The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-15
War and tho Presbyterian Ministers.


Sir.-rhe worthy clerical gentlemen al
luded 10 in the heading above, assembled
themselves in conclave and sent forth
EEK cathedra" a bull, or decree. or deliv-
erance. which has appeared In one or
more Of the public journals. As those To-
cal ministers numbered. at most, only
eleven, out Of the two hundred and sew
enty-twO ministers In tho Synod OF Viz
g.nia their words carry no authority
nor weight, except so FAR as their own
scriptural and Christian basis and es-
sence may avail. And when we weigh
their words by the infalhble teachings OF
Holy Scripture they are found sadly
wanting in sOundness.
The duty Of the minister OK Christ IS
TO preach the Word the whole in
splred Word Of God, according to the
analogy Of tho faith. This Is tho true
preaching OF the Gospel. which Christ
enioined on His ministers The whole
inspired Scriptures OF the Old and the
New Testaments set forth the Gospel
Of Christ, for they are all n revelation
Of Christ % sinners for their salvation.
Christ and His Gospel are taught In tho
Old Testament just as certainly az In
the New Testament. The testimony OF
Jesus Is tho spirit OF prophecy"
Now II does 50 happen that In the Old
and the New Testaments together there
are sixty-siN books. And hftv-one out OF
these siXty-six books deal with the sub
ject OF war-narrate war. describe war.
give the lessons OF war. give the lessons
which God has laid down TO regulate
war and TO reduce its evils 20 the mini
num- and give hundreds OF illustrations
drawn from wars by which the Chris
tian soldier is 20 be helped I'm his warfare
frv fffr-
nish the principles which are 10 govern
subjects and citizens when war Is raging
anywhere in the world. and especially
when their own country has been COM
PEELED 20 face the dangers and horrors or
war IL IS on these principles that the
leading doctrines OF international law
as 20 war are founded. Yet, according
TO the deliverance OF the "conclaye"
aforesaid, the Christian minister IS 70
ignore and push out OF view all those
teachings Of Scripture when his country
is actually involved in war. that is. ev-
actly at the time when those teachings
are most needed!
We fully admit that war Is horrible:
that war IS entirely the evil work OF
man. and not instituted by God. All this
Will not help the 'conclaye." War stands
on the same footing with other evil in
stitutions Of man. such "a polygamy
divorce at the sole will Of the husband
the law OF retaliation" and human slav-
cry. God did not institute any OF them.
But as the selfish Wickedness OF man
made them stubborn and permanent In
situations. God has tolerated them for
time. And God regulates them by law.
and brings good out OF them. and reduces
their evils. And God intends 10 destroy
them. He has already uprooted several
Of them.
But God has not yet ended war In our
world. The position and duties or a bel
ligcrent mariner or soldier are per-
fectly consistent with his personal Chris
tianity. John the Baptist recognized sol
diers as 1T for baptism. Christ was on
terms Of love and confidence with ON
GERS and soldiers OF tho Roman army.
and declared as 10 the faith Of one OF
the Centurions that he had not found
so great faith-no, not in Israel"
Samuel Davies preached war. and found
ample warrant for his patriotism in the
Word OF God So did Rev. DR.. John
Withergpoon. SO did Rev. James s. Cald-
we'll SO aid hundreds OF other faithful
Presbyterian ministers. In their words
tories and towards and traitors found
little 10 encourage them. But the mouths
OF all those patriotic ministers would
have been stopped by the "conclave."
because they were preaching war;
The whole bull. or decree, rests upon
false basis. Ministers are TO preach
the Gospel Yes, certainly they are
and they are never preaching the Cos
pei more truly than whom they are eN-
pounding the duties arising out OF war.
No man who deliberately refuses 10 do
duty need expect the benefits OF the
Gospel. But. OF course, tho minister need
not preach on this subject unduly and
out OF proportion. He must rightly d.
vide the Word"
r. r. TOWISON.
Braehoad near Fredericksburg, Va,
May 10. 1905.