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4 HKNRY H.TUCKER, K.ditor SCHOLARSHIP F.S’. SCHOLARSHIP. When men of scholarly attainments express opinions unfriendly to the au thenticity or inspiration of the Scrip tures, in whole or in part, two wrong results are likely to follow. Some may argue to the it jury of the Scriptures, as a collection of writings whose truth and authority can not bear the search ing scrutiny of scholarship. Others may argue to the injury of scholarship, as a thing hostile to a spiritual appre hension of the authority and truth of the Scriptures. The first class may, more or less confoiously, reach the con clusion that infidelity is the daughter of knowledge; and the second may practically, in greater or lees degree, reach the conclusion that “ ignorance is the mother of devotion.” These results, we have said, are both wrong; and we appeal to a single fact to make this clear. While there is a scholarship which doubts or denies the authenticity or inspiration of the Scrip tures, in whole or in part, there is an equal scholarship which over against the denial sets positive affir .ition and over against the doubt unwavering confidence. In other words, there is scholarship on both sides of the ques tion. Noone, therefore, ought to feel that scholarship of itself is hostile to the confidence and the silirmation ; and no one ought to feel that the denial or the doubt is made respectable and prob able by mere scholarship. An instance, or two, will serve to bring out the force of our position and to establish its correctness. Some months ago, we announced the fact that a former Professor in our Southern Baptist Theological Seminary bad taken the ground that Daniel was not a historical but a mythical person age, and that his reputed prophecies were only a “ pious fraud,” written af ter the events which they profess to foretell. The high scholarship of this gentleman, which we have no need and no wish to disparage, may have tempt ed some to regard his lines of argu ment as weighty, if not decisive ; while others, shrinking from his conclusions, may have been tempted to fear that all high scholarship inclines to scepti cism. But both these tendencies are corrected by a simple reference to the history of the question respecting the objections urged against the prophecies of Daniel, as that question has passed through the crucible of German schol arship. Dr. McCaul, writing more than a decade ago, tells us: “The believer in the gospel will feel assured that they are not unanswera ble; and a little inquiry will satisfy him that they have been answered, again and again, by scholars trained in the schools of moderif German philology and criticism and every way equal to the task. Within the last thirty years, Hengstenberg, Sack, Havernik, Rei chel, Schulze, Heibst, Vaihinger, De litsch, Oder, Auberlen, Zundel, have stood forward as successful vindicators of the genuineness ol Daniel’s prophe cies. Kurz, Keil, V. Hoffman, Drech sel, Baumgarten, have also confessed their adherence to the ancient faith.” The scholarship of the objectors to Dan iel,then, (to say the least) is balanced by the scholarship of his defenders, and is not of itself a weight in favor of the loose view. “ The ancient faith” is not put to the worse in this respect by the modern unbelief. Again : we cited, last week, the opin ion of our former Professor that the doctrines ascribed by Scripture to Mo ses, and through Moses to God, are re ally the work ol Ezekiel—beliefs gath ered by him, in exile, from Babylonian (or Persian) schools of religion. This is an explicit renunciation of the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, contrary to the unanimous verdict alike of Jews and Christians through all the ages. Quite a number of German scholars have made the same renunci ation. But when they come to fix on some one who may wear the laurels stripped from the brow of the Hebrew lawgiver, they are transformed (as Payne Smith expresses it) into “a Babel of Ishmaels, where every man’s tongue is against every other.” As to the real originof this portion of the Scriptures, we learn from Rawlinson that they have broached ‘twenty different and conflicting theories, each more compli cated than the last.’ They repudiate each other’s scholarship, as to results, on the point about which they disagree, and thus create a presumption that we may safely follow their example and extend the repudiation to the point of agreement between them, as is done by a large body of eminent German scholars. As to the particular theory which our Professor embraces, rejecting nine teen other theories held by men as scholarly as himself, the brand of rep robration in circles of learning is on it, too. Bunsen quotes “ that distin guished scholar, Dr. Haug,” as con demning it for its assumption of facts not ascertained or ascertainable, and as holding that ‘ the doctrines com mon to the Mosaic religion and the religion of the Magi, seem to have sprung up in both religions indepen dently.’ Bunsen himself was a respect able scholar, though of “ liberal” ten dencies, and, while not a minister, re- THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, DECEMBERS, 1881. ceived from a German university the Doctorate of Divinity; and,of thia the ory, he says: “ The myth, invented by German scholars, of thepurely Persian origin of the Hebrew traditions, belongs to the infancy and nonage of reeiarch into the book of Gmesis a mis b ading hypothesis, which ought not in de ceney to be mentioned, at this time of day, by any scientific man.” In the light of this subject, we have a woid to say about those among us who deny the plenary (full) inspira tion of the Scriptures. Take their scholarship at their own estimate of it; whether it is just what they deem it, or less, or more, does not affect the principles involved. Their scholar ship, whatever it may be, does not en title their view to denominational re cognition or tolerance; for by that rule we should be constrained to tolerate or recognize the last and worst extremes of rationalism, since these extremes are advocated by an equal (not to say a greater) scholarship. And further: the scholarship creates no presumption that their view is sound and valid ; for the same line of reasoning would com pel us to admit a presumption in favor of the opposite and contradictory posi tion, since an equal (not to say a great er) scholarship disowns and denounces the view. These brethren, however, will suffer us to express a doubt wheth er they have sufficiently laid to heart the fact stated in the first two senten ces, and the caution suggested by the third sentence, of the following extract from an essay on Prophecy, by Dr. McCaul, Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis, King’s College, London: “ The innovators in England do not pretend to offer anything original of their own. They repeat in Engl'sh what they have derived from one class ot German writers. And, as German learning stands deservedly in high repute, there is a dan ger of the unwary receiving without question what oppea: s to come on authority so re spectable.” PAUL ON GOOD WORKS. Our brother Paul, the great Apostle of the doctrine of justification by faith without the deeds of the law, is by no means silent on the subject of good works. He it is who said, “Faith work ed) by love,” Gal. 5. 6. He speaks of faith as the living principle ; of love as the motive power ; and of good works as the result. Again, he says, “Unto them that obey not the truth but obey unrighteousness,indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish; but glory and honor and peace unto every man that worketh good.” Ro. 2 :8-10. The very same Apostle whose great mission was to teach that we are not saved on the ground of obedience to law, de scribes the fate of the disobedient by the wonjs indignation, and wrath, and tribulation, and anguish; and the same Aposfle who teaches the worthlessness of works as the basis of salvation, de scribes the future of every man that worketh good, by the words glory, and honor, and peace. Again, speaking of Christ, he says that, “being made per fect, he became the author of eternal life to them that obey him.” Heb. 5:9. Clearly, he makes Christ the author of eternal life, and he mentions obedi ence, not as the foundation of it, but as the sign that it exists in us. And finally he says : “Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” Ro. 2:13. Surely* Paul, the great advocate of justification by faith,says enough about doing. Even in the Epistle to the Ro mans, whose great object is to set forth this doctrine, and which is so often quoted by the modern apostles of in ertia, five whole chapters out of sixteen are devoted to the setting forth of good works. Having closed his argument with the eleventh chapter, he begins the twelfth with the familiar words : “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, ac ceptable to God, which is your reason able serviceand the remainder of the epistle, five chapters, consists of little else than a catalogue of practical du ties, with exhortations to discharge them. And with the exception of the doxology at the close, the very last words are these: "The obedience of faith,” that is, the obedience which springs from faith. The life of the Apostle is in harmony with his teachings. No man ever had faith more unbounded or more enthu siastic, in the power of the blood of the atonement; no man ever more thor oughly repudiated anything that men can do, or say, or think, or feel, or be, as the basis of our hopes; and yet no man was ever more zealous of good works; and the facts of his life are as powerful an exhortation to Christian activity as any to be found in the Sa cred Scriptures. If he was great as a teacher and preacher, he was even greater as a worker and as a missionary. It is not necessary to appeal to James for authority for good works; Paul sup plies us with authority enough. And it was Jesus Christ himself who said: “He that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them,” and Jesus Christ himself “went about doing.” Acts 10:38. It is said that the papers, addresses and five-minute speeches of the-Metho dist Ecumenical Conference were so dull, that many of the American mem bers spent the two weeks chiefly in visiting the sights of London—one delegate giving to the Conference only an hour 1 JUDGE COX. And who is Judge Cox ? Well, he is the Judge who is presiding in the trial of Guiteau ; and he is now the ob ject of newspaper denunciation all over the United States. And what has brought this about? Simply this: the man Guiteau, being either insane or pretending to be so, constantly in terrupts the proceedings in the most outrageous manner, with all the freaks of a madman; while some of his an tics, and some of his shrewd replies, move the bystanding crowd to laugh ter, sometimes noisy. All this, of course, gives to proceedings which ought to be dignified and solemn, the appearance of a caricature and a bur lesque. Consequently, the newspaper critics pronounce the whole to be a farce and a disgrace; and unmeasured abuse is heaped on Judge Cox on account of it. Why does he allow such shameful con duct ? Why does he not abate such an intolerable nuisance ? If he has no respect for the temple of justice and no respect for the country, has he none for himself ? What a pity that this important trial should be held before a man so hopelessly and disgracefully incompetent! All this is sheer nonsense. What can the Judge do ? He cannot send the creature to jail; for this would stop the proceedings. The prisoner has a right to be tried publicly and in the presence of his accusers. The Judge has no right to put him in irons ; and if he were to do so, this would not stop his mouth, and he would probably be more boisterous, if possible, than he is now. He has no right to gag him ; for the prisoner has a right to speak, and moreover if he were gagged, the fact might affect the jury and influ ence their verdict. The Judge has no right to pronounce him insane and treat him accordingly ; for that would be taking the case out of the hands of the jury, who alone have the right to decide that question. What can he do ? Nothing. He is simply power less. Such a case was perhaps never heard of before; and at any rate, our lawmakers never anticipated any such thing, and have not provided for it. The Judge is conducting the trial ac cording to the law as it is, and most of the censure which is visited upon him is as cruel as it is unjust. To us it appears, that all this harsh and merci less criticism is far more disgraceful to the American people, than the alter nate ravings and buffoonery of the poor wretch who is on trial. If he is really insane, it is simply his misfor tune, and is no disgrace either to him or to anybody else. If he is merely simulating insanity, he has a motive for doing it, and is no doubt acting under the advice of his counsel' In either case, nothing that he can do, can detract from the fair fame of any body. But for thousands of people, sane people, to indulge in scurrilous railing against a high officer of the law, who wears the ermine, and who repre sents the judicial authority of the United States, when he is faithfully discharging his duty according to law, is indeed a disgrace, and is calculated to bring all officials, and all courts, and all laws, and all authority into con tempt. The whole tendency of such things is to mobocracy and anarchy Three madcaps have already attempted to assume the office of the sheriff, and to execute the man before trial, which the sheriff himself has no right to do. Some thousands, very few of whom probably know what the law is, and what the rights of the prisoner are, are virtually constituting themselves Judges; while perhaps half the popu lation have constituted themselves ju rors, and without hearing the evidence, have already decided the case. What a ridiculous figure we must present to the eyes of the civilized world, now turned upon us 1 It is the great fault of the American people that they are not afraid “to speak evil of dignities.” This was really the “inspiration” of Guiteau. If there had not been a deluge of news paper articles denunciatory of Presi dent Garfield, the mind of the assassin would never have been worked up to the necessary pitch to do the deed. Os course, the scribblers never dreamed of such a result; but their onslaughts on the President were in a moral sense, at least, a part of the res gesta. The indecent assaults on Judge Cox are of the same character, and have the same tendency. Some half crazy man, or some drunken man, or a fool may feel called upon to vindicate the dignity of American justice by shooting the Judge, and in justification of himself, might quote newspaper articles as his “authority,” just as Guiteau has done. We never saw Judge Cox, and never heard of him until recently; we know nothing of him, except that he is the of ficer of the law, whose right and duty it is to preside in this case; and we pro test against any attempt on the part of “the public” to assume his functions. “Honor the king,” is a divine precept now, as fully as when the Apostle Peter uttered it; and if the expression is specific, its meaning is generic, and should be held in reverent regard un til the end of time. ♦ Rev. Harvey Hatcher, owing to the long illness of his wife, has dissolved his editorial connection with the Bibli cal Recorder. His wife has since died, after extreme suffering for fifteen months, and we hope he will return to the paper. Death of Rev. Frank Quarles.— It is with sincere sorrow that we an nounce the death, on Saturday last, in the city of New York, of our beloved Negro brother, Rev. Frank Quarles,the faithful and efficient pastor of one of the largest Baptist churches in the State. Brother Quailes was a man of great influence among the people of his own race, and was held in high es teem by all. His education was very imperfect, it is true, but he was a man of strong natural sense, and if he had not read much, he had heard much, and heard to profit; and, as a religious teacher, was far superior to many who have had better opportunities. He undeistood clearly the essential truths of evangelical religion, which is much more than can be said of many a schol arly divine ; and, in his simple way, he proclaimed these truths faithfully and fervently. He was, at the time of his death, President of the Georgia Baptist Missionary Convention and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Atlanta Baptist Seminary. He kept himself free from all en tanglement with politics, and thus has a more creditable record than many whom we could name, and ‘ gained for himself a good standing,” (New Ver sion,) “and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 3. 13. His place will be hard to fill, but we trust that God, in his own time, will raise up a successor as devout, as sound in the faith and as zealous of good works. gi.impsesandhints. A Baptist minister expresses, in our Selma contemporary, the fear that “the floods last Summer washed away a great deal of the missionary fund” in his section. Might not Christians there very well set down what was washed away by the flood to the ac count of their arrearages in missionary contributions through former years, and bring up the fund for this year in full, lest what they hold back now some fu ture floods may sweep off ? Rev. C. H. Stillwell, of Rome, has been bereaved by the death of his son, Geo. 8., at his residence in Missouri. He died Nov. 6 th, of a wound from the accidental discharge of a friend’s gun, when out hunting. We tender the afflicted father and mother our earnest sympathy, and commend them to the grace of God. The Disciples (of the school of Alex ander Campbell), have a missionary at Constantinople, Rev. Mr. Shishmanian, and a church of twenty-one members Rev. J. A. McMurry, of Bartow County, desires to remove to Texas and to obtain pastoral work in that State. We are not ready to part with him here in Georgia, and “move a re consideration” of his purpose. (Since the foregoing sentences were written, we have seen Bro. M., and were pleas to learn that he has decided to remain in Georgia.) A $23,000 church has just been fin ished by the Colored Baptists* of Lynch burg, Va., —a strong body even before the war, and (we are glad to see) re taining and increasing its strength. The Moscow correspondent of the Cologne Gazette, reciting the consider able increase, over a large area, of the Baptist “sect” founded in Tiflis, Rus sia, only ten years ago, by Martin Kalweit, a German emigrant, (the con verts being numbered by thousands,) says; “The Russians seem to take readily to the Baptists, as they are im mersionists by education and the prac tice of the Greek Church, and conse quently have nothing to learn or unlearn on this particular point, and they are far from being satisfied with the grotesque forms and innumerable ceremonies which enter into the wor ship of the National Church.” W. E. Penn, the Texas Baptist Evangelist, says that over three hun dred children of ministers have made a profession of faith in his meetings. The Herald of Truth thinks that “a Pan-Baptist Council is not, after all, wholly absurd, but may come yet.” Indiana Baptists report “a great ad vance all along the line, within the last decade, in spirit and social standing." We hope that this was said by some one who has been of their number for more than ten years. The words which we are now to quote, were written in this year of Grace, 1881, little as some of our read ers might think it. The Catholic Mir ror, after saying, “All men and women who die free from the guilt of mortal sin, will see God forever in heaven,” proceeds to say, “As for infants who die unbaptized, they will not enjoy the Beatific Vision.” Pedobaptism is not content with dragging infants into the church, thus corrupting her purity; but it claims to shut them out of heaven, and thus to wreck their immor tality. May we not hate it ? and grieve for those who are “snared and taken” by it ? A correspondent of the Journal and Messenger speaks of a Baptist church which “inside of three, years” has had twenty accessions to its membership, but has not once observed the Lord’s supper in that time. Is it any more a “church” than it would have been, if it had abolished or suspended baptism for the same period ? The Lutheran Standard alleges that “Methodism has cultivated Liberalism and fostered Latitudinarianism.” GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS. i < --Griffin News: Our Baptist friends have had a meeting to supply the va cancy in their church, caused by the ■ resignation of Dr. Mitchell, and we ( learn that a call has been extended ( Rev. Mr. McCall, of Hawkinsville, to , take charge of the church. Report ; credits this gentleman with a good . reputation as a preacher, and many , excellent qualities as a pastor. If he , should accept, he will find the station a pleasant one. —Columbus Enquirer Sun: We were yesterday informed that Rev. R. J. Willingham, of Talbotton, has accepted the call to the care of the Barnesville Baptist church, and that he will move to that town. Mr. Willingham is quite a young man, but is already prominent among the ministers of his denomina tion. He is a rising minister who will ere long be classed as one of the lead ing divines in this section. Barnes ville is to be congratulated that he has accepted their flattering call. —Warrenton Clipper: Several show men were out to hear Rev. E. R. Cars well on Sabbath night, one or two of whom raised the hand for prayer. The subject was repentance, and was one of the best sermons we ever heard. Rev. A. I. Hartley arrived from Au gusta Monday. His arm was ampu tated a few inches below the elbow, and it has healed, with what is known as ‘the first intention.” Dr. Campbell, who performed the operation, thinks the disease merely local, and that the operation will certainly prove a perma nent relief, if no misfortune results from any other cause. —Rev. A. C. Rainwater writes from Powellton to the Warrenton Clipper: “The white Baptist church here, in their conference last Saturday (Nov. 26th), gave us a unanimous call to the pastorate of the church for next year. We have not accepted their call. Our health for the last two years has been very infirm, and for this reason we, some time ago, requested our charges to release us from pastorate work for at least one year. We have succeeded very poorly in getting our brethren to grant us the request. We made the request believing it would be better for both preacher and people; and we are still of the same opinion. Though, if our brethren think differently, and we can be satisfied that their choice is divinely directed, we are tvilling to do the best we can.” —Turin correspondent of the New nan Herald: Dr. Woolsey concluded his pastorate with the church at the Burg on Saturday and Sunday last. For three years the Doctor preached to the church of this place with accep tance and great profit to the church and people, and he cairies with him the warm sympathy of many of this section. The church at Ramah may congratulate itself on having obtained the services of one who is sound in word and doctrine. —Rev. R. T. Hanks in Albany News and Advertiser: “The Bethel Associa tion met with the Camilla Baptist church last week, and the whole com munity joined in entertaining the dele gates and visitors. It was the unani mous opinion of the delegates that this session was one of the most delightful, if not the most delightful, of the body since its organization, and the un bounded hospitality and Christian spirit with which we were received and entertained contributed very largely to making the meeting just what it was. We came away feeling it was good to be in the sweet houses of Camilla, with her orderly people. Camilla has arisen Phoenix like from the ashes, and has put on new life and beauty. Your correspondent cannot make a better wish for her than that she may be as successful in business as she has been in dispensing Christian hospitality.” —Talbotton Register: A proposition is pending between the Baptist church at Barnesville and the Rev. R. J. Wil lingham, of this place, looking to a pastoral relationship. The Talbotton Baptist church and the citizens of the town are not willing to give up Mr. Willingham, and are making an effort to keep him. Milledgeville Union and Recorder: Dr. S. Landrum, of Maeon, has resigned his position in the Mercer University, to take effect December Ist, to assume the pastorate of the largest Baptist church in New Orleans. This is quite a loss to Mercer, to Macon and his na tive State. —Rev. J. A. Ivey has resigned the pastoral care of the Dawson Baptist church, and Rev. W. J. Mitchell, of Griffin, has been called as his successor. Mr. Mitchell has not yet accepted. —Augusta News: Rev. W. T. Cheney returned Saturday night from an ex tended trip through North Georgia. He visited Rome, Marietta and Car tersville, and gave elocutionary read ings to highly favored audiences. He visited the Exposition .on his return and was much pleased *with it all, especially the Kansas exhibit. Mr. Cheney returned in time to fill his pul pit in Curtis church yesterday. Rev.T. H. Stout expects to remain in Troy, Ala., the coming year, and preach to churches adjacent to that town, and among them to Benevolence church, near Fort Valley, Ga. —We have been informed that Rev. R. J. Willingham lias decided to settle in Barnesville and give the Baptist church three Sabbaths services, and will probably accept the call of Milner church for the other Sabbath. —Macon Telegraph and Messenger: Yesterday was quite an exciting day at Mercer University. It was the occasion of the election of the anniversarians and public debaters of the Ciceronian and Phi Delta literary societies of that institution, and unusual interest was manifested among the young gentlemen as to the choice. The following were the elections: Ciceronian Society—Anni versarian, Walter M. Ryals, K. A., Car tersville, Ga. Debaters—F. B. Gregory, S. A. E., Lumpkin, Ga.; C. E. Battle, S. A. E., Columbus; Clem P. Steed, A. T. 0., Macon. Phi Delta Society—An niversarian, William S. Howell, A. T. 0., White Plains, Ga. Debaters, Hugh H. Kilpatrick, K. A.,White Plains, Ga.; Hewlette A. Hall, K. A., Newnan, Ga.; John P. Ross, P. D. T., Fort Valley, Ga. The above young gentlemen will, no doubt, eloquently acquit themselves and reflect the highest credit upon Mercer University. The places to which they have been chosen are ones of great honor. The anniversary cele bration of the societies will occur the latter part of May. The public debate will be held at the later date. —Lafayette Messenger: In Septem ber last R. 0. Tucker, of Walton county, the father of Rev. T. C. Tucker, of Walker county, was received into the Baptist church by baptism. At the eleventh hour 1 e has entered the Mas ter’s vineyard. —Elder F. M. McLeroy has been called to the pastorate of Beaverdam church for 1882. —Talbotton Register: The Rev. J. A. Ivey, of Dawson, has accepted the call of the Baptist church at this place. He comes highly accredited as a most ex cellent gentleman and zealous pastor. —LaGrange Reporter: Rev. M. B. Hardin preached, on last Sabbath, an eloquent and stirring sermon on the duty of giving the heart to Christ. One cannot hear Mr. Hardin without being impressed by his remarkable gifts of speech, intense earnestness, and Christ like spirit. His pulpit abilities are of the first order, but the man is even better than the sermons. —The West Point Baptist Sunday school was recently re-organized, and Maj. W. S. Jackson elected superin tendent. —Hartwell Sun: Rev. L. W. Stephens filled his last appointment as pastor of the Baptist church last Sunday. Rev. Chas. A. Stakely, the new pas tor of the Baptist church at this place, will assume pastoral charge on the second Sunday in this month. —Eastman Times: The Sunday school Convention of the New Ebene zer Association, held at Bethlehem church on Saturday and Sunday last, was in every way a success. The friends in the community had made ample perparations for the entertain ment of delegates and visitors, and the occasion was indeed a pleasant and, it is hoped, a profiitable one. —Crawfordville Democrat: Rev. Green Johnson (col’d) baptized seventeen males and twenty-four females at Level Hill Baptist church on Sunday, Nov. 13th. There is a revival in progress which commenced on the second Sun day in October under the auspices of Rev. James Horton, of Wilkes county, and will continue until the second Sunday in December. There was also a sermon at night by Rev. David Lewis, from Luke 4th chapter and 13th verse. —Arrangements are making for a. missionary meeting in Atlanta next Sabbath. Rev. H. A. Tupper, D. D., Corresponding Secretary of our Board / at Richmond, will be in attendance, together with Revs. C. W. Pruitt and W. S. Walker—the two Georgia Baptist ministers who are to sail, in a few weeks, for China. Let us give them such a welcome and farewell as is due to ourselves, to them, and to the cause of the world’s conversion. —Rev. Dr. Douglas, formerly a mis sionary among the Telugus of India, and now Secretary of the American and Foreign Bible Society, occupied the pulpit of the First Baptist church, Atlanta, last Sabbath night. He gave a simple and clear but thrilling account of his former field, its need of the Scriptures, and the adaptation of the Scriptures to it. The purpose of his work—to supply the world with faith ful versions of the Word of God— touches many chords of sympathy in the hearts of Southern Baptists. —Watkinsville Advance: The work on the new Baptist church is greatly retarded in consequence of inability to get wagons to haul the lumber. The Synod of Harrisburg, at its ses sion in October, sustained the action of Huntingdon Presbytery, in ordaining a minister, who “was not clear that there is a plain warrant in Scriptures, for the office of ruling elder, as separate and distinct from the teaching elder,” but thought that “originally there was but one order, and that the differ ence J which appeared early in the apostolic churches grew out of circum stances and qualifications and was a difference of functions rather than of order.” A correspondent of the Presby terian says: “It will be found, upon investigation, that this is the interpre tation given to the passages bearing upon the subject by many of the beat critical expounders of the New Testa ment, and accepted by some of the soundest and most scholarly ministers, , even in the Presbyterian Church.”