The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-09-20

this animation now distinctly repeat.
It's not only the verdict of sound COM
mon sense, but it is powerfully confirmed
by the very illustrations used by that
writer in his effort to overthrow it. l
propose now, by legitimate process, to
develop and apply his illustrations
A market man comes to populous
town bringing, in his cart, watermelons,
sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, cabbages
and tomatoes All these are offered for
sale as sound and wholesome and espe-
cially as to the cantaloupes the market
man frequently and blatingly proclaims
that they are sound and wholesome. Now
suppose the town people ascertain by
positive evidence that the cantaloupes
are all rotten and unsound. What will
be the effect on the opinion of the pub
lie as to the rest of the cart-load-the
melons, potatoes, cabbages and toma-
toes? Assuredly a "deep shadow of
doubt and suspicion will be thrown " on
all of them. Buyers will give the whole
of that cart load a wide berth, and steer
clear of them.
Again, a lawyer prepares a written
opinion on complex and important
matter involving many facts and prin-
ciples. And, In that opinion, the law
yer gives fatally erroneous view of the
bearing of very important and leading
judicial case upon the questions at issue.
What then will be the value of all the
rest of his opinion? Not only will a
" deep shadow of doubt and suspicion be
thrown upon il" but, in the view of the
legal profession, the whole opinion will
not be worth the paper it is written on.
Again, clergyman delivers care
fully prepared discourse on the plan Of
salvation as set forth in Holy Scriptures,
and in this discourse the clergyman
adopts and insists on the heresy that the
act of saving faith is IN itself the meri-
torious ground of the sinners justifca-
ton in the sight of God, and not the
righteousness of Christ. Would it be
possible to doubt that this grave error
" casts deep shadow of doubt and sus-
picion upon the rest of the discourse -?
Would it not spoil the ointment as ruin
ously as the "dead flies of Ecclesi-
astes x: l?
Again, historian undertakes to write
a History of the Crusades, and mistakes
entirely the operation of the religious
element in that strange part of the life of
the human race on our earth. Would
not his whole history be held, by com
petent critics, to be worthless for the
purpose for which it was intended, how
ever it might abound in mere facts and
details OF marches and battles?
Thus the writer styling himself Fair
Play by his own Illustrations proves
the truth and soundness of the view he
is seeking to overthrow. Dr. Dabney
nay well cry out in alarm, Save me
from my friends p
In fact this writer has evidently plant
ed himself upon an extravagant and I'M
tenable view of the strength and sound
ness of DIR. Dabney's long article, which
view he expresses In these words: Was
there ever a more adroit attempt to
weaken the effect of mastery expose,
which IN all other respects is unanswer-
able ? Let me seriously assure Fair
Play that his estimate is concurred in
by very few, probably by not hundred
out of the 1854 Presbyters of our
Church. You have yourselves, Messrs.
Editors, in mild but firm protest, de-
clared your non-concurrence And the
central position of that long article
literally its key on which its whole
logical arch rested for support-viz the
position that fraternal relations by dele
gates means, by established historical
significance, a special unity and harmony
of doctrine and ecclesiastical principles
between the churches holding such rela-
tons to each other-this position-this
keystone has been overthrown and bro
ken to pieces by Rev. DR.. DauieS, of
Kentucky, SO that only the crumbling
and rapidly falling parts Of the arch re-
main.
AS to the case of Watson Us. Jones,
your correspondent Fair Play" makes
so many incongruous statements that he
need not assure US Of his present ignor-
ance concerning it. He admits that it's
decision resulted in awarding the pro-
perty to those entitled "in equity" to
it. Yet he says that the final decision
in the Walnut Street church case did not
turn upon the equity of tie matter at
all" Indeed, how has he ascertaine5
that? My own humble opinion is, after an
attentive study of the case, that the very
pith and heart and true equity of the
cause are discussed and established in
the strong perspicuous English in which
Mr. Justice Miller delivered the opinion
Of the court. The side issue, that is the
question of jurisdiction, was swept en-
4. I IL Ell =. $500