtruded on any one.
We abide by that of our God his dear Son
and all his baptised followers. The few ul-
tra Northern brethren to whom we allude
must take what course they please. Their
conduct has not influenced us in this move-
ment. We da not regard the rupture as ex-
tending to foundation principles nor can
we think the great body of our Northern
brethren will so regard it. Disunion has
proceeded however deplorably far. The
first part of our duty is to show that its en
tire originis with others. This is its his-
tory. &
1. The General Convention of the Bap-
tist denomination of the United-States was
composed of brethren from every part of
the American Republic' Its constitution
knows no .difference between slaveholders
and non-slaveholders. Nor during -the
period of its existence for the last thirty
years has it in practice known anything
of this distinction. Both parties have con-
tributed steadily and largely (if never ade-
quately) to those funds which are the basis
of its constituency ; both haye yielded its
Joffice bearers plradeitsiasswnarl
.toils many and of prayers njjftbavafling
abroad and at home. TheTmnore'dead'of
.bothf these classes have walked" in closest
sympathy with each other ; anticipating in
-the?Board-roomrandin the. monthly Con-
.cert that higher but not holier union now
mtheir case consummated. Throughout
the entire management of its early affairs
.the whole struggle with its early difficulties.
-v.
'!?'
Ohr: successors will find it difficult to be-
lieve that so important and plain a declara-
tion had become before .the close of the first
year ol the triennial period a perfect nullity;
In December' last the acting Board of the
Convention at Boston adopted a new quali-
fication for'missipnaries anew special rule
viz: that "If any one who shall offer him-
self for a missionary having slaves should
insist on retaining them as his property
they could not appoint him." ' One thing
is certain" they continue "We could never
be a party to any arrangement which im
plies approbation of slavery."
We pray our brethren and all candid
men to mark the date of this novel Rule
the close of the first six months of their
three years' power a date at which the
Compromise-resolution could scarcely have
reached our remoter Mission-stations." If
usurpation had been intended could it haye
been more fitly timed ? An usurpation bf
ecclesiastical power quite foreign to our
policy. Such power was assumedat a pe-
riod when the aggrieved "thousands of Is-
rael" had as it now appears no practical
remedy. Its obvious tendency was either
our final subjugation to that power or a
serious interruption ot the flow of South
ern benevolence. The. latter was the far
more probable evil ; and the Boston Board
knew this well. They were from various
quarters apprised of it. We on the other
hand did not move in the matter of a new
organization until three liberal States had
refused to send Northward any more con-
tributions. Our leaders' had chosen new
Rules. Thus came war within' our gates r
while the means of war on the common
enemy were daily diminisning
By this decision the Board had placed
itself in direct opposition to the constitu-
tion of the Convention. The only reason
given for this extraordinary and unconsti-
tutional dictum being- that the appoint
ing power for wise and good purposes is-
confided to the acting Board On such a
slight show of authority this Board under-
cook to declare that to be a disqualification
in one who should offer himself for a Mis
sionary which the Convention had said
it has rnso nnconrtitutionally an un-
justly:afterd1ib eject us. We have but
enquired for ;Uhe old paths' of Missionary
operations; 'asked' for and attempted to
restore the practically 'good' way The
Constitution we adopt is precisely that of
the original union ; that in connection with
which throughout his Missionary life
Adoniram Judson has livedr and under
which Ann Judson "and Boardraan have
died. We recede from it no single step
We have constructed for our basis no new
creed; acting in this matter upon a Baptist
aversion from all creeds but the- Bible.
We use the very terms as we uphold the
true spirit and great object of the late Gene-
ral Convention of the Baptist denomination
of the United States It is they who wrong
us that have receded. We have receded
neither from the Constitution nor from any
part of the original ground on which we
met them in this work. . And if we ask in
parting the original and . broad Bible
ground of Confederation were not equita
ble how came it so nobly and so long to be
acted upon? If equitable why "depart
from it 'A
We claim to have-acted in the premises
with liberality 'towards our Northern breth-
ren. Thrust from the common platform
of equal rights between the Northern and
Southern Churches we have but recon-
structed that platform. Content with it
we adhere to it and reproduce it as broad
enough for us and for them. Have they
thrustus off? We retain but one feeling
in the case. That we will not practically
leave it on any account' much less in obe-
dience to such usurped authority or in de-
ference to such a manifest breach of Trust
as is here involved. A breach of covenant
that looks various ways heavenward and
earthward. For we repeat they would
forbid us iospeac unto the Gentiles- The
Jerusalem church then must be regath-
eredat the suspected Samaria or. at some
new centre of operations like Antioch.
!Onething is certain" We must go every
where preaching the word. We can
never be a party of any arrangement" for
monopolizing the Gospel: any arrangement
shall-nol be a disqualification. It had also f which like that of the Autocratical Interdict
expressly given its. sanction to Anri-slayery
.opiniosi-rfKU.iiupliedlr nxeajts. jcondem-
;muToh onf slavery although the Conven
tion naa saia inat k neiiner" snoiuaoe aone.
And further irforbade those . who! should
apply for a Missionary appointment to
'express and promote elsewhere" their
views on the subject of slavery in 'a right
"manner and spirit' when the constitu-
tion declared they "were free" to do so.
These brethren thus" acted upon a Senti
ment they have tailed to prove That sla-
there was no breath of discord between very is in'all circumstances sinfuL JWhere-
them. Its Richard Furraan and its Win.
Staughtonils Jesse Mercer and its Thomas
Baldwin led on the sacramental host
shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart..
Their rivalry-being only in earnest efforts
for a common cause their entire aversions
and enmities were directed with all the
strength of their souls against the common
-foe. And to the last did they not cherish-
the strong belief that they left jio otjber
enmities or aversions ; no other rivalry" to
their successors ?
In particular a Special Rule of the con-.
otuuuim utuuw wuu may uu missionaries"
tIz: "Such persons only as are in full com-
munion with some church in our denomi-
nation; and who furnish 'Satisfactory evi-
dence of genuine piety good talents and.
fervent zeal for the Redeemer's cause
Now while under this rule the' slavehold-
er has been in hut turn employed as a mis-t
ionary if is not alleged that any other per-
sons than those above described have been
appointed. Moreover the . important post
of superintendent of 'the education pjf na-
tive missionaries has -been assieneawith
umversaapprobati6rjvto thepatbr of one
ox our largest slaveholding churches.
But an evil hour arrived. Even our
humble efforts in the conquest of trie world
to God excited the accuser of ourð ren-
te cast discord non'ty; anfewthe last
two Triennklavetionfr8lavery:and
anti-slavery men tegiidrawoffon Snfe-'
.Tent sides. How did the Pltefipints on
each side endeavor to aioeVmS "They
proposed and carried almost :Urnimiislv
uk miuw iuj vApuvit ivuvimw
V'
"Resolved. That mXttiMrkt'tn tr.
.gethcrfval i members of I tBPJTtfctwn in
4heWprVofforeigaT)ipnsJidisclaihi
r'lWccitiiiefpts-impliedf
whether of lavery;c ami slavery : l)ut as
individuals we are free eitp.r.eiwjind to
promote elsewhere our views on these
5jSj3o. i:i i christian mnnneVand SDint."
ps their own solemn resolution in the last
Convention (their's as much as ours);left
us free io promote slavery. Was not this
leaving us free and in a Christimppirit
and manner"-to promote that hich in
their hearts and accord ng to the-present
showing of their conduct they regard as a
sin? ' " . .
Enough: perhaps has been said of the
origin of thisi'movement. Were wemsked1
to characterifcethe conduct of our Northern
brethren in one short phraser we should
adopt that of IheJApostle." It was " fordid-
fng us to speajc iinto tlie Gentiles.? Did-
it not obstruct us lay a 'kind of Romish in-
terdict upon us. in the discharge of an im-
perative duly; a d)i.ty to which theichurcli
has been after a (apse of. ages awakened
universally and successfully v& duty the
very object and only object tof our long
cherished connection Aiid confederatioiu.
And this wbul4?seem the place tti'sfate;
that our Northern brethren were dealt with!
as brethren to the last moment. Several
of our Churches cherished the hope that
by means ot' remonstrance and expostula-.
lion through the last annual meeting of
the Board of Managers atjProvidence the
acting' Board might; be brought to feel the
grievous wrongtiieyhad inflicted. 1 ne
Managing Boardwas therefore affectionate-
ly and respectfully addressed on the subject;
and was entreateijtO;re vise and reverse the
obnoxious interdict. A las! the results
were contemptuous silence fas tothe ap
piicaiion maae aqu a ueuueriw resoivc
expressingsy mpiatrjy with the Acting Board
andvadeterminationrtd sustain them.
2 The principles ot. the Southern Bap-
tist 'Cohvehtion ft remains theh-to. bestat-'
ed are conservative while they 'are a6;'
as weirusr equiiauie uuu iiuciai. - iuoj
projpipsetodo the Lordwo(kin the way
our fathers did; it.vi Iter title .designates- at
once its origin and the simple firm 'abid-
ing o! the South on the ground from which
of theNorth would first drive us from our
beloved coloured people of whom they
prove that they? know nothing comparar
tively and from the much-wronged Abo
rigines- of the country; and then cut us off
from the whitemug fields of the eathen
harvest'labor; to which by cogent. appeals
and solemn prayers they have so often pro
tested that without us they were inade-
quate. 3. Our objects then are j the extension
of the Messiah's kingdom and the glory of
our God. Not disunion with any of his
people ; not the upholding of any form of
human policy or civil rights ;. but taod's
glory and Messiah?s iucreasingreign ; in
the promotion of which we find no neces-
sity lor relinquishing any oi our civil ngnis.
We will never interfere with what is C&-sar-s
; We will not compromit what is
Gcd?s;'
These objeets will appeamn detail on
the face of our Constitution and in the Pro-
ceedings which accompany this address.
They are distributed at present between
two acting Boards for Foreign and Domes-
tic Missions having their respective seats
at Richmong Vand Marion Ala. We-
sympathise "with the Macedonia cry from-
every part of the Heathen world with the
low moan lor spiritual aid of the four
millions of half stifled Red men.our neJgh
bbrs;. with ;thel sons of blthiopia among us
tretching: forth tlieir hands of supplication
for the gospel toGod and all his people
and we nave snaxen ourselves .irom me
night-mare of'a six years'- "strife about
words to no profit" for the profit of these
noorjperishing arid precious souls.. Our
language to iil America and to alhCShnsi--endorn
if they willhear iisis "Gompoyerf
and ibr these objects as ye love' soulsband
the diviheSavoiur Of soul "Help.us;". We;
ask help at this juncturetfor nothing else.''
tially opene ports and teeming thirsty
millions. Among us; in the South we
have property which we will offer to the-
Lord and his causein these channels some
prudence with which we would have our
beit wisdomt'to dwell ;. and professions of
piety which .we seek to'have increased
and purified like that of the' first Baptist-
Churches when they had "rest;; and walk-
ing in the fear of the Lord' and in the-
comfort of the Holy Ghost were multi-
plied." In parting with beloved brethren and oldi
coadjutors in this causewe could weepandi
have wept for ourselves and for them; but.
the season as well of weeping as of vain
jangling is we are constrained to believe
just now past. For years the pressure of
men's hands has been upon uslfar too heavi-
ily. Our brethren havepressed upon every1
inch of our privileges and our sacred
Rights but this shall Ojily urge ourgush-
ing souls to yield proportionately of their
renewed efforts to theXofcl to the Church
universal). and to a dying' world ; even as-
water pressed from without rises but the-
more within. Above all the mountain
pressure of our obligations to God even our
own God; to Christ and Him crucified;
and to the personal and social blessings or
the Holy Spirit and His influence shall
urge our little steams of the water of-life to-
flow forth; until every wi'derness and de-
solate place within our reach (and what
extent of the world's wilderness wisely con-
sidered is not within our reach?) shall be
glad') even at this passing calamity oC
division ; (and the deserts of unconverted'
human nature 'rejoice and blossom as the
rose.!
By: order of the Convention
W. B. JOHNSON D; D.
Augusta Ga. 12th May. 1845.
It was not dwelt upon in the Augusta conTention
we do hot recollect ite being named 'but it is too
atringenfca-fact-in thecass to be here omitted that
one of the Missionaries with whom the' acting Board
and Board of Managers can sympathise we presume
and whom they sustain (we hope howeter not in this
particular act but they have in no way openly pro-
tested against it). brother Mason haa actually re-
mitted money to the United States to aid in assisting
slaves to "nm aicqy from their Masters " a felony by
the Statute Law of several States
f Prov. viii. 12.
11 .1 i -
these obiectsrfoo long. We nayevvaUecr vjt i;' . t. -.
quite" too long for the niorelearned.ahd
glllUU OIIU UJIWlOiifc miui wuiiMjiywiww uui
way toward these; objectsi arid we. have
shortened debate uponthemi to get to bust-
ness. uVjfl eyes anu nearts areiurueu.wjiu
feelings of parental fondness to Burmah and
the Karens; with aaeal in winch' we are
!-.V.V 4t. 11 l f 1 J ll
Willing io De couuseiieu oy uuu iiu tw;
fednsiiterate men '(tint by none else) to the
continent of Africai1 and her pernicious
lOUniainSOI lUOtawy.-opwrusaiwuau uwuvi
but yet moreMruntttferable hope and
Tfie Religious Disunion. We quote
below from- the last N. Y. Journal of Com
merce some- remarks equally just and
pointed on the results of the recent Con-
ventions. It is most true that the Southern
people have not urged on this fatal dissen-
tion. They have sought in every peacea-
ble way to escape it; They have forbore-
lorig and entreated for peace and- tolera-
tion.. The answer has been only reitera-
ted attacks insults persecutions. When-
it became evident that there was no hope-
of.peaceful union' they have had recourse-
to peaceful seperation. They have not re-
torted they have done nothing that was-
not merely necessary. A'cting; firmly-
they have also acted with Christian chari
ty.
We publish the Address of the Baptist
Convention it needs no comment or. de-
fence it places their cause where all Chris-
tian men would desire it to be placed.
The Washington Union- discusses this-
3iilject at length and makes an earnest ap-
peal to the North in behalf of the-;Union.
For ourselves we make no more appeals.
They are useless--they are treated- either
with. coarse derision or utter indifference.
The spirit of tyranny- of dogmatism or
strife of usurpation moves and governs-
the" North oh this- question of slavery.
They will never- let us alone while the-
Utiion lasts. They believe themselves to
be.the United States and the bouth.only
a; territory which it is their privilege if
not their. duty r to tax and harrass as much
as powible. They do not hold us capa-
ble Either of governing on rsel ves or ot-seri -ousty
resistingtheir encToaehmenrs.- Eve-
ry appeal we make totfaelr fbrbearancer
they'Wgajd asthecrayett cry for quarter
and the proof of their- successful powers.
MmitWp mieuueu merely iu luiruuace inc
"Sjf'Ae orth?.qndthe $puth. Scarcely
anytliioff has occurred of late more deer'-
ty4d. !& .regretted '.than trie division of
.some ojLuiir.pugipAtJ religious cowqeenpns
bygclpgniphicjdllfres; Qor. readers are
aware lhataSbuthernMethodi8t Conven-
tion is or has ireceritly been in session at
Louisville Ky. and a Southern Baptist
Convention at Augusta; Ga. arid that both
have adopted measures for a seperation
from their "brethren at the North. And
why? Not from choice but faomnecessi-
thankfullness to China and her providen-' ty. Not because they 'jacked ''Christian
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Texas National Register. (Washington, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1, Thursday, June 12, 1845, newspaper, June 12, 1845; Washington, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth80121/m1/4/: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.