The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-07-08
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAS.
"oLD FASHIONED VIRGINIA BRAG. :"

Pardon, dear Doctor, this curious heading
You know the Rev. J. c. Hiden, of th'
Baptist Church, and having enjoyed the 80
cial intellectual pleasures of his paterna
home, in our Old Dominion, you know thai
he has hereditary right to good deal Of
sense as we'll as candor, and are therefore
not surprised when you read that on recent
visit to the Baptist General Association oi
Virginia, from his adopted home in Whining
ton, N. c., he made speech which abound
ed in keen wit, coed humor, sound sense,
and practical truth, eloquently expressed,
which made most profound impression on
all who heard him." Now l do not admire
this way of setting off ministers, and making
display of them, and holding them in ad
miration because of advantage; for it pro-
duces good deal of vanity and some vexa-
ton of spirit. But though | get it from
secular paper, dare say it came from the
pen of dear Baptist brother, and went into
the Herald-for it is just the Heralds way
of praising. That paper is wont to photo
graph it's preachers after this fashion every
week, taking them up sometimes one after
another, by States. Then, too, it is way
that is becoming very popular with one OF
Our papers, the Christian Observer, as see
by its reports of the General Assembl..
But should have been very much pleased
with Mr.. Hiden's speech, | dare say. think
it was very well for him, as the reporter in
forms US, to tell the Association that sit was
pleasant for an old Virginian to come back
and hear, once more, some real old fashioned
Virginia brag." So now you have the orr
gin of my caption, and l respectfully ask you
to give me space to talk little on this SUBJ
ject for the benefit of my Baptist brethren,
and for the defence of Presbyterians, whom
they do 80 often assail while they brag. If
they could brag without ungrateful attacks
on US, l would still be sorry orthem, but it
might be our duty to let them alone; yet
brotherly love, even then, might require a
little "excellent OIL" We submitted very
quietly to many hard speeches during the
Memorial Canvass, and to those | may
briefly refer, while show that the immense
pretensions of our Baptist brethren, upon
which they seemed to base their right to
look down upon us go very loftily, have,
as shown by the, reports at their late Asso-
citation, an insufficient foundation in fact,
and less in figures. Now that the sni X 4 d
- e;ea. ~s.... 49, Y.
fires Of memorable rhetoric have ceased to!
burn, let US look calmly at the field and con-
slider the real state of the case.
1, l will ask your attention to DR.. Curry's
boast in his opening address at the Associa-
ton. In different language, but with the
same meaning, he brings out his favorite
claim for the Baptists, and charge against
other evangelical denominations, viz: that
the Baptists, and the Baptists alone, require
conversion antecedent to communion in the
Church. When l promised, sometime ago,
to consider this charge, as repeated in DR..
Currys speech at Brooklyn, you suggested,
in note to my article, that DR.. Curry dis
claimed the report of his speech at Brooklyn,
as incorrect Alas my dear sir, wish
your charity had been allowed the privilege
of finding so valid plea for his defence in
respect to this part of the speech, for know
you are unwilling to believe him so Hin
formed, or so capable of Misrepresentation,
as this declaration shows him to be. But he
did soy this thing, and has said it again and
again. At the time mentioned it | had it il
print over his own name, in the ReligiOu'
Herald of October 10Th, 1872, in letter tt
Rev. W. W. Bennett, D. D., dated Septem
Der 14th, 1872, which had been previously
published in the Richmond Christian AdvO
cate | have it before me now. Here ar,
his own words, "No churches but Baptis
churches, so far as l know, require of al
members on admission, profession of con
version"
The substance of this charge has been
characteristic of so many of DR.. Curry
speeches since, that l naturally look for j
whenever the occasion aff)rds him an oppor
, tupity to bring it forward. In his addreS
; at the Association of 1873, in Richmond, h
used the words converted membership" a
one of the peculiar excellencies of his pecu
, liar people. And of all who have heard o
read what DR.. Curry has said on this sub
ject, l do not suppose there is one Baptist i
hundred, who would ever suppose that h
meant anything else but that, in the Presby
terian Church for example, members are ad
g mitted to the communion table, and all tn
privileges of the Church, without any pre-
9 fession of conversion or any examination a
to their knowledge and pety. While tn
truth is, as our Standards show, and as ou
: constant practice, well known to thousand
0 of Baptists, declares, all persons received int
!, the fellowship of the Church as full men
: bers, are examined beforehand under circun
q stances far more favorable to corret
e discovery of their state of mind than the col
2 gregational, embarrassing, and often supel
: fetal examinations of the Baptists 0u
j.. baptized children never sit at the commune
j table till they are capable of discerning th
: Lords body. and have previously been e.