Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-18

1919 Edited by Thomas J. Pack
ard Washington D. c.. Byron s..
Adams svo.. PIP. SIS.
This book Will meet warm welcome
from e large number of apprec.ative
readers throughout the State OF v,r-
gina, II is an autobiography OF one OF
Che most distinguished ministers Of the
Protestant Episcopal church. who passed
away during the last year after q long
sad eminentiy useful life-rnore than
sfyty-fve of which was spent In the SER
vice of his Master in one OF the profess
eorshtps in the Alexandra Theological
seminary.
Rev DR.. Joseph Packard was born In
wlscasset, Me, then Massachusetts. De-
oember q, 1872. and died at the Theoio-
ecai Seminary IN Fairfax county. Va,
May s. 1902, His father who lived to the
ege of SIS years. was venerated member
OF the Congregational church, and
through him and his mother his ances-
try dated back to the early Colonial days
Of the Pilgrim Fathers His earlier life
eud associations at home or in-h ], vicin-
age at school and college familiarized
him with many CT the most eminent men
In New England. such men In the politi-
cal world as Jeremiah Mason, Daniel
Webster. and Franklin Pierce. in the lit
srarv world as Henry Wadsworth Long
fellow. Oliver Wendell Holmes. Ralph
waldo Emerson. Natlaanial. Hawthorne.
end George Bancroft, and in the eccle-
classical world as Moses Stuart. Wl4.am
Ray Palmer. and the great missionary to
Turkey. Cyrus Hamlin.
From the brief recirals IN this book
we can we'll imagine fund OF I'M
written history from which he drew IN
his conversations among our Virginia
people who were privileged TO enjoy
social intercourse with him in his leisure
hours.
DR.. Packard became an Episcopalian
IN early life. In the revolt OF thought
among the New England people against
The travesties OF -aivinism inculcated
through Congrega tional pulpits in CO.
operation with the political authorities
BY the disciples and followers Of Cotton
Nather and earlier Colonial divines of his
ecclesiastical type there had been q
vast departure from the original Puritan
faith IN the Identification il; the popu-
lar mind Of Episcopacy. with the eccle-
siastical tyranny and Remaining ten
sencies OF the Church Of England under
Laud and the Stuarts which had driven
the Pilgrim Fathers into exile from
Fatherlapd. and the entire absence of
Scotch and Dutch Presbyterian conserva-
Ism, there was no apparent middle
ground between the harsh creed Of Math-
y and his followers and the seni-infi-
feity of unitarianism. But DR.. Pack
trd's young life was contemporary with
~the commencement of a drift to evangeli-
al Episcopacy, which has continued with
Increasing strength ever since until now
when the Protestant Episcopal church is
one Of the dominant forces IN New Eng
land religious life.
IN the first years OF his Episcopal life
Dr.. Packard was made Professor OF
Latin and Hebrew in Bristol College.
Pennsylvania. started in 1883 by Rev. Drs-
Bedeu Tying. Miliner. and bishop Meade.
IS an evangelical Episcopal school. While
there he had as one of his associate
professors Rev. and General William n.
Pendleton OF Lexington, Va, and among
his pupils the late Major John Page, OF
Hanover. and Benjamin B. Minor after
wards editor of the Southern Literary
Messenger and who IS now spending the
waning years of a long and i1onored life
Els q citizen of Richmond. From that
field OF duty he was transferred in April,
1895. TO the chair Of Sacred Literature in
the then young Theological Seminary OF.
Virginia In his after life he became
Identified with the Episcopal Church Of
Virginia, and during his many years OF &C
tive service in the seminary he was the
Instructor Of very large proportion OF
the clergy Of Virginia, an active and
efficient participator In all the work OF
his church and a recognized authority
and counsellor In ali Of it's conventions
and councils.
We cannot in the brief limits OF this
notice of his book follow him through all
Its interesting details of his experiences
and association. through more than SIX
decades in peace and war with our peo-
Pile. To very many OF our readers his
graphic narrative will recall in vivid
freshnesrs some of the most grateful ex-
periences OF their by-gone years.
His scholarly attainments were recog-
nfzed bv his selection as one Of the elect
few who were invited to take part among
the most eminent scholarszof the English
and American churches in the revision OF
King James's Version Of the Holy Bible
IN le72-lsst.
or DR.. aPackard's work and worth as q
teacners OF Theology and OF the high
estimate in which he was held as a
Christian minister little need be said.
We content ourselves with the avowed
Inspiration Of his professional and min
!sterial life in his own condensation of
the design Of the founders of the Semi
nary.
First. It was to be Protestant
setting out the distinction Of his church
as the only one bearing this name upon
Its forehead Protestant not only against
the errors OF Roma nism. but as holding
IN their purity al: the articles of Chris
tan faith thus condensed in its Sixth
Article: Holy Scripture containeth all
things necessary to salvation-so that
whatsoever is not read therein nor may
be proved thereby is not to be required
Of any man that it should be believed as
an article of faiti: or be thought re-
oufsite or necessary to salvation
Second. II was 10 be an Episcopal
Seninary-loyally adhering TO the his
toric Episcopate. but never venturing to
urge the exclusive claims OF the Church
OF England or to connect the succession
With the validity Of the Holy Sacra-
ments''
Third. It was TO be evangelical teach
tng that the weishiest of all the mat
sers OF the Gospel was the doctrine Of a
complete Justification by the sole mer4.s
ard death OF our Lord and Savior Jesus