The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-19

the last General Assembly, as recorded
on page Is of its minutes:
"To the several overtures on the
subject Of the evolution of man, Sent
up by the presbyteries, the Genera
Assembly returns n e as follows
namely:
"The church remains at this time
sincerely convinced that theScriptures
as truly and authoritatively ex.
pounded in our confession of faitl
and chsiechisms, teach
"Thst Adams body was directly
fashioned by Almighty God without
any natural animal parentags of any
kind, out of matter previously created
from nothing,
sand tat any doctrine at variance
Herewith is a dangerous error, mas
much as in the methods of interpret.
ing Scripture it mus demand, and il
the consequences which by fair impli,
cation it will involve, it will lead tc
the denial of doctrines fundamental
to the faith"
Therefore the undersigned mem.
beers Of the synod do respectfully enter
their protest against such action OF the
synod for these reasons:
First-That in attempting to inter.
pret the Holy Word of God the assem-
oily has herein gone beyond the Word
as written, in that it states dogmat.
ically what the Scriptures do not re-
veal, either expressly or by good and
necessary inference, namely, the pre-
else mode in which Almighty power
act; d in producing the body OF Adam
and the precise form of pre-sxisting
mater out Of which it pleased God TO
create that body. The ASSEMBLIES in
terpretation of Gods Word positively
asserts ~ that Almighty power acted
Immediately" that is instantaneous
ly, without lapse Of time, or any pro-
gressive steps; and (2) that the pre-
existing matter used by the creative
power was inorganic, non-vitalized
matter, as Disseminated from matter
existing in a living form. Whereas,
in point of fact, all that Gods Word
reveas touching the creation of
Adams body is: ~ That it YVES pro.
duced by Gods almighty power, aud
(2) that in so creating it God was
pleased, of His own free will, to use
pre.existing matter, as may be seen
from a diligent comparison of these
texts, among many othsIs: Gsp. ii, 7;
Feel. xii, Z; Psa. cxxxix, 1916; Job
K, $40; lisa. xiii, l; Job xxxiii, 6.
Secondly-B :csuse in thus attempt
ing to interpret Scripture the assem-
bly, has indirectly, but inevitably,
br ught the church and the Holy
Bible also into unnecessary collision
with a scientific opinion or theory
which is being more and more widely
accepted among educated people, and
especially the youths OF our congrega-
tious and Of the world. And such
collision, bsing unnecessary, is to be
deplored: First, because it must re-
suit 10 the rejection of the B BILE by
increasing numbers OF cultivated pep
Pile; aud, secondly, because it may
lead to a humiliating defeat of the
church, as has b. en- the case in al.
most every similar occasion for the
past 800 years.
WHEREAS, Also, the synod approved
the following action of the assembly,
recorded in its minutes on page Al {:
"Resolyed, That whereas the General
Assembly is Convinced that the Rev.
James Woodrow, ID one of the pro.
fessors in Columbia Theological Semi
nary, holds views repugnsnt to the
Werd OF God and to our confession of
faith, as appears both by his address
published in the Southern Presbyterian
Review for July, 1884, and in other
publications and by his statements
made upon the floor of this assembly,
therefore this assembly does here
by, in it's action OF yesterday in
regard to the oversight OF
theological seminaries, earnestly
recommend to the synods of South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and OF
South Georgia and Florida, which di-
rect and control the said seminary, to
dismiss the said Rev. James Woodrow,
d D as a professor in the said semi
nary, and TO appoint another in his
place, and speedily to take such steps
as in their judgment will be best
adapted to restore this seminary to the
confidence of the church."
Therefore, we, the undersigned, do
enter respectful protest, for the
reasons which r hereunto ap'
pended:
l. That such action is unconstitu.
tional and illegal; for, while it is true
that the law authorizes the assembly
"to bear testimony against error in
doctrine and immortality in Practice
injuriouely affecting the church
Form OF Government, chap. ", Sec
vi, VI, this action goes far beyond any
such provision, in that it not only
asserts the existence OF error, but
names a particular individual, thereby
alleging matters of fact with regard tC
him that can be legally sscertained
only by a judicial inquiry, with itt
carefully guarded steps OF a writer
charge, with specifications, testimony
taken under oath, argument hearC
thereupon, and a sentence duly re
corded. And in thus going beyond
the law the assembly has inflicted
"~censure" within the meaning Of th'
Book of Discipline, thereby attaintiUt
a presbyter's reputation without Civ
ing him a legal trial"
2. This illegal action by the Assem-
bly, was wholly inexpedient, unneces
sary and unjust, in that il anticipate.
the regular judicial process then pend
ing before a lower court, ss was we
known to all the members Of the IS
eembly and 10 the church at large
The gross irregulsrity of su h a pro
ceeding would be in some degre
paralleled if the judges of a supFem
court were to meet as a conventio
and pass a resolution condemning b
name a prisoner on trial for his lii
before a lower court in the sam
State, thereby throwing the Who'll
weight Of their high official positio
against the prisoner and pledRin
themselves beforehand to convict
the case should come before them o
appeal.
8. And this irregu'arity and injuI
tics was further aggravated by tn
fact that the presbyter thus censure
without trial was at the time the rel
resentstive OF a sovereign pTesbyter,
seated among the members Of the a
sembly as their peer by a legal con
mission duly certified by the clerks
the assembly.