Dr. Mason violated ARP psalmody law in 1810, followed by others 'to the great grief of not a few'

Source: arp-south-history
Page: 352-353
Type: quote
Confidence: high
Date mentioned: 1810
Topics: psalmody-controversy denominational-tension arp-division mason-controversy
People: John M. Mason
Places: New York
Institutions: Associate Reformed Church General Synod Synod of the Carolinas

Context

This passage appears in Lathan’s discussion of the causes that led to the separation of the Synod of the Carolinas from the General Synod. He has just quoted the ARP’s Directory for Public Worship, which explicitly states that “nor shall any composure, merely human, be sung in any of the Associate Reformed Churches.” He then identifies when this law was violated.

Extract

This law of the Associate Reformed Church was, by Dr. John M. Mason, violated in 1810. His example was followed by others, to the great grief of not a few.

In 1816 the Synod of the Carolinas sent up a remonstrance to the General Synod. The thing mostly complained of in this remonstrance is the scheme of communion lately introduced by some into the Associate Reformed Church. Nothing can be plainer than that the Synod of the Carolinas desired communion restricted to organic communion, and that “composures merely human” be entirely excluded from the worship of God. Because they could not prevail upon the General Synod to do these two things, they asked and obtained permission to become an independent, coordinate Synod.

Significance

This extract documents the precise moment when psalmody conflict erupted within the ARP itself, leading to institutional fracturing:

  1. Identifies the trigger: Mason’s 1810 violation of the psalmody law is identified as the precipitating event that eventually led to the Synod of the Carolinas’ separation.

  2. Shows emotional weight: The phrase “to the great grief of not a few” indicates psalmody violations were experienced as spiritually distressing, not merely as procedural irregularities.

  3. Links psalmody to separation: The Synod of the Carolinas explicitly sought to exclude “composures merely human” from worship and separated when the General Synod refused to enforce this standard.

  4. Mason as key figure: This connects Dr. John M. Mason—already documented in the Londonderry Presbytery case—to another major psalmody controversy, showing him as a central figure in the ARP’s internal disputes.