The setting of the pay is in a room in McAdows' Log House. The furniture is all rather crude. There is a fire in the fireplace. There is a tea-kettle sitting by the fireplace. A few sticks of wood are to the right of the fireplace. There is a crude hall tree. A table covered with a cloth, a wood bed, and chairs in the room. The room may be arranged to best suit the stage of the church.

Characters:

McLean, a rather young, quiet man.
McAdow, a very serious man of about 50.
King, a rather quick tempered young man of about 35.
Ewing, a tall, good looking man.
Mrs. McAdow, a rather small, grey-haired lady of about 45.

(Mr. and Mrs. McAdow are sitting around the fireplace.)

Mr. McAdow: Hannah, I regret very much that I am not able to attend the meetings of the Council. I am made to wonder just what will be the outcome of all the trouble.

Mrs. McAdow: Do not worry, Samuel, let us hope it will all turn out for the best. Your health is fast improving and you will soon be about your work again.

Mr. McAdow: I am not thinking about my health but I am thinking about the advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord. It has been a long hard struggle and still it is not over. Yet the Great Revival has brought and still is bringing many great blessings. You remember only a few years ago how Mr. McGready and Dr. Rice advised the revival ministers of Cumberland country to encourage young ministers to preach the Gospel even if they could not enjoy the advantages of a regular collegiate education? It was during that early period of revival that both Finis Ewing and Samuel King professed religion.

Mrs. McAdow: Yes, and those Godly young men have labored almost day and night; and their efforts have been owned and blessed by Christ, the Head of the Church.

Mr. McAdow: Yet, they have received very little encouragement from the Transylvania Presbytery, or even from the Synod of Kentucky. In fact, the anti-revival ministers have done everything in their power against them, and against us all. However in the midst of the turmoil in 1802, King and Ewing were licensed. And in the same year, in October I believe, Kentucky Synod divided Transylvania Presbytery, and called the new one which was formed, The Cumberland Presbytery. There were ten of us ministers in the new Presbytery, five of whom were the anti-revival party and five of use were of the revival party. We were pretty evenly matched as far as numbers are concerned.

Mrs. McAdow: It was a most trying time when Kentucky Synod summoned all of you ministers of the Cumberland Presbytery to attend the next meeting, and of course you did not go because a Synod has no legal right to try an individual, that being the work of the presbytery.

Mr. McAdow: Indeed, that was trying, but to cap the climax, the same synod in 1805 appointed a commission, vested with full synodical power, to confer with each member of our presbytery, and to examine our proceedings. They examined us and reported that we were licensing young men to preach the Gospel and to administer the ordinances in the church contrary to the rules of the Presbyterian Church. The commission made no specifications on any of those general charges but they required Cumberland Presbytery to submit all its probationers and four of our ordained ministers to the commission for re-examination. Of course, as the constitution of the church has made the presbytery the sole judge of the qualification of its own probationers, and that no other church court has the right to a arraign and try one of the presbyterys' ordained ministers, the majority of the ministers of our presbytery refused to submit.

Mrs. McAdow: I shall never forget that day when the commission appealed to "the young men who were irregularly ordained" as they were called, to submit to the examiner. Finis Ewing rose and said, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God." We therefore request that we be permitted to retire and ask counsel of the most high." I can see Mr. Ewing yet as he came from the thicket where he had gone to pray. His head was erect, his steps were slow but firm, his whole manner indicated a decision and energy that would not allow him to yield to the injustice of man, for it was plain to see that he had settled the question in the fear of the Lord.

Mr. McAdow: After all that was over we were more determined to preach so we organized ourselves into a council so we might render our work more effectively. And to show us that the churches of the Cumberland Presbytery were backing us, nearly every congregation joined the Council. Then when Synod met in October 1806, and endorsed the action of the commission, they demanded that we submit. But we refused and as a result of our refusal Cumberland Presbytery was dissolved. Last August 1809 we tried to make a reconciliation with Kentucky Synod but we could accomplish nothing. Ewing, King and myself compose the Council now. Though there be but three of us, I feel sure that God is leading us and I am determined to follow where he leads me.

Mrs. McAdow: Let us sing "Where He Leads Me I Will Follow." It will strengthen us in our great trial.

(They sing softly the song. At the close of the song a rap is heard at the door.)

Mrs. McAdow: Someone is knocking at the door. It is probably someone who desires lodging for the night.

(Mr. McAdow goes to the door, opens it. King, Ewing and McLean enter. They are carrying small traveling bags.)

Mr. McAdow: Can it be possible that it is King, Ewing, and McLean? My wife and I were just talking about you. I have been wishing I could see you all and talk to you.

(They all shake hands and exchange greetings.)

Mrs. McAdow: I know you gentlemen are nearly frozen, come over near the fire. Samuel, you take their coats while I go get a lamp. There is something comforting about a fire, it makes one think of the warmth of God's love.

(She leaves for the lamp. Mr. McAdow takes the coats and hangs them in the corner on a hall tree.)

Mr. McAdow: (Placing chairs near the fire) Have seats gentlemen, I know you must be cold and tired. Did you come all the way today?

Mr. Ewing: Mr. King and I spent the night last night with Mr. McLean and his wife. We started early this morning to see you on very important business.

(Mrs. McAdow enters with a lighted lamp and places it on the table.)

Mrs. McAdow: You must be hungry. I will go and prepare you some supper. The coffee is already hot.

Mr. King: Do not bother Mrs. McAdow for we brought our meals with us and ate on the way in order to lose no time.

Mr. Ewing: We must not think of eating for we have come on a very important mission. We have tried several times to make reconciliation with the Synod but each time we have failed. We have come to ask you Mr. McAdow, what shall we do? There is only one thing to do and that is to constitute a new Presbytery. We have come to ask you to help us in this matter.

Mrs. McAdow: Gentleman, you must not think of discussing such a great problem tonight. You are too tired. I will prepare the beds and you must retire early. You can discuss the problem in the morning when you are rested.

(Mrs. McAdow leaves the room.)

Mr. McAdow: Brothers, this is a very serious matter. I should not say at once what we must do. We must do nothing rash for we would regret it later. There has been quite enough trouble lately without us forming a new presbytery to cause more trouble. There must be some other way. Maybe we can join another presbytery in another synod.

Mr. Ewing: It will be impossible for me to join another Presbyterian presbytery. The Presbyterian Church most clearly and unmistakably teaches the doctrine of fatality. They teach that God has created a certain part of mankind to be saved and a certain part to be damned. The third chapter of the Presbyterian Confession of Faith reads something like this: "By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some man and angels are predestined unto everlasting life and others fore-ordained to everlasting death."

Mr. King: (Rather sharply) is God a partial God? Has He from the very beginning, aside from all that we can do, decreed some to eternal joy, and others to eternal punishment? If that is so there is very little in it to encourage hope, love and faith. If that is so why must we spend our lives working to get people to accept them when He will not accept them? I refuse to believe and I will not preach such a doctrine.

Mr. Ewing: I believe that God does His uttermost to save everybody. It is a part of His holy plan that man be an intelligent being, with a right and power to choose for himself. God says "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Jesus says "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The Bible plainly states that Christ "by faith tasted death for every man," "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (Determined) I too, must refuse to preach none other than the whosoever doctrine.

Mr. McAdow: All you have said is true, we cannot preach the doctine.

Mr. McLean: A very peaceful way to settle it all would be to join the Baptist church.

Mr. McAdow: Ah, Mr. McLean, I have baptized too long by sprinkling and pouring to begin immersing now. I believe that baptism is a symbol, and shows the purifying outpouring of the Holy Spirit. To me, immersion does not correspond to the way in which the Holy Spirit descends upon the heart. My Bible says, "I will pour out My Spirit into you. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean."

Mr. King: Mr. McLean, how can you read Acts the second chapter and suggest such a step. On the Day of Pentecost there were about 3000 persons, from at least fifteen nations, baptized. The persons baptized were visitors, and without a doubt had no change of clothing If they were immersed then they had to remain throughout the day in their wet clothing. I cannot believe that God instituted such an inconvenient ordinance. In every case of adult baptism mentioned in the New Testament, the persons were baptised at the place where and the time when they were converted. Not a single instance is given where they went off to search for water. No, Mr. McLean I must remain in a church where I can baptize as I think our Lord taught us to baptize.

Mr. McAdow: To suggest joining the Methodist Church would be out of the question at this time. I do not deny the fact that a Christian may do wrong–may, through the temptations of Satan, the world, and the flesh, incur God's displeasure, but I do deny the fact that a child of God, a truly regenerated child of God, may so apologize as to be finally lost.

Mr. Ewing: You are right we cannot join the Methodist Church for Jesus said "He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him who sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

Mr. McAdow: Brothers we lack knowledge, we have come to the end of human power. (Mrs. McAdow steps to the door) Let us retire to a secret place of prayer and ask guidance of the Most high.

Mrs. McAdow: It is getting late you must all go to bed.

Mr. McAdow: I cannot go to bed until God has settled this question. McLean you may sleep here in this room. King, you and Ewing may sleep in the other room. I will tell you my decision in the morning when I have prayed through to God. (Goes toward the door)

The Visitors: We cannot sleep, we must also commune with God.

(Curtain falls as they leave the room)

Time: next morning, February 4, 1810. In the same room as Act I. The lamp has burned out and the fire is low. McLean is kneeling at the side of a chair. Some one from behind the curtain reads very clearly, slowly, and distinctly:

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Mr. McLean: (Praying very reverently) Oh, voice of God, I hear thee above the shocks of time.

Voice outside: Trust in the Lord and do good; So thou shalt dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. (Ps. XIV 3-5)

Mr. McLean: (Earnestly) Thine echoes roll around me, Thy message is sublime.

Voice: "And we know all things together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are called according to His purpose. (Romans VIII: 28)
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in Heaven." (Matt. XVIII:19_

Mr. McLean: Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps. 139:23-24)

Voice: Fear thou not: for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isa. XLI:10)

Mr. McLean: (Arises and says with much feeling and determination.) No power of man shall thwart me No stronghold shall dismay When God commands obedience and love has led the way.
(He begins singing: "Faith of Our Fathers." At the chorus King enters and sings with him to the close of the stanza.)

Mr. King: All my doubts have vanished. God has given me wisdom.
(They sing second stanza. At the chorus Ewing enters and sings to the close of the stanza.)

Mr. Ewing: I trusted in the Lord with all my heart, I leaned not on my own understanding and He said Arise and Build and go ye preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.

(McAdow is heard singing "How Firm a Foundation" –Second stanza. McAdow enters with his face aglow with light.)

Mr. McAdow: God has answered the doubtful question, and I am now ready to constitute a new presbytery and (goes over to McLean and places his hand on his shoulder) ordain this young man before we adjourn.
(All sing "Blest Be the Tie")

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