The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-02-24

tTY, VINO commune TO snow q bitterness ana
vindictiveness of feeling which even men of
the world rebuke.
But is it really true that those who now
give money to assist Southern Institutions
thereby express approval of the rebellion?
Did Henry Ward Beecher express his APP
proval of the rebellion, when he gave money
to this same Washington College? Did any
one think of charging Mr.. Peabody with
approval of the rebellion when he made
his princely donation for Educational pur,
poses to the States recently in rebellion?
Does it not argue narrow-mind and un-
christion spirit in any man, much more in
minister of the Gospel, and still more in
teacher of ministers, thus to criticise such
benefactions, the very design of which was
to cOnciliate the two sections of the country
so sadly alenated, and to aid them in their
deep poverty-the cries of which may never
have reached yOur ears9 Is this any part
of the doctrine taught IN your Seminary?
Is this in accord with the command of Christ
Glove your enemies?" Has the Episcopal
Church of the North expressed its approval
of the rebellion, by inviting the Southern
branch of the church to return and by send
ing men and money to build up churches
and Institutions of learning in the South !?
Is the spirit manifested by you to be fostered
in our Theological Summaries? Are the
young men who 60 from them, to make it
one object of their ministry to keep up this
bitterness. and strife?. If so, well may any
Christian man decline giving money to them.
This proscriptive spirit is not content to vent
itself against the South. 1t is equally in
tolerant toward those "great and good men"
at the North who opposed "the Spring res
olutions," and all who, like them, would
keep the church out of the political strifes
of the times.
But further, you say: "Why should one
alone of all the donors, past, present and to
come, claim and be accorded the right of
control? If the principle is valid and re-
cognized in his case, why not also in theirs ?"
The right of control has never been assumed
by me. The same answer must of course
be given to all, as to one. 1t must be alike
to all as to one question of justice and
right. Mismanagement by the Assembly
and Directors may destroy, instead of build
ing up, any such institution, while the Just
rights of no single contributor can be disre-
garded with impunity. Where the respon-
sibility properly lies, there it must be met.
You have undershot the mark entirely, when
you say "The plain tenor of your letter is,
that had I but thought, felt, spoken and
acted as you supposed I would, or as you
willed | should, the bond Would haze been
paid" And you thereupon volunteer to
gil one entire page of the Presbyter, pro-
fessedly in "self-vindication," but really for
the support of your chair, and in abuse of
me, while, | repeat, the question of my
"dishonored bond, as between the General
Assembly and myself, had been fully dis
cussed and disposed of between Mr.. Williams
and myself before you commenced writing.
1t must be apparent, however, that while
the issue between the General Assembly and
myself was taken upon the action of that
body anterior to your transfer to the chair
of Theology, aOhen that transfer was made,
it might then properly have been, and should
now be, embraced as one of the reasons sohy,
if continued there, the $4,000 shout: be
returned to me and those acting with me-
What fair-minded and impartial minister of
the Gasae, could justify keeping man in
the chair of Theology Clearing my nance
who could be guilty of your demagogical
conduct, in talking about my "grave act as
it respects law and morals '-"pretexts for
such crime "the spelling of Peter, >
"offer to buy sacred rights and powers" -
"such things were called Simony,' etc.
And all this, for what? After our having
been set aside by the Assembly, and relieved
by its action from further responsibility in
connection with it; and after the other side
having utterly failed to obtain the requisite
means for sustaining the institutional the
Financial Agent, of eminent fitness and
excellence, )" as you say, having informed me,
in connection with his application for help,
that he had thoroughly canvassed Illinois,
Ohio and Iowa, and nothing further could
be depended upon from those States, and
that the prospect was not good for collect
ing for the Seminary in Wisconsin or Min,
nesota-after these things, | say, and in
formed as | was also by the Treasurer that
there would not be money enough to get
through the session with; that | should, un-
der such circumstances, have proposed to
"assist in placing it on solid financial basis,
if the General Assembly will provide for
such corps of Professors as the original
one, and a corresponding working majority
of Directors" thus only making right the
eOrOmg done to us-this, you say, was called
Simony!"
Not that thought of selecting you from
office, or even that yOu mould make the issue
NTH the assembly of being sacrificed by that
body. Neither of these things occurred to
me. l had supposed it oven possible that
you might be disposed to let the General
Assembly consider and decide the case with
view to promoting in the best way the best
interests of the church, without reference to
yourself personaly-ready yourself euen to
resign your professorship, should that sac
r4fce be necessary to save the institution or,
in the judgment of the Assembly to do Jus
tice to all concerned.
may not pass unnoticed the further
demagogueism of your reference to "human
freedom g Fort Sumter had fallen >
"slavery and rebellion and such misera-
Bile clap-trap as furnishes the chief staple of
certain depraved political sheets; but | say
again, what church unity can be expected
so long as such agitation is continued p
When are we to look for the return of broth
erly love and Christian fellowship, so long
as those aspiring to fill the high places of
the Church indulge in such wrath and Bit
terness Such demonstra ions of passion
and violence may have been pardonable