The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-11-01

thought that the spiritual condition OF an
congregation was materially improved b.
reading some religious paper; and he though
that the recommendation OF this venerabl
court might be ofservice in inducing man.
to take one. One of his reasons for com
mending this paper was that it was the onl.
Presbyterian journal published within ou
bounds. He did not intend to commit tn
Synod to all the views of the editor of th'
Central, but merely to give the appreciation
of this court to the general work of thii
journal.
Rev. Mr.. Crawford called the attention o.
Synod to the Young Virginian, monthly
paper published by Rev. W. T. Price, of the
Valley. He did not make an amendment tt
that effect, but hoped the paper would be
sustained
Rev. T. b. Peck, d. d., expressed his
high estimate of the ability of the Central
Presbyterian, especially in upholding the po'
sition of the Southern Presbyterian Church
He had no difficulty as regards the editor or
the character of the paper, both of which he
could commend in the highest terms. He,
however objected to the resolutions proposed
first, because the Synod had no authority
to take cognizance of matter of this kind.
This journal was not under its control, but
was private property. However great his
confidence in the stability of its editor, it was
10 the nature of things possible that his opin-
ions might materially change before another
year, and what corrective could the Synod
have? In the next place the Christian Oh
server and other papers circulated among the
people of our Synod, and it was inexpedient
to make discrimination. If there is to be
any endorsement it should come from the
Presbytery within which it is conducted
David Comfort, ruling elder, said that no
one holds in higher estimation this paper
than himself, and that he very seldom dis
sented from the opinions expressed by the
editor, and yet herhought the nearer We kept
to our legitimate work the less likely we were
to get into trouble. The Central Presbyte-
rian did not need this support. Let each pa
per stand on it's own merit
Rev. B. III. Smith, d. d., said as to the
power of Synod, it had in 1870 recommend
ed Hsmpden Sidney College in more explicit
terms. The Synod had frequently COM
mended papers before. The General Assem-
bly,, Synods, and Presbyteries frequently
made delverances beyond mere spiritual con
Germs. We settle the secular matters Of Pub.
lication and of Theological Seminaries. If
the Central is secular, so are they. If the
President of Hsmpden Sidney College can
be sustained, why cannot another ordained
minister belonging to your own Synod, and
publishing the only paper of the kind within
your bounds, and devoting his whole time to
the support and defence of the principles
which you hold? This is the rival of no pa
per. If it were my own case, and my work
could not be recommended, then l would GER
tainly quit it.
Rev. DR.. Bullock said his first purpose
was to vote against the paper, not because
he underestimsted the Importance of the OBJ
iect aimed at or the value of the Central
Presbyterian, but on some other grounds
Now, however, he intended to vote for it.
He did not, of course, aeree With all of DR..
Browns views. He night raise various OBJ.
iections. There was the Revised Book for
one thing. Again, the Central did not 60 quite
as far as he did for " fraternal relations. -
And some thought he was not as careful to
pay compliments around to his brethren as
would be agreeable to many of them, &C.,
&c. 1t is due to DR.. Bullock and proper
understanding of these criticisms, to state that
they we're offered in vein Of friendly pleas.
antry, which none could apr sciate more than
the subject of them.-Cen. Pres. But what
of thatY Suppose he does sometimes put
me out of temper because don't agree with
him. Is it the chief end Of an editor to plant
ly please everybody? We know we can trust
him as true and tried man; and l know
the opinions of that paper on Church ques-
tions are more regarded among Northern
Presbyterians than those of any other paper
in our connection. (Dr. Bullock sustained
this by quoting remarks he had heard from
that source.)
Mr.. Blakey, of Charlottesville, thought
the Synod had unquestionably the power to
pass these resolutions. Suppose all our peo-
pie were taking some heretical paper, would
the Synod not have power to advise against
it? And if SO, has it not the power to recon-
mend good paper? 1t has been argued
that we should not endorse the paper because
we do not know what it may advocate within
the next year. Neither do we know what
the Publication Committee will issue within
the year; but do We not trust and endorse
them? And 80 cannot We endorse the Gen.
trail Presbyterian, which in the past has been
true to all our principles !? The Centra
Presbyterian has been a power in our Synod
and power for good. 1t has been leader
in our conflicts, and has never Lost victory
Governor j. L. Marye said he was sur
prised that there was shadow of opposition
to those resolutions. He would 60 still fur
ther, and advocate a resolution calling OF
our pastors to commend it to the people,
Talk about secularity He never saw {
cleaner paper; and its editor had lost hun
dreds of dollars because he steadfastly re
fused to insert advertisements with which
many other papers abound. We cannot &c
along without this weekly paper. Is tn
) Synod prepared for this state of things
that paper conducted with distiDguishe'
ability, by an amable, beloved, approves
: member of this body, as strictly religious il
: its character as any paper he ever saw, an
the only paper published withia our bounds
is still journal which it is not proper for
9 to recommend to our people? He proteste
against any such doctrine. He maintaine
8 that the Synod had the constitutional righ
to pass these resolutions; and replied to th
argument of DR.. Peck that we cannot tel
: what the paper may be in the future. W
endorse it, he said, as We do every mini'ta
y in our onnection-from our knowledge c
: the past and of the present. If it's characte
; is changed 50 as to become unworthy OF er
!. dorsation it will be in the power of the Syno
to withdraw its approval.
, | l. Al ne