The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-04-04

contemplate any such low standard as
used to obtain among these denomina-
lions, hence that to represent them as
having tried and now abandoning this
plan, is unjust because untrue.
The opponents of the scheme object
again that it will divide our ministry into
classes, and hence violate the principle of
parity, one of the fundamentals of Pres
byterianism.
To which it is answered:
L. That such difference would be only
one of scholarship, not of "order" as
initiating against the parity of the min
istry.
2. That differences fully as great as
any resultant from this scheme do al
ready exist among us.
3. That the line, dividing the higher
and lower according to this objection, is
not line of scholarship but Of huency,
force, originality, natural tact and tai
ents, and the influence, power and popu-
larity derived therefrom that at present
above this imaginary line are found men
who have allowed their scholastic attain.
ments to lapse, while below it are those
whose scholarship is indisputable.
The example of our Saviour, in keep
ing his disciples for three years in train
ing at time when the condition of the
world intensified every plea now urged
for change, is urged as decisively and
conclusively against such change.
To which it is replied:
l. That this example is only in favor
of some training, not at all in favor of
Greek. Hebrew, and Latin.
2. That our Lords disciples, even up
to the time of His cruci6xion, were more
ignorant of the plan of salvation, the de-
sign of His life and death, than the aver
age Sabbath School scholar of our day,
as witness their questions, their rebukes,
and remonstrances, etc., that the whole
burden of His teaching seemed to be to
instruct them in the very first principles
of His spiritual kingdom.
3. 1t is claimed by the aggressive"
men that this example is the rather in
their favor, in that Christ selected His
disciples from men of age, not boys, that
He called them directly from business
life and, with but one exception, from the
unlearned rather than the "liberal pro-
fessions;" and that notwithstanding this,
there Is no hint any where in the gospels
that they were to devote time and atten-
ton to scholastic requirement of any sort.
One writer (and no less man than
DR.. Pitzer, of Washington goes SO far as
to say " Are the qualifications now re-
CURED by the creed Sc'TpturaZ2 If they
are, then we are bound to require them;
if they are not, then we have no right to
require them. Let this question be an
swered directly from the Word of God,
and the yeas can be counted on the
fingers of one armed man."
In answer to the objection that under
the new system the finished classical
scholar would be the exception, and that
preachers would not prosecute study in
the ancient languages
The aggressive men say:
l. That the traditions and preiudices
Of Presbyterianism would be safeguard
in this matter, and would always be an
inducement to all who are able to obtain
classical scholarship, to do so.
z. They ask, what other inducement
is there under our present system They
assert that this is all that stimulates
scholarship now, and maintain that so far
as scholarship in the dead language is
concerned, ten years neglect will put
hOh ~ dCGlCdlly Oh Iu0 level OF eQUlr6
ignorance of them, even though they left
the seminary with considerable attain
ments therein. They assert boldly that
the average pastor ten years out of the
seminary now actually feels incapable of
giving candidate an honest and strict
examination in the requirements of the
book in these matters.
B. They maintain moreover that the
whole matter will be in the power of the
Presbytery and that this body can surely
guard the Church from the abuse of the
provision. So much for the first ground
of change.
2. Disparity in Number of Communi-
cations
The Southern Baptist and Methodist
(white) membership outnumbers ours,
each tiUe to one. Dorchester's work, be-
fore quoted, gives, among other statistics,
tables for 1870 and 1880. During this
period, the Baptists increased their
strength 236,161 the Methodists 233,-
839, the Presbyterians 38,O14 (including
the admission of whole Synod in a
body.)
The reply to this fact is
/. That these denominations have in
creased their membership by running
their Church lines out into the world,
rather than by bringing men into the
Church to live not after the flesh, but
after the spirit"