The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-09
Mills RIVER, N. c., Feb LIST. IS

>. TAYLOR MARTIN.
MILLS RIVER, n c., Feb LIST, 81.
Rev. w. T. Richardson, d. d.,
Editor Central PRESBYTERIAN :.
Dear Brother, Yours of Goth ult., is
just to hand. l have to confess that
can conceive of no equitable plea on which
you could deny me hearing in your
columns. Your editorial stated
L. "That scheme which proposes to
abolish all our Secretaries and have only
one salaried officer, common treasurer
for all the Committees would be alto
gether impracticable, and to sustain this
position you gave reasons which assumed
what was not true in regard to the minor
ity report, viz, that it made no other
provision for the performance of those
duties. To correct this erroneous impress
sion, | submitted quotations from the
report showing that in the plan of reform
1t had provided for these duties by re-
handing Education and Home Missions
to the Presbyteries, and reducing and
simplifying the duties pertaining to For
eign Missions and Publication.
ii. In this editorial you made the fol-
iO"ihS SCttelHenI we were present at
the last meeting of the General Assembly
at Charleston, and feel assured that the
radical changes proposed in the minority
report, met with little or no favor" On
this question of fact, l took issue with
you and gave reasons for believing that
you were mistaken. Among other rea-
sons, citing the following facts: Cd That
the Committee on Home Missions recon-
mended the adoption of one of "these
radical changes" .(2) That the commit
tee OF thirteen, one from each Synod, re-
commended the adoption of tqOo of these
radical changes" and the submitting of
the others to the next General Assembly,
and 81 That the General Assembly had
commended the consideration of call of
these radical. changes to the Church,
furnishing printed statements of the op-
posing views on :" this vital question:
III. You further stated this: "The
reports, however, were ordered to be
printed that each minister and church
session might have ample means of infor-
nation as to the opposing views on this
subject, and especially because of that
part of the report which related to the
doctrinal aspects of the question" 1
took issue with you on the implication of
your however" and the statement of
the special reason inducing the Assem-
bly, to print was ?" the doctrinal aspects
OF the question" and I quoted the AS
semblys statement of reasons printed in
the report to show that the Assembly
affirmed that, and approved the informa-
ton because of the magnitude of the
interests involved, and because the AS
sembly considered it question of vital
moment. And now you gravely pro-
pose TO refuse admission to your columns
of these corrections.
You tell me in your letter that you
regarded the report as written with
ability, that you did not oppose the
minority report in all of its features, and
that you referred to only one of its pro-
positions lin saying that it met with lit
tie or no favor
But however foreign it may have been
to your purpose, the fact remains that
the minority report is placed in false
light before the Church. Your editorial
has created an erroneous impression IN
AS to the provisions made in the plan Of
reform. ~ AS to the attitude of the
General Assembly towards this question.
(3) AS to the reasons which induced the
Assembly to commend this question to
the consideration of the Church. What
possible objection can there be to the
correction Of this injurious error which
arrays prejudice against this question
sent to us by the Assembly, antecendent
to its consideration? Neither you nor
| can afford to be satisfied with any thing
less than the exact truth.
If it suit you to make these corrections
yourself, on your own motion, very well.
Far be it from me to desire to thrust
my Communication upon your paper or
before the Church. You must recollect
though that for the discussion Of this
question you are responsible-you made
the issue. You can hardly expect me to
concur in the equity of a decision which
would dsbsr me the right Of reply in