us: "Your views are in the main correct. It would have been better if
Synod had decided otherwise, but the decision has been made, and we must
put up with it." We answer, Not so. We must obey Synod, but may not the
Church change or improve her decisions? Here is one of the good things
we hope to see come out of this mistake of the Church. Jesus rules, and
he is ordering all things for the welfare of his Church and the
advancement of his cause. Sometimes, the better to accomplish this end,
he permits the Church to make mistakes. When we failed in former days to
get our views made public, it gave us no anxiety, for we believed the
doctrine that Jesus reigns. So we now feel, nothwithstanding this
mistake. The Master will overrule it for good. We do not certainly know
how, but we can imagine one way. By means of this mistake the matter may
be brought before our Church, and before other Churches, more clearly
than it would otherwise have been for many years to come, and in
consequence of this we expect, in due time, that our Church, instead of
coming up merely to the standard of liberality for which we have been
contending, will rise far above anything we have asked for or even
imagined, and other Churches will also raise their standard higher.
Hereafter we expect to contend for still higher principles. This is the
doctrine: Let all the branches of the great Presbyterian family in the
same region in any heathen country, which are sound in the faith,
organize themselves, _if convenient_, into one organic whole, allowing
liberty to the different parts in things non-essential. Let those who
adopt Dutch customs, as at Amoy, continue, if they see fit, their
peculiarities, and those who adopt other Presbyterian customs, as at
Ningpo and other places, continue their peculiarities, and yet all unite
as one Church. This subject does not simply relate to the interests of
the Church at Amoy. It relates to the interests of all the Missionary
work of all the Churches of the Presbyterian order in all parts of the
world. Oh that our Church might take the lead in this catholicity of
spirit--instead of falling back in the opposite direction--that no one
may take her crown! But if she do not, then we trust that some other of
the sacramental hosts will take the lead and receive too the honor, for
it is for the glory of the great Captain of our salvation, and for the
interests of His kingdom. We need the united strength of all these
branches of Zion for the great work, which the Master has set before us,
in calling on us to evangelize the world. In expecting to obtain this
union, will it be said, that we are looking for a chimera? It ought to
be so, ought it not? Then it is no chimera. It may take time for the
churches to come up to this standard, but within a few years past we
have seen tendencies to union among different branches of the
Presbyterian family in Australia, in Canada, in our own country, and in
England and Scotland. In many places these tendencies are stronger now
than they have ever before been since the days of the Reformation. True,
human nature is still compassed with infirmities even in the Church of
Christ. But the day of the world's regeneration is approaching, and as
it approaches nearer to us, doubtless the different branches of the
Presbyterian family will approach still nearer to each other. God hasten
the time, and keep us also from doing anything to retard, but everything
to help it forward, and to his name be the praise forever. Amen.
Appendix A.
Further to illustrate the unity of the Churches under the care of the
two Missions, I will transcribe from the _Reports_ of the Amoy Mission,
for the years 1861 and 1862.
_From the Report for 1861_. Dated Feb. 24. 1862.
Our work is so interwoven with that of the Missionaries of the English
Presbyterian Church, that we cannot give a full report of the state of
our Churches and out-stations without including in it a partial report
of some of their stations. We have, therefore, thought it best, both on
this account, and because the Churches gathered by us and by them are
really one, to give statistics of both Missions with brief remarks.
These, besides simplifying the matter, will enable the Church at home to
become better acquainted with the real progress of the cause of Christ
in this region.
_Missionaries and Assistant Missionaries of the Reformed Dutch Church at
Amoy, at the close if the year_ 1861. [Here follow their names, and
remarks concerning them.]
_Missionaries and Assistant Missionaries of the English Presbyterian
Church at the close of the year_ 1861. [Here follow their names, and
remarks concerning them.]
_Tabular View of the Churches and Mission Stations under the care of the
Reformed Dutch Church, and English Presbyterian Church, in Amoy and
vicinity_.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|Native | | |No. of |Rec'd
Churches and |helpers | | |Church |during
Mission |sustained | | |Members, |the
Stations. |by Mission.|Elders.|Deacons.|Jan. 1, 1861.|year.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Church at Amoy | 3 | 4 | 4 | 102 | 24
Second " " | 2 | 4 | 4 | 78 | 13
Church at Chioh-be | 2 | 4 | 4 | 47 | 5
" Peh-chui-ia | 3 | 2 | .. | 25 | 3
" Ma-peng | 2 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 6
Station at An-hai | 3 | .. | .. | 7 | 23
" Khang-khau| 1 |The Church members at this Station
| |are reckoned to the Church at Ma-peng.
" Kang-thau | 1 |The Church members at this Station
| |are reckoned to the First Church at
| |Amoy.
" E-mng-kang| 1 |The Church members at this Station
| |are reckoned to the First Church at
| |Amoy.
" Chiang-chiu| 2 |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |No. of |
Churches and | | |Church |Under
Mission | | |Members, |suspension
Stations. |Dead.|Excommunicated.|Dec. 31, 1861.|Dec., 1861.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Church at Amoy | 2 | 2 | 122 | 4
Second " " | 1 | 1 | 89 | 1
Church at Chioh-be | 1 | .. | 51 | 3
" Peh-chui-ia | 1 | .. | 27 | 1
" Ma-peng | 1 | 1 | 37 | 3
Station at An-hai | 1 | .. | 29 | ...
" Khang-khau|The Church members at this Station are reckoned
|to the Church at Ma-peng.
" Kang-thau |The Church members at this Station are reckoned
|to the First Church at Amoy.
" E-mng-kang|The Church members at this Station are reckoned
|to the First Church at Amoy.
" Chiang-chiu|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|Infants |Colporteurs|
Churches and |baptized |sustained |
Mission |during |by Native |Benevolent
Stations. |the year.|Church. |Contributions
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Church at Amoy | 13 | 1 } |
Second " " | 11 | 1 } | $471.33
Church at Chioh-be | 5 | 1 | 200.29
" Peh-chui-ia | 3 | ... | ......
" Ma-peng | 3 | ... | ......
Station at An-hai | 4 | ... | ......
" Khang-khau|The Church members at this Station are reckoned
|to the Church at Ma-peng.
" Kang-thau |The Church members at this Station are reckoned
|to the First Church at Amoy.
" E-mng-kang|The Church members at this Station are reckoned
|to the First Church at Amoy.
" Chiang-chiu|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Then come remarks about _native helpers_, not included in the above;
_Schools_ sustained by each of the Missions, and by the native Churches;
_Theological Class_; Students sustained by each Mission.]
_Remarks on the above Tabular View_.
The two Churches at Amoy, and the one at Chioh-be are under the care of
the Missionaries of the Reformed Dutch Church. * * * * * *
The Churches at Peh-chui-ia and Ma-peng, are under the care of the
Missionaries of the English Presbyterian Church. * * * * * *
The Congregation at An-hai is under the care of the English
Presbyterian Missionaries. It has not yet been organized into a Church.
It is so far removed from Amoy that it cannot conveniently be placed
under the supervision of either of the Consistories. * * * * * *
Khang-khau is a station under the care of the English Presbyterian
Mission. * * * * * *
Kang-thau is under the care of the Reformed Dutch Mission.
E-mng-kang is a suburb of Amoy. The Congregation worshiping there
belongs, mostly, to the First Church at Amoy. The Station is under the
care of the English Presbyterian Mission. * * * * * *
Chiang-chiu is a large city, some twelve miles or more beyond Chioh-be,
and about thirty-five miles from Amoy. In times past, several efforts
have been made to establish a Station at Chiang-chiu, but always without
success, until during the past year. At the close of the year there had
not yet been any baptisms at that Station. Since the beginning of this
year, there have been several. The Church members are reckoned to the
Church at Chioh-be, and are under the oversight of the Chioh-be
Consistory. Both Missions work as one at Chiang-chiu. Each Mission is to
furnish half the expense. To simplify the work, it was thought best that
one Mission be responsible for the control of the Station, and direct
the work. At present this is the Mission of the Reformed Dutch Church.
If the work be prospered, it is proposed to form two Stations, one under
the care of each Mission.
[The remaining part of the Report, having no bearing on the subject
before us, need not be quoted.]
_From the Report for 1862._
[It will be sufficient merely to transcribe the _Tabular View_, and add
one or two explanatory remarks.]
_Churches and Mission Stations under the care of the Reformed Dutch and
English Presbyterian Missions at Amoy, December 31, 1862._
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |No. of |Died |
| | |Members, |during|Excommunicated
| | |Dec. 31, |the |during
|Elders.|Deacons.|1861. |year. |the year.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Church at Amoy | 4 | 4 | 122 | 6 | 2
Second " " | 4 | 4 | 89 | ... | ...
Church at Chioh-be | 4 | 4 | 51 | 1 | ...
" " Peh-chui-ia| 2 | 2 | 27 | ... | ...
" " Ma-peng | 1 | 3 | 37 | 2 | ...
Station at An-hai | .. | .. | 29 | 2 | ...
" " Khang-thau|The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|First Church, Amoy.
" " Kang-khau |The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|Church at Ma-peng.
" " E-mng-kang|The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|First Church, Amoy.
" " Chiang-chiu|The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|Church at Chioh-be.
" " Go-chhng |
" " Te-soa |
" " Khi-be |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|No. of |Under |Infant |Helpers
|Members, |suspension |baptisms |supported by
|Dec. 31, |Dec. 31, |during |Native
|1862. |1862. |the year. |Church.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
First Church at Amoy | 139 | 4 | 17 | 1
Second " " | 100 | 3 | 2 | 1
Church at Chioh-be | 70 | 2 | 9 | 1
" " Peh-chui-ia| 30 | ... | ... | ...
" " Ma-peng | 38 | ... | ... | ...
Station at An-hai | 30 | ... | ... | ...
" " Khang-thau|The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|First Church, Amoy.
" " Kang-khau |The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|Church at Ma-peng.
" " E-mng-kang|The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|First Church, Amoy.
" " Chiang-chiu|The members at this Station are reckoned to the
|Church at Chioh-be.
" " Go-chhng |
" " Te-soa |
" " Khi-be |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Of the three new Stations, Go-chhng and Te-soa, are under the care of
the Reformed Dutch Mission, Khi-be under the care of the English
Presbyterian Mission. The other Churches and Stations as in previous
Report.]
The Board of Foreign Missions, being simply the organ of Synod, felt
bound in their Report to eliminate, as far as possible, all the
Presbyterian elements from the above Reports of the Mission. By so
doing, we think that they, _undesignedly_ of course, keep our Church in
ignorance, not only of the absolute unity of the Churches in the region
of Amoy, but also of the real progress of the cause of Christ and of the
Church of our order there. Among the members set down to our churches
are those who belong to stations under the care of the English
Presbyterian Mission, as is shown by the Tabular Views. The Church at
home, not aware of this fact, gives to their Mission credit which does
not belong to them; and then, when, in the progress of the work, new
churches are organized at these stations, and these members are set off
to them, because they belong there, the Dutch Mission is charged with
deficiency of denominational feeling, in giving to the English
Presbyterians that which, "by all rules of Christian courtesy and
harmonious Missionary action," belongs to the Dutch Church. Is it well
that we should be disputing among ourselves concerning who shall have
that credit which all belongs to Christ? I know it has been asked, with
disapprobation, by very high authority (not, indeed, by the Board)
concerning the unity of the Churches at Amoy--"_how it came to exist at
all_." In answer to such questions, let us consider one case, that of
the Station, now Church, at E-mng-kang. It is near enough to the First
Church, at Amoy, to be under its supervision. Doubtless, we might have
said to our Presbyterian brethren, In gathering a church, we are willing
to labor with you in preaching the Gospel, for no one will censure us
for that, and we admit that, by all principles of our Church order, it
would be altogether proper that the converts gathered in at E-mng-kang
should be received and watched over by the First Church, at Amoy; but,
by allowing this, there will be danger of unity between the Christians
at E-mng-kang and Amoy ("that they all may be one"), which will be a
violation of the important and radical distinction existing between
them, because "some are supported by our funds, some by the funds of the
English Presbyterians;" and then, when it becomes necessary to divide
these Churches, for where there is such a radical distinction, "a
division will necessarily come at some period, and the longer it is
delayed, the more trying and sorrowful it will be," it will be found
that the Church at Amoy can never "relinquish its powers and abnegate
its authority" over the Church at E-mng-kang--therefore, rather than
incur such risks of unity, we had better violate our principles of
Church order at the commencement, and not allow the native Elders any
responsibility in receiving and watching over the Church members. We
might have acted on such principles, but shall we be _censured_ for not
doing it?
Let it be distinctly understood, that I do not publish the above
Reports with such remarks with any design of throwing blame on the Board
of Foreign Missions. The members of it, and the Missionaries, have had
no feelings towards each other but such as are altogether pleasant.
Perhaps the Board, in view of all the circumstances, has simply
performed its duty. I add this Appendix only to illustrate the unity of
the churches at Amoy, and show that the Missionaries have acted
according to the doctrines of God's Word and the fundamental principles
of our Church order.
Appendix B.
In the _Christian Intelligencer_ of June 18, 1863, in the Report of the
Proceedings of General Synod of Thursday, June 11, the last day of the
session, appeared the following paragraphs:
"AMOY MISSION.
"Rev. Dr. Porter arose and said that he was about to utter what to
himself was the gladdest and happiest word he had been permitted to
speak during the Synodical sessions, delightful as they all had
been. He was informed by his beloved brother Talmage, that by
permission of Synod, he would like to express briefly his content,
in the main, with the action which the Synod had taken respecting
the Amoy Mission. It is of the Lord. He has melted all hearts
together as one, for his own work and honor. We see eye to eye, and
Zion may lift up her voice in thanksgiving.
"Rev. J.V.N. Talmage said he wished to express his gratitude to the
fathers and brethren for all their kindness to himself and the
Missionaries at Amoy. If the Synod has not arrived at the very best
decision, he hoped it is the best under the circumstances. He felt
no desire to disobey the Synod, nor will the Missionaries at Amoy.
If we cannot organize a Classis at once, we will do the best we
can. He had been defeated, and he had no qualms of conscience in
submitting to the decision that had been reached."
I was willing to allow the previous, and, as I considered, very partial,
report of the proceedings of Synod to pass unnoticed, but felt that I
had no right to allow errors, such as are contained in the above two
paragraphs, to remain uncorrected. Therefore I addressed to the editor
the following note:
"_To the Christian Intelligencer._
"Mr. Editor:
"In looking over the report of General Synod, as given in the last
number of the _Intelligencer_, I find a very grave mistake in
reference to the position taken by me near the close of the
session. A similar mistake appears in the report made to the _New
York Observer_.[3]
[Footnote 3: I addressed to the editors of the _Observer_ a card,
correcting the mistake which had appeared in their paper, and they
published it.]
"When, in the order of business on Thursday morning, there seemed a
suitable opportunity for me to address the Synod, I was sitting
near Dr. Porter, and remarked to him that I wished to make such
address. He said that he desired to speak first. He arose and
addressed the Synod, in substance, as is reported. I was altogether
surprised, for I had given him no authority to speak for me;
neither had I expressed to him or any other man the sentiments he
attributed to me. I felt that his speech was altogether
unfortunate, for it seemed almost to demand of me a restatement of
my views. But I felt, also, that it would be improper, then, to
occupy the time of Synod with any further discussion, and contented
myself with merely taking exception to Dr. Porter's statement,
saying that I could not use the language he had just used.
"I also stated that although the Synod had not arrived at the best
decision, yet _perhaps_ it was the best under all the
circumstances. As these circumstances seem to be entirely
misunderstood by some, I may now explain them. I had remarked in
the previous debate, and still firmly believe, that the decision of
Synod, if it be fully carried out, would only be disastrous in its
results, as far as the churches at Amoy were concerned. But there
was another disaster to be apprehended. If the Synod had allowed
the work of God to proceed at
Amoy, as it had always been carried forward, and with such
marvelous blessings from on high, for so many years past, it was
feared that some of the members of Synod would use their influence
in the Church against that Mission, to such an extent as possibly
to cut off the resources of the mission. Such were the
circumstances to which I alluded, and I was well understood, at
least by some of the members of Synod. It seemed necessary to
choose between two evils. My own opinion was, and is, that the
Synod had chosen the greater evil, still I was willing to yield
'the benefit of the doubt,' and therefore remarked that _perhaps_
(I used the word 'perhaps') the decision was the best under the
circumstances.
"I did express for myself, and as I believed, in accordance with
the views of the Missionaries at Amoy, that we did not wish, and
never had wished to disobey the injunctions of Synod. Besides this,
we were under obligations to do what was best for the churches
under our care. If we were not allowed to do that which is
absolutely best, we should do the best we could.
"I also expressed my gratitude that the Synod had manifested so
much patience and Christian courtesy towards myself and the
Mission, for with one or two exceptions, not an unkind word had
been uttered.
"The closing sentence of my remarks being somewhat playful, might
have been omitted from the report, but if thought worthy of
publication, it should have been given correctly. I know that I can
give it now with accuracy, almost _verbatim_. 'I have fought hard,
and have been beaten; I could wish I had been able to fight better,
but I did my best, and consequently have no qualms of conscience on
the subject.' Does that mean that we had no qualms of conscience
about 'submitting to the decision that had been reached?' No. It
means that I was not responsible for the evils of that decision.
"It will, I think, serve the cause of truth, Mr. Editor, if you
will be so kind as to publish this card in your next issue. If I
was so unfortunate in the use of language as not to express
sentiments similar to the above, I desire now to express them.
"Allow me also to ask whether you will open the columns of your
paper for a full statement of the views of the Amoy Mission on the
subject of the ecclesiastical relations of the churches under their
care? I find that there is still altogether a mistaken impression
among our churches on this subject. Our people who sustain the
Mission have a right to know the condition of that Mission. From
the report in the last Intelligencer, they will get no light on
that subject, but will get the impression that some great mistake
has been committed by the Missionaries at Amoy. _Allowing_ this to
be the case, the Missionaries have a right to be heard before the
churches. Let the churches understand the matter, and decide
concerning the mistake. The Missionaries have been desirous for
years to get their views made public, but have not yet succeeded.
"Very truly, yours, &c,
"J.V.N. TALMAGE."
June 19, 1863.
Instead of finding my note inserted in the next number of the
_Intelligencer_ I found the following:
"REV. MR. TALMAGE'S LETTER.
"We have received from the Rev. J.V.N. Talmage, a communication
respecting our report of his remarks at the close of the session of
the General Synod, accompanied with a request that he be permitted
to appeal through these columns to the Churches in support of his
position. The communication is long, and perhaps we can give the
substance of it briefly.
"1st. He wishes to correct the statement of Rev. Dr. Porter. And
this he shall do in his own words, viz.:
"'I felt that his speech was altogether unfortunate, for it seemed
almost to demand of me the restatement of my views. But I felt,
also, that it would be improper then to occupy the time of Synod
with any further discussion, and contented myself with merely
taking exception to Dr. Porter's statements, saying that I could
not use the language he had just used. I also stated that, although
the Synod had not arrived at the best decision, yet perhaps it was
the best, under all the circumstances.'
"So far Mr. Talmage, in disclaiming agreement with the statement
made by Dr. Porter.
"We can, on this point, only express regret that there should have
been either seeming or real difference. But as Brother Talmage
confesses that our report correctly represents him as having said,
that
"'Although the Synod had not arrived at the best decision, yet
perhaps it was the best, under all the circumstances,'
"We therefore suppose that the report of verbal differences--if the
spirit of the remarks be anything--between him and the gentleman to
whom he refers, cannot be accounted as very serious.
"2d. As it respects the opening of these columns to a fresh
discussion of the matter relating to the Amoy Churches before
Synod, we have simply to say that we dare not give consent, for the
following reasons: The Synod is the legislative body for the
Church. The documents and statements respecting the Amoy Churches
were full and thorough in the information imparted. Four sessions
and more of the Synod were occupied with a careful preparatory
hearing and final adjudication of the matter, and it is not the
duty of the _Christian Intelligencer_ to allow itself to be used as
the agent of dissension among the Churches, and of opposition to
the constituted authority of the Synod."
Whether my views were _misrepresented_, and whether I was charged with
seeking a different object from that for which I had asked--I had not
asked that the columns of the paper be opened for a fresh "_discussion_
of the matter" which had been "_before Synod_," but "for a _full
statement_ of the views of the Amoy Mission," because of "_mistaken
impressions_" in "_our Churches_"--the Church will be able to decide as
accurately as myself. But I wish to say this much. Your Missionaries do
not consider that by becoming Missionaries they lose their rights as
_men_, and _Ministers of the Dutch Church_. They have the right to
expect that, when away from home, their reputation will be protected.
When mistaken statements concerning their views get abroad in the
Church, there should be, and we believe there is, a responsible party
whose duty it is to correct such statements. At any rate, a paper which
professes to be the organ of the Dutch Church, has no right to refuse to
the Missionaries themselves the privilege of correcting mistaken
statements of _their own views_ and _their own language_, that appear in
its columns. The Editor doubtless is responsible for what appears in his
paper. He may refuse to publish improper articles, but he may not garble
and misrepresent them without incurring reproof. The expense of
publishing in pamphlet form corrections of mistakes which appear in the
columns of a newspaper, is too heavy a tax to impose on any of the
Ministry of the Church, especially on your Missionaries; and, even then,
the corrections can be read by only a small portion of those who read
the misstatements.