The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-03-19
From the Christian Observer.
a Card from the Rev. Dr.. Dabney.

The submission OF the Revised Book of Disci
pine to the Presbyteres exces an attention which
seems to require me, in justice to myself, to ex.
plain my connection with the committee
When the old Assemblys Committee published
their first report In 1858, [ took the liberty of
dissenting from the changes then proposed My
objections were published in the Southern Presbv-
teridn RevieU of April, 1859, aud 10 the PhiLadeL
phia Presbyterian between December Sd, 1859, and
January Stn, 1860 The latter articles were signed
Conservative the chief points of my opposi-
ton were:
First, the general one; That it was unwise, ex
cept from imperative cause, TO depart from lau-
guage already asceItaned" inits meaning by the
adjudicatlons Of seventy years. and then the fol.
lowing:
Against making the Standards the rule of living
by which dlScphnable offences are to be defued,
In lieu Of the Word OF God;
Against declaring baptz d members exempt from
Judicial discipline, which | regarded as virtual
concession that they are not members;
Against empowering Church courts to demand
explanations OF traduced minister's without
giving them the rights OF trial;
Against the Eases without Process
Against allowing members to withdraw from
Communion at option, on profession OF unbelief:
Against allowing the court appealed from to sit
as members OF higher court, on their own YER
dict;
Aud against granting ti-oSixht to arrest proceed
ngs totally by appeal in ali cases which may be sup
posed to involve grievance, well as In judicial
decisions.
Alter the Southern Assembly resumed the work.
| was placed on It's committee lin 1864 for the
purpose, as L supposed, OF representing the views
ot the opposition l served on it for that end:
exertlng the very small Influence which possessed
against the majority of the committee. to restrain
Or to modify Innovations, and to contribute what
ever OF persplc0lty | could to those amendments
which could approve. This statement expresses
my whole personal agency in the revisal. Having
expressed my views upon the main points thirteen
years ago, and having seen no grounds for chang
ing them, l have remained silent in all the recent
discussion.
In making this statement, it is Just to the work
of the majority OF the committee to add: That
| do not regard all the amendments proposed BY
the revsa at Its present stage, as Objectionable;
that many OF the objections against parts of the
work seem to me gr0Undless, un ust to the good
intentions of the majority of the committee, and
implying much vagueness and misapprehension
of the true nature of Presbyt eriauism that nv
colleagues always listened to every suggestion, not
only with respect, but with conscientious care and
attention; and that believe them all to have
been actuated by the puret desires to respect the
rights of all aud to strengthen and adorn the fab
rio of our Church government There are amend.
ments which would gladly see introduced into
our books Of Government and Discipline. But
believing that there was no practical prospect of
receiving these changes without others, which
would be too heavy price for their adoption,
have been inclined to the conclusion that no change
shall be at present maze, IN the form of wholesale
reVisal. n. Il. DABNEY.