EDITORIAL. New Vernon, July 15, 1843. (Beebe)

EDITORIAL.

New Vernon, July 15, 1843

Apology to Brethren at Turin and Vicinity.—We were providentially disappointed in regard to our contemplated visit and participation in the Old School meeting published in our last. We consented to the time, with the misunderstanding that brother Conklin would be at our house on the Monday evening previous to the appointed meeting; but we have since been informed that he has written to us to meet him at his house and commence our journey from thence and also that his health, at the time, was such as to render it imprudent for him to attempt so long a journey. We waited to see or hear from him until it was too late to start.

Mount Zion Church.—A church was constituted in the city of New York on Sunday, the 16th inst. on the Old School Baptist platform, to be known as the Mt. Zion Baptist church. Having been disappointed in regard to our contemplated journey northward, we accepted the invitation of the constituent brethren of the above-named church to attend their order and assist in their constitution. The constituents of this newly organized church are principally from the Bethesda church, recently under the pastoral care of Eld. Wm. Parkinson, whose declining health disables him from the labors of the pulpit. Some considerable excitement had existed in the Bethesda church, after Eld. P. ceased to be able to supply them as pastor. Bro. James C. Goble, among others, was invited to occupy the stated occasionally, which gave dissatisfaction to some who claimed to be very sound, but who in reality could not bear the close discriminating manner of brother Goble’s preaching. These members, however, who were willing to make their stand on New Testament principles and to reject all the popular religious machinery of modern times, called for, and obtained dismission, and with a few other brethren of the same faith and order agreed to unite in church relation upon what is called the Old School order. The number of members in this church is but small; but if “One shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight,” they will constitute a very formidable opposition to all worshippers of that great city.

After preaching on Sunday forenoon the constituents brethren and sisters met in the afternoon and unfurled their banner which God has given them, to be displayed because of the truth; presented and read, in the presence of visiting brethren and of the congregation, a declaration of their faith and understanding of the order of the House of God. At the close of this service, after receiving the exhortation and charge of their visiting brethren, bro. Goble, in behalf of the brethren of our faith, gave them the right hand of fellowship.

The season was solemn and interesting, and we sincerely wish this little church, God speed.

This church expects to be supplied statedly, or at least a portion of the time, by brother Goble, and affectionately invites old fashioned Baptist preachers, who are disconnected from all the popular religious institutions of modern times, and otherwise sound and in good standing with Old School Baptists, to visit and preach for them as often as God in his providence shall open a door.

Their present place of worship is at the corner of Prince and Crosby Sts. in the basement story, which is a large and commodious room which they have rented for the current year. Old School brethren who wish to look them up, will find bro. G. Allen at No. 70, Lispenard st., near the corner of Broadway, or bro. John Gilmore at No. 96, Sixth avenue, near Eighth st.

There are now three churches in the city of New York, professing the Old School faith and order, viz:—the Salem church in King st., now under the stated ministry of Elder Curtis, (late of Philadelphia) and a small church which was formed in December last, who meet in the “Bethel” room in Catharine street: this church is supplied statedly by Elder Job Plant, lately from England. One would suppose that one church would be sufficient to embrace all the Old School brethren and sisters in the city of New York, and that they would find it much more congenial to unite in supporting one place of public worship. But to us it appears that God in wisdom has ordered it otherwise. Bro. Buck has remarked in his letter on the first page of this sheet that city atmosphere does not seem congenial to the growth of Old School churches, and we fully agree with him in the remark; but brethren in the country form but an imperfect idea of all the difficulties which our order of people have to encounter in the cities. We believe that our brethren in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore are very well united in what we consider cardinal points of doctrine and practice; but, being thrown together from different parts of the world, and having many of them been accustomed to various usages and manners for which they have contracted strong attachment and prejudice, are not so ready to accommodate themselves in these particulars to each other as are our brethren of the same faith in country places. There are some in our cities also who wish to attach themselves to Old School churches from sinister motives,—some, like many who have gone from us to the New School, because they cannot maintain a standing where they were. Our churches ought to be upon the lookout for such, and require all wishing to come among us, whether preachers or otherwise, to pronounce plainly and unequivocally the “Shibboleth.”

A very great deal of the turmoil that has disturbed the harmony of our city churches may be traced to an unwarrantable desire for accessions to their numbers, and a readiness to receive such supplies for their pulpits as in their judgment are calculated to fill their houses and wipe away the reproach of being a little flock.

There are also many preachers who have very exalted ideas of a city life, who seem to suppose that all that is needful to make them great men is to have room according to their strength. Such preachers often infest our city churches and are very willing to accommodate themselves to the wishes of any church where they think there is a prospect of serving themselves. The churches, growing but little wiser from being often imposed upon, are too easily deceived, and too apt to forget the frequent and impressive admonition of our Lord, “Beware of false prophets which come unto you in sheep’s clothing; but inwardly they are ravening wolves: ye shall know them by their fruits.”

The location of these Old School churches in New York is very advantageous. Salem church in King street, is in the northwestern, Mt. Zion in the centre, and the other in Catharine street, near the East River. We hope that a friendly understanding and recognition of each other, so far as a consistent regard of the truth and purity of the gospel will dictate, may characterize them.