The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-28

cherished principles, he wrote to his people
follows:
with the purely civil and political questions
which shake the country to it's centre, L do
feel called upon, either your pastor
minister of Christ, to speak,
Subsequently he said: IT formed (when was in
New Mexco) the deliberate purpose to have just
little to do with the political troubles of the
try I could-to exert myself to the utmost
calm the passions and soothe the asperties of all
parties, and in my pulpit to hold up these great
truths of the gospel, which, important at all times,
are especially important in times like this. L be-
lieved then, and 1 believe now, that in this way |
should render the best service it was in my power
to render, either to the Church to the State"
To this resolution he steadily adhered. When
requested by Southern sympathizers to declare his
views on the political situation, he declined. When
he was urged by the opposite party, to preach
politics but, in order not to compromise his char
acter a citizen nor to his usefulness as a
minister, to explain his views respecting the duty
of all to oppose the rebellion and to support
government, he again refused. This party urged
this course strictly moral and religious grounds.
In their view the political and secular questions
had risen into the moral and religious sphere They
said that in the raging contest there could be no
neutrality. Neutrality was unnatural and
abhorrent in such contest it would be in re-
hgion. Failure to declare his views would lend
his influence against the government. Those who
opposed the government morally guilty of
despisinG and fighting against the ordinance of
God" This was the plea. Doubtless cores
ponding plea was made by the other side, and with
the same specousness and cogency.
DR.. McPheeters not to be turned from his
He refused to express his views chiefly
for two reasons:
l. No church court he held had any right to in
terrogate him this subject to demand a re-
Spouse from him. fortiori the private members
of his church had no such right. Compliance with
their demands would sanction a principle which
was false in itself and exceedingly dangerous in
practice
q The demand was made upon him as a minister
of the gospel to intrude into a sphere from which
he excluded by the commands of Christ He
minister of a kingdom of this world
whose servants, such, did not fight. To ex-
press a minister, his views would lend his Of
fetal influence to the strife This he could not do.
1t was charged that his church was a secession
church On this point he professed ignorance, if
the phrase was intended to that any consider
able number Of it's members held to the political
dogma of secession; because, he asserted he did
not know what the sentiments of one-tenth of the
people OF his charge on this subject were, having
never assumed the right, and having never been
addlcted to the practice Of catechlsng them. He
Indignantly repudated the charge that his church
was secession church In the sense that secession
was advocated in its pulpit. On this point he ut
tered these noble words:
when Pine Street Church becomes a secession
church. or any other kind Of church but church of
Jesus Christ, for one will turn from It with the
loathing would feel for bride who had deserted
her husband to follow another" And again he
said:
las to my launching out in the pulpit tpon DoIf-
TICS state or national expounding or defending the
Constitution Of the United States, advocating or
opposing the measures of the administration I
have no more idea Of doing so than I have of doing
anything that would bring conscious self-degreda-
ton. 1 regard the whole generation of minister,
who do these things in the pulpit as q disgrace to
the Church and an intoerable nuisance to the state
and that they are any where tolerated is TO nv
mind, evidence of such a state of corruption az
goes far to explain the fearful judgments that God
mi l1lnc1n he lind