Required reading
Discussions (Vol 2) by Robert L. Dabney (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read 'The Pan-Presbyterian Alliance'.
My summary
Today Dabney tells us his thoughts on the Pan-Presbyterian alliance.
The Southern church considers the alliance to:
(i) be a dishonest compromise with the Northern Presbyterian Church;
(ii) be a betrayal of their true position as witnesses for righteous principles;
(iii) be forceful in saying that they must go to it to get out of their insulation;
(iv) under represent their objections;
(v) be a spread of a latitudinarian spirit;
(vi) be anti-Protestant and anti-Presbyterian;
(vii) be forbidden by their constitution.
What grabbed me
I enjoyed Dabney's opening paragraph: 'The writer once inquired of General K. E. Lee whether it was his purpose to attend the meeting of the Education Association of the Teachers of Virginia. He replied : " If I could see that they were going to effect anything except talk, I might think of attending." This seems, to the plain mind, the most obvious objection to the project of a Pan-Presbyterian Alliance. In order to avoid being dangerous, it finds itself compelled to limit its functions to "talk." Such pious reunions may be as pleasant as Dr. Robinson seems to have found the tentative meeting in London ; but if this is all, evidently the churches have more urgent and useful applications to make of their time and money than to these ostentatious and costly prayer meetings.'
Sadly so many church meetings are all talk and no teeth.
Next week's reading
Read 'Pan-Presbyterian Alliance' (Same title as the last chapter).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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