The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-14
age" 1t is question of Self Preservation! And
of Preservation of the Truth!
%SOLATED!!!'
Some say, I'VE will be isolated!"


be in good cause, for self preservation and
to be able MAINTAIN unclouded and unfettered
our witness for the Truth" Nay more. If this
be the call for Isolation" (and L trust these ar
tces have made it plaIn), then we have no option
in the matter. Necessity is laid upon us; we are
bound TO preserve the of our very existence
viz: our witness for Gods Truth. This we cannot
DO II we 'federate." Dr. Dosker, the accomplished
recruit to our church from the Dutch Reformed"
in explaining his recent conversion Federation"
says the battle against common foe demands it,
L suppose he means "inhdelty," and 'Romanism,"
and materialism' and the moral evils that are
devastating the land alarmingy. But suppose
many OF these things are in the churches (North)?
Dr. Dosker will do well to listen his colleague, Dr.
Beattie Who wrote (that is, in May, 1900 as
follows: Professionalism in own day is in dan
of receiving it's sorest wounds in the house of
its friends 1t is clear that Professionalism VIII have
to fight for its life more. The foe is "a
rehned Christian ratonalism which-relegates the
Holy Scriptures to a secondary place. Even now
the hght is on, and we must be ready with
NOR and our weapons!" Yea, verify! But how?
Can we fight this fight, by merging" ourselves
with the very bodies where some of these deadly
evils lurking? That is not Gods way And
never has been. Nor is it the way of wisdom
In packing apples you do not merge" the sound
and unsound in one barrel; you separate the sound;
you isolate" them! And so, if we would keep sound
we must keep separate. The task viii be hard
enough it is for the infection is maligant and
taints the air. But it is quite certain we will be
destroyed and the Truth trusted with along
with us, if allow ourselves to be barreled up
with those already infected
The truth is our Isolation" heretofore has been
our preservation. How is it that the Southern
Church has remained thus far practically sound?
Free, comparatively, from Higher Criticism? free
from "Nationalism," free from "Latitudinarism?
free from the various doctrinal blights that have
brought such mildew Northern Churches?
How is it? IT'S not because of any superiority an
Southern human nature; it is not because of any
thing in ourselves at all The fact exists, but
why? There is answer only. 1t is because Of
our Isolation" Cod by his peculiar providence
Omitted l trust also with His grace) isolated rs
and has kept us, far, Isolated" Wherefore?
For anything in ourselves? Not at all. He has
given a banner to them that fear Him, that it may
be displayed because of the Truth"
And He has blessed our Isolation" We have
prospered; have grown; we have remained
united; we are homogeneous, happy church with
wholesome beliefs that have stood the wear of time
and have proved workable and fruitful in good
activities. 1t will be rank folly and ranker I'M
fathfulness if give up our happy, peaceful
prosperous homogeneous Isolation"
Nay! Rather let display" let us lift up
the Banner of Truth" God has given us, and in
Vite our conservative friends of the North to come
down and dwell among under it's folds Hun
dreds are there, loyal lovers Gods old fashioned
Truth. But they do not count" there and cannot
count there! Invite them South to our vacant
pulpits and our churches and give them a welcome
to homes
But may God from the unspeaBable folly
of destroying ourselves and the faith once com
mitted to us by abandoning Isolation"
"Oh, blest is he who can divine
Where real right doth lie,
And dares to take the side that seems
Wrong to mans blindfold eye!
Oh, learn to the praise of men!
And learn to lose with God!
For Jesus the world through shame
And beckons thee His roadl