The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-19


the purpose Of absorbing US. But tor thls they
would then have cared nothing for it nor would
they care penny for it now.
You say, 1t is no business Of ours to be hector
ing an independent Christian demo minaton, as to
what principles they shall profess. Another on
your side has said that |, to be consistent, must
inspect all the principles OF all the denominations
with whom propose to have relt tons, and require
them to adopt every one of my opinions Are
these anything but evasons? You know that
every man claims as his right and duty to choose
his intimacies for himself. Suppose one whom ne
regards as holding bad principle asks his intimacy.
He will give him to understand that, while he
has no quarrel With him, and no right of dlctaton
over him. yet if he is to eceive him as an intimate,
he must be satisfied as 10 his principles. LIS this
"hectorDg?' IL is precisely what you would do
in faith'uness to your own family and good name.
AS to the other plea: Is the fundamental principle
OF Christ Church but my opinion p Has that
great principle for which DR.. Robinson and SO
many other noble men have been striving for fit
teen years. which great, orthodox Church has In
scribed on her banners, no more validity, no more
weight, no more sacredness, than the opinion Of
one poor mortal like me? The truth here is very
simple. This frsternal correspondence, which We
do not extend to all the bodies which we recognise
a, Christian brethren, is special badge of com
mnnity of religious principles. Ia 1898 our faith
ers and in 1870 We, withdrew it from certain par
ties, not that we unchurched them, but that they
held errors, against which We we're bound to testi
fy. Now when these same parties ask this peculiar
mark Of intimacy md approval, we must ask them
Have you, then, Gsclaimed the error? This is no
dictation it is bit common honesty and consls
tency 1t is not We who meddle with them it Ii
they who NEEDLE with us. If they would not bt
reminded of their erroneous principles, they have
only to let US alne. We give to our testimony
the least obtrusiv,ness which duty allows.
| wish now to point your eye to common fea
ture Of your letterand Of the reply to me contained
in the Central Presbyterian. 1t is, to my view, {
| mournful confirmation of my point. Dr. Girar
deau warned you, that by holding these officia
fraternal relations with the representatives OF on
accusing usurpers on the floor of this Alliance
you would find you were stultifying your testl
mony against then outside the Alliance. You de
muir. But, now s,e You and DR.. Brown, In TIT
attempt to uphoh your consistency, are at onc
betrayed into arguments, which if they prove any
thing, prove that We should 60 into direct relation
with that Assembly, without debating to them, o.
:" hectoring" then, as to the very grounds OF GU
original testimon! against them. DIR. Girardeal
was right,
| You fattered our Assembly, that the floor of thu
Alliance would bea glorious place to bear our tes
timony | remind you that your politeness mus
estop you, as an invited guest from choosing tina
place, to testify against those other invited ant
specially honored guests Of the Alliance, our &C
cusers. Now you say, you do not go there as al
invited guest Indeed This is news to me.
Surmse that it will be news to DR.. McCOsh's orig
inal Committee who invited you news to the Lon
don Presbyterans who invited you to and enter
tanned you in their houses and churches; news t
the Edinburgh Presbyterians, who invite you agaii
in 1871 But might waive this. Do you not, il
going into an alliance, ally yourself With its cOnstit
uent parts. That is, with that one constituen
with whom you should contend, among the others
But We all hold Christian and ministerial com
munion with particular men and churches in tina
Assembly? Just so because | can find man!
good men, who individually do not represent those
usurping and slandering principles If they did
if they were the Thomases, Stautons, and Mont
forts, l. for one, should no more seek their person
al communion, than l would have official relations
with their Assembly.
But you think have bad spirit towards tina
body, that | am stubbornly unforgiving Our &C
cusers now, for purpose, talk very smoothly
That Dr.. Robinson, with whose name they used t
scare their crying babies is now their dear brother
They are amiable and inviting they would lei
BY cones be by-gones But |, naughty man
stand aoof contendipg for the truth as it is in e
sus, thus placing myself in very unenViable con
trast, as to the grace of charity. But pause,
pray, you. Have these men taken single step tt
repair one of the wrongs done my Church and PEG
pie? Have they disclaimed their cruel libels 2
Have they lifted finger to restore to my wofu
country single right or possession OF which theil
libels and spiritual usurpations helped to despoi
usP Not one? Well, am an old fashioned man
that kind of charity is too cheap for me. Fine
words butter no parsnlps."
have not forgotten that which was the point o.
your JUST protest That this Church, by intrudiDG
into ae ar sphere, has made herself responsible
for ali those acts of Cesar, which she ecclesiasti
cally endorses. Has anything happened in the ter
years since their usurpation was perfected tC
amend their position2 The only events know Of
IT,, ftlo
usurpaton Through their chosen secular ally, the
sutiugatiug world-power) to the unutterabe injury
of my brethren, up to this hour. Every clear.
sighted man knows, that should any similar occa.
sion arise for welding similar usurped, spiritual
power in the interests of some other pet political
faction, these eccesastics stand prepared to invade
our consciences again. Indeed, they as good as
tell US, that they cling to the anti scriptura power
for that purpose. This being so, it appears to me
childish for any Southern Christian to be deceived
by the fact that they now speak softly, talk Of re.
Cancellation, and entertain some "rebel" ministers
seductivey in their palatal mansions, enriched at
the expense of the suffering South. Do you ask,
whep, then, will peace be restored? answer; In
one sense it has been peace on my side all the time
[ have had no revenges to practice. have not
even obtruded my testimony against their wrongs,
but have suffered in silence except when they have
compelled me, by this indecent urgency for de.
ceitful reconciliation. have heard the Lord say,
Vengeance is NINE" In that sense, it has been
peace with me all the time, ard will be. But, in
the other sense, my testimony to their being in
the right, land official traternal relations would
mean, in this case, such change of testimony
will be heartily borne, ,ohen they place themselves
IN the right that is to say, when they disclaim
these usurpations against ChriSts crown and these
ISLANDERS against bis saints, in the same mode and
form in which they we're first perpetrated. Ishall
not stultify myself in the pretended interests Of
;s nrirra aaainst the holy mama Of