The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-04-04


the church, was denied seat in the Church Court
and that any church court admitting such a person
ipso facto dissolved.
These historical references are not made for the
purpose of stirring up bitterness, but simply to
show the Interpretation of the Northern Church
of this vital clause of Christian freedom
The New School General Assembly, acting the
name of Christ, declared 1.-The secessionsts
most offensive sinners in the sight God, justly
exposed to retributive vengeance of earth and
heaven and demanded that the great leaders in
tn Civil War should, by due course, and process
of law, be visited with condign punishment"
These may have been good politics, but viewed
by the standard held by the Southern Church, it
most offensive and hateful type of Chris
tianty.
These interpretations and declarations
never been modified or repealed explained. They
stand to-day a part of the law of the Northern
Church.
Much has been said about the message from the
Northern Assembly at Buffalo in 1904. That did
touch the real issue. 1t only removed all
aspersions and charges of any and every kind
made by previous assemblies rejecting the
Christian character of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States These offenses against the
Confession of Faith, these ordinances of loyalty
and freedom" a condition of church member
ship, have not been withdrawn, and they stand
without explanation repeal the interpreta-
ton of the Northern Presbyterian Church of that
provision in the church law which declares that
"SynOdS and councils handle conclude
nothing but that which is ecclesiastical and
not fntermeddle with civil affairs which
the Commonwealth"
The effect of this agitation in and around the
Kentucky Presbyterian Seminary will be most un-
fortunate. When the from Kentucky went
the Southern General Assembly and asked it to, en-
dorse, approve and be partner in the theological
seminary, which, by contract, to omit any
teaching of it's distinctive principles, it was only
upon the most absolute and unqualified assurances
that this doubtful experiment tending
Organic Union, and that the truth of the Church
would be safe under this unusual and extraordi-
nary proceeding. Many questioned the wisdom of
such course, and those who protested and feared
will now be justified when they THIS movement
for Organic Union started by of the professors
in this seminary and one, who at the Little Rock
Assembly assured its members that harm could
or would come from the departure. The North
has never patronized this institution any ex-
tent and when the Church at large realizes what
is to happen, it will be slow sending it's young
men to be educated under such peculiar conditions
and surroundings.
In Kentucky feel that this agitation if per-
sisted in will greatly impair the effort to raise
fund for disabled ministers and families of de-
ceased ministers. This splendid offer of Mr.. In
to add 100000 to the subscriptions of the
churches i'm case they shall reach $125,OOO, has
touched the most generous impulses Presby-
terrain hearts all the South, and churches and
individuals making noble and self denying eff
forts to put beyond all question the and sup
port of these ministers The Church is awake
before to this elevated and Christ-lik duty.
The pending agitation of this question, the posi-
biity of the extinction of church life, and the
structiOn of the separate existence of the Church
will not only decrease interest in the work, but
will inevitably affect the berality of those who
called upon to give the money to complete
this fund
Upon reading DR.. Beatties editorials in the
Christian Observer of February 2Sth and March
9TH 1906, 1 addressed him communication, ask
ing him to publish over my signature a reply to
those editorials, which 1 believe misrepresent the