The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-09-05
TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.

in any OF the houses of worship-it matters not
how loyal the congregation is to the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, and further prohibitnp these
scattered sheep of the fold from using the name
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. going upon the
theory that there no longer any Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, that it was the Northern
presbyterian Church. These people, who love
their church for its history, for it's devotion RI
Christ and who revere its name, have been denied
the privilege OF using this name, sacred to them
by the sacrifices and faith and piety of their fore
fathers Not only that, but all of these men and
women who remain firm to the Cumberland Pres
byterian Church, backed by ministers of the
Northern Presbyterian Church, have been enioined
from manufacturing or selling the Cumberland
Confession of Faith. The Roman Catholic Church
has its Index Prohibitoriur but it is something
new IN Presbyterian practice to prevent by civil
injunction Christian men and women from pub
lishing or circulating their system of faith and
doctrine more I'M Christlike, I'M PRESBYTERIAN
action has never been taken in the history of the
world.
In the days succeeding the War. hordes of
missionaries were sent down South under protec-
ton OF military satraps, to take churches and
church property away from us, and to drive our
people out unless they willing to accept the
doctrine then promulgated by the Northern
Church, that no man of Christ unless he ac-
cepted the declarations of the Northern Presby-
terrain Church on loyalty and freedom and slavery
Inns was considered most terrible infringement
upon the rights of helpless suffering Christian
people, but 1t was done under the passions and
prejudice engendered by the war, and might be
excused, and was excused, on that ground Rut
why, when there no passions no pre-
Judlces' no bitterness engendered by war
should the Northern Church. through rem
egade Cumberland Presbyterian ministers and
elders, without notice or warming upon
an ex parte statement to the courts drive out
these Cumberland Presbyterians from their
churches, send them forth to worship in school
houses or under the trees, or in barns, and
iuse TO even allow them to hold Sunday-school
III these churches? One would have thought that
they would have had some sense of COMMISSION
LETT tor the souls of the little children that are
Deing reared IN these churches, and that they
would at least cause modification of this order,
SO as to permit these lambs of the flock to hear
the Word of God in these buildings, even though
they did belong to the Northern Presbyterian
Church But no impulse of emotion or pity no
love OF Christ touches the hearts of these men
VINO have deserted their church. and the cruel
edlct has forth that even these innocent little
chldren shall not come into these structures built
by their fathers and maintained by funds con-
tributed by them to the Cumberland PRESBYTERIAN
Church, and be allowed to listen to the words of
life -
Can Christ, the great head of the Church. look
down with any degree of satisfaction or of ap-
Proval upon these shameful wrongs? Can the
Hoiy spirit, Chrlsts representative on earth be
moving the hearts of these apparently pitiless
leaders, who have thus cruelty and shamefuI1v
INC powers OF the courts to exclude these
people from hearing the Word pointing out the
way or life IN these structures, most Of which
their money built?
Now if, according to DIR. Nee1 the Northern
Church is so grand so magnaminous, and. so great
ana SO good and pure and so full of the Spirit
OF Christ, why does he not go into this church.
s ana as wound healer-in-chief, go down among
these scattered, prosecuted saints of God who
are now only asserting their manhood as Chris
tans by defending the doctrine of the church thew
fove' to which they pledged their allegiance and
LOT which they have prayed and toiled and heal
their wounds?
., ne forty years that have past have permitted