The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-21
For the Central Presbyterian.
Letter from DR.. Dabney.

terrain. 1t was started in the interests oil
the Pan-Presbyterian Alliance, and is re-
cognlzed as, in an informal sense, its or
gan. Its prospectus says, january, 1879, }
q" At the general Council of 1877, strong
feeling was expressed in favor of a
monthly publication by means of which
-. the ends of the Alliance might be
more fully carried out while it
aims at advancing the ends for which the
Alliance was formed the Catholic
Presbyterian will possess no official posi-
ton | wish to give your readers an
item in its history
was requested by the editors to fur
nish an article. This 1 did Following
the example of previous contributor,
| made my topic the renderings of sew
eral important Bible-words in the forth
coming Bible-revision. One of the words
l most briefly touched was douloS, now
rendered servant" The revisers had
themselves announced this very correct
principle that archaisms should be re-
moved. That is, where the meaning of
an English word had correctly represent
ed the original in A. D. 1900, but had
now become obsolete by archaism, and
thus misleading to popular English read
ers; this archaic word should be replaced
by one which would convey to the mod
ern English reader, the true idea Of the
original. For instance, in | Thess. iv =:
10, prevent is used in its archaic sense
OF go before, current in A d, 1000. 1t
is now used to mean hinder" Hence it
had better be replaced by some such word
as "precede." anticipate" or such like.
Approving this rule of revision, called
the Revisers' attention, very briefly and
as a proper case for the application of
their rule, because, while in 1000, it did
mean, what douloS always means, "bonds-
man. or "slave," it means in modern
popular English, eaapLoy6. Studiously
avoiding the faintest allusion to the abo-
htion controversy, 1 only illustrated the
value of the change, by showing the light
1T threw on practical and doctrinal pas
sages of Scripture; as, where ST. Paul
calls himself Christs do1tLos, he implies
that he is Christ's property, bought with
a price; precious truth which is wholly
lost to the reader who sees in Servant of
Christ" only an enpLoye of Christ.
The June No Of the Catholic Pres5y-
terrain contained long and bitter attack
on my views; and the contribution went
out of its way to begin the abolition con-
troversy, (studiousl y excluded by me)
and to hurl the old ISLANDERS against slave
holders. Here are some of it's gems of
accusation. Should the revisers dare
to render doWLoS by "bondsman" (its un-
doubted meaning) &" the Christian public
would scorn it away" 1t would be a
reproach to divine ReveI"-ion to sanction
slavery" &C. Its spirit proscribes it. =
'The relation was violent and unnatural.
The system doomed men, as if things,
chattels. not persons, to absolute subjec-
ton to the will, however despotic or
wicked, of fallible fellow-creature. -
Such were the libels this journal, founded
" to carry out the ends of the Alliance,
published against one of the original, CO.
equal constituents
In due time, wrote to defend my sug-
gestions on revision, and inserted a sim
pie plea of not guilty" against this BIT
ter indictment. Knowing how distaste-
full an abolition discussion might be to
the editors and most readers although
and my Church had been gratuitously as
sailed, and were now entitled by every
rule of righteousness to be fully heard in
defence; [ proposed, still, to practise the
most Christian forbearance, and to say
the very least that truth would allow.
] inserted a simple "plea of not guilty,
in these words.
Southern slavery did not reduce ra-
tional persons to the category of things.
1t did not make the personality the mas
ter's property. 1t did not doom any
slave to an absolute subsection to the
will, however despotic or wicked, of a
fallible fellow creature The only thing
in which the laws gave masters property,
was the labor of their bond8mero, with only
such right of restraint over their persons,
as was necessary to the possession Of
their labor The laws prohibited all
else; and made the bondsmens remain
ing rights, to life, to chastity to comfort
able subsistence to bodily safety, and to
religious liberty, just as sacred as those
Of their masters. Our system did not en-
Join Ignorance. There never was law
in Virginia, forbidding masters to teach
their bondsmen. literature 1 know
whereof l affirm the other description
Of our system is wholly imaginary"
But Southern Christians, when falsely
and fercely accused, are not permitted by
these Allies even to plead not guilty /;