ist, are engaged in promoting those institutions which they acknowledge to be of modern origin; and they are promoting them too as religious institutions; whereas if they would reflect a little on the origin and nature of the Christian religion, they must be, like us, convinced that this religion must remain unchangeably the same at this day, as we find it delivered in the New Testament. Hence that anything, however highly esteemed it may be among men, which is not found in the New Testament, has no just claim to be acknowledged as belonging to the religion or the religious institutions of Christ.

With all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, in truth, and walk according to apostolic traditions, to gospel order, we would gladly meet in church relation and engage with them in the worship and service of God, as he himself has ordered them. But if they will persist in bringing those institutions for which they can show us no example in the New Testament, into the churches or associations, and in making them the order thereof we shall for conscience sake, be compelled to withdraw from the disorderly walk of such churches, associations, or individuals, that we may not suffer our names to pass as sanctioning those things for which we have no fellowship. And if persons who would pass for preachers, will come to us, bringing the messages of men, &c., a gospel which they have learned in the schools, instead of that gospel which Christ himself commits unto his servants, and which is not learned of men, they must not be surprised that we cannot acknowledge them as ministers of Christ.

Now, brethren, addressing ourselves to you who profess to be in principle, Particular Baptists, of the "Old School," but who are practicing such things as you have learned only from a New School, it is for you to say, not us, whether we can longer walk in union with you. We regret, as so do you, to see brethren professing the same faith, serving apart. But if you will compel us either to sanction the traditions and inventions of men, as of religious obligation, or to separate from you, the sin lieth at your door. If you meet us in churches to attend only to the order of Christ's house as laid down by himself; and in associations, upon the ancient principles of Baptist Association, i.e., as an associating of the churches for keeping up a brotherly correspondence one with another, that they may strengthen each other in the good ways of the Lord; instead of turning the associations into a kind of legislative body, formed for the purpose of contriving plans to help along the work of Christ, and for imposing those contrivances as burdens upon the churches, by resolutions, &c., as is the manner of some, we can still go on with you in peace and fellowship.

Thus, brethren, our appeal is before you. Treat it with contempt if you can despise the cause for which we contend, i.e., conformity to the word of God. But indulge us, we beseech you, so far at least, as at our request to sit down and carefully count the cost on both sides; and see whether this shunning reproach by conforming to men's notions will not in the end be a much more expensive course than to meet reproach at once, by honoring Jesus as your only King, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. And rebellion, you know, is as the sin of witchcraft.

May the Lord lead you to judge and act upon this subject as you will wish you had done when you come to see the mass of human inventions in connection with the Man of sin, driven away like the chaff of the summer threshing floor, and that stone which was cut out without hands alone filling the earth. We subscribe ourselves your servants for Jesus sake.

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Minutes of the Proceedings and Resolutions Drafted by the Particular Baptists, Convened at Black Rock, Maryland, September 28, 1832.

A meeting of Particular Baptists of the Old School convened agreeable to a previous appointment at the Black Rock meeting-house, Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday 28th September, 1832.

The introductory sermon was preached by Elder Samuel Trott, of Delaware, from Daniel ii 34, 35: "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands," &c.

The meeting was then called to order by Elder John Healy, of Baltimore.

Prayer by Elder Thomas Barton, of Pennsylvania.

Elder Wm. Gilmore, of Virginia, was elected Moderator, and Elder Gabriel Conklin, Clerk.

A brief statement of the object for which the meeting had been called was made by the Moderator, and thereupon it was:

Resolved, That a committee of seven brethren, viz.: Trott, Healy, Poteet, Barton and Beebe, together with the Moderator and Clerk, be appointed to prepare an Address expressive of the views of this meeting, touching the object for which it was convened.

Brethren Scott, Cole, Ensor and Shaw, were appointed to make the necessary arrangements for preaching during this meeting.

Prayer by brother Trott.

Adjourned to 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.

SATURDAY MORNING, 9 o'clock

Met, pursuant to adjournment.

Prayer by Brother Choat.

The committee appointed to prepare an Address, submitted the following, which was unanimously adopted.

Black Rock Address

We acknowledge with pleasure the reception of an affectionate letter from the Muskingum Association, expressive of their warm attachment to the ancient order of the Baptist Church; and also an interesting epistle from our venerable brother, John Leland, disclaiming any connection with the popular schemes of the day.

The following resolutions were unanimously adopted, viz.:

Resolved, That our next meeting be held with the church of Pleasant Valley, Washington Co., Md., on the Monday after the third Lord's day in May, 1833, at the close of the business of the Baltimore Association.

Resolved, That we cordially invite our ministering and other brethren from all parts of the United States, who accord with our views as expressed in our address, to attend our next meeting. Also, that we recommend our address to the consideration of such Baptist Churches as profess to adhere to the ancient faith and order of the Particular Baptists requesting those of them who are disposed to unite with us in the stand which we have taken to give us an expression thereof by messenger or otherwise.

Resolved, That brother Henry Moon be our messenger to the Muskingum Association, and that brother Gilmore write them an affectionate letter on our behalf.

Resolved, That we consider the receiving persons into Baptist Churches upon any ground whatever short of an evidence of their having been born from above, to be a subversion of the ancient principles of the Baptists, of the apostolic example, and of the declaration of the Master that His kingdom is not of this world. Therefore we will not administer baptism to any without receiving the specified change; and we beseech the churches of our faith and order to guard against persons getting in among them through the excitement of their animal feelings, with as much caution as they would watch against receiving persons upon the ground of their receiving baptism as regeneration.

Resolved, That brother Healy superintend the printing of our Minutes, and that he be authorized to print 500 copies.

Resolved, That brethren Samuel Trott, Newark, New Castle Co., Del., Wm. Gilmore, Leesburgh, Loudon Co., Va., Thomas Poteet, Golden, Baltimore Co., Md., Edward Choat, Golden, Baltimore Co., Md., Eli Scott, Golden, Baltimore Co., Md., John Healy, Baltimore City, Md., Thomas Barton, Strakers Ville, Pa., Gilbert Beebe, New Vernon, Orange Co., N.Y., Stephen W. Wolford, Washington City, D.C., Gabriel Conklin, Slate Hill, Orange Co., N.Y., be a Committee of Correspondence.

We beg leave to recommend to the patronage of our brethren a paper published by our brother Gilbert Beebe, entitled "The Signs of the Times."

As some have misunderstood certain expressions in the latter part of his Prospectus relative to the popular institutions of the day, we would say that the views of the editor are such as are expressed in the Address published by us.

We desire at the close of our meeting to acknowledge the kind hand of God, which has been manifested in bringing us together, and permitting us to sit and consult together in harmony and fellowship, and for the affectionate manner in which we have been received by our brethren and friends in this vicinity.

After an affectionate address and prayer by the Moderator, the meeting was adjourned to the time and place above mentioned.

Wm. Gilmore, Moderator Gabriel Conklin, Clerk

We, the undersigned, do hereunto set our names, as cordially uniting in all the proceedings of this meeting.

Elders: John Healy, Wm. Gilmore, Edward Choat, Samuel Trott, Thomas Poteet, Thomas Barton, Edward J. Rees, Gilbert Beebe, Gabriel Conklin, Henry Moon. William Wilson*, James B. Bowen.*

Brethren: Abraham Cole, Sen., Lewis R. Cole, Samuel Shawl, Luke Enson, Shadrick Bond, John Ensor, Richard English, Edward Norwood, Joseph Perigoy, Joseph Mattem.

*Elders Wilson and Bowen were not present at the meeting, but having examined the Minutes and Address, have authorized the insertion of their names.

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Minutes of the Second Black Rock Meeting

The Elders and Brethren of the Old School Baptists, met agreeable to appointment with the Church at Black Rock, on Monday the 19th day of May 1834, at 9 o'clock a.m.

1. Preaching introductory to business by Brother Beebe, from Rev. 22:11, and also by Brother T.P. Dudley, of Ky. from Acts 20:24.

2. Appointed Brother Thomas Poteet, chairman, and Wm. Wilson, Clerk.

3. It was moved that the Brethren of the Old School who are with us in heart, and who wish to be publicly known as sustaining our views, as published in a former Address, be invited to come forward and subscribe their names, whereupon the following Brethren subscribe:

Elders: Edmond J. Reis, Edward Choat, William Wilson, Thomas Poteet, James B. Bowen, Samuel Trott, Wm. K. Robertson, Eli Scott, Thomas Barton, Thomas P. Dudley, Gabriel Conklin, Charles Polkenhorn, Gilbert Beebe.

Brethren: James W. Allen, Wm. Sellman, Joseph Perigoy, Edward Norwood, Nathan S. White, James M. Dawson, John H. Worthington, John De Voe, Samuel Shawl, Bazel Kelley, David Lowe, Lewis R. Cole, John Griffiths, Luke Ensor, Edward Grice, James L. Pearse, Abel Alderson, James Harrison, Herod Choat, Clement T. Coote, John Ensor.

4. On motion resolved, That all our proceedings be done unanimously.

5. Received letters approving of our views, from the church of Old Seneca, the church of Welsh Tract, Del. the Church called Mount Zion, in Hampshire Co., Va. and the Church of Mount Hope, in Chester Co., Pa.

6. Resolved, That we advise our Brethren, generally of the Old School, who may be disposed of address communications, to any future meeting, which as at this time been, or may hereafter be called, expressing their accordance with us, in the stand we have taken relative to the schemes of the day, as declared in the Address we have formerly published, whether these communications be addressed by individuals, by several brethren uniting or by churches as such, that we rejoice to hear from them, by letter when they cannot attend personally, that they stand fast with us, striving together for the faith and order of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But, dear Brethren, permit us to request, that in addressing any such meeting you will avoid those forms used in your letters to Associations, such as appointing Messengers to sit with us in council &c. for we disclaim being an Association of churches or an organized body of any kind; We simply meet as Brethren of one faith, one order and one heart, those brethren who are thus with us, are one with us when we meet; others cannot be invited to a seat with us though sent by churches.

7. Appointed a committee consisting of Brethren Barton, Trott, and Wilson, to prepare an Address.

8. Resolved, That we recommend another meeting of the Baptists of the Old School, to be held with the Ebenezer Baptist church in the City of Baltimore, on the Monday after the 3d Lord's day in May 1835, to commence at 10 o'clock A. M. and that Brother Barton, preach the introductory sermon, and in case of failure Brother Trott.

9. Resolved, That Brother Beebe, be requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting, in the Signs of the Times.

The following Address reported by the committee, was adopted, after which our meeting was closed with prayer and praise.

CONCLUDING ADDRESS

The Elders and Brethren, convened at Black Rock, to the Old School Baptists throughout the United States, send Christian salutation.

Dear Brethren:

We have pursuant to appointment again met, through the kind providence of God, and our hearts have been warmed and our spirits cheered by communications both written and verbal from various parts of our beloved country, in relation to God's Zion. With regard to our views of Gospel faith and order as expressed in a former address we still stand fast with increased encouragement and zeal, believing that the various institutions of men, dubbed with the appellation benevolent, and which are the order of the day, will, if not checked, result in any thing other than the real peace and prosperity of Zion. We should profit from the history of past ages, and guard against Priest-craft or the corruptions of that order of men wishing to be distinguished as the Clergy; which order now wield all the machinery, and have a governing influence over all the funds and movements of the various institutions of the day. As they are in a great measure irresponsible, in the appointing of their Agents, and in the expenditure of the vast sums of money collected from a liberal but misguided public, it requires but little knowledge of human nature to divine the consequence. It lays a strong temptation for speculation, and will in the hands of selfish men become a political engine to subvert our civil rights, and the dearer rights of conscience. As the church of Christ is merely an administrative body entrusted along with the application of the laws of her King, it is an arrogant assumption of power to set up any standard of religious action or test of religious obedience not sanctioned by his word; she has not the authority in herself to enact rules for the government or direction of Zion's children, much less, can she delegate this power to others. Has it, Brethren, come to this that our Lord will not or cannot accomplish the purposes of his grace without his people's exerting all their powers to obtain money? Is it so, that there is a necessity for those whom he has called into the gospel ministry, to leave the preaching of the word and the care of the churches over which they have been made overseers, to ravage the country and in the language of the horse leech's daughters to cry give, give, without ever being satisfied? Could not He who once turned water into wine prevent the necessity of this perversion of the ministerial office, and at the same time provide at once the means, pretendedly so necessary for accomplishing his purpose, by transmuting the native granite of our mountains into gold?

Beloved Brethren, may we ever be kept from imbibing notions so reproachful of the God of our salvation, as these which suspend the purpose of God the efficacy of a Savior's blood and the regenerating power of the Holy Ghost, in relation to a great proportion of the human family, upon money, the love of which is the root of all evil.

Brethren, while we rejoice in the glorious truth that salvation is of the Lord, may it be manifested by our lives that we are under the influence of that grace which teacheth that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

Thomas Poteet, Chairman William Wilson, Clerk

Footnotes:

In reference to the epithet "Old School," which we have used as a discriminating term, we beg leave to say that we were led to adopt it from it having been applied to us by others; and that in our use of it we have reference to the school of Christ, in distinction from all other schools which have sprung up since the apostles' days.

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