The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-23
Rev. or. c. m. Toy.

:
.srur srATgmeST or REV. r. n. PRITcHARD, OF
RALEIGH. WRITING FROM ATLANTA. Oh
Hrs TRIBUTE TO TIE CHARACTER OF DIX. I ','
! rBiblieal Recorder I.
The matter. however, which gave tue
trs,s,ees more concern was the fesis nasio ".
Of Professor Toy. After stating tilat nc
h.6 lafa,y become conscious tnat tnere
,rss : S;,y,nence between his views OF tn-
s ~Ss : sng fhose generally held by his
S1rn.hrsn he submitted an elaborate ana
parv able statement OF bis views on this
snhSocf and that the Board might be re-
Iiexsd of embarrassment rendered his re-
sicnaiion. The whole matter was care
faiIr, prayerfully. and, / may add, most
sorrowguliy, considered: and after weigh
ing everything, the Board felt thai there
was nothing left Tor them to do nut TO &C.
cent bis resignation. The Board dn ns~
try DR.. Toy ona
QUESTION OF ORTHODOXY.
We did not even pass JUDGMENT on efc
pappr he presented, but as the custocl'ans
az the interests of the seminar 3. 10 "2ose
care this great enterprise had been com
Enitted by the Baptists OF she SOUTH we ae't
constrained 20 pursue thss course.
While IL does not become me to speak for
the other trustees, feel free as an indiVid-
nal 10 exnress to the Baptists OF North
Carolina the motives which controased my
action. / was their representative, and TO
shem make my report. Il do not regard
DIR. Toy as DENYING the inspiration OF the
Scriptures: on the contrary, he declared
with emphasis his faith In the divinity OF the
Word of God; the diSerence between him
and me--and the Baptists generally-ls not
as TO the fact, but as to the manner and ex-
tent OF inspiration. There are different tbeo-
ries CT inspiration wbich-a man may hoid,
and still be regarded rs an orthodox
Christian; indeed, may say there is no
settled, uniform theory OF inspiration. ana
therefore some latitude fsto be allowed on
the subject. AS Christian, or even pas
tor. DR.. Toy might hold the views he does;
] might not agree with him, but / should
not deem him unworthy to hold that respon-
sible position; but when the question is
put to me, Are you willing that DR.. Toy,
holding these views. should occupy chair
in our Theological Seminary, and hy the
influence Of bis position, the weight OF bis
great learning, and bis
LOVELY CHRISTIAN CHARACTER,
impress his opinions on the young minis
ters OF the. South s' / was in consequence
bound 10 vote No, and never felt in all
nv life a clearer conviction that was doing
my duty than in giving that vote. DR.. Toy
was professor in Baptist seminary-he
was, therefore, to represent Baptist views
OF truth, and it was enough for me to know
that he differed from his brethren on an
important doctrine, that he himself re-
cognized this difference, and that he
confessed the tendency. of his studies aoas
TO an increased divergence OF UierO. and
that he differed on this point from the other
professors of the Seminary, as well rs from
The Baptists generally; this was enough to
satisfy my mind that the interests OF the
seminary demanded that his resignation
should be accepted.
DR.. Toy has been my friend for more
than twenty years. He is one Of the noblest
and purest men have ever seen. ] doubt
whether there is a man OF his age, or in
deed OF any age, in America whose learn
ing is superior to his / love and honor the
man, and it was inexpressibly painful for
me to vote for the severance OF bis cOnnec-
fion with our seminary.
1t is due to Dr.. Toy to say, moreover, that
he acted very honorab]y in this whole mat
ter, and eyinced q spirit of candor which
made it all the more painful to part with
him rs professor. He was declared sound
in Baptist principles, and when asked his
views as to the SD chapter OF Isaiah, was as
sured that while he regarded the chapter rs
fulfilled in the history OF Israel, it was more
fully and gloriouslyiultiicd in the character
of Christ, aud bis friends complained that
the journal and Messenger bad done him
Injustice In It's review Of his paper in the
iS,tnday-Schooi Times. After r,ading the
article in the Times incline to the same
opinion, though it must be confessed that
The statement or his views in that article,
while clear enough as far as they go, are
not so full rs is desirable. ..M