The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-21

large audience hanging upon his lips. 1t was not
a refutation of the charges alleged against him
merely, but it was revelation of self denying In
dusry, patient toll, pecuniary sacrifice, and devo-
ton to the interests of the Church and the claims
of duty, of which those who know him BEST
your correspondent is one of them.-had no con-
cepton. These things, forced from him in self
Justification and uttered with blushing face, pro
duced feeling in his audience such as Is seldom
witnessed 1t had been charged, for instance, that
a sum of money sent from Mississippi Presbytery
had not been duly acknowledged, and might not
have been properly appropriated. He showed that
this sum had been sent without definite lnstruc-
tons as to what direction it should take, and had
been credited to Foreign Missions. When letter
was received stating that no acknowledgment OF the
sum had been published in the contributions to
Sustentation, -for which it was designed, con-
tributed, from his own purse the amount to Sus.
tentation, in order that Foreign Missions should
not lose the amount, and then credited the dona-
ton to the very church of which his accuser was
pastor Another remarkable fact was brought out
in the speech, through DR.. Leighton Wilson. 1t
is this The Treasurer of Foreign Missions had
kept the funds of the Mission at two banks. by
the failure of one of them, $4,000 of the amount
was lost Although against the circumstances OF
his brethren, Dr. Woodrow insisted upon reepac,.
ing the amount, declaring that the Church should
never lose cent. by him. And, although man
of very limited means he did this, and nothing
would have been known of the fact but for this
investigation Such facts as these are an honor to
the staunch integrity and sensitive honor which
seem to belong to true Presbyterianism.
"Dr. j. Leighton Wilson followed in character
istically noble speech, in which he said that he
had been assured that his integrity had been
abundantly vindicated in the opinions Of his breth
rem, and he need say nothing concerning himself,
but that he had resolved to stand or fall with his
dear brother and CO aborer, DR.. Woodrow. 1t
he y in fault then au, for we have been insepa-
rabiiy associated in our work. If he is unworthy
TO be the officer of this Assembly, then am; and
if he lays down the work which he has so self
denyingly performed then must |, too, retire into
obscurity, never more to emerge from it into pub
lie duty or office
1t is far more easy to conceive the effect of this
grand vndcation of the Treasurer of Sustentation.
1t is possible for one not present to obtain some
conception Of it by the result.
The writer then speaks of Mr. Cater that he
"ascended the platform" and made "a full retrac-
ton of all that he had said or implied and sat
down in tears, and of what followed on the part
of Prof. Woodrow and other members.
4. This end Of the trouble was very gratifying.
The temper of the Assembly at the close of Prof.
Woodrow and DR.. Wilson's addresses, was inevi-
taby mingled with deep indignation. When, at
subsequent time, the author of the charges pub
licly retracted them, it was instantly softened.
There is hardly doubt that otherwise the paper
reported by the Committee of investigation would
have been passed-the substitute offered by DR..
Hill having been almost unanimously laid on the
table. But now there was a universal disposition
to adopt milder one This is just as it ever
should be. Every one was thankful for this hap
by termination of an exceedingly painful, but, as
things we're, an unavoidable exposition.
s. 1t is to be hoped the result will be beneficial
Among the most wonderful things in this world,
not the least so is to see how the Lord often over
rules the folly, imprudence, and even the wicked
ness of men. (no thanks to them) for his own glory
and the advancement Of his cause. We trust it
will be so here The Christian Observer takes
comfort in the conviction that this whole discus
sion and explanation will do good. j." For one we
have no doubt that it will please merciful Father
so to orerrule it, This affection, though not for
the present joyous but grievous. will nevertheless
afterwards yield the peaceable fruits of righteous
ness to them that are exercised thereby" The
report of the Committee of Investigation was not
adopted but its moral effect will not be lost. The
whole transaction has its lessons, and among them
one ought to be, in the language of that report to
most earnestly caution the editors of our relig-
GUS journals as well as their contributors against
the publication of articles rejecting thus publicly
on the character of those who are acting its ser
;,.a.s, oec..aSe OF TIE injury which might be in.
dicted upon them personally, and upon the Church
generally; and that it reminds and urges on all
who have charges or complaints to make, which if
true would result in the removal of those COM
planned of, that the proper place for making such
charges or complaints is on the floor of the Gen.
eral Assembly"
The right Of discussion and all fair, truthful
criticism Of the conduct of officers in the Church
is one thing-nobody denies this. But reckless,
unfounded, injurious charges are altogether Diff
ferent thing; and the attempt made since the ris-
ing of the Assembly to confound the two (for that
is the true drift Of the remarks, whatever may
have been meant) is to commit the folly of "them
that call evil good, and good evil that put dark.
ness for light, and light for darkness; that put bit
ter for sweet, and sweet for bitter" To claim that
editors of our religious papers must have more IL
cense than other people, and that to hold them to
just responsibility for ISLANDERS upon the charac-
ter Of good men, endangers the liberty of the
press, would be simply absurd. The liberty Of the
press is one thing-its RIGHTEOUSNESS is another
And to claim that the Assembly has no right to
censure them, is equally absurd. The right of
sel-protection is at least equal to the right of as
sault. Itw simply question Of expedency in
the present instance. The moderation of the As
sembly is to be commended. 1t may be hoped
that its marked forbearance will not be misinter-
preted or lost.
Had not this article extended so far, and if space
were allowed, few words might appropriately be
added concerning our Mission in China But as
that subject was not, we believe, directly embraced
in the charges brought against the Secretary and
Treasurer, in the articles referred to, but was
brought up in the Assembly in another way, and
but partially discussed, it does not come within the
scope of our remarks.
Hampden Sidney College has had an unusually
interesting commencement this year. The speech
es from the students seem to have been very sat
isfactory
The address of DR.. Henry G. Alexander before
the literary Societies, e The obligations of the
world to men of letters, is spoken of as very
able production.
The address before the Alumni was delivered by
the Rev. Robert B. White, D. D., of Fauquier
nonntu Vn and uns rnneiund with much nom-