The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-24
LONG TO
JOIN H ! I D
But Hair Splltters Are Keep.
ing Them Apart.
LETTER FROM a LAYMAN
Provoked by Editorial IN the Contra
Against the Union ofaNorthern and
Southern Church-RepIY TO the
Letter In this Weeks Paper.

. . ] = f. z. / j. O. u X s. I &
A layman, described as "a Christian
man of intelligence. wants to know Of tho
Central Presbyterian. Of this city. why
the two great branches Of tho denon,ina-
ton cannot stop splitting hairs on doc.
extend Christ's Kingdom in the world.
REMARKABLE LETTER.
Tho query. which is q rema rkablo one,
and significant to high degree, II II
represents in any considerable degree tho
opinion Of the lay mind In the churcn
on tho questions dividing the denomina-
ton is directly called forth by the edl-
torial in last weeks issue of the central
against a union of the northern church
and the southcrn. 1t declares in the first
sentence that when the leaders OF the
Southern Presbyterian Church thus lay
down the dictum that union with the
northern church Is impossible, ut carries
disappointment to the hearts Of many Of
our laymen who have not acquired the
habit Of splitting hairs on doctrine.
The writer, whoever he is, declares Eat.
" that those who are thus keen'nS the
churches apart are assuming heavy re-
spons bility, Eve know that the split
was POLITICAL" he says. land now tfat
sectionallsm has disappeared, and there
is an era OF good feeling prevailing. such
as have never before been known we long
to join hands with out brethren" Lay
man calls attention to the fact that
many OF the purest md best men IN the
southern church have crossed the line
and gone North and asks why tho rest
Of tho body cannot unite It these men can
conscicntiously do this.
II should DO glad" he says In conclnA
sion. land I think others would. u yo'
would take UP the questions that DIVIDE
us, and show why the barriers arc really
such that a Observation-Disclosures man, who
ia more concerned in having the world
better than he Is In drawing out fine
mum theories of theological doctrine.
cannot form co-partnershp with all Ms
brethren in an effort to extend Christs
kingdom In the world 81
THE CENTRAL's REPLY.
The Central prints this rema rkable let
tor at the top Of an editorial column.
and then deyotes a column and a half
moro to a reply to It. It says that the
letter Is from q Christian man OF intelil.
rence and that the question he propounds
viii recetye a. candid consideration ana
public reply
After touching upon the things that
have separated the two branches OF the
church, the paper refers finally TO the
recent revision OF faith In the Northerh
church, and declares that all TINS mas
been regarded In the South, as by many
in the North. as u serious yielding 10
the sc. called liberal views OF the advanced
religious teaching Of the, day Aga,nst
this current says the Central, the
Southern church has set itself steadfast-
w and stands distinctly for the authority
and inspiration Of the Bible. for the SOY
eretgnty OF God In redemption. for the
spiritual function Of tho church. and the
protect Ion or the pulpit from all secular
uses, III all this there Is no doctrinal,
hair shifting but a steadfast witness for
the great principles OF the church OF our
fathers. There Is no irreconsllable bour-
be nism that refuses progress and en-
lghtenment, but tho clear perception OF
duty to stand III our lot and abide by the
faith which we believe was delivered to-
the saints 5st s&
Proceeding. the Central goes on to say
that the pa cling of some esteemed breth-
rem into connection with the PRESBYTERIAN
Church, North, Is a matter that Is pcr-
sonal with them. 1T Is claimed by some
OF them certainly that in no degree have
they changed their views as to these
things which are the distinctive witness
OF the Southern church, and some Of
them, we know, would not have the
Southern church withdraw that witness.
So long as they were In the Southern
church they maintained with conviction
and nrlor tho integrity and right of the
church, and now that thoy are iaborlng
elsewhere, they should not ask tho church
to lower Its standard and retire from
the field