Impressions of America and the American Churches

IMPRESSIONS

AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN CHURCHES:

FROM JOURNAL

OF THE

REV. G. LEWIS,

ONE OF THE DEPUTATION OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND TO THE
UNITED STATES.

W. P. KENNEDY, 15 ST ANDREW'S STREET.
GLASGOW: D. BRYCE. DUNDEE: W. MIDDLETON. ABERDEEN:
C. PANTON. LONDON: HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO. AND
J. NISBET & CO. DUBLIN: W. CURRY, JUN. & CO.

MDCCCXLV.

PREFACE.

I have called the following pages "Impressions," because, observations gathered in so short a sojourn, I feel to deserve no graver title. Leaving home on the 30th January 1844, I landed again in England in July, after an absence of scarce six months. During that time, in fulfilment of my mission, I made almost the circuit of the Union, and visited both the Canadas. A few years ago such a thing had been impossible. Now it is easy, and accomplished with no unbearable fatigue or hazard to life or limb, other than is encountered by all travellers, by sea and land. The reader cannot estimate more lowly than I do, the opportunities afforded by so rapid a journey; and I should probably, under such a conviction, have kept my "Impressions" to myself, had I not succeeded in persuading myself that I had somewhat to say that might, at this time, have its use to that Church on whose errand I journeyed. I would fain contribute my mite towards confirming the attachment of the members of the Free Church to that

more excellent way" of a self-sustained Church in opposition to a self-sustained Congregational system, which has hitherto prevailed among the Dissenting Churches, both of the Old and New World. The

"more excellent way" has been devised with Christian and comprehensive wisdom, and begun in a brave and generous spirit, but it has still to be wrought out in faith and patience, and that steadiness of purpose which is ascribed to our nation over the world. In our united adherence, as a church, to these plans, and their continued prosperity, next to our fidelity to the Truth as it is in Jesus, and to the spiritual objects of a Christian society, depends, under God, whether we sink down in a few years into another witnessing Church against certain errors and defections, or become, at home and abroad, a great missionary people, having life in ourselves, and the cause of life wherever we are called to prosecute the Christian enterprise.

I cannot hope that my "Impressions" have been always such as will gratify my American brethren. But I trust I will appear to have spoken "in love." The reproof of a friend is "an excellent oil that does not break the head." The exchange of this excellent oil between the churches, on both sides of the Atlantic, is surely one of the benefits we ought to seek from the re-opening of an intercourse between churches that have a common parentage, a common creed, and in these latter days are, we trust, to war a common warfare for the faith once delivered to the saints, and to provoke each other to love and good works, in their respective spheres.

February 10. 1845.