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 J \ v . BRIEF VIEW Git. 
 
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 FACTS, 
 
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 TOGETHER WITH THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF THE SOCIETY, 
 
 
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 BRIEF VIEW, &c. 
 
 DEFERENCE to ourselves, if not to the public, 
 demands au explanation of the origin and design of 
 the New-York Evangelical Missionary Society 
 of Young Men. An event of so much notoriety as 
 the secession of more than one hnndred young men 
 from an Institution, whose professed object is “ The 
 propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” cannot at 
 first view, but be regarded with sentiments of regret. 
 At an age of the world, when the various deno¬ 
 minations of Christendom, begin to feel, “ that 
 they have attached too much importance to the things 
 in which they differ, and not enough to those in 
 which they agreewhen the dissemination of the 
 gospel is the great and common cause, which unites 
 the affections, the prayers and the exertion of the 
 great family of believers; and in the promotion of 
 which they already begin to find a grave for their 
 party spirit and sectarian prejudices: nothing but 
 considerations of commanding influence can justify a 
 disjunction of missionary labors. “ Charity suffereth 
 longbut there is a point beyond which Christian 
 forbearance cannot be extended, and when the “ wis¬ 
 dom that cometh from above’’ demands a struggle, 
 “ not only to extend the Redeemer’s Kingdom abroad, 
 but maintain its independence at home.” 
 
 i 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 Considerations of this imperative character did 
 exist , and led to the organization of this infant Insti¬ 
 tution. On the 23d of January, 1809, a number of 
 young men of different religious denominations in the 
 city of New-York, formed themselves into a society, 
 “ for the purpose of raising a fund to aid in promot¬ 
 ing the objects of the New-York Missionary Society. 55 
 So unexpected was the success, and so hopeful the 
 promise of this Institution, that on the 14th February, 
 1816, it resolved on the future management of its 
 own funds independently of the parent society. It 
 was no longer “ The Assistant New-York Missionary 
 Society,” but the “ Young Men’s Missionary Society 
 of New-York.” 
 
 Though it was expected, that this Institution 
 would consecrate its efforts to the great work of 
 disseminating the gospel, without descending to 
 the littleness of party distinctions ; circumstances 
 of no equivocal import, very early indicated that 
 there were some unhappy jealousies in the Board of 
 Directors on the subject of Christian Theology. A stu¬ 
 dious effort to avoid bringing the points of difference 
 into view, together with the spirit of mutual concilia¬ 
 tion and confidence, which appeared to be gradually 
 increasing, it was hoped would repress every thing like 
 secret alienation, as well as remove the possibility of 
 open rupture. But in this respect the fondest hopes 
 were defeated. These miserable jealousies had 
 never slept. At their recent session, on the 11th Not. 
 last, Mr Samuel Hanson Cox, without his own knowl¬ 
 edge, was nominated to the Board as a suitable can- 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 didate for the missionary service. Mr. Cox was him¬ 
 self a member of the Missionary Society, and in 
 October last, was licensed to preach the gospel by 
 the unanimous vote of the “ Presbytery of New-York.” 
 The minority were at no loss to determine that this 
 nomination was not grateful to the majority of the 
 Board. As the most compendious method of over¬ 
 ruling it, and with the impression that the funds of 
 the Society would not authorise the appointment of 
 more than one Missionary in addition to the one in 
 actual employment, the Rev. Arthur Joseph Stans- 
 bury, of the “ Associate Reformed” church, was in¬ 
 troduced to the Board as a rival candidate. With 
 the hope of avoiding concussion, and with the de¬ 
 sire to evince an exemption from party prejudice, the 
 mover of the resolution nominating Mr. Cox, begged 
 leave to insert the name of Mr. Stansbury, in conjunc¬ 
 tion with that of Mr. Cox:—thus placing the candi¬ 
 dates of either side on equal ground. But the diffi¬ 
 culty was neither removed nor diminished. The ap¬ 
 prehension was too well grounded, that the object to 
 be secured by the majority was not the appointment 
 of Mr. Stansbury, so much as the rejection of Mr. 
 Cox. The appearance of this determination, while 
 it did not allay the fears of the minority, excited equal 
 surprise and regret. Nothing but the thorny field of 
 controversy now lay before them. Still reluctant 
 however, to hazard the interests of a society hitherto 
 so prosperous, anxious to avert the probable issues of 
 a public conflict, most unwilling to embarrass the Re¬ 
 deemer’s cause, by aissentions among his professed 
 

 t 6 ) 
 
 followers, the minority were happy to have it under, 
 stood, that the subject be informally referred to the 
 Committee of Missions. 
 
 That Committee were convened the following Mon¬ 
 day. The name of Mr. Cox was mentioned with dif¬ 
 fidence and solicitude. No objection was made to 
 his talents or piety. It was too well known to be dis¬ 
 puted, that in both these particulars he enjoyed no 
 small share of public confidence. The majority of 
 the Committee however, had unhappily associated 
 with the name of Mr. Cox, certain religious senti¬ 
 ments, which they deemed “unsound,” and which 
 they supposed to be inconsistent with the character 
 of a useful Missionary. It was not to be conceal¬ 
 ed, that in the great outlines of truth, his view's ac¬ 
 corded rather with those entertained by Calvin, Ed¬ 
 wards, Bellamy, Scott, Smalley, Dwight, Pearce, 
 Hyland and Fuller, and, indeed, with the great body 
 of the Christian world, at this period of enlightened 
 piety, than with the incoherent and unintelligible 
 dogmas with which local intolerance seems resolved 
 to burden the church of Christ. If not to believe 
 that we actually sinned in Eden, six thousand years 
 before W'e were born ;—if not to believe that the ina¬ 
 bility of the unregenerate to comply with the terms 
 of salvation, is the same as their inability to pluck 
 the sun from his orbit;—if not to believe that the 
 depravity of man 'destroys his accountablenc * 
 il not to believe that the atonement is made ex¬ 
 clusively for the elect f—if not to believe that the elect 
 are invested with a title to eternal"life, on principles 
 
( T ) 
 
 of distributive justice, and that, while destitute of re¬ 
 generating and sanctifying grace ;—if not to believe 
 that the Christian’s love of God is founded in selfish- 
 ness, as completely as the miser’s love of gold if 
 want of assent to these repulsive notions disqualifies a 
 naan for the Missionary servicethen doubtless Mr. 
 Cox is disqualified. But if a cordial adherence to the 
 truth, that through the sin of Adam all mankind are 
 sinners, from the moment of their own existence;— 
 that the inability of the unregenerate, though absolute, 
 inculpates rather than excuses them; that notwith¬ 
 standing his apostacy, man is still a free agent, and 
 accountable for his character;—that the atonement 
 is unlimited in its nature, and limited only in its ap¬ 
 plication that the salvation of the elect is not of 
 debt, but of grace;—that all holy affection, though 
 caused by the Divine Spirit, is founded on the divine 
 excellence, rather than the divine favour;—if a firm 
 belief and cordial reception of these glorious truths, 
 qualifies a man for the ministry of reconciliation:—then 
 the minority have every reason to concur in the unani¬ 
 mous opinion of the Presbytery of New-York, that 
 Mr. Cox is qualified. 
 
 Notwithstanding this diversity of sentiment, 
 it has been well understood, that there was no re¬ 
 luctance on the part of the minority to co-operate 
 with the majority, in any measures to advance 
 the Missionary cause. While the minority loved the 
 truth and designed to maintain it, it was far from their 
 purpose and their wishes, that the spirit of theological 
 controversy should ever creep into the Missionary So- 
 
 % 
 
ciety, or these differences in doctrine ever be recogni^ 
 zed in their appointment of Missionaries. Nor can 
 they be accused of a single departure from this catho¬ 
 lic principle. In the appointment of Mr. Cox, they 
 asked no more than they were willing to give. Pre¬ 
 suming that questions of similar import might here¬ 
 after agitate the Society, unless the present case should 
 be avowedly decided as a precedent, the Committee 
 agreed without a dissenting voice, though without a 
 formal vote, to deliberate and decide upon the present 
 nomination, as involving the principle, Whether any 
 man holding Mr. Cox's sentiments should be eligible to 
 their employment? With this important question be¬ 
 fore them, they separated without a decision : agree¬ 
 ing solemnly and prayerfully to review the whole sub¬ 
 ject and convene for their final decision on the follow¬ 
 ing Friday. > 
 
 On Friday, all were present except one in the 
 minority. There was much inquiry and some dis¬ 
 cussion. After having received a full developement 
 of Mr. Cox’s views from a member of their own board/ 
 the Committee resolved, “ That it is inexpedient to' 
 “ recommend Mr. Cox to the Board of Directors as a 
 Missionary.’’ The ground of this resolution was but 
 ©ne :—That the religious sentiments of Mr. Cox sa¬ 
 voured so much of error, and contained so visibly 
 the germ of heresy, that the Committee felt bound to’ 
 withhold from him their sanction as a Missionary of 
 the cross. The votes stood four for, and two against 
 this resolution; when it was resolved unanimously / 
 * c That it is expedient to recommend to the Board 
 the Rev. Arthur J. Stansbury as a Missionary;’* 
 
r 
 
 
 ( » ) 
 
 The evening of the same day was to convene the 
 Board of Directors to receive the repor: of this 
 Committee. On the reading of this report it was 
 moved, “ That notwithstanding the decision of 
 the Committee of Missions, Mr. Samuel H. Cox be 
 appointed a Missionary in the service of the Society 
 for the term of six months.” Aft r discussing this 
 resolution at considerable length, the board determi¬ 
 ned, to follow the example of the Committee of Mis¬ 
 sions, and defer their decision to a further meeting. 
 On Friday of the next week they met, when all the 
 Directors were present. Either with the h pe of avoid¬ 
 ing a full discussion of the resolution on the table, or 
 with the expectation that the minority would resist 
 the proposal, it was moved by the majority, “ That 
 the further consideration of the proposition respecting 
 the employment of Mr. Cox be deferred in order to 
 consider the recommendation of the Committee of 
 Mission -> respecting Mr. Mansbury. Whatever might 
 have been the views of the minority of such a course 
 <5f meas ir s. they determined not to oppose them, and 
 therefore cordially united with the majority in enga¬ 
 ging Mr. Stansbury as their Missionary. 1 he contrast 
 between the conduct pursued by the minority, and 
 that persisted in by the major ty, must strike every 
 chr stian eye and impress itself on every Christian 
 heart. 
 
 Not without the hope that the liberal senti¬ 
 ments of the minority in this appointment would soft¬ 
 en the rigour of the majority, the motion was renewed 
 for the appointment of Mr. Cox. Very considerable 
 
 B 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 discussion ensued. The minority used every effort t© 
 ward off and lighten the shock. They entreated the 
 majority to avoid the hazard of a rash decision. They 
 entreated them to regard the honour and prosperity of 
 the common cause. They entreated them not to lose 
 sight of the grand object of the Institution, and forget 
 the claims of the perishing heathen. But it was all 
 in vain. A tide had set in which could not be turned 
 Out of its course; a torrent which it was hopeless to 
 resist; a deluge of intolerance which threatened to 
 sweep away every mound, and in its progress, to de¬ 
 solate the fairest portions of the Redeemer’s heritage. 
 The lamentable decision was passed, negativing the 
 appointment of Mr. Cox as a Missionary, and virtually 
 recognizing the principle, that no man of similar views # 
 could be patronized by the Board. The votes on this> 
 question stood twelve to six. Two members of the 
 Board at heart with the minority, from considerations 
 of peculiar delicacy which did them honour, declined 
 voting; who from considerations of high attachment to 
 truth and justice, which have done them greater honour, 
 have since connected themselves with the newly or¬ 
 ganized Institution, and accepted aseatin its Direction. 
 
 There is something in the retrospect of what is 
 wrong that goads the mind. After all the promptness 
 with which it is accomplished, the aspect of evil after 
 it is done, is ugly and distressing. The deed was per¬ 
 formed ; and it was fondly thought that some misgiv¬ 
 ings of heart were discoverable on the part of the majo¬ 
 rity. The inquiry was made by the minority and re¬ 
 iterated by the less determined of the majority, “ Is 
 

 ( 11 ) 
 
 there no way in which the breach can be* healed V' 
 Lest it should be imagined by some of the majority? 
 and lest the intimation should possibly be suggested 
 at some future period, that the minority were contend¬ 
 ing for an individual, rather than those whom he re¬ 
 presented, and were more attached to the name of Mr. 
 Cox, than to the principle involved in their discussion, 
 they submitted the proposition on the spot, though 
 not by a formal resolution, to unite with the majority 
 in declaring it to be inexpedient to appoint Mr. Cox, 
 provided the majority would yield the principle, that a 
 licentiate, or minister in good standing, holding Mr. 
 Cox's sentiments, should not be considered as an outlaw 
 from the missionary service. This proposition was re¬ 
 jected with a tone of such decision by the leaders of 
 the majority, that there was no other alternative, than for 
 the minority, either silently to withdraw from the So¬ 
 ciety, or bring the whole subject before them at their 
 annual meeting, which was just at hand. To the latter 
 course they were urged as well by “ a multitude of 
 of counsellors,” as by every correct sentiment of duty 
 to themselves and the church of God. Especially did 
 they consider the claims of the Society imperative, be¬ 
 cause of the fourteen congregations of which it was 
 composed,no less than six of its Directors were from the 
 Reformed Dutch Church in Garden-street. What¬ 
 ever might be the views of the great body of the So¬ 
 ciety of the points of faith discussed in the Board, the 
 minority did ndtrbelieve that they would justify tho 
 Directors in making these differences the governing 
 principle of their conduct in the appointment of Mis’* 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 sionaries. At the close of their annual meeting there- 
 fore, a brief statement of what had transpired in the 
 Board, was succeeded by the following 
 
 Ri ^solution : “ Whereas it appears that some 
 “ unhappy differences of opinion, concerning certain 
 “ religious doctrines, have existed in the minds of the 
 “ Directors of this Society, and that these differences, 
 “ though involving nothing inconsistent with the Con¬ 
 stitution or object of this Society, have unduly in* 
 “ fluenced the Board of Directors in their appoint- 
 “ inent of Missionaries : therefore, 
 
 “ Resolved , that the Society [disapprove such mea* 
 “ sures as have been pursued by the Board, recogniz- 
 “ ing the differences abovementioned, as the govern- 
 “ ing principles .of their conduct, and] most earnestly 
 “ recommend to them, in their proceedings as Direc- 
 “ tors, to leave out of view all those disagreements in 
 “ sentiment, which may have a tendency to weaken 
 “ the union and paralyze the efforts of this once har- 
 “ monious Association.’’ After much altercation and 
 unwearied effort to avoid the discussion, by repeated 
 motions of “ amendment”—by the introduction of 
 “substitutes”—and by one unmanly effort at an “ in¬ 
 definite postponement—the minority were permitted 
 to enter upon the discussion, having stricken out of 
 the original resolution, the clause expressly disapprov¬ 
 ing the conduct of the Directors. The discussion was 
 long. The points of difference in religious opinion 
 were necessarily brought into view, opposed by the 
 one party, and defended by the other. In the course 
 of the argument the minority freely referred to the Sa« 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 ered Scriptures in justification of their views ; feeling 
 it their duty to maintain the principles they avowed, 
 by unequivocal declarations of the word of God, ra¬ 
 ther than by denouncing the opinions of other men, 
 or by appealing to human authorities. The course 
 they pursued however did not pass without reprehen¬ 
 sion. They were not a little surprized to hear a Rev. 
 gentleman of the majority rise and express his hope, 
 that if any person should introduce arguments from 
 the Bible in support of his positions, he should be con¬ 
 sidered out of order ; adding, that if this course were 
 admitted, the discussion might be protracted through 
 the winter. Nor was their mortification diminished, 
 to hear another Rev. gentleman of the majority con¬ 
 cur in this extraordinary proposal. Safe as such a 
 measure would have proved to the majority, and lit¬ 
 tle as they wished to be incumbered with Scripture tes¬ 
 timony, happily no question was formally taken on the 
 subject. The period had not yet arrived, when by a 
 solemn vote of a religious assembly, quotations from 
 the word of God should be declared “ out of order,” 
 in the discussion of a Theological question. 
 
 After several long evenings, the strength and pa¬ 
 tience of the Society were exhausted. As the dis¬ 
 cussion drew toward a close, and it was seen that 
 a division in the Society would be the inevitable 
 result of a vote implicitly sanctioning the conduct 
 of the Directors, the minority resolved to make 
 one more effort to save from impending ruin, ail 
 Institution reared by united labors, and cemented 
 by united prayers and tears. They exnrtssed 
 their willingness to strip the resolution on the ta* 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 ble of every tiling that should have a retrospective 
 influence; they were anxious to overlook all that was 
 past, provided they could have some pledge of tolera¬ 
 tion for the time to come. Unwilling to relinquish 
 this last, though almost forlorn hope, they begged the 
 privilege of submiting a Resolution, simply recogniz¬ 
 ing the principle, “ That licentiates or ministers of 
 “ the gospel in good standing in the church of Christ, 
 w and acknowledged to be sound in the faith, by a 
 “ Judicatory of either the f Dutch Reformed,’ ‘ As- 
 u sociate Reformed,’ or 4 Presbyterian Churches’, 
 “ and who possess in the judgment of the Directors, 
 <c the other proper qualifications as Missionaries, shall 
 “ be indiscriminately employed by the Society.” 
 More than this, the minority consented not to ask ; 
 less, it was thought the majority could not give. The 
 only question then was, whether, irrespective of their 
 differences of sentiment, the Society would, upon 
 principles that were impartial and honorable, com¬ 
 bine their efforts in the Missionary cause. 
 
 It was the joy of the minority to be permitted to 
 live in an age of the world which calls upon them to 
 unite with men, differing indeed from them in impor¬ 
 tant articles of faith, but according with, them in the 
 great designs of glory to God and good w ill to men. 
 The heathen were perishing in their blood. It was 
 no time to foster the spirit of alienation and bigotry. 
 The glorious cause of truth and righteousness was 
 going on. The fields were whitening to the harvest. 
 Prom every desert and every mountain the cry w'as 
 reverberating in our ears. “ Thrust ye in the sickle 
 
 
I 
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 A sphere of action was opening upon the rising gene¬ 
 ration such as the world never saw. The minority 
 did hope that the majority would yet tread back their 
 ground with the magnanimity of Christian heroism ;— 
 or, if they revolted at this, that they would welcome 
 this last proposal, would rejoice to strike their hands 
 with ours in this holy league, and wherever else we 
 might admit them, eternally banish all our differences 
 of sentiment from this hitherto harmonious Society. 
 But what were their feelings when the proposition, in 
 a manner how little resembling the Christian spirit wilt 
 never be forgotten, was repelled as “ cowardly”—and 
 promptly,though reluctantly withdrawn. Their utmost 
 fears were now realized, and the hope of conciliation 
 forever extinguished. There remained the sw r eet con¬ 
 viction, that an invisible and almighty hand would yet 
 be discovered and exalted in this unsearchable provi¬ 
 dence, and that there was One on the throne who was 
 able to redeem the pledge, that “ The w rath of man 
 should praise the Lord, and the remainder of wrath He 
 w'ould restrain.” The yeas and nays being called for, 
 the question was decided by a majority of one hundred 
 and eighty-two to ninety •one. T wo hundred and four¬ 
 teen members of the Society were absent, and a very 
 considerable number of those present, declined voting. 
 
 By this ruthful blow was this Fair Temple clov¬ 
 en to its base. If solicitude, and entreaty, and 
 tears could have availed, it would have stood firm and 
 risen high. But the blow that severed it, laid the 
 deep and broad foundation for an edifice, whose tri¬ 
 umphal arch and lofty dome it is hoped will be seen 
 from afar. Abundant thanksgiving; is due to the 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 Great Head of the church, that we have been carried 
 through the conflict, and thal in the darkest season, 
 the pillar and the cloud were before us. “ Not unto 
 us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give glory, 
 for thy mercy and thy truth’s sake!” It has been an 
 event which in prospect we deplored, and which in 
 its approaches, has been resisted by every expedient 
 which truth and charity could dictate. It has been 
 a struggle for all that is dear in religious liberty. It 
 has been a conflict for gospel truth. It has been the 
 birtli-pang of the daughter of Zion for the souls of the 
 heathen. But the agony is over. “We are troubled on 
 every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not 
 in d ospair ; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but 
 not destroyed.” Though disfranchised, we inherit; 
 though excommunicated, we commune ; though ampu¬ 
 tated from the body, we “ hold the head.” While “ The 
 earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof,” our pur¬ 
 pose is to breathe his vital air, and “display a banner 
 because of the truth.” “ And this will we do if God 
 permit.” It is of li tie purpose, that we should be 
 thought to have gained the victory; it is sufficient to 
 have gained a release from that spirit of intolerant 
 bigotry, to which we are willing to bid adieu for¬ 
 ever. 
 
 Immediately after the meeting at which the discussions abovementioned were 
 concluded, the minority proceeded to organize a new Society. They had the 
 satisfaction to see a numerous meeting, when the Constitution was adopted, andl 
 to hear it stated at a meeting of the Society on the 13th January 1817, that more 
 than 400 gentlemen had been admitted members including those w ho first signed 
 the Constitution 
 
 The Board of Directors at their first meeting unanimously re solved to emplcQ? 
 Mr. Samuel H. Cox »6 a Missionary of the Society. 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MEW-YOIK EYANGEJLICAE 
 
 MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF YOUNG MEN, 
 
 INSTITUTED 
 DECEMBER 27th, 1816. 
 
 ARTICLE FIRST. 
 
 This Society shall be known by the name of the 
 New-York Evangelical Missionary Society of 
 Young Men. 
 
 ARTICLE SECOND. 
 
 The object of this Institution, shall be, the propay 
 Ration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ARTICLE THIRD. 
 
 Any person recommended by at least two mem- 
 1 $ as friendly to the object of the Society, and of 
 jlar moral deportment, may become a member, 
 ded he be approved by a majority of the Board 
 :tors. 
 
 person thus elected, shall sign the Constitu- 
 ously to his being admitted to a seat in the 
 
 iber, at the time of subscribing the Con- 
 
 C 
 
f 
 
 ( 18 ) 
 
 stifcution, shall pay a sum of not less than Fifty Cents . 
 
 and afterwards a monthly sum of Twenty-Jive Cents . 
 
 A payment of Fifty Dollars by any member shall be 
 deemed a full commutation for his monthly dues. 
 
 ARTICLE FOURTH. 
 
 
 The Officers of this Society shall consist of a Presi¬ 
 dent, three Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a corres¬ 
 ponding Secretary, and a recording Secretary, who, 
 together with thirteen Managers, shall form a Board 
 
 of Directors, 
 
 The President for the time being, of any Society 
 Auxiliary to this, shall be ex-officio a Director of this 
 Society. \ 
 
 No person shall be eligible as an Officer or ManaK 
 ger, unless he be between twenty-one and forty years 
 
 church. 
 
 The Officers and Managers shall be chosen by bal¬ 
 lot, the Officers separately, the Managers by general 
 ticket, at the anniversary meeting. 
 
 ARTICLE FIFTH. 
 
 it shall be the duty of the Directors to form ti 
 own bye-laws, and to take such measures, relati’d 
 the funds and all the other concerns of the Soci<^ 
 they may judge best calculated to promote thjf 
 of the Institution. M 
 
 They shall meet at least once in each moJ 
 transaction of business. Seven of their irM 
 present shall constitute a quorum. M 
 They shall have power to fill theii^