The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-15

TO THE RULING ELDERS OF THE SOUTHERN
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The condition of things in the Southern Presbyter-
ian Church at the present time makes it necessary
that the utmost strength of the conservative forces
in the Church should be appealed 20, to, stay the
tide of radicalism, which is sweeping so high in our
affairs. The late General Assembly, by extending the
Time Tor consideration Tor one year, has given
great boon to the Church. But it is necessary to
put this interval to account, in order to make it
serviceable to the interests of truth and soundness
of policy. The ruling eldership has long been known
as the main element of conservatism in holding the
"old paths which the Holy Scriptures have in
struced us to seek for that may walk therein"
The younger section of the ministry and membership
OF the Church liable to be tempted away from
these 'old paths, if the system of Jesus Christ
was not fixed one, and to be fascinated with the
idea OF progress, and the notion of not being be-
hind the times" The whole of Christendom it be-
set at the present day with the notion of the supreme
superiority of modern advances in knowledge and
the folly of looking for those old paths which
the Holy Ghost has commanded us to follow These
advanced scholars have found out that the old
ton of inspired Scripture is an absurdity Others
have discovered that the doctrines of grace false
and out of date Others have found out that it ia
entirely proper for honest TO subscribe the
same standards, while different and contradicry con-
structions are placed upon them. Some of these
subtleties of advanced knowledge seeking to
ter our trusted and branch of the Kingdom of
our Lord for which he has made responsible as its
guardians. To delude into admitting them we
are told that I'VE must have Christian and brother
y spirit and be ready to cooperate in the foreign
field, in educational work." This intmates that
we cannot have Christian or brothery spirit
less yield to the plans of those who are engn-
eering these movements. He speaks of ''coopera-
ton which some of our people approve while they
are opposed to the Articles of Agreement and
pecially to Organic Union. The of this word is
misleading when the real contention is for a Federal
Alliance, and with some for Organic Union Now
the Christian spirit not conditioned submitting
to these schemes. Nay more the Christian spirit
is far clearly exhibited in contendng for the
faith delivered to the saints then in accepting
these modern schemes Our Lord has to send
a sword well peace, which Is to be used in the
conflicts with error; and there is plain derelic-
ton of duty in refusing to fight when the time
comes, in refusing the communion of saints when
the truth has won its victory. There is very
equivocal exhibit of the Christian spirit when sub
mission TO particular policy is to be accompanied
with tolerance of and the sacrifice of dviney
given functions. Such attempts to blind the per-
ceptions of good but unsuspicous people, by making
them think they will be wanting in the Christian
spirit, if they do not yield to the suggestion of a
particular policy, it not particularly Christian and
brotherly spirit, but something very different.
elders of the Church need to be kept advised of these
artul maneuvres and it is proposed to address the
warnings and instructions needed, to them especially
There will be little to fear, for the safe guidance OF
the Church, if the plain and sober wisdom of the
ruling edership be brought to bear upon the is
sues presented by the Charlotte Articles of Agree
ment, or its yelled Prophet of Khorassan-Organc
Union. To them we propose to address efforts
for the preservation of the standard and the church
for which esponsible.-Friends of the Inde-
pendenoe and autonomy Of the Southern Presbyterian