The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-08-26
EN-Gov. Holden A approves Rcv.A.C. Dix.
On's Course and Gives His Reasons.

On's Course and Gives His Reasons.
Especial Cor. STATE CstEoNIcLRl
one evening, in 1888, as was standing
III the door of the Star Office on Salisbur,
street, | was approached by gentleman oil
humble appearance and manner, and asked
If could tell him where the Rev. Thomas
} Lemay lived | replied | could, and
asked him to walk with me, as | was just
then on my way to his house to supper
This was the great DR.. Caleb Leach, OF
Norfolk, Va. He remained some six weeks
III Raleigh, and preached a number of ser
mons in the old Methodist church, and
taught a class in the Art of Memory. II,
was indeed a great man. He was low in
stature, rather stoop shOuldered, and in
significant in his appearance. But he was
transformed in the pulpit as the fires OF
HIS genius flashed and burned. All his
sermons were of marked ability, but two
of them | shall never forget, one on the
crucifiXion and the other on the day OF
Judgment.
Doctors of Divinity We're then very rare
Whenever | see one, or hear of a new one
wonder if he deserves the honor if hon
or it can be called, as Caleb Leach deserv
ed it, or if he is as modest and as humble
as he was. Caleb Leach was reared Il tai
lor, and had won the distinction by intense
study and by his pious walk. He had be
come a king in the domain of mind Fifty
years ago Doctors of Divinity were very
scarce, as | have just said; now, they are
almost as plentiful as Majors and Colonels
| remember how, a few years since, | was
shocked and hurt by taking up paper
and seeing a heading, "Dr. Matthew +
Yates" Plain Matthew T. Yates, and plail
Calvin II. Wiley, and plain A. G. Dixon
contain greatly more beauty and pow
er. How would ii sound to say Simon
Peter, u. d., or John Mark, ID. d., OIL
Right Reverend John Bunyan, or Charles
ii. Spurgeon, ID. D., and IL d
In your last issue You notice the fact
that the title of d. d. has been refused b,
Rev. A. G. Dixon, of Baltimore. This is
just what Rev. Albert Barnes, of Philadel
phia, did, and no was and still is called
Doctor Barnes Few men have lived who
have done more for the cause Of Christ
than Albert Barnes. In his notes on Mat
thew Mr.. Barnes says:
Rabbi. This word literally signifies
great 1t was title given to eminent
teachers of the law among the Jews; a title
of honor and dignity, denoting authority
and ability to teach. They We're gratiiied
with such titles, and wished it given tC
themselves as denoting superiority. Every
time it was given to them it implied their
superiority to the persons who used it and
they We're fond, therefore, Of hearing il
often applied to them. There were three
titles IN use among the Jews-Rab, Rabbi
and misunderstanding different degrees
of learning and ability, as literary degrees
do among US.
Be not ye, etc. Jesus forbade his dis
ciples to seek such titles of distinction
The reason which he gave was that he was
himself their Master and Teacher. They
were on a level; they were to be equal il
authority; they were brethren and they
should neither covet nor receive title
which implied either an elevation of one
above another, or which appeared to in
fringe on the absolute right Of the Saviour
10 be their only Teacher and Master. The
direction here IS an express command tc
his disciples not to receive such a title OF
distinction. They were not to cOvet it
they were not to seek it, they were not tC
do anything that implied a wish or a will
ingness that it should he appended to their
names. Everything which would tend tC
make n distinction among them or destroy
their parity-everything which would lead
the world to suppose that there were ranks
and grades among them as ministers, they
were to avoid 1t is to be observed that
The command is that they were not to re
ceive the title-''Re not ye called Rabbi.
The Saviour did not forbid them giving
the title TO others when it was customary
or not regarded as improper Comp. Acts
XVI 25), but they were not to receive it.
1t was to be unknown among them. This
title corresponds with the title, doctor
of Divinity" as applied to ministers Of the
Gospel; and SO far as | can see, the spirit
of the Savour's command is violated by
the reception of such a title, as really a:
| it would have been by their being calleC
| Rabbi. 1t makes a distinction among min
listers. 1t tends to engender pride and {
sense of superiority in those who obtain it
and envy and a sense of inferiority il
| those who do not and the whole spirit ant
| tendency Of it is contrary to the 'simplici
| ty that is in Christ.
The text commented Oh by Mr.. Barnes
is as follows: Sth verse, 23rd chapter o
Matthew, But be not ye called Rabbi; fol
one is your Master, even Christ; and al
We are brethren" W. W. HOLDEN.