The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-01-17
PEACE AT LAST


He assures us, in the plainest manner, that
the object of the preliminary resolution which
he himself introduced and which the Assembly
adopted, to insist on retaining all the often
sive language they had ever used toward our
AS emily and Church, in conjunction with the
political questions which agitated the country
during the civil war"
Which is precisely the reverse of the truth
The object of the whole action was to withdraw
every syllable and expression of offensive Lam
guage ever directed toward the Southern As
sembly and church. 1t is fortunate that the
citizen of Pennsylvania who edits the South
Western does not understand or express Southern
opinion. We opposed the explanatory resolu-
ton. not because we supposed that it proposed
to retain anything directed against the past or
present ortbodoxysor Christian character of the
Southern Assembly, was clearly explained
to the Assembly, and understood that it did
not; but because we feared some such misun-
Outstanding of it or misconstructon of it, might
be the result DR.. Johnson said, with the en-
phass of italic letters, in hisarticle in our pa
per, of all those offensive expressions These
were tied up indissolubly with the other
charges, were, in fact the same charges in an
other form, and they aCent doVn together IN the
tide Of our regretfuL resolution Though one
should rise from the dead he could not make it
palmer than that Interior Of Dec. rs.
We hope that the Interior correctly
interprets DR.. Johnson which is not
however, clearly the import of his Ian
guage. DR.. Johnson is pastor in the
city of Chicago (where the Interior is
published), and we judge has intimate
relations with the editors of that paper
The very number of the Interior from
which we make the above extract, has
another editorial paragraph referring to
a visit made to that Office by DR.. John
son. The Interior has, therefore, abun-
dant opportunity to know DR.. Johnson's
views. Can it declare authoritatively
that in the above extract it puts the in
depreciation on his letter which he meant
that it should bear?
If the construction of the Interior il
correct, it is perfectly satisfactory to us,
and must be to the whole Southern
Church.-Centrol Presbyterian of Jan. g.
We have now the Interior of January
II, with an answer to our inquiry. Here
is the answer:
The Central Presbyterian (Richmond) quoted
our reply to the South Western New 0rleans)
in which. speaking of the political deliverances
which were aimed at the orthodoxy and Chris
tian character of the Southern Church and AS
semblies, we said
DIR. Johnson said, with the emphasis of italic
letters, in his article in paper, of all these
offensive expressions: These were tied mp in
dissolubly with the other charges, were, in fact,
the same charge in another FORM and thea iUent
do0n together IN the tide of our regretf resol,t-
ton" Though one should rise from the dead
he could not III; Ike it palmer than that
And the Central Presbyterian remarks:
The Interior has abundant opportunity to
know Dr. JOhnson's views. Can II declare au-
thoritatively that in the above extract 1t prints
the Interpretation on his letter which he Inei mt
that it should bear If the construction of
The Interior is correct it is perfectly satisfactory
to us, and must be to the whole Southern
Church.
TIE article quoted by the Central Presbyterian.
and which it declares satisfactory, was read to
DR.. Johnson before publishing, and his reply
was Certainly, that is right" And now, he
having read this article to the close of the quo
tation from our contemporary, above given The
Interior is authorized by DR.. Johnson to say
that, if in expressing convictions on loyalty
and rebellion, implications were cast upon the
Southern Church or Assembly, as such, he I'M
derstands that those imputations went down,
with the direct charges of schism and blasphe-
my " in the tide of our regretful resolution"
Interior Of January II.
This is all that is needed, and sets this
vexed matter at rest. 1t will be observed
that in the paragraph which we quoted
from the Interior of December 18th, that
paper said {: 1.-THE object of the whole
action was to withdraw every syllable
and expression of offensive language ever
directed towards the Southern Assembly
and Church." This was sweeping and
unqualified, and covered the whole case.
At this point we asked the Interior il
it could authoritatively declare that DR..
johnson put the same Interpretation on
his letter that the Interior did
The interior now comes back and says,
YES. The article quoted by the Gen.
trail Presbyterian, and which it declares
satisfactory, was read to DR.. johnson be-
fore publishing, and his reply was, Ger
tainly, that is right" The interior
goes on and adds more "The interior
is authorised by DR.. johnson to say, that,
if in expressing convictions on loyalty
and rebellion, implications were cast upon
the Southern Church or Assembly, az
such, he understands that those imputa-
tons went down, with the direct charges
of cbienn and bloopbaro1, - 4bo al IL