Mason condemned Londonderry Presbytery for using Watts' Psalms (c. 1800), then used Watts' Psalms himself when preaching for Romeyn (c. 1810)

Context

Lathan describes how the Presbytery of Londonderry in New England had been practicing irregularities including “introducing into the worship of God Watts’ Psalms and Hymns.” The ARP Synod appointed a committee to expostulate with them; John M. Mason was chairman. Mason wrote a letter “condemning their irregularities and vindicating the action of the Synod.” The Presbytery replied defiantly through Morrison, warning that enforcing the psalmody rules would “give a mortal wound to the influence of the Synod in this part of the continent.” By 1801, the Synod declared itself no longer responsible for Londonderry’s acts; by 1809, the Presbytery was received into the Presbyterian Synod of Albany.

Extract

The Rev. John M. Mason was chairman of this committee. The committee was providentially hindered from visiting in person the Presbytery; but Mr. Mason, in the name and by the authority of the committee, wrote to them an expostulatory letter condemning their irregularities and vindicating the action of the Synod. The irregularities of which the Presbytery of Londonderry was guilty were the introducing into the worship of God Watts’ Psalms and Hymns; permitting non-professors to vote in church matters, and neglecting to attend the meetings of the Synod.

[Morrison’s reply on behalf of Londonderry Presbytery:]

Should the committee yet come and warmly insist upon the observance of the late Synodical Acts respecting psalmody and terms of communion, I will not say that they may gratify a few but they will, I think, give a mortal wound to the influence of the Synod in this part of the continent. Common observation and experience concur with revelation in teaching us the necessity of governing people in a manner best adapted to their circumstances for their good and for the honor of religion.

[Londonderry’s fate:]

In this insubordinate state the Presbytery of Londonderry continued to have a nominal connection with the Associate Reformed Synod until 1801, when the Synod declared itself no longer responsible for any of its acts. In 1809, the Presbytery of Londonderry, after an existence of mongrel independency for about eight years, was received into the Presbyterian Synod of Albany.

Significance

This extract reveals a remarkable irony in Mason’s trajectory:

1. Mason enforced psalmody orthodoxy before violating it: Around 1800, Mason was the official voice of the ARP Synod condemning Londonderry for using Watts’ Psalms. By 1810, Mason himself “used a system of psalmody which the constitution and standards of the church not only do not recognize, but condemn” (per Synod of Scioto). This dramatic shift deserves exploration in Chapter 6.

2. “Mortal wound” warning proved prophetic: Morrison warned that enforcing psalmody rules would destroy the ARP’s New England presence. By 1809, the entire Presbytery had left for the Presbyterian Synod — the same denominational-sorting pattern seen elsewhere, this time from exclusive psalmody toward Watts-using churches.

3. Londonderry as a movement case: An entire presbytery transferred from ARP to Presbyterian Church primarily over psalmody — a corporate-level example of the movement-between-bodies thesis (relevant to Ch 7).

4. Regional pragmatism argument: Morrison’s appeal to “circumstances” and “the necessity of governing people in a manner best adapted to their circumstances” represents the pragmatic/contextual argument for Watts adoption, contrasting with the principled/regulative argument for exclusive psalmody.