Memorial Volume of the Westminster Assembly, 1647-1897
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MEMORIAL VOLUME WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY 1 647- 1 897. CONTAINING ELEVEN ADDRESSES DELIVERED BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES, AT CHARLOTTE, N. C, IN MAY, 1897. IN COMMEMORATION OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY, AND OF THE FORMATION OF THE WESTMINSTER STANDARDS. SECOND EDITION. Published by the direction of the General Assembly of iSg-}. The Presbyterian Committee of Publication. REV. J. HENRY SMITH. D. D. Copyright, 1897, JAMES K. HAZEN, Secretary of Publication^ ! PREFACE, The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, held in 1896 at Memphis, Tenn., resolved to commemorate in some suitable way the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Westminster Assembly of Divines. It also appointed an ad interim committee to prepare an order of exercises for this cele- bration b}^ the Assembly of 1897. This Assembly met at Charlotte, N. C, and these commemorative services were held in connection with its sessions. Eleven ad- dresses of great excellence were delivered before the Assembly, and in the presence of very large audiences. The Assembly resolved to have these addresses pub- lished in a suitable volume, and appointed a small com- mittee to cooperate with the Committee of Publication in issuing it. An Introduction is added, which may have some value, and the portraits inserted may give additional interest to the volume. May the blessing of the Head of the Church make these addresses, in this permanent form, of abiding servdce to the cause of truth and righteousness for man}- j-ears to come FRANCIS R. BEATTIE, CHARLES R. HEMPHILL, HENRY V. ESCOTT, The Assembly's Editing Committee. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. page. Assembly Action—West-minster Assembly— Bibliography, vii I. The Political History of the Time, .... i BY THE REV. HENRY ALEXANDER WHITE, PH. D., D. D. II. The Religious Situation at the Time, ... 31 BY THE REV. ROBERT PRICE, D. D., LL. D. III. The Westminster Assembly Itself, .... 55 BY THE REV. T. DWIGHT WITHERSPOON, D. D. , LL. D. IV. The Doctrinal Contents of the Confession, 87 BY THE REV. ROBERT L. DABNEY, D. D., LL. D. V. The Catechisms, 115 BY THE REV. GIVENS B. STRICKLER, D. D., LL. D. V vi . Contents. VI. The Polity and Worship of the Standards, . 139 BY THE REV. EUGENE DANIEL, D. D. VII. The Relation of the Standards to Other Creeds, 169 BY THE REV. JAMES D. TADLOCK, ]). D., LL. D. VIII. The Standards AND Missionary Activity, . 185 BY THE REV. MOSES D. HOGE, D. D., LL. D. IX. The Standards in Relation to Current Theology, 219 BY THE REV. SAMUEL M. SMITH, D. D. X. The Standards in Relation to Family and Social Life, 255 BY THE REV. JOHN F. CANNON, D. D. XL The Standards and Civil Government, . 271 BY THE HON. WILLIAM M. COX, A. M. REV. FRANCIS R. BEATTIE, B. D. Ph. D., D. D. INTRODUCTION By Rev. FRANCIS R. BEATTIE, B. D., Ph. D., D. D., Professor in Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. SHORT chapter containing some account of the A origin and purport of this volume may be of some interest to its readers. A brief recital of the action of the General Assembly which led up to the celebration at which these addresses were given will inform the reader in regard to the circumstances out of which this volume sprang. An outline of the history of the stirring and heroic period of which the Westminster Assembly formed at once the culmination of much that lay in the century before it, and the foundation of a great deal that rose in the century that followed its meeting, may help the reader to a simple and intelligent view of the histori- cal setting of each address. In connection with this mere outline of the history of the period, the ordinance of Parliament convening the Assembly and the names of its members are both given. Some readers may have more than a passing interest in these matters. A partial Bibliography of the literature which has gathered round the Westminster Assembly and the memorable Symbols which it produced is included for the advantage of those who desire to pursue their study of these inviting topics at greater length. In four brief sections this introductory chapter will deal with these separate topics • : viii Introduction. I. The Action of the General Assembly. The proposal to celebrate in some suitable manner the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the meeting and work of the Westminster Assembly of Divines was brought before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States/ w^hich met at Memphis, Tenn., in May, 1896. This proposal came formally before the Assembly by an overture and a resolution, in the following terms, respectively *'An Overture to the General Assembly regarding the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Westminster Assembly. ^ *'7i7 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, in sessiott at Meinphis, Tenn., iSg6.- "The undersigned desires respectfully to call the attention of the Assembly to the fact that it is now just about two cen- turies and a half since the Westminster Assembly, which framed our Catechisms and Confession of Faith, was in session. ' ' He also brings to the attention of the Assembly the fact that several branches of the Presbyterian family are already proposing to celebrate, in various ways, the Two Hundred and F iftietlf Anniversary of that great event during the coming year. ' ' He further expresses the conviction that at the present day it is important to give prominence to the history and contents of the great doctrinal symbols which the Westminster Assembly gave to the world. We live in an age of unrest and criticism, if not of transition, in regard to many things pertaining to the Christian faith. An intelHgent acquaintance with the history of the Westminster Assembly, and a clear grasp of the doctrinal system w^hich it formulated, may be of great value in these cir- cumstances. ' This is the proper official title of that branch of the Presby- terian Church which is often popularly termed the Southern Presbyterian Church, or the Presbyterian Church in the South- ern States. ^ Minutes of the General Assembly for 1S96, page 58 5. ' Introduction. ix "The undersigned, therefore, respectfully overtiires the Gen- eral Assembly to take steps to observe this anniversary in some suitable way—say, in connection with the Assembly of 1S97. "Francis R. Beattie. '' Louisville Seminary, May iS, 1S96." At the same time the following resolution was pre- sented to the Assembly at Memphis by one of its mem- bers : "Whereas the twenty-ninth day of April, 1897, will be the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the completed report to the British Parliament of those formularies of faith known as the Westminster Standards, and whereas this Assembly would record its sense of the inestimable blessings w^hich have resulted from the Westminster Confession and Catechisms, not only to the churches holding these Standards, but to the cause of Chris- tianity, therefore, ''Resolved, That this Assembly hereby recommends to the Synods and Presbyteries within its bounds the propriety .... of commemorating this event in such manner as they deem best. W. D. Morton." These papers were both sent to the Committee of Bills and Overtures of the Assembly, and it presented the following report, which was adopted by the Assem- bly^ : "Your committee recommends that the General Assembly commend to the Presbyteries and Synods the propriety of ob- serving the T\vo Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the form- ulation of the Westminster symbols of doctrine, and that order be taken by this Assembly to celebrate this event in connection with the sessions of the General Assembly of 1897. To carry this order into effect, it is recommended that the Assembly ap- point an ad interim committee to prepare a programme of com- memorative exercises, and to select speakers for the occasion, "Charles R. Hemphill, Chairman.''' ^ Minutes of the General Assembly for 1896, pages 585, 586. ' Ibid., page 586. X Introduction. Later on in the sessions of the Assembly of 1896 the Moderator, Dr. -Mallard., announced the following com- mittee to arrange for the celebration, during the next xVssembly, of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the origin of the Westminster Standards : J. Henry Smith, D. D., Chairman; F. R. Beattie, D. D., W. M. McPheeters, D. D., T. C. Johnston, D. D., W. A. Alex- ander, D. D., John A. Preston, D. D.^ This committee thus appointed proceeded in due time to discharge the duty laid upon it by the Assembly. Under the efficient leadership of its chairman, and by correspondence between the members of the committee, an elaborate series of subjects and a carefully-selected list of speakers were made ready. The result of their labors was the presentation of the following report to the Assembly of 1897, which convened at Charlotte, N. C: '^ "Report to the Assembly at Charlotte, N. C, of the Ad Interim Committee of the Celebration of the Two Hun- dred AND Fiftieth Anniversary of the Westminster Assembly. "The last General Assembly appointed 2iXi ad interim com- mittee to prepare a programme of commemorative exercises, and to select speakers for the celebration during the present Assembly in Charlotte, N. C, of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the formation of the Westminster symbols of doctrine. This committee consisted of the Rev. J. Henry Smith, D. D., chairman; F. R. Beattie, D. D., W. M. McPhee- ters, D. D., T. C. Johnston, D. D., W. A. Alexander, D. D., and John A. Preston, D. D. Alas! within a little over three months after this appointment (September 13th) the whole church was called to mourn the death of the last-named member of this committee—a death and a loss that has shrouded in deep and personal sorrow all who knew Brother Preston, especially 'Minutes of the General Assembly for 1S96, page 618.