affectionate letter, (as they call it,) to be written to the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania. If their conduct before and since that time be considered, it will be manifest that their affection to that Presbytery was very weak. So far as their power could reach, it has felt the effects of their anger. That letter being received was considered at a meeting of the Associate Presbytery, at which were present William Marshall, moderator, James Clarkson and Thomas Beveridge, ministers; Robert Aitken from Philadelphia, and Alexander Moor from Muddy Creek, ruling elders. An answer was unanimously agreed upon, and both are now published, that whoever will may hear the one side and the other, and judge on which there is most consistency and truth.

It is not hereby intended to cast any blame on the writer of that letter, as if he designed to deceive his old connections. So far as is known he has taken no part in these violent measures by which Mr. Marshall and his congregation were compelled to seek another place of public worship.

As to what Mr. Logan says about the sad effects of division, we readily acknowledge, that the divided state of the church at this time is lamentable; but this evil will never be removed by one going after another into a backsliding course. When those who were once united in the truth, go out of the straight path, they turn aside every man to his own way; the more apostacy causing still the more division, till all unite again in a wretched indifference about the matters of God. If the Presbyterian churches in Britain and merica had with one consent listened to our Lord's admonition, "Hold fast that which thou hast," a most desirable peace and unity would have remained among them to this day.

We know no better way to seek the peace of the church, than to endeavor steadfastness in the truth, which being received as it is in Jesus, is a bond of union among the members of his mystical body. We are heartily willing to bear with those who differ from us, so far as we can do it, without denying or slighting any part of that solemn profession we have made before God, angels and men It can be no pleasure to us to be accounted fools, and reproached as a people whose principles are diverse from all others, as a sect which it is not for the profit of the state to suffer. But we desire, through grace to cominit our cause to him who judgeth righteously; who will arise and have mercy upon Sion, and who, for the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, will arise, and set him in safety from him who puffeth at him. PHILADELPHIA, May 28, 1787.

( K. p. 78. )

Mr. Foster's letter to the Rev. Mr. Henderson in Scotland." REV SIR,-It is said of Zion few careth for her; this is but too applicable in our day; her ways mourn, and few of the sons she hath brought forth take her by the hand. All seek their own things. The poor sighers and mourners would faint if they did not believe to see the Lord's own goodness in the land of the living. It is their mercy that her King is in her; the government is on his shoulder and of its increase there shall be no end. He is the Saviour thereof in time of trouble. And though ministers and professors should altogether hold their peace, yet deliverance will come from another place. Sir, there is a sort of necessity upon me to write to you, hoping you will communicate it to the Synod or your Presbytery or any committee of Synod, that may be appointed to think on our distressed case, if any such can be obtained. I am from the North of Ireland, and have lived in North America about 21 years, the most of which time I have been within the bounds of the Associate Congregation of White Creek or New Perth, now called Salem, in the County of Albany, now called Washington County. Mr. Clark was minister most of the time here though not in an orderly settled way. At the time of the coalescence, (which was kept a secret from us) he was removed on account of some difficulty between him and the congregation. The members of the Presbytery at that time were the two Mr. Annans and Mr. Mason. This Mr. Robert Annan has a great fluency of words and a magisterial air. He said publicly: "What have we to do with the covenants? they had their authority from the British Parliaments. What have we to do with the British Parliament ?" And in order to remove our suspicions of his integrity, he held up his right arm saying; "I will suffer the loss of that arm before I will give up with one truth contained in that Bible," holding it up: (thus for a small swatch of the man.) Mr. Annan told us that the Presbytery had a worthy minister in view, who would suit our condition, whom we soon found to be the Rev. Mr. Proudfit, he was sent up and pleased the majority, who soon got his consent to labor amongst them. In a short time afterwards he came with his family and is as their minister, though not to this day installed amongst them. I think he answers the design of the leading party in the defection, as well as any

This letter is without date, but was written in 1786 or 1787.

they could send; he is a man of a smooth, peaceable cast, and I hope is a pious man, but, I am sure his piety is not improved to the interests of religion as it ought to be. It may with great propriety be said to such pious persons amongst them, as Mr. Archibald Alison says in the cloud of Witnesses, to the godly in his time: "I have a word to say to you that are godly. Alas you have wronged the cause, for which I fear you have lost the countenance of God and will not get it again in haste, ye have waxed fat and kicked-Ye have laid a confederacy with enemies, for a false peace, ye have been crying peace and union with the indulged, because they are godly men, I say before the Lord that ye and these godly men have most basely betrayed the Kirk of Scotland, &c."

Mr. Proudfit has been much more of a snare to our people than many such as Mr. Annan could have been, and has drawn some off their standing who had stood through many trials before. After he came, I wrote to Mr. Marshall to see if they were all going one way, and were dropping a Testimony altogether; he was pleased to send me a long and refreshing letter: although there were many mournful things in it, yet it was refreshing to find that he and his brother Mr. Clarkson, by the good hand of God upon them had been helped to make a stand. Mr. Marshall informed me, that a probationer had, last fall come from Scotland to their assistance, and an ordained minister had come that spring, and that if there were any number of people among us that would make regular application, they would endeavor to send us preaching. This made me lament the deplorable case of many congregations who had formerly been under the care of the Associate Presbytery, and who of course must be as ignorant of the state of matters as we were, being shut up to the false glosses and colorings of these backsliding brethren who had fallen from their profession. Some scattering families amongst us, a number in the Scots Patent, [Argyle] and a considerable number in Cambridge made application, and the Rev. Mr. Beveridge was sent who was a glad sight to us. I had three children dead without baptism, and I had three baptized by him. He has dispensed the sacrament of the supper twice in Cambridge, and I hope we shall have the same privilege this season, as it is purposed to be observed the first Sabbath of September, if the Lord will. Mr. Beveridge has labored above his strength, as he has none to assist him on sacramental occasions, and it is a great way between the places he has to supply. He is generally with us part of the summer and winter. I think if Presbytery had one that

they could spare to our share, that Cambridge and we might support one in a settled way, which would make it much more comfortable both for a minister and for us, but this I find they can not do unless the Synod can send them some more help. It is of the Lord's mercies that matters are not worse with us, but I think it is amongst the evil signs of our times that there is so great a backwardness to come out to the help of the Lord against the mighty; there seems to be no want of help on the side of our opposers, they come from the General Assembly in shoals.

Mr. McDonald came, and left wife and children in Scotland, and looked out for a place in the city of Albany; Mr. Proudfit can divide the pulpit and day with him: but our friends scem very backward: if they would come and see, I dare say they will find there is work enough for them in the ministry, and if they can not live by it, I hope they may find means to get home again. I think, however, there is as good a prospect that way as when Messrs. Arnot and Galletly came over; and bad as our times are, I hope they will find as many friends too. All they will have to fear now more than in former times, will be from the new sort of enemies who are gone out from us.

Since, through the goodness of God, by means of the Synod, there has been some to support a testimony for truth, since the time that the first of their missionaries came to this country, I hope they will not be a wanting now. Such indeed, who wish to roll in ease, and seek great things for themselves, can not be expected to enter willingly into that part of the Lord's vineyard, where the walls are much broken down, where there is much rubbish, and the strength of the bearers of burdens much decayed, and enemies upon them from different quarters, all which will be found, I think in

our case.

But to a man endued with a suitable measure of the spirit Nehemiah had, such service will be undertaken and labored in with some cheerfulness, although there should be many reports to discourage them from enemies, and Gashmus to back these reports.

REV. MR. HENDERSON.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN FOSTER,

(L. p. 79.)

The following extract of a letter written by Mr. Beveridge

to the Rev. A. Bruce, of Whitburn, Professor of Theology for the General Associate Synod in Scotland, during his first visit to the State of New-York, and which was inserted in the Christian Magazine, Edinburgh, 1799, p. 347, is a striking specimen of the quickness and accuracy of his discernment, the correctness of his observation, and the candor of his remarks:

REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,

You will hear the state of our affairs from some papers which will be laid before the Synod; as also from the letters which have been sent to sundry persons at home.--I left Pennsylvania two months ago, and arrived, after a very long journey, at the upper parts of the State of New-York, where I now am, forty-eight miles north of Albany. I intend to return in the spring. Learning is at a very low ebb here. The war has hurt this, as well as other things. Nothing is wanting, however, but good teachers and proper institutions. The people born here are beings just like those born in Europe. That the climate makes any alteration as to the natural abilities of men, is an idle dream of ignorant philosophers. The people here are as ingenious, as persevering in what they apply themselves to, as any other class of men. It is surprising to see how good mechanics some of them are, without having served under any master for instruction. They would be good scholars, too, if the means were in their power, and if they were directed to give proper attention to study; but one may sec numbers commencing lawyers, physicians, ministers, upon one or two years study: this persuades others, that more is needless. There are also few or none in any line of life who are not either concerned in land or in trade; and you know how impossible it is for men engaged in these pursuits to make any figure in learning. The books most common here are generally of the more modern and flimsy kind: old books, in which the more solid materials are to be found, are very scarce. Farming seems to be necessary to the subsistence of ministers here: it has hurt many, and ruined some of them entirely. I do not think the people are niggardly or ungenerous; I imagine that the fault has rather been in the ministers: had they contented themselves with small farms, somewhat like our Scotch glebes, and attended more closely to their proper work, they would have been more respected, and perhaps more handsomely provided for; but people seeing their ministers good farmers, and employed chiefly in that business through the week, are apt to think that little is due to them.