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the exhorters" for their pecuniary support. "Each lieentiate to exhort" was ordered "to exercise himself in composition on any subject he might choose, and show as many pieces of such composition to the nearest minister as he could with convenience." Some were received as candidates for the holy ministry on the delivery of a discourse as the first evidence or specimen of their abilities. Those who were licensed to preach, and those who were ordained, were required, at their licensure and ordination, to adopt the Confession of Faith, so far only, as they believed it to agree with the word of God; which, according to the Presbyterian law and usage, was irregular and unconstitutional. This opened a door to any one who might choose to enter, no matter what his creed might be.

In this way matters went on, until the number of these men, including exhorters, licentiates, and a few who were thus unconstitutionally ordained, amounted to nearly thirty.

Some were now entitled to a seat in Synod, and began to appear there. A number "of young societies," as they state, had been organized, and the most of them represented by their elders, who, from their numbers, were about to create an overwhelming majority in the Synod. They also established what they called "Circuits," which were principally supplied by the licentiates. The meetings of the Presbytery were very frequent for licensures and ordinations;-and had not their progress been impeded in some way or other, there is little doubt but that Presbytery, by its rapid movements, in a very short time, would have gained such an ascendancy in Synod, as to have com1

pletely swayed that body in any measure they might

wish to carry.

These disorders called loudly for the interference of Synod-accordingly, at the meeting of Oct, 1805, the following minute was entered up.

"On motion, Resolved, that the business of the Cumberland Presbytery be again taken up. After considerable deliberation, it was resolved, that the Rev. John Lyle, John P. Campbell, Archibald Cameron, Joseph P. Howe, Samuel Rannalis, Robert Stuart, Joshua L. Wilgon, Robert Wilson, Thomas Cleland, and Isaac Tull, together with Messrs. William M'Dowell, Robert Brank, James Allen, James Henderson, Richard Gaines, and Andrew Wallace, ruling elders, or any seven ministers of them, with as many elders as may be present, be a Commission, vested with full Synodical powers, to confer with the members of Cumberland Presbytery, and adjudicate or their Presbyterial proceedings which appear upon the minutes of said Presbytery, for the purpose aforesaid, and taken notice of by the Committee appointed by Synod to examine said minutes-that the said Commission meet on the first Tuesday in December next, at Gasper meeting house, Logan County, in the bounds of said Presbytery, for the purpose aforesaid. That notice be given to the members of said Presbytery, by the stated Clerk of Synod, to attend on the day and at the place aforesaid-so that a full, fair, and friendly investigation may take place. That the said Commission take into consideration, and decide upon a letter from the Rev. T. B. Craighead and others," &c.

This Commission met the 3d of December, 1805, about six weeks after its appointment, at the time and place appointed. The members were all present except Messrs. Campbell, Henderson, and R. Wilson. Prior to the meeting, the most ungenerous and unfavourable representations respecting the motives and designs of the Synod were extensively spread in the region round about where the Commission was to meet :-consequently, the most unfavourable impressions were made on the minds of the people there. Prejudice, in her most scowling aspect, had fled like lightning before the Commission, and taken her seat in the bosoms of all classes. The Commission was stigmatized with the unhallowed name of an "Inquisition," sent down by the Synod to destroy the revival of religion, and to cut off all the young preachers, because they had not learned Latin and Greek. Mr. Rankin, the minister of the place, who afterwards became a Shaker, delivered an inflammatory address to his people, on the evening preceding the communion, and in the presence of the Commission, accompanied with threats, or language indicative of personal violence or opposition. The most of the members of the Commission were nick-named, and given some appellation intended either to affix a stigma or confer an encomium, as the fruitful and ingenious inventors thought the individuals were favourable or unfavourable to their cause. Under such very unpleas ant and forbidding circumstances did the Commission meet and transact their business-only one man in the settlement, living some three or four miles from the

meeting-house, opened. his door and his heart for the reception and accommodation of the Commission.

The second day of their sessions they "took under consideration the case of Mr. James Hawe, as stated in the report of the committee" (of the Synod) "and were unanimously of opinion that the Presbytery had acted illegally in receiving him, as a regular minister of the Methodist Republican Church, without examining him upon divinity, or requiring him to adopt the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church." (Min. Com. p. 4.) They next invited, and entered into a friendly conference with the Presbytery, and thereby, together with their records, received all the evidence necessary to the establishment of the "charge of licensing and ordaining men to preach the gospel contrary to the rules and discipline of the Presbyterian Church." Being fully satisfied on this point, "the Commission then requested, in a friendly manner, the majority of the Cumberland Presbytery to give the reasons, why, in licensing and ordaining persons to preach the gospel, they required them to adopt the Confession of Faith so far only, as they in reason think it corresponds with the scriptures?" The answer was, "that the Confession of Faith was human composition and fallible, and that they could not in conscience feel themselves bound any further than they believe it corresponds with Scripture." Whereupon the Commission adopted the following preamble and resolution:-"Whereas it appears to the Commission of Synod, from the Records of Cumberland Presbytery, from the dissent of the minority of said Presbytery, and from the open confession of those who

were at the time of the dissent a majority, that they did license a considerable number of men to preach the gospel, and administer ordinances in the church, contrary to the rules and regulations of the Presbyteri an Church in such cases made and provided;-and whereas, those men have been. required by said Presbytery to adopt the said Confession of Faith and Discipline of said Church no farther than they believe it to be agreeable to the word of God, by which no man can know what they believe in matters of doctrine;-and whereas, it is alleged, by said Presbytery, that those men possess extraordinary talents, by which they have been induced to license and ordain them, without attending to the method prescribed by the Book of Discipline; therefore, on motion, Resolved, that the Commission of Synod now proceed to examine those irreg ularly licensed, and those irregularly ordained by Cumberland Presbytery, and judge of their qualifications for the gospel ministry."

To this resolution the majority of the Presbytery, who had been active in bringing these young men into the ministry, objected, and refused to surrender them to an examination, alleging, that "they had the exclusive privilege of examining and licensing their own candidates, and that Synod had no right to take the business out of their hands." The young men also, when called upon, refused, individually, to submit to the examination required, in consequence of all which conduct, the following resolution was adopted by the Commission, viz: "Resolved, that, as the above named persons never had regular authority from the Presbyte