“It was a body not large in size a little less than one hundred members but august in character. It was composed of men who fitly represented the ability, the learning, and the piety of the whole Church, not only as to the ministers, but the reding elders, who contributed so largely to shape the conclusions which were reached. Dr. Thornwell was, of course, one of its guiding spirits; and the papers which gave the largest character to this Assembly emanated from his pen, and were marked with the ability of his very best productions. We may be allowed to instance ‘The Address to all the Churches of Jesus Christ throughout the Earth,’ containing the clearest statement of the principles which had brought about the separation from the Northern Church; involving, as this did, a beautiful exposition of the nature and functions of the Church of God. It will stand as one of those documents to which the Church will ever appeal, as a testimony for the truth, in times of darkness and trial, when the witnesses for it were thought worthy only of being, slain. It was not only expressed with that precision of thought and of language which was characteristic of the illustrious author, but it was pervaded with a sacramental fervour, which stamped upon it the impression of a sacred and binding covenant. The scene which was enacted at the moment of its subscription will be forgotten by none who witnessed it. Read, and read again, amid the solemn, stillness of an audience whose emotions are hushed with awe, it was finally adopted and laid upon the Moderator’s table; when, one by one, the members came silently forward and signed the instrument with their names. We were carried back to those stirring times in Scottish story, when the Solemn League and Covenant was spread upon the grave stone in the Grey Friar’s church-yard, and Christian heroes pricked their veins, that with the red blood they might sign their allegiance to the kingdom and crown of Jesus Christ, their Lord and Head.” — Benjamin M. Palmer, The Life and Letters of James Henley Thornwell, D.D., LL.D. (1875), pp. 503-504