The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-29
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Dissatisfied Reviewer.

have had the pleasure of reading the
July number of the Southern P,eS6yte-
RAN Review. According to custom, it,
contains an extended notice of our last
General Assembly, the article on that
subject bearing the signature of the Rev
John B. Adger, D. D. 1t seems only
right and fair when one feels himself
called to criticise prominently so many
persons and things, that it should not be,
as sometimes witnessed with condemna-
ton, under mask Dr. Adger has
shown, in this article the courage of
his convictions by giving his proper
name, and is thereby the more entitled
to that Of any who may think proper to
review the reviewer.
1t may be said in the outset, as a gen
eral remark upon the article referred to,
that the mind of the writer seems to have
been in mixed condition-somewha
pleased with the Assembly, but at the
same time good deal not pleased. 1--WE
have no hesitation in saying that the AS
sembly of 1880 has deserved well of the
Church. In the excellent qualities of
patience, good temper and conservatism,
it was surpassed by none of. its predeces-
sors whose sessions we have had oppor-
tunity to witness" These opening sem
fences seem to promise a cheerful review
of our affairs, but its progress is a disap-
polntment When Dr. Talmage was un-
der trial some one asked witness if he
(the Doctor) was not very eccentric
man. He answered that DR.. Talmage
had once remarked concerning himself
that he was "borm an i7,noUat5o7s." So
there are some people who seem to have
been born in state of dissatisfaction,
and it seems pity they have never been
able to get out of " the misery of that es-
tate whereinto. they fell
As might be expected our author is in
state of peculiar discomfort about our
Executive Committees. Their reports,
he admits, indicate some improvement
on the last years showing" but he is
dissatisfied with our present system,
though the Church is left without the
revelation and wisdom of his own. After
all he is not sure, but is only inclined
to the opinion that our present system
has about attained its development, and
will henceforth only grow as the Church
expands, If this surmise" is we'll
founded, the prospect is dismal enough,
and a revolution from foundation to tur-
ret is the only thing to be thought Of
Butwe come to particulars. The COM
no5ttee Of Education is com plimented, but
straightway strong doubts are intimated
as to the whole system, the benefits of
radical change are intimated, though
after all, the doubter seems to be rather
doubtful of his own doubts.
"The report on Foreign Missions ex-
hibits two favorable features in
crease of the funds contributed, and "a
larger number of hopeful conversions than
ever before presented. Now that does
look encouraging: $4,000 were raised,
but the blight of worm is at the root of
that tree. Alarming to tell, $4,000 of
that sum was raised by I'll Missionary
Associations of ladies' And to complete
the statement it may be added that 232
Sabbath Schools are chargeable with rails
ing about S6,0OO-both together making
up about one-third of the whole. Our
Secretaries and the Committee have la
bored hard in promoting these efficient
associations of pious women and of chill
dren. Pastors and elders have consid-
cred them safe, proper, useful, beautiful
modes of cooperation, and all within,
and under the control of, the Church, not
outside of it. But to our critics eye it
all avails nothing it is but little better
than Mordecai sitting in the kings gate.
He has indeed abstained from any CON
demnation of the children, not even al
luding specifically to them. But alas for
those women who labor among usl"
He has several times before this made a
grievous cutlery about the peril they are
bringing upon the Church, and now he
tells us that to his "poor mind the logi-
cal outcome is just the Women Boards "
at the North, which is an abomination
The report on Home Missions meets
with considerable commentator, but
nevertheless the brothers mind is evil
IDENTIFY in a frame of Decentralization, "
as saith John Owen. For one thing the
Committee was not removed to ST. Louis
as the Doctor thinks it ought to have
been, and would have been "but for an
impression made by casual remarks in
terposed by DIR. Wilson that he was op-
posed to it." Well, if DR.. Wilson, our
Secretary, had chosen to express freely
his opinion, he certainly had as much
right to do 80 as DR.. Adger, who feels at
liberty to say Of himself, " we favored the
removal at Charleston. 1t is in order
L. Il Il r II