The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-24
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LIFE AND LETTERS OF ROBERT
LEWIS DABNEY. d. D., LII. D.. b.
Thomas Cary Johnson, D. ID. LII. d,
Professor of Ecclesiastical History ana
Polity, Union Theological Seminary,
Richmond. Va. 500 pages. Publishers:
The PRESBYTERIAN Committee of PubH-
cation, Richmond, Va.
The story of DR.. Dabney is mainly
told by extracts from letters and public
addresses. The author has sought to
present the story of the life of a virile
man just as he would have wished, for
he was a man who hated indiscrimlnate
praise as much as Carlyle detested shams.
The key to the authors spirit is found in
a remark made by DR.. Dabney. When
his Collected Discussions were being
brought out, there was some criticism OF
one of the articles to be presented in the
first volume The critic made the point
that the article objected to would IN
lure DR.. Dabneys reputation II repup-
lished The Doctor on hearing this, turn
ed somewhat sharply to DR.. Johnson and
said: What do you think OF this! DO
you like the plan of trimming a man,
whose life and work you would perpetu'
ate. to suit your notions. and then hand
ing the resultant down as if it were
real?'
in a long life-he was continuously
thirty years professor at Hampden-Sld-
ney Theological Seminary-he was noted
for his genuineness and dlrectness. He
was always understood, for his straight
forward course made his life an open
book He had positive convictions upon
all great questions in church and IN
State He was not quick to arrive at
conclusion but when he had determined
his position, he was as firm as the rock
OF Gibraltar His early life showed that
the traits that distinguished him as
leader in his church animated him in his
formative years. His father, a man of
worth and breadth of view, died while
the son was a mere boy. He early came
to realize the responsibilities of life. 1t
is singular how many of the worlds
great men were trained by widows. The
boy of the right stamp is sure to have
his self-reliance early developed and to
become a staff upon whom his mother
can lean. There is always deep sympathy
expressed for youths who are orphaned
1t is doubtful if they need the sympathy
if they have a mother of the spirit and
character of Richard Dabney's mother. A
comprehensive story of the widow moth
ers of great men is needed. 1t would add
a new glory to. womAnhood.
The story of DR.. Dabney's leadership
in the Southern Presbyterian church is
too well known to need reference here.
The details of his wonderful industry, his
strong grasp upon ecclesiastical truth,
his marked ability as writer upon
church polity, his wise insight into ques-
tions oil public policy, and his all-round
ability are gone into in detail and as one
reads what he accomplished In a career
that embraced a long life, the reader
marvels at his greatness and his versatile
ty He was a Schoolmate of DR.. Moses
d. Hoge and for many years they were
the two greatest minds in the Virginia
Presbyterian Church, as well as in the
Southern Assembly of church noted for
the eminent scholars who filled the pull
pits of that church.
AS controversialist, DR.. Dabney was
at his best. He wrote with great power
and fortified his statements. Perhaps
the most noted discussion on Calvinism
of the last century was the discussion be-
tween DR.. Albert Taylor Bledsoe and
DR.. Dabney. There were giants in those
days" Both had served in the Confed
crate army with distinction. Dr. Dab
ney served as chief of Stonewall Jack
sons staff during the War Between the
States, and afterwards wrote a Life of
jackson" that is one of his best works.
Both were ripe scholars, both devout1y
believed the creeds they professed. DR..
Bledsoe in 1867 began the publication at
Baltimore of the Southern Review-a
magazine of the first order, worthy to
rank in point of ability with the great
est magazines ever printed in this
country or in Europe. 1t was instantly
recognized by master minds as the work
or a great man. He was Methodist in
faith and in 1871 became a Methodist
preacher In 1915 he had published can
Examination of Edwards on the Will,
in 1853 he had published GA Theodicy, or
Vindication of the Divine Glory; in
1865 he went to England and prepared a
work on the Constitutional History of
the United States. He did not believe in
Calvinisrn. DR.. Johnson says "he hates
predestination : he wrought it into the
pages OF his magazine. 1t was a natural
thing, therefore, that so active-m minded
snd so easily able a defender of Calvin
ism as Robert L. Dabney should take up
the cudgels in support of the doctrines
thus impugned." In 1876 DR.. Dabney
published in the Southern Presbyterian
Review an article entitled: 1.-THE Phil
osopnv of Dr. Bledsoe." It provoked a
rejoinder. Both wrote several articles
the most mastery and learned debate
upon the difference between Calvinism
and Armenianism that has appeared.
The discussion was followed by the
strongest minds in this country and in
England The doctrine of Calvinism
never had a defender better equipped;
Methodist theology was never so ably
presented 1t was a battle of giants.
Who won? Both. The Calvinists were
sure that DR.. Dabney had routed DR..
Bledsoe 'horse-foot and dragon" and
the Armenians were quite as certain that
DR.. Bledsoe had worsted DR.. Dabney and
demolished Calvinism. But the adher-
ents of each doctrine were strengthened
and 10 this day the man who would read
the clearest and ablest treaties upon Cal
vinism and Armenianism turns to the
Dabney- Bledsoe discussion.
Ten wears before his death DR. Dabney