The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-30
DIR. PLUMBERS RESIGNATION.


pastoral connection also with the Central
church has no doubt been dissolved, though
it is not expressly so stated. One who has
intimate personal knowledge of the facts
writes, that he "was prosecuted By the fan
atic8 around him. Ny sympathy in his sor-
row drew us closer together. They embit-
tered his life; and recently he resigned and
came away. I begged him to wipe the dust
from isfeet; but he meekly replied, No;
there are good people here" He has re
moved to Burlington, New Jersey, and con-
uected himself with that Presbytery.
1t viii be remembered that the special
offence given By Dr.. Plumer was his sted-
fast refusal to pray for the success Of the
Federal arms, or to give thanks for their
victories. This position he maintained in
argument before his Presbytery, where the
complaint of his church was brought.
A minute was adopted-Dr. p. also yo-
ting for it-which many hoped would have
composed the trouble. Bat, as ought to
have been fore8eeu, it was fatal mistake.
There was a rift in the Compromise,
from its foundation. The language was
eqniyocal, and its true intenS, or at least
lawful meaning, could be claimed by both
sides. The PRAYERS of the preacher were
not mended, and his people still murmured,
His "card " published afterwards was open
to the same difficulty. 1t was cast into a
very unfortunate and Objectionable mould,
and on this ground we regretted and strong
" condemned it. At the same time we be-
Hsyed, and expressed the opinion that its
author did not see it in that light. We are
persuaded he was unconseiOusly betrayed
by the force Of circumstances, to use acl-
biguous terms. In answer to some who
have censured even our measure of cor
demnation, the occasion is here taken to
say that we see nothing to retract.
But some, in the Christian church and
out of it, are Selling eagerly the opportu-
nifty, lis it for avenging old grudges2l to
impugn Dr.. Plumer's personal Integrity, and
to cast upon him the most bitter reproaches,
1t is a time when fiery spirits are peculiarly
given to assume the prerogatiyo Of Him
who searcheth the hearts and trieth the
rens.' Should these remarks chance to fall
under the eye Of any whose conscience
echoes, g am the man," they are likely
to take cf4nce at what we propose to add
f,- their banef. Nevertheless. g wq ~
ter it not for offence, but for truths sake,
they must take it as they please. The re-
mark is this-that there are very many
Thousands of the bes. Christians in the
South, who are Of the opinion (aot easily
to be shaken) that Dr.. Plumer is a man
with rare gifts of nature and of gracs;-
man Of long, and vast, and wonderfully
successful labofs in the gospel ;-and, what
ever his in6rmities or mistakes, q man of
nuimpeachable integrity of purpose and
one whose gooj name will be known and
precious upon the earth, a great many years
af .er the existence OF those, both North and
South, who would cover it with shame,
shall cease to be remembered.
That his troubles should en- / in his bein :
driven from the church, and the Seminary,
both Of which he had built up, is only what
sagaciyus men every where predicted
That his views concerning this war must
have been opposed to tdose Of the North is
plain enough upon the face Of the case
| That he made great sacrifices rather than
yield his position, and pray for the success
Of what he conceived to be wrong, none
can deny. Whatever censure, therefore, is
measured against him for an apparent want
Of outspoken boIdness in his card" let
it be borne in mind that our knowledge Of
al the attending circumstances Is at pre-.
sent imperfect; and tOat his stedfast adj
herence to convictions of duty, at the cost
# great suffering, are not only enough to
shelter him FROM abuse, but to eadtle him
to a sincere respect and sympathy. While
we cannot reirain-as the case is under
stood by us-Srom wishing that in some re-
spects he had done otherwise, who of u
can undertake TO say that, under the same
trials, he woald himself have done better Z