The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-20

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meeting it was evident he was planning a
retreat, or change of front, a thing he had
never been known to do, a thing DR.. Hill
could have done in a few mements without
trouble. The young men perceiving the
perplexity of Mr.. Wilson, at the proposition
of James NJ. Brown, called for a confer
ence or interlocutory meeting. The mat
ter in hand was talked over in diSpassion-
ate way, the principles on which it should
rest were agreed upon; and when it was
brought up for decision, it was decided with
unanimity and no debate.
In reference to this matter, Mr.. Wilson
said to the writer, some little time after, 81
have washed my hands of that affair, and
when am caught again -; it burned my
fingers to very cinders;" intimating the pain
he suffered in being caught defending a
cause, which on fuller information he could
not approve. His moral sensbilities were
very delicate. Itwas probably the only time
his caution was caught mapping. He would
not maneuvre or feign; he could wait his
time, and his opponents mis-moves; but he
always went direct, and just where he
thought the right was.
One more example of him as a Presbyter
may be in place. AS those agitations in the
Church, which eliminated in 1887, were
causing sad anticipations, he kept himself
quiet, affirming that his ground was that
when he entered the ministry he accepted
the Westminster Confession of Faith, in its
plain and accredited meaning; and had seen
no cause of changing his belief, or interpre-
tatiou of the doctrines; and he hoped the
Church would settle on that foundation
As the Spring of 1887 drew near, there
was throughout the country an expression of
opinion that the Church would and ought to
separate unless harmony of action could be
restored. The Presbytery of Winchester
was divided in opinion on some subjects of
controversy; but in the choice of delegates
to the Assembly there was great unanimity
in the vote, after general expression of
opinion. Mr.. Wilson, being asked his coun-
sci in given emergencies expected to take
place, observed that the discussion on doc
trines had been confused and confusing, and
he could not see when the settlement of that
would be, or what line of division could be
agreed upon. But that there was one SUBJ
iect which seemed to him to absorb all others,
and that was the responsibility of the Pres
byterian Church to send the Gospel to the
heather world in her own individual capacity.
There the line could be drawn, and ought to
be at all events and at all hazards.
The Presbyterian Church was divided.
The disposition of the temporalities of the
Church was left to the civil tribunal. The
decision of Judge Rodgers was received by
the Winchester Presbytery just before their
session at Charlestown, Jefferson county,
1889. A vote was taken-would the Pres
bytery abide by that decision? The major
ity was against abiding by that decision.-
The minority, with whom was DR.. Hill, then
on visit, withdrew from the Presbytery.
The citizens were excited, and DR.. Hill was
called on to give publicly the reasons of the
formation of new Presbytery. This he
did to a large assemblage, in the Court
House, in his usual earnest manner. A call
was made for the majority to give their rea
sons and DIR. Wilson was appointed the
spokesman, to meet the audience in the same
house. He made his address in his calm,
self-possessed, gentle manner, proceeding in
way very like his discussions in Presby-
terry; and there the matter ended as to any
discussion. The great majority of the citi-
zens of Charlestown declared themselves
satisfied with DR.. Wilson's exposition; and
there was no division of the Church In that
place,
An elder who was present in 1889 in at
tendance on the Synod of Virginia, holding
it's sessions in Charle8town, some two
years ago, looking round upon the congre-
CATION and looking over their convenienceS
for worship, said, GLOW much DO this peo-
pie owe to Samuel B. Wilson for his speech
in 1S49." A lawyer of Charlestown, who
heard DIR. Hill, and was much inclined to 90
with him in opinion, being asked after he
had heard Wilson, (which way he VENT"
replied, cat first l was going with DR.. Hill,
but since have heard the mild old gentle.
man, 1 90 with him" The question has
been often asked, "Wherein lay the
strength of DR.. Wilson," Without preten-
sion to any particular greatness, he was
nevertheless a strong man; and his opinions
were like laws and immemorial customs
which people generally admitted on hearing
them, without debate. "And why do you
admit his opinions so readily?" Because
he is safe man." That single conviction
decided multitudes of men: Gle is safe
man.
THE QUESTION is, not whether doctrine
is beautiful, but whether it is true. When
we want to go to place we don't ask wheth-
er the road leads through pretty country,
but whether it is the right road, pointed out
by authority-the turnpike road.
WEAR YOUR LEARNING like watch, in
i L ! IL.