The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-22

Green, Robert Breckenridge, William M Eneles.
Charles Hodge, Archibald Alexander, Mlliam S.
Plumer, and host of similar faithful men. Inese
errors touched the very life of true religion Charles
Hodge, OF Princeton Seminary, said in plain but
ful words, that d not believe that the erroneous
teachings combatted by him contained enough tru..
10 sustain the lie OF religion In any mans heart
The present writer remembers distinctly hearing the
late noble old veteran, Dr. Benjamin Holt Rice say
during the sessions Cf the Synod of Virginia, which
met i'll Fredericksburg fifty years ago. that in his
prooundest convictions, mo could ever become
Christian who held view that his own natural and
unchanged will could enable him to close with the
terms of gospel mercy" So powerful were the con-
vlctions OF the best and the best thinkers of that
day that nothing short of expelling all who were i'm
pllcated in the New School of doctrine could
satisfy their conscences But in 1870 these errors
were brought back into the Northern Presbyt terrain
Church, and that too, under public treaty right
live and propagate themselves will throughout the
whole denomination. 1t is a solemn and repellent
thought, that if the Southern Church should be so
misguided as to submit to be absorbed into the North
ern agglutinatlon of Calvinists, Pelagans Semi
Unitarians and Arminians, it will throw open its
Presbyteries and pupts to the invasion of
oil all these three latter classes and that all the risks
and precautions which she has hitherto employed to
protect herself from, will be rendered null and use
less 10 less troublesome and dangerous but still
hazardous extent the risk will be run, if the
management OF her missionary work is transferred
which the power to control the distribution and en-
ployment OF missionaries, especially i'll the domestic
held, Will pass under these Articles. This remark
Is based on the construction of that confused and
perplexing document which will inevitably prevail
under the overwhelming ma jority conferred by the
Articles on the Northern contingent in the Council
The same result will appear in the educational and
publication departments of the work, which will
also be controlled by tne same uncomfortable MAORI
ty Tor that ma orty will distribute teachers and
order the publication of books and pamphlets favor
able to the which the Church has adopted and
endorsed In Il word under either scheme of Union
or Alliance, the Southern Presbyterian Church will
deliver itself over, bound hand and foot to most
dangerous power, the very moment when she consents
to dlvest herself of the divineygven character which
has bestowed upon her the high and venerable quality
OF church of the Lord Jesus. There some of the
kel1hoods which to be expected if the New Party
should gain the ascendency which they seek.
You need not wonder, dear brethren, that friends
OF the old order of things in borders desire and
are determined that you shall be thoroughly informed
all the issues involved i'll this controversy in order
that you may do your duty in the premises and throw
your whole weight in favor of the true interests of
yourselves and your famies-of your congregations
and church courts. To prevent the dangerous tri-
umph the misguided friends of closer relations to
the Northern Omnibus Assembly, few friends of true
Southern interests have concerted to keep the at
tenton OF the grand conservative class of the ruling
elders, deacons and thoughtful lay members of the
church, fixed upon the vast interests involved until
the final issues appear in sight, by the action of the
Assembly of 1907. In the meantime we solicit the
prayers of all Christians in our own communion and
outside of it, for the safety of the Church whose
welfare we responsible; that the Truth as God
has revealed it may be preserved and that the varied
schemes to dishonor the Word of Cod to dscredt
His Truth, may be brought to confusion and defeat
Friends Of the autonomy and Independence of the
Southern Presbyterian Church.