The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-22
The Title Reverend.
By Josiah w. Leeds.


his people; He hath commanded his
covenant forever; holy and reverend
is his name" OF all ecclesiastical dig
nitaries the Pope alone, theself-elected
vicar of Christ, lays claim to the title
of "Holiness :" but under what war
rant do modern ministers, making no
claim to the possession of infallibility,
arrogate to themselves the title of
"Reverend?" docs it accord with
the meekness and lowliness Of heart
which Christ enjoins OH his followers,
that any of these should voluntarily
assume tl-is lofty name which is pre-
rogative Of Omnipotcnce?
The title was unknown during the
primative Christian centuries, and, in
deed, appears to have been generally
adopted only within the last two hun
dred years. 1t was taken up by the
Episcopacy as well as by the Roman
lists, but was denied to the Dissenters,
with whom, however, it came into
general use. Nevertheless, the
Friends, the Mennonities and prob
ably few other denominations, (nu-
merically smalD of German dervia-
ton, are pronounced in the disuse OF
it. Concering the origin Of the term
the following item from "Notes and
Queries" First Series, Vol. VI, No.
1901 may he Of interest:
During the seventeenth century the
word reverend was usually coupled
with Iearned,' as in the following
cases Vaughan, in his Life Of DIR.
Jackson thus commences it: Being
earnestly desired to deliver some char
a. Lon n1 Ilr
Jackson etc. Bishop Patrick, too, il.
his 'Annotations on Solomon's Song,
viii I, quotes the reverend and learn
ed DR.. Hammond And beneath the
portrait of John Kettlewell pretiXed
to his work OH the Apostles Greed we
read that it is "The true efiigy TO their
names in their works. 1t is clearly a
title of modern usage, neither sane
toned nor required by any law or can
on, and from the growing inconven-
fences that attend its use it may the
more easily be discontinued if judged
necessary"
"Mention is only made of the fact,
in a recent number of the same Pc
riodical Fifth Series, Vol. w that
upon the Judicial Court of the Privy
Council of Great Britain having de-
cided in 1875 that reverend" is not @
peculiar title of Office or dignity, but
one of courtesy, several of the clerical
subscribers to one of the English pa
pers desired that tile same might be
sent them without the prefix REV" "
to their names.
There are evidences warrantlng the
belief that an increasing number o
Christian ministers would be glad to
rid themselves and the Church at large
of this selfassertiye designation
While lack Of faith and of q willing
ness to be little in the worlds estima'
ton may have, perhaps, almost un'
consciously operated with many to
prevent a giving up in this matter, yet
others (of whom may be instanced a
Presbyterian Of large attainments and
much humility Of mind, not long de-
ceased, the late Albert Barnes) clearly
discerning the pointing of the Holy
Spirit herein, have been constrained to
drop the title, while sincerely desiring
to he no more addressed thereby.
When riding in train some months
ago a man whom l knew by face but not
by name seated himself besides me,
and handed me his card by way of in
ltroduction. He had not much more
than done so, when he extended bis
hand for it, and, at the same time TAX
ing pencil from his pocket, effeclual-
ly marked out the "Rev." which pre-
ceded his name. He then handed il
back with some deprecatery remark
about title being of no consequence to
him. I had the impression that he
| ~ falt of had the
atfix been left off before it went into
the hands of the printer.
The late Nathan Brown, of New
England, a Baptist, and for many
years missionary in Assam and Ja-
pan, aud translator of portions of the
Bible into the vernacular of those
lands, had conferred upon him (lS85)
the degree of Doctor of Divinity" by
Williams College, responded from the
far East; II have long felt, in COM
mon no doubt with many others, that
the customary use of D. D. as mark
of distinction among ministers of the
gospel, or as an appendage to the conf
mon address of an individual, is liable
to serious objections. Regarded simply
as a college honor like the title of A.
B. or A. NJ. its application would be at
tended with fewer inconvenience"
He hence trusts that his friends will
both write or speak of him in plain
manner.
A Methodist editor said, in referring
to the printed Minutes of Yearly
Meeting of the Society of Friends
which he had recently received and Of
the absence of honorary titles: '"The
plain, straightforward way of doing
business as shown by the Minutes is
worthy of imitation by other religious
assemblies. God bless the Quakers in
their simplicity and zeal IN the main-
tenance of the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints" Never
theless, there seems of late years to
have been a hankering after the Rev.
title, or its reception without dissent.
by ministering Friends in some locali
ties. 1t is to be hoped that they will
faithfully adhere to this so-called "mi-
nor testimony"
The Guide to Holiness, another
Methodist journal, lately referred to
"the improperly of the term Rev
erend' applied to minister's" and
added, ave should welcome its disuse,
and the doctrdte also. Itthence show
ed desire to eXemplify its convictions,
by printing page of "News from the
Field" with names of the numerous
ministering brethren mentioned 'shOrn
of the inappropriate title"
That eminent Baptist preacher,
Spurgeon, has a testimony to bear
upon this matter, and as his words Sc
cIlre q hearing from all Christians