The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-03-11

fact that Rev. DR.. J. A. Lefevre had
declined the professorship to which he
had been elected by the Directors o.
Columbia Theological Seminary. We
did not give the reasons for his decli
nature because we were not in full
possession of the facts, and any partia
statement was likely to produce false
impression. The statements made in
some of the religious papers have, we
think, to say the least, been very un
fortunate, and are misleading.
The Southern Presbyterian, in an
nouncing the fact, said:
" 1t is now stated that DR.. Lefevre has declin.
ed on the ground that he cannot take the pledge
required of every Professor in Art. 5, Sec. III
OF the Constitution of the Seminary. This arti-
Gle reads as follows:
Every Professor, when inaugurated shall
publicly subscribe the Confession of Faith and
other standards, agreeably to the following for
mula: In the presence of God and these wit
nesses do solemnly subscribe the Confession OF
Faith, Catechlsms, and other standards of gov
eminent discipline, and worship of the Presby-
terrain Church In the United States, as a lust
summary of the doctrines contained in the Bible,
and promise and engage not to teach directly
or indirectly, any doctrine contrary to this be-
lief, while continue Professor in this Semi
nary"
This bare statement, although true
as far as it goes, could not fail, without
explanation, to do DR.. Lefevre an in
justice.
The st. Louis Presbyterian in COM
menting on it says:
There must be some mistake. DR.. Lefevre,
as a minister of our Church, is already under
the VOW prescribed by the above article If he
can consclentously retain his place in our min
lstry, there must be some other reason than that
stated for his declining the call to the chair in
Columbia"
The Christian Observer takes much
the same view of the matter, and says
the pledge required by the constitution
OF the Seminary els simply a repeti-
ton, not in words, but in substance, of
the ordination VOW Of every Presbyte-
rian minister" And that if the state.
ment Of reason assigned for DIR. LIE
fevre's declinature "were credited it
would do irreparable harm to the
Doctors reputation" Those who are
acquainted with DR.. Lefevre know him
to be thoroughly conscientious man
and thorough Presbyterian-a little
too scrupulous, perhaps, in some par
ticulars. Ii. is well known that he was
opposed to the adoption Of the revised
" Book of Church Order" He dissent
ed particularly from the provisions
which allow-(ist) communicates and
"no others" to vote in the election of a
pastor; (2d) the demission of the min
isterial office; $50 the transfer of a
communicates NAME on confession of
an unregenerate heart, to the roll of
non-communicating members, without
censure. In these views many others
in the Church sympathised with him.
AS a professor in the Seminary he
might have been compelled to discuss
these questions.
DR.. Lefevre's scruples were grounded
entirely upon his objections to these
provisions of the "New Book"-obiec-
tions which would not have troubled
the conscience Of some men, but which
to one of his nice conscientiousness,
were sufficient to prevent him from
signing the pledge in the constitution
Of the Seminary. No man does more
sincerely receive and adopt the Con-
fession of Faith of this Church, as con-
tanning the system of doctrine taught
in the holy Scriptures" or does more
heartily "approve of the government
and discipline Of the Presbyterian
Church" in accordance with the pledge
given in his ordination vows.
For our part, we deeply regret his
declinature He is not only an accu-
rate scholar with a mind enriched with
learning but he is every way fitted
for the position to which he was elect
ed, and is as true and as loyal Pres
byterian as can be anywhere found in
the Church.