The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-16
DIR. Thornwell as Churchman.

For the testimony to the scriptural character OF
her polity so earnestly and persistently maintained
all his life by DR.. Thornwel, and for the ability
with which he expounded and enforced its claims
in his speeches and writings, our Church should
aud does hold him in the highest honor. His Ca
reer was hardly begun when the Old and New
School controversy had attained its height, which,
as is we'll known, concerned not less with order
than doctrine The part he took in that contro-
versy was earnest and decided The entire abro-
CATION of the Plan of Union with Congregational
lists he heartily approved. 1t had necessarily
wrought damage to the interests of Presbyterian
ism, that being the more positive system of the
two. so that the compromise of principle involved
in the plan must he more injurious to it than to
its more slack and flexible copsrtner in that union.
Then followed two controversies in the bosom of
the Old School Presbyterian Church, in each OF
which our friend bore distinguished part, emit.
Ting him to the confidence of all true Presbyte-
rians. Both questions were vital. The one was
whether the Ruling Elder is a true and proper
Presbyter. Ii he is not, then is not the govern.
ment of the Church In the hands of her representa-
tives-the Teaching and the Ruling Elders, but in
those of high caste, clerical caste, having inter-
ests OF its own distinct from those of the people
DR.. Thornwell knew well that to put the Church
under the government of ministers of the word
alone, was what the Head appointed not He be-.
tive government in the hands of two classes-who
are two in one SENSE and one in another. As to
the question of Boards-the other controversy re-
ferred to-Dr Thornweps doctrine was that the
Church is herself to do the work assigned by her
Lord, and may not appoint another body in her
stead to do it. She may act and she must act
through Executive Committees directly response
BILE to herself, but not through outside organiza-
tons, even though executed by herself He de-
MED that she had the right to create any new
body outside the courts OF the Lord s house. just
as he denied that che could create any new office
bearer outside the elders and deacons set forth in
the Word.
At later period he was appointed to be the
chairman of committee to revise the Book OF
Discipline giving scope at once to his logic and to
his practical wisdom. He saw with clear, pene.
trating, comprehensive glance what the genius of
our system of poity demands in its application to
ali the various cases in which the Church may be
called on to speak with the voice of censure to her
errng children, or to defend the good name Of her
children urjustly accused The proper definition
of what an offence is; the true position and rela-
tions of baptized non communicating members
the right of inquest which the Church courts DOS
sess into the principles and practice of members
and Office bearers the true nature of ordination to
the ministry; the right to demit that and every
other church Office, and even church membership
itself; and the real intent and design of appellate
jurisdiction and the proper regulation and admin.
stration thereof all these and other like points
were admirably set forth in his Revised Discipline
and cogently and conviHcingly expounded and de-
Tended with his eloquent voice and his no less elo.
quent pen. 1t deserves to be here recorded that
when, after fifteen years of discussion, the vote
came to be taken in our Presbyteries upon his re-
vision, (he having for years then been sleeping in
his grave, and the completion of his task having
fallen into other hands, the principles advocated
by him had so far worked themselves into the life,
experience, and appreciation Of our Church, that
out of forty-seven Presbyteries which sent up to
the Assembly a report of their judgment in the
case, about two-thirds of the number expressed
their desire for the adoption of the new Book, al
though seven or eight Of these, out of their tender
regard for the feelings of the opposing Presbyte-
ries, refused to vote positively for it, and it was
consequently lost.
The views which DR.. Thornwell was thus the in
strument of ENGRAVING upon our Churchs theory
of Discipline are sound, and they are scriptural
nor can they die or fade permanently out of view
The day must come when the Presbyterian Church |
IN this country shall cry aloud to have Its SO un-
'Criptural and dangerous definition of what an Of
ence is, and along with this all the other inconsis
ences and blemishes of its present Discipline, re
moved, and when it will in some such way as our |
IGNORED friend proposed provide the proper RENE
lies. -SOuthern Presbyterian.