Baxter, Geo. A. [Convention President]. Minutes of the Philadelphia Convention of Ministers and Ruling Elders in the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Called by the Minority of the General Assembly of 1836. May 11, 1837. Philadelphia: For the Convention., 1837. First Edition. [1525]
Brown wrapper, 9 x 5 1/2 inches, 31 pp. Good. Pamphlet.
A Convention of "Old School" ministers & elders. Includes a list of "New School" doctrines warned against, warnings against the New-School party, things to beware - "Be not alarmed at the threat of law-suits" - and justifies the dissolving of the Plan of Union formed in 1801 with the New England Congregationalists. The Appendix alerts the reader to the attempts of the New School Party to "awaken general indignation against the proceedings of the Supreme Judicatory of the Presbyterian Church."
"One of the most formidable evils of the present crisis is the wide spread and ever restless spirit of Radicalism, manifest both in the Church, and in the State. Its leading principle every where seems to be to level all order to the dust. Mighty only in the power to destroy, it has driven its deep agitations through the bosoms of our beloved Church. Amidst the multiplied and revolting forms in which it has appeared, it is always animated by one principle. It is ever the same levelling, revolutionary spirit, and tends to the same ruinous results. It has, in succession, driving to extreme fanaticism the great cause of Revivals of Religion - of Temperance - and of the Rights of Man. It has aimed to transmute our pure faith into destructive heresy; our Scriptural order into confusion and misrule. It has crowded many of our churches with ignorant zealots, and unholy members; driven our pastors from their flocks; and with strange fire consumed the heritage of the Lord, filling our churches with confusion, and our judicatories with conflict; making our venerated name, and beloved institutions so far as its fearful influence extends, a hissing and a bye-word before the American people; and even threatening the dissolution of our National union, as well as the dismemberment of the Presbyterian Church." - p. 25.
Attendees include R. J. Breckinridge, Thomas Smyth, J. L. Wilson, William S. Plumer, J. Witherspoon, James Smylie, Walter Lowrie, Isaac V. Brown, George Junkin, Wm M. Engles, C. C. Cuyler, and Samuel Hodge. There were 124 attendees of the Convention.
