The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-12-21

iudges-nor has he reached yet, the line OF
three core-years-and-ten. "
We give the editor the benefit of this cor
rection, with the hope that he may fill out the
measure of his days. whatever it may be, IN
peace.
Having thus corrected our own mistake, or
blunder, as he is pleased to call it, we use the
reserved right simply to correct mistakes
so far as to say, that we hope he may live long
enough to discover that he never committed a
greater mistake than when he spoke OF an edi-
tor Of this paper az on no has private
grudgc to crafty.
The Ne,o Kocj5 Observer is discussing the
subject Of marriage and divorce
While condemning the publication OF the
details Of secret vice revealed by the newspaper
reports of divorce cases, the Observer says
''But they have brought to light this dreadful
truth, that with the boosted advancement oil
civilization and religion, there is a vast increase
OF crime against the marriage VOWS. Even III
the moral State of Connecticut, the land OF
''steady habits" there such an alarming ad-
vance IN this direction l1at the official records OF
the courts are pronounced incredible when they
report the number OF suits tof divorce. It's no
better if not worse, in the ETY. of New York,
and far worse in many Ger pdrt' OF our couh-
try. If you ask me whs causes tend TO the IN
crease of domestic iniel ties and consequent
divorces l should mention two or three very OBJ
viOus reasons.
The causes mentione ssae. {" lst. Injudi-
cious Marriages." "2l The New Theory Of
Marriage, upon which thewriter remarks:
at is only within s,w years that The new
theory Of the equal right Of married people has
had any hold in the reIsious world None can
have forgotten the amazemcnt with which the
public mind received fact last yintei that
several of our orthoayA psligious journals here
in New York zealously defended work, the de-
sign of which was to reyolutionize the old-fash
Toned ideas of marriage, and abolish marriage
VOWS altogether. 1t came out that the heresy
was intrenching itself in the bosom of tie
church, and ministers the Gospel approved
what all right men and women knew to be las
bad as bad can be" The prevalence Of this
sentiment is at the root Of the evil. The laws OF
marriage are laid down very plainly in the Bible.
The Apostles taught them clearly under Christ.
But thousands of Christians ignore an essential
element of Christian marriage which is that
the husband is the head Of the wife, as Christ
is the head of the Church. Many marriage
ceremonies are perfor1le1 where this principle is
not recognized When love abounds it Is the
secret of harmony 1'he husband is then the
house band as his name imports Where this
principle is not adn.ted, and the rule of the
Gospel is trampled Under foot perpetual strife is
the result alienation often begets separation,
and this is followed if rot preceded by inidelity.
10 doubt or deny -his rule of Christ Is iniidehty
begun"
The third cause pianuoned is, Theatres,
operas and novels. Uader this head the rev
Citations are startling, These novels, and
plays aud operas are breaking down the re-
straints of virtue, and filing the land with the
wrecks of domestic bhss.
The Obse,ver calls attention to the great Con-
gregationa collection, which bya resolution of
the National Congregational Council that as
sembled at Boston in June last, was to be taken
up in all the Congregational churches of the
land, on the Sunday next preceding the amir
versary of the landing Of the pilgrims on Plys
mouth rock--that is, on last Sunday. The.
sum which was set, as the lowest limit to be
raised, was two hu ned thousand dollars the
objea5 is chlscil selklscNnoucy is to
expended chiefly as EST and South.
The Western "a, !. n in publishing the
action Of Fayettey7i s., slytery on the sub
ject of re-unicn, si
q ,slllsl,e-1,ess,ssel ihe-only difficulties
in the way of reunion ne Toned are the deliy.
erances Of tho last Assem- y. Nothing is said
Of the deliverances male H., previous years"
A writerin the Coplao0, 1eahh having charg-
ed the Western PresGa2a with the inconsis-
Cency OF one of It's isotJrs, Rev. b. p. Hum
phrey, in condemning the sction of the Assem-
bly, in SCI, and sustaining it in 1865, he de-
tends himself by saying
"No doubt we have held, and do now hold
that it was the duty of the General Assembly to
pronounce the Southern rebellion sin against
God, and to urge all Presbyterians IN the Gdher-
ing States to support the Federal Government in
its efforts to protect the life of the nation. But
at Harrodsburg, in 1861, we said, and we now
say, that it was not competent for the General
Assembly to require this from the Presbyterlans
IN the Confederate States.
The action of the Synod of Kentucky at
Harrodsburg in 1861, was in regard to the
Spring Resolutions Of the Assembly of the
same year. a paper was brought in by com
mittee consisting of Drs. R. j, Breckenridge,
w. c. Matthews, and r. W. Lands, which
was as follows 1.-The subject matter of the ac-
ton of the Assembly in the premises, being
purely political, aoas Incompetent to a spiritual
court" Before the vote was taken, DR.. Hum
phrcy offered the following, which was unanim-
ously adopted Which action of the Assem-
bly, Synod judges to be repugaant to the Word
of God, as that Word is Interpreted IN Our
Confession Of Faith OF this action Dr.
Humphrey says: Il" He has never taken back
one word spoken at Harrodsburg."
The Western Presbyterian while rejoicing at
the action Of the Presby. If Nashville, in
refusing at that time to 3r der the question
of their ecclesiastical relations, and believing
that the effect of this action is to hold all its
ministers for the present to the jurisdiction of
the Northern Assembly, is free to say that
the prospects of an immediate restoration Of
our Southern brethren are not as encouraging
as we could wish. Neither the Northern nor
the Southern Church appears to be prepared
for that neasut
Our Corr 3, lenoe.