The Adopting Act was passed in 1729, designed to announce the Westminster Confession and Catechisms as the standards of the Church more formally than had ever yet been done. The bearing of this act has been of late years sharply discussed. It may be found in the printed minutes. It was a compromise measure accept- ed in consequence of the agitation which had been oc- casioned by the Irish presbyters. These had been in the midst of an exciting controversy against the intru-
sion of Arian principles into the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and had come over determined to suffer no looseness of subscription to the standards of faith. The Adopting Act occasioned, therefore, not a little contro- versy. The non-subscribers in sentiment disliked even the general terms of the Adopting Act, while the others desired the adoption of the ipsissima verba of the stand- ards. Though the measure was finally a compromise, it failed to set differences at rest. They continued to de- velop, and became manifest, in connection with certain synodical action on ministerial education, and ripened- until they resulted in one or two secessions, which pre- pared the way for the establishment in this country of a branch of the Associate Presbyteiian Church. In 1739, party feelings were revived by the visit of White- field, and the synod was divided into those who were known as friends or enemies of the revival. By 1741 the controversy resulted in a schism, by which the body was rent into two synods— that of the Old Side party, called the Synod of Philadelphia; that of the New, called the Synod of New York. The principal cause of the division was the insisting of the Old Side on a thor- oughly educated ministry, while the New laid more stress on piety and zeal. There was no difference of opinion as to doctrine or discipline. Gilbert Tennant, the friend of Whitefield, was the leader and master- spirit of the New branch, and published several sermons and pamphlets very severe in their tone. After a sepa- ration of thirteen years, passion and party feeling cooled down, the leaders were disposed to make mutual con- cessions, past errors and mistakes were frankly con- fessed, and the two synods became again united, May 29, 1758, under the style and title of " the Synod of New York and Philadelphia," comprising ninety-four minis- ters. During the half century of existence that had now closed, the Church had taken some important steps. It had committed itself, for instance, to a polity distinct- ly Presbyterian, it had adopted Calvinistic doctrinal^ standards, and had set up a high standard of ministerial education. Nor were these things needless, or done too soon. A stream of population was rapidly flowing west- ward, having on its front line settlers of very diverse characters. Some were men of such lawless habits that they could no longer stay in orderly communities; oth- ers loved the wild excitements of frontier life, and oth- ers thought only of bettering their temporal condition by obtaining homes in the new lands. All classes were very poor. Indians were numerous, causing the preach- er to carry his rifle as well as his Bible — while State- Church opposition added to the difficulties of the Pres- byterian evangelist. Only men of education — men of energy, full of zeal and of varied resource, could have even held their own in the face of such hindrances. Such men the Presbyterian Church desired to have in its ministry, nor desired in vain. Many of its early preachers — the Tennants of New Jersey, Brainerd of the Indian Mission, Davies of Virginia, and a host of others, have been pre-eminent for ministerial efficiency, and will assuredly be held in everlasting remembrance. While the Church was thus supplying the Gospel in sparsely peopled districts and forming new presbyteries in every direction, it was led to enter into such relations with the Congregationalists as materially influenced its after-course. For some years before the Revolution, the Colonial Episcopal Church had sought to obtain a legal Establishment. Fearing the success of its efforts, the synod agreed in 1766 to meet in annual convention with the General Association of Connecticut, " to unite their endeavors and counsels for spreading the Gospel and preserving the religious liberties of the churches." This arrangement was carried out until the outbreak of war in 1776 interrupted the intercourse.
When the war of the Revolution broke out. the Pres- byterians, to a man, arrayed themselves on the side of the patriots — which may, at least in part, be explained by the fear, which they shared in common with the Congregationalists of New England, that there was a
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 534 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
design to introduce bishops and establish an oppressive ami odious hierarchy in the colonies. During the Revo- lutionary war, in common with all religious interests, the Presbyterian Church Buffered greatly. .Many of its bhurch buildings were destroyed, and not a few congre- gations disorganized, yel its vitality remained unbro- ken. Rallying quickly on the return of peace, new in- terest in religious ordinances was manifested by the people, and synodical meetings were better attended by the ministers.
In 1785, steps were taken for revising the standards of i he Church and organizing a General Assembly. A
committee consisting of Drs. Withers] i, Rodgers,
Roberl Smith, Patrick Allison, Samuel Stanhope Smith, John Wbodhull, Roberl Cooper, .fames Latta, George Duffield, and Matthew Wilson, was appointed "to take