On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
age . But the stillness to which they had referred , was the stillness of death . They found that more than one hundred seceding congregations had started into existence , independent of this Synod ; had . the members of this body done their duty , this might have not been the case ; they might now be double their present number .
Mr . Hay read the Minutes relative to the case of Mr . Cuming , and contended that the case was irrelevant . The Moderator observed , that the Synod had gone iuto a charge not contained in the motion ; and hoped the discussion would soon draw to a close . Mr . Porter defended his motives , when he said there were " more real
than professed Arians" in the body . He did not mean to charge the members of the Synod with hypocrisy ; but to state that they kept back from avowing their entire sentiments on this point of doctrine . Mr . R . Dill rose and said , that every additional circumstance which came forward , went to s w erve Mr . Porter . His ( Mr . Dili ' s ) opinions on the doctriue of Arianism and Calvinism were well known :
he had often preached against the Arian hypothesis , because it was subversive of the best and dearest principles of Christianity , but what had these things to do with the office of clerk ? The clerk held a civil situation ; his opinions could not be brought to bear on his duties . He filled a mechanical station—to take
down the proceedings of the body—to preserve their papers . Had he been faithful in all these things ? Had his religious sentiments infused themselves into their records ? No , their Clerk was a nonconducting substance . Under these circumstances , it would appear , in the eyes of the world , a species of
persecution to dismiss him for the expression of his opinions . As to a declaration on the subject of Arianism , he would unite with his brethren in their expressions on that subject , but never would give Uis consent to the motion now levelled against Mr . Porter . He therefore would vote for the amendment .
Mr . Den ham , Seu ., approved of giving Mr . Porter due notice of the intentions of the framers of the motion . He would support the amendment which had been put into Mr . Stewart ' s hands by some of his elder brethren . The clerk read Mr . Stewart's amendment , which was in substance , —
" That the Synod had heard with deep regret , from the printed , evidence of the Rev . William Porter , their clerk , given before the commissioners of Education Inquiry , on the 17 th of October last , that although he set out in life with orthodox sentiments he had become
Untitled Article
what was commonly called an Arian ; that he should have felt himself called upon to state , as his opinion , that there were more real than avowed Arians in the Synod ; thus widely disseminating a charge of deception and hypocrisy against several of the brethren ; that Arianism was gaining ground among the thinking few ; and that a comparison of the new code of laws with the
sentiments of the Synod in the year 1726 , the period when the members of the Presbytery of Antrim were expelled , shewed that new-light principles had been progressively advancing among them , and that the prevalence of orthodox sentiments , among the young men reared in the Institution , was owing to the popularity of those sentiments among the laity;—the Synod feel it to be their duty
to express their warmest indignation against those statements of opinion , and declared their conviction that they were not founded in fact ; yet , as the removal of their clerk from office on this account , might be construed into persecution for the sake of opinion , and in consideration of the able manner in which he had generally discharged the duties of his office , they did not consider it expedient to remove him from it . *'
Mr . Porter again rose and said , that any trifling error , or supposed error , which had been made in publishing the Minutes was commented on with scrupulous severity , but not a word was said of the great improvements he had made in their arrangement and publication . It was a common remark that the good men did lived not after them ; but his was likewise to be buried before him . The
amendment proposed by Mr . Stewart was calculated to crush him to the dust ; and the moment it passed he would resign the clerkship . So long as the Synod confined itself to an expression © f dissent from him on disputed points , giving him credit for sincerity , he could not complain . But the proposed amendment was calculated to wound his feelings and injure his character . It was an insult ; and to an insult he would not submit .
The evidence he had given before the commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry had been made the pretext for removing him from his situation ; but insinuations had been made , and whispers had gone abroad , about twelve months ago , that such a measure was contemplated .
Another discussion ensued , which it is unnecessary to detail ; at the close of which the followiug amendment passed by a majority of 32 , chiefly ministers . " Resolved , That this Synod has heard with the deepest regret , from the printed evidence of the Rev . W . Porter , their
Untitled Article
Intelligence . —Synod of Ulster . 711
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1827, page 711, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1800/page/79/
-