South Carolina Tract Society Resolutions
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY.—The action of the American Tract Society, at its May anniversary, gives much satisfaction to the Branch Society in South Carolina, which on the 1st of June unanimously adopted a report and resolutions of approval. In the report it is remarked: “Now, when it is remembered that the Committee, in sustaining their course, distinctly and publicly took the ground that they were not warranted by the Constitution to publish tracts offensive to ‘evangelical Christians’ at the South who co-operate with them, and when it is also remembered that the proximate cause of the action of the Committee was the rapid and wide-spread withdrawal both of confidence and contributions on the part of their brethren of the slaveholding States, this decision of the Society must be considered as a sacred pledge and guaranty to the South that, so long as Christian public sentiment here forbids the issue of tracts or books by the American Tract Society upon the subject of slavery, that Society will avoid that subject in the same manner, and for the same reason that it avoids treating the mode of baptism, church government, mode of worship, predestination, and kindred topics.” The following resolutions were adopted: Whereas, at a meeting of the South Carolina Branch Society, on the 23d of June, 1857, it was Resolved, That we will take no final action on the question of separating from the Parent Society until the opportunity has been afforded it, by the recurrence of another Anniversary, of receding from the unconstitutional position assumed at its last annual meeting. And Whereas, The Parent Society, by its action at the late Anniversary, has virtually receded from the offensive position against which we protested, and afforded us a satisfactory guaranty (by the strong majority of Northern votes) for the peaceable and favorable prosecution of the work of Christ in the Southern States; therefore Resolved, That we regard the action of the American Tract Society as satisfactory to its true friends throughout our land, and that we cordially renew our interest in its labors of love, and commend its work to our friends in the South. Resolved, That the Treasurer be instructed to remit to the Parent Society $1,000 out of any funds available for the general purposes of the Tract Society in South Carolina. By order of the Society.
C. C. PINCKNEY, jr., President.
E. L. KERRISON, Recording Secretary.