History and Ecclesiastical Relations of the Churches of the Presbyterial Order at Amoy, China | Page 6

and the principles of Presbyterian polity embraced at the Reformation

by the purest churches on the continent and in Britain; it will also be a
beautiful point in the history of this infant Church that the
under-builders employed in shaping and arranging the stones, were
messengers of two different (though not differing,) churches in the two
great nations on either side of the Atlantic."
The course of Mr. Douglas met with the decided approval of their
Secretary, and, as he had reason then to believe, and has since fully
learned, with the approval of their Church.
We also sent a communication to our Church, addressing it to General
Synod. We directed it to the care of one of our prominent ministers, for
a long time Secretary of the Board, with the request that it be laid
before the Church, using language as follows: "You will, doubtless,
receive this paper some months before the time for the next meeting of
that Body [General Synod]. We would suggest therefore, that the paper
be published, that the members of the next General Synod may have
the matter before them, and be the better prepared to make such
disposition of it as the subject may demand. We feel that the subject is
one of very grave importance," &c.
Our communication was laid before the Board of Foreign Missions.
They designated it a Memorial, and decided that they had no right to
publish it. Of course we had no means of publishing it ourselves. It was
laid before Synod among other papers of the Board. The action of
Synod on the subject was as follows (Minutes of Synod, 1857, pp.
225-227):
"Among the papers submitted to the Synod is an elaborate document
from the brethren at Amoy, giving the history of their work there, of its
gradual progress, of their intimate connection with Missionaries from
other bodies, of the formation of the Church now existing there, and
expressing their views as to the propriety and feasibility of forming a
Classis at that station. In reply to so much of this paper as respects the
establishment of individual churches, we must say that while we
appreciate the peculiar circumstances of our brethren, and sympathize
with their perplexities, yet it has always been considered a matter of
course that ministers, receiving their commission through our Church,

and sent forth under the auspices of our Board, would, when they
formed converts from the heathen into an ecclesiastical body, mould
the organization into a form approaching as nearly as possible that of
the Reformed Dutch Churches in our own land. Seeing that the
converted heathen, when associated together, must have some form of
government, and seeing that our form is, in our view, entirely
consistent with, if not required by, the Scriptures, we expect it will in
all cases be adopted by our Missionaries, subject, of course, to such
modifications as the peculiar circumstances may for the time render
necessary. The converts at Amoy, as at Arcot and elsewhere, are to be
regarded as 'an integral part' of our Church, and as such are entitled to
all the rights and privileges which we possess.
"And so in regard to the formation of a Classis. The Church at home
will undoubtedly expect the brethren to associate themselves into a
regular ecclesiastical organization, just as soon as enough materials are
obtained to warrant such measure with the hope that it will be
permanent. We do not desire churches to be prematurely formed in
order to get materials for a Classis, nor any other exercise of violent
haste. But we equally deprecate unnecessary delay, believing that a
regular organization will be alike useful to our brethren themselves, and
to those who, under them, are training for the first office-bearers in the
Christian Church on heathen ground. As to the difficulties suggested in
the memorial, respecting the different Particular Synods to which the
brethren belong, and the delays of carrying out a system of appellate
jurisdiction covering America and China, it is enough to say:--(1) That
the Presbyterian Church (O.S.) finds no insuperable difficulties in
carrying into operation her system which comprehends Presbyteries
and Synods in India as well as here; and (2) That whatever hindrances
may at any time arise, this body will, in humble reliance upon the
divine aid and blessing, undertake to meet and remove them as far as
possible. The Church at home assumes the entire responsibility of this
matter, and only asks the brethren abroad to carry out the policy, held
steadily in view from the first moment when our Missions began.
"The following resolutions are recommended:

"Resolved, 1. That the Synod view with great pleasure the formation of
churches among the converts from heathenism, organized according to
the established usages of our branch of Zion.
"2. That the brethren at