EXAMINATION OF A PAMPHLET TITLED "TRUTH AS IT IS" Circulated Among the Members of the Agingdon Ass'n With a Refutation of false statements and misrepresentations where in contained, in regard to the Warwick and Abington Associations 3

This is a pamphlet that was published by Elder Gabriel Conklin in 1839. To our knowledge, it has never been posted on the internet (typed) before. Here, Elder Conklin lays out clearly the classic argument made by New School Baptists, even today, that Old School Baptists departed from their original principles when they became antimissionary societies, and refutes the argument.  These arguments are still used today by New School Baptists to demonstrate that it was the Old School Baptists who departed from the historical Baptist position. - ed.

Take notice of the Circular Letters, and it will be found to have been the custom 30 or 120 or even 10 years ago, of the Associations in general, to dwell, in those letters, upon some point of doctrine or practice that would be useful and edifying to the Churches.  See, for instance, the Circular in the Warwick Minutes of 1814, on the subject of PRIDE, written by Elder Lathrop; also that of 1819, on the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST, written by Aaron Perkins, and 1820, on the RESURRECTION; also 1824 on the INFALLIBILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES, by Aaron Perkins, 1ith 1830 on GOOD WORKS, by Zelotas Grenall, in which it is declared: "Should any person attend to the practice of any ceremonies, more or less, however zealous and sincere that person may be if there is not a Thus saith the Lord, requiring the same, that person subjects himself to the reproof: "Who has required this at your hands?" which is precisely the sentiment of our Association now. See also the Circular of the New York Association in their Minutes of 1825, on the UNION OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH, written by Elder Daniel Dodge; the doctrine of which the Warwick Association now heartily subscribes to, and earnestly contends for.  My limits will not allow me to notice further instances of proof that it was, but a few years past, the general practice among the Baptists, to dwell upon some subject of doctrine or practice of the gospel, in their Associational Circulars, which practice is now pursued by the Warwick Association; in proof of which see her Minutes of 1833, 4, 5, 6, &7.

Not so with many of the Associations; instead of Circulars embracing gospel doctrine and ordinances, we see what is termed "A view of the state of religion within the bounds of the Association," in which is set forth the condition of the several Churches belong thereto, in relation to additions; how many Sunday School and scholars; what number of them, teachers and scholars, have been converted by the means, and how many of them are preparing for the ministry, at Hamilton and elsewhere; How many Missionary, Bible, Temperance, Tract and Plain Dress Societies, with many others, how many others, too tedious to mention; and lastly, what amount of money has been raised for the support of all those institutions.

See, for example, the Minutes of the Hudson River Association for 1832; also the Minutes of the New York Association for 1834-5, &c.  It is due to the last mentioned association that the above View of the state of the Churches, seems to take the place of or answer for the Corresponding Letter rather than the Circular, as in the case of the Hudson River, above referred to.  Whoever will examine the MInutes of those [New York and Hudson River] Associations, together with kindred Associations throughout our United States, of 40, 40, 20, or even 10 year's standing, will be sure to find an essential change, a marked difference, so plain that he reads may understand; not only in regard to their Circular and Corresponding Letters, but the manner of transacting their business, their resolutions, &c.

The professed design of the little pamphlet, called The truth as it is, Is to show what Old School Baptists were, and what they did, in the Warwick Association, and its vicinity 20 years ago.  I observe, the Warwick Association is not to be held accountable for the acts of individuals, as individuals, though they are members of the Church of which she is composed; much less is she to answer for what is done in her vicinity.  Though she is small, few, and feeble in respect to members, and in every other respect; but in the Lord Jesus Christ, her vicinity is somewhat extensive, in regard to the location of the Churches of whom she is composed.  Consequently, there are a great many things done in her vicinity; for which she would not like to answer.  The vicinity of Warwick Association is famous for Paedobaptists, yet the Warwick Association is not Paedobaptists.  The vicinity of Warwick Association is celebrated for infant sprinkling, yet the Warwick Association does not practice it.  Perhaps there is a section of the country to be found, where the people are so thoroughly traditionalized in Presbyterianism, as in Orange County, or the vicinity of the Warwick Association, and yet; the Warwick Association are not Presbyterians.  And lastly, upon this point, though there was a Society 20 years ago, in the vicinity of the Warwick Association, or in Orange County, by the name of the Orange County Missionary Society; and though (as we have already admitted) some of the members of the Churches belonging to the Association, were members of that Society.  Yet Warwick Association was not the Orange County Missionary Society, neither was the Orange County Missionary Society, the Warwick Association, the little pamphlet to the contrary notwithstanding.  

The Author gives us in the pamphlet, a number of extracts from the Abington Minutes, in relation to which he observes in his introduction, "In the extracts which follow, it will be seen, also, what course the Abington Association has taken from a very early period, in regard to the Missionary cause."  I proceed not to take a view of the Abington Association, and I very much regret not having a copy from her commencement up to the present time; but since I am measurably destitute of this means of getting at the facts, in relation to that Association, we will resort to the best means we have at hand.  The matter at issue is as follows: Is the Abington Association as an Association, what it was at its Constitution, or say 20 years back?  The pamphlet designs to make the impression; that it is, or that from 1810, or from its infancy, it has been decidedly Missionary.  But has it been from its infancy, a Missionary Society, or Auxiliary?  It is now, Auxiliary to the American Baptist Home Missionary Society; I see by reference to the Minutes of 1833.  But I ask again, Was it so from its infancy?  I hazard nothing, in saying it was not; and I intend to establish the saying from the pamphlet itself, of which, of course, its Author and advocates will not complain; for this purpose, therefore, I proceed to follow it [the pamphlet] in the quotations it has made from Abington MInutes.  First, it observes: 

"From the Circular of 1810" - "We are also taught thereby, (speaking of the love of God) to render to Caesar, the things that are Caesar's and to God's the things that are God's, to use the good things of God, as not abusing them, to consider ourselves as stewards under God, and our accountability to him, of our stewardship , that if we withhold, what God has reserved to himself, for the promotion of his cause, and the good of his people; we shall be denounced as robbers of God, and fall under the curse pronounced against Israel in Malachi 3.9.  The bleeding cause, dying groans of Jesus calls aloud for your faithfulness, much is to be done."  From the Circular of 1811: "So that those, that were united in the first Church of Jerusalem, were called believers, (Acts 4.4) and those that were added to them of the Lord, were to be saved; which gives the greatest encouragement, for the gospel to be preached, in the name of Jesus, to the end of the world; which God, according to his pleasure, accompanies with the work of the Holy Ghost."  From the Corresponding Letter of 1812: "We desire to acknowledge the goodness of God, in the assistance and consolation which we have heretofore received from your [the Warwick Association] messengers, and in hearing of the prosperity of Zion, and the advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom in the world."  From the Corresponding Letter for 1813: "Hoping the kind Lord, may ever make the messengers of the Churches, the glory of Christ, till Zion may become like a low spreading vine, and many more may find the rest under shadow, and the peaceful reign of Immanuel, gladden every heart on the earth, with the joyful prospect of immortal glory."  I here remark, that in following the pamphlet in the quotations; it has mde from the Abington MInutes of 1810, 1811, 1812 and 1813 as above; we have not a MIssionary Society, once named.  There is an expression of a desire, to glorify God,m in obedience to his word; to see and hear, of the spread of the gospel of the prosperity of Zion, and of the advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom in the world.  This is the desire of every child of grace; it is my desire, and the desire of my brethren; nevertheless we have no desire for any of the New Societies; simply because they do not glorify God; but rather dishonor him.