CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (kfirn'ber-land preeby-te'ri-an (1) Origin. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church originated in the remarkable revival of religion which began in 1797 to develop itself in Kentucky, Under the labors of James McGready, a minister of the Presbyterian Church. It has long been known as "the revival of 180o." It rapidly grew to such proportions as to create a demand for Presbyterian ministers of the gospel beyond the ability of that church to supply. This circumstance caused the Cumberland Presbytery, of the Presbyterian Church. to ordain certain men who could not quite meet the doctrinal and edu cational requirements of the Confession of Faith and Form of Government to which the Presby tery was amenable. The doctrine to which partic ular exception was taken was that contained in the famous third chapter of the Westminster Con fession, relative to "the eternal decree" and "pre terition." The correlated doctrine of "a limited atonement" was also involved, of course. This action of the Cumberland Presbytery produced discussion in the Synod of Kentucky, of which it was a member. In t8o6 the Cumberland Pres bytery was dissolved by the Synod, some of its members having been placed already under prohi bition to preach the gospel and administer its or dinances. The presbytery had also taken the ground that this proscribing act was unconstitu tional and void. These proscribed ministers wait ed patiently and loyally for some years. hoping that the synod would at last redress their griev ances. As a last resort and in order to save what they had represented to the General Assembly as "every respectable congregation" in that part of the country, three of these ministers. Finis Ew ing, Samuel King, and Samuel N1cAdow met and reorganized the Cumberland Presbytery, or more properly speaking, perhaps, organized themselves into a presbytery bearing the name of the one which had been dissolved. This event occurred in what is now called Dickson County, Tennessee, February, 18to. fence the name "Cumberland Presbyterian Church." This action of the pro scribed ministers was apparently a hazardous one. but it was taken after long and patient waiting and much prayer, and the step seems to have been abundantly justified by subsequent events.
(2) Statistics. The new church began its life hopefully. Local churches here and there en rolled themselves under its standard. In due course of time other persons were ordained to the ministry. The evangelical activity of both old and young was great. New local churches were rapidly multiplied. Other presbyteries were or ganized. The first synod. known as the Cumber land Synod, was organized in 18:3 and the Gen eral Assembly in 1829. The Form of Government to which these early ministers had been accus tomed, viz., the Presbyterian, was retained. At present there are 129 presbyteries, is synods, 2.9t5 churches (reported), 1,571 ministers (report ed), and 175,642 communicants, 293 churches mak ing no report. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church extends from Pennsylvania to California, Oregon and Washington, and from the Lakes to the Gulf States. It is strongest in Tennessee,
Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Illinois. Its prin cipal schools and colleges are Cumberland Univer sity, Lebanon, Tennessee; \Vaynesburg College, Pennsylvania ; Lincoln University, Illinois; Trin ity University, Texas; Missouri Valley College, Marshall.Missouri ;and the Theological Seminary, Lebanon, Tennessee.
(3) Doctrines. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church at the very outset of its history set forth a synopsis of its theological system, which "for substance of doctrine," has continued the same to this day.
t. It was thought that the Westminster symbols implied the doctrine of eternal reprobation, where as the Cumberland Presbyterians explicitly re pudiated this.
2. The Westminster system teaches that al though the atonement of Christ is "sufficient" for all men, it is prevented by an eternal decree from being "efficient" in the case of all men; the Cum berland Presbyterians agreed that the atonement would not be efficient in the place of all men, but they denied that the cause lay in the unconditional, eternal decree, at least in the sense in which they understood the word unconditional.
3. The Westminster implied that some infants dying in infancy were lost—or all, as to that, so far as the logic of the system gave any right to affirm the contrary. The Cumberland terians did not like this, and, in harmony with their rejection of the doctrines of "preterit ion" and "the limited atonement." consistently affirmed that all infants dying in infancy arc saved.
4. The Westminster taught that the reason why the Italy Spirit does not on the basis of the atone ment, bring saving grace to the heart of every sin ner is the fact of the restriction placed on his work by the "eternal decree ;" whereas, the Cumberland Presbyterians denied this, and affirmed that the reason lies in the fact that every sinner does not make a right use of the "common" grace which is bestowed upon all.
As to the relation of these Cumberland Presby terian principles both to the ecclesiastical and the general public, there is, of course, no doubt. that they are acceptable thereto. The Westminster symbols as modified by the Cumberland Presby terian Church constitute the only type of Presby terian doctrine which one could wisely promul gate from the pulpit ; and on this type of doctrine the Cumberland Presbyterian Church would, no doubt, cheerfully agree to become organically one with the other Presbyterian Churches of. America, thus constituting one great Continental Presby terian Church of America. This ought to be the obiective point of all Presbyterian movements in our country. hut no argument is needed to show that if this point is reached, it will he on the basis of scone such modification of the Westminster as that held by Cumberland Presbyterians CUMI (kii'mi), (Gr. Kann, koo'mee, from Heb. koo'mee), "arise" (Mark v:41). And he took the damsel by the hand and said unto her, Talitha which is, being interpreted, Damsel (I say unto thee), arise.