This is a historical document that we would like to share with you. This is the very essence of restoration history in physical form. It began when the Christians in the south (The James O’Kelly branch) of the church heard that there were like-minded people in the north. (these were the Christian Connexion) They apparently wrote a letter of introduction stating what they believed and inquired if those of the north were of like-mindedness. They introduced themselves to the CC brethren and in return, we actually have a copy of the return letter sent from New England to the North Carolina/Virginia area where these brethren were located. I sure would liked to have seen that letter but we do have the next best thing and that is the return letter. You will not find this document in any other place as it is virtually unknown to any historian. I discovered it among the personal papers of Elias Cobb, an elder in the church at Woodstock, Vermont.
The Elders of the Christian Churches, in the New-England States, assembled at Portsmouth, N.H., June 23, 1809, —To their brethren in the Southern States, in Christian fellowship, —sendeth Greeting.
Beloved Brethren in Christ Jesus our Glorious Lord, Your epistle dated May 27th, was received by us with the same spirit of love by which it was dictated; and it rejoices our hearts, that there are such a number of our brethren in the Southern States, who receive Christ as only King and Head of his Church, to the exclusion of Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, Arch Bishops, or any body of men invested with legislative authority for the Church of God. — We understand according to the New Testament, that the Church is the “Body of Christ, and Christ is the “Head of the Body,” and we praise our God that he has given Jesus “a leader and commander to the people”; that “the government is upon his shoulder”; that we have a lawgiver who is able to save us, for “there is one lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy”; we therefore have, and do reject all human heads, laws, articles of religion, confessions of faith, disciplines, creeds, catechisms, &c. &c. &c. which have been invented by men, not only because they are the foundation of the unhappy disputes which have arisen among the children of God, and a lessening of the diving authority of our master Jesus to command us in all things: but because we find his law perfect in all things and sure, a “perfect law of liberty,” not of bondage—yes brethren, liberty to obey him in all things, whose yoke is easy, and whose burden is light. We have not rejected these things without mature consideration, and were not altogether unapprised of the opprobrium which would be cast upon us for our conduct, by those who are so closely attached to them; but believing in our King as a Saviour as well as lawgiver—we ventured upon him with the same confidence we did when we found him a deliverer from sin, firmly believing we should see an increase of those who take Jesus for their only commander, and his law as contained in the New Testament as their only rule, without addition or diminution; and we have not been disappointed in our expectation, for “Although despis’d by men “a little feeble band, Protection we’ve obtain’d From our Redeemer’s hand, Tho’ oft’ our foes would us devour, We’ve stood upheld by Jesus’ power, and God has very gloriously increased our numbers, to the praise of his holy name; and while our dear brethren are groaning under a yoke which they are not able to bear; we rejoice that we can raise the Christian standard, proclaim Jesus as our King, and Jesus as our Lawgiver, to the exclusion of all others, and praised be God, we see the ensign waving farther and farther, and volunteers coming from far off and near, while the north gives up, and the south does not keep back.
We feel willing with you, yea, we rejoice to take the despised name of Christians, because the Church which is the Lamb’s wife should be called by his name. “He was despised and rejected of men” and “the servant should not be above his master.”
We firmly believe the happy time will arrive when there shall be one Lord, and his name one through all the earth; and it is our fervent prayer, that we be not Christians in name only, nor almost persuaded Christians as Felix was, but that we may be Christians in deed, that is, disciples of Jesus, partaking of the divine nature. Dear Brethren, we do most sincerely desire your prosperity and happiness—O that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may pour out his holy spirit upon us, that we may honor the Christian name, serve God acceptably, finish our course with joy, that when he who is out life shall appear, we may be presented with you immortal, being the Children of God and the resurrection to praise God and the Lamb in perfect strains, world without end, Amen.
We are dear brethren, yours in the kingdom and patience of Jesus.
Uriah Smith, Elias Cobb, Douglass Farnum, Zephaniah Crossman