The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-07
For the Central Presbyterian.
Signals Insufficient Reply.


"Sigma" claims that he made no mis-
takes, but
l. Surely he undertook to declare the
origin and give the history of the Re-
vision but grievously erred in so doing.
2. He says his illusions to Col. Pres
ton were all of them quite compliment
tary." Was it complimentary to de-
scribe Col. Preston, as the author of a
project fatty put down" by the Assem-
bly,, and of another effort of the same
sort which also was "squelched?" Was
it complimentary to make the unjust
charge that Col. Preston wanted a
" Prayer Book for our church," Is it
complimentary now to say that he land
those who think with him) wish forms
which should indeed be optional at first,
but only when things get ripe to be
enacted as compulsory?'
5. He says we have our liberty" now
and have always had it. But can any
one of US legitimately introduce of his
own motion changes in public worship?
No individual minister should act in any
such matter without the previous sane
ton of the Church.
4. Signals" personalities in his first
article were very offensive. His numer-
Gus, excellent, and worthy brethren who
are dissatisfied with the boldness that
often disfgures our prayers in public
ought not now again to be ridiculed by
him as lame men that need crutcheS
Why can he not argue without resort to
such offensive sneers? He objects to the
introduction of any forms into our Direc-
tory. Many as good and wise men as
he strongly favor it. Are their prefer
ences not entitled to as much considera-
ton as his?
5. Stigma" did not mean any dis
respect, he says, to Lexington Presby-
terry, but admitting now that their over
ture was not "squelched" but respect
fully and reasonably answered, as it well
deserved to be, he takes occasion to sig
Nifty that it was "laid by as nice hook
to hang revision on" for the next year.
Now why this fresh insinuation that is so
coarse and so unjust?
g. This venerable father declares that
he never said the Assembly has no
power to originate changes. But GER
tainly the whole drift of what he said
was to show that the Assembly may not
act on any such matters without first
"squarely" asking the approval of the
individual Presbyteries And he insists
on this now. Revisions of our rules
must not originate in the higher court
without overtures from some Presbyte-
ries, say six at least. Now 1 repeat, that
the father is astray in his Presbyterian
ism. The Assembly is not dependent on
the separate and single Judgment of six
or sixteen Presbyteries. Commissioners
from all the Presbyteries must meet to-
gether and hear one another reason.
That is the Presbyterian idea, and it is a
fundamental idea in all representative
government.
And what if six Presbyteries did over
ture to stop revising the Directory-did
not ten times six give practical proof
that they approve the work of revision
by taking part in it?
7. AS father in our Israel whose
blood has had time to cool in his veins
and who has no doubt had experience of
many trials in his long race and who has
made much progress, Of course, in the
divine life, has "Sigma" no word of
apology to utter in your columns for the
offensive epithets cast by him at his
brethren who are so unfortunate as TO
differ with him about the use of forms of
prayer? OM1KRoN.
There is a good point in the story