The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-01
Rev. DIR. Robert p. Kerr and War.

Editor Of tho Times:
Sir.-The letter Of my much-loved
brother. Rev. Dr. Kerr. as il appeared I'm
The Times OF May 29th. and also In the
Weekly Times Of May Both, was read by
me with interest and with feeling very
near to enjoyment. No ministerial brother
is dearer 10 me than he. ard none more
highly valued for his versatile powers
and achievements. And II. sometimes,
his vivid Imagination and rich enthusi-
asm do cause him TO run into straits and
dilemmas no one rejOices more 10 help
him out OF them than do.
He candidly admits that he tailed 10
see" the issue Of The Times in which a
brief article written by me under the
heading, "War and the Presbyterian Min
listers" appeared. 10 is a pity he ala not
read Il, for II he had. and had On the
fairness Of his nature and charactc)
read il 20 the General Assembly az New
Orleans. / feel a strong assurance tnat
his resolution would have been modined
and explained I'm suitable words before 1t
was adopted Evidently his magnetism
I'm the assembly had the same effect II
had produced in the ministers meet
ing" IL disturbed the polar pointing OF
the needle.
He knows as well az do that the ven-
cradle Presbyterian Church I'm which we
are fellow ministers holds the inspired
Scriptures Of the Old and New Tesla
ments from the first word in Genesis 10
the last word I'm Revelations 20 be her
constitution. her charter. her only in-
fallible rule Of faith and life The Word
OF God and the whole word, without
mutilation or depreciation of any part,
is the creed the confession Of faith ana
the final and infallible guide in morals
and preaching and practice Of all her
ministers and all her officers and men,
bers.
This being admitted, it follows, neccE.
sar-v that the very wide and copi0us
teachings of the Holy Scriptures as 10
war. and the lessons OF war, and the du-
ties incumbent on subjects and citizens
when their country Is at war. are bind
ing. and are, in proper season and meas
ure, to be expOunded 20 the people Dy
the ministers. They are 10 ''preach the
word"-the whole Word OF God rightly
divided. TO fail to do this is 10 be re-
creant to duty.
This is what Christ meant when He
sent His ministers out 10 'preach the
Gospel" And this Is the fatal dilemma
Of our brothers resolution ana OF tnat
which ne induced the General Assembly
TO adODt. That resolution says that min
ism. but what does It mean? what does
nothing but the glorious Gospel of the
blessed God" This is a truth or a tru-
.sm. but what does la mean; what does
Il include2 Does not preaching the glo-
rious gospel of Christ include the preach-
ing of every belief and every duty arising
ont Of every condition and phase OF Ire
And can any condition and phase or lie
be more important than those arising IN
time OF ware Now. If the resolution IN
cnides under the expression preaching
the GOSPEL" the implied duty or preach-
ing the lessons of war and the o0liga-
tions II imposes on Christian men. Mo-
men and children who are Ola enough
TO be communing members of the tnurch'
and The obligations &c Imposes on an SUD-
iects or citizens. then there is no dli-
ference yhateve- between Dr. krrr
views and my own. Sat Will he make
tbat admission? This brings Us TO the
fatal vice OF tile resolution.
II that resolution does not inlehu 10 lH-
ciude under the duty OF preaching the
gospel the duty of drawing rom rory
Scripture the lessons ana oDIs"llo,'S
and duties arising In state
of war. then that resolution Is
a plain violation OF the consul,
tuition OF the PRESBYTERIAN 'huIcn, ana
therefore OF no binding authority. talth-
ful PRESBYTERIAN ministers VIII continue
"a do what they have always heieioloi @
done They will not preach on the SUD-
iect of wsr unduly or disproportlonately,
but they will "preach ihe WORD.
r.. h. uOWISON.
praehead Nav 90. 1898.