The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-31

this subject proceed largely from an i'm
perfect development of the Christian con-
seriousness, and from an inadequate grasp
ing of what is meant by the spiritual
rest . of the Sabbath day. 1t does not
proceed altogether from this, because
Christians may get into a tangle about
the abrogation of the Jewish law, the
change of the Sabbath into the Lord s
Day, and the practice of the Church
down to the ripper development of the
principles of the Reformation, which
found its expression in the standards of
the great Westminster Assembly.
We had a right to declare our convic-
ton that Mr.. Moore's treatment of this
subject proceeded from an unregulated
and undisciplined mind and from an in
adequate realization of the full signifi-
canoe of the Christian Sabbath. We had
no wish to proclaim this conviction, but
1t was necessary in attempting to do
away with the impression which his
teachings had made, to indicate our be-
lief that this was the explanation of the
views which he had adopted as to the
character of this day Whenever man
sets himself up as teacher Especially if
such a man commands the confidence of
the public, If he proceeds to teach PERM
cious doctrines, it is strictly legitimate to
challenge his competency to instruct If
you can show that he is incompetent, then
those who seek to be instructed will not
give weight to his opinions But if it be
conceded that he is thoroughly informed,
and at the same time a sound thinker.
and we'll qualified in every way to pro-
nounce judgment, then the people will
probably accept his conclusions. If he
really Is all this, of course it IS your duty
to say so. But if, on the other hand, he
is not thus entitled and authorized to lay
down the law, then it becomes the duty
of one who is criticising his utterances, to
express this opinion The people of Gov
lngton regarded Mr.. Moore as a compe-
tent and impartial Judge in this matter
they are not able to investigate for them
selves; he was really delivering Judi
cial opinion; he held the attitude of an
expert; all that we have done was to
deny his right to speak in this capacity.
We by no means intend to question his
intellectual activity, the brightness of his
talents, or anything of that sort, about
which we are not informed. High intel .
lectual endowments, culture, and the
like are entirely consistent with the want
of healthy mental vigor, with the alb
sence of sound judgment and aoiSdona,
with the want Of the faculty to sift and
weigh evidence, and to act discreetly ;
the want of one or more of these qualities
was all that we conjectured (for we did
not speak positively to be the matter
with Mr.. Moore, and this we inferred
only from his conduct in this affair, and
the character of his sermon, in which he
dealt a serious blow to an institution
deemed sacred by the Church of which he
is minister, while declaring that his
mind had not reached any clear and set
tied convictions about it
Finally, Mr.. Moore says the article in
this paper was unworthy of the clerical
character of one of the editors, etc, Now
it seems to us the unclerical'' feature in
this matter lies in this, that Mr.. Moore.
as a minister of the Presbyterian Church.
taught in this sermon a doctrine in con
llct with articles VII and VIII of the
2lst chapter of the Confession of Faith
which he promised to uphold and teach
when he was licensed.
He says in his card in the DisDatcb
that his friends in Richmond "may have
been grieved and surprised" at our article
1t was not Our article which grieved and
surprised them; it was something else
The report of the sermon was sent to Us
with the remark that the good people il,
Covlngton and Cincinnati were grieved
at the sermon, and that the saloon men
and the anti-Sabbath men applauded it
THE last issue of the Religious Herald
of This citv announce III Dr. TT TT