This Day in Presbyterian History
-
January 28:
-
This Day in Presbyterian History: Death of Joseph A. Alexander Joseph Addison Alexander, third son of the Rev. Archibald and Janetta (Waddel) Alexander, was born in Philadelphia on 24 April 1809. His early education was obtained under the immediate supervision … Continue reading
The Continuing Story
-
Academic Freedom, by G. Aiken Taylor (1963)
January 17, 2012
-
Working through some pamphlets and other materials donated by Dr. Will Barker, I came across this little tract, which may be of interest. It is a reprint of an article that first appeared in THE PRESBYTERIAN JOURNAL, on 30 January 1963. ACADEMIC FREEDOM Examining the idea that teachers are above the rules ordinary mortals go... Continue reading
Additional Items post to the PCA Historical Center’s blog, The Continuing Story.**
Pictured above, Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield at age 13. Photograph dates to 1864. From an original copy preserved at the PCA Historical Center.
On the Revision of the Confession of Faith (1890)
Written by Dr. Benjamin B. Warfield in 1889 in opposition to modernists andothers seeking to “downgrade” the confessional standards of the Church. In typical Warfield fashion, he provides brilliant insight into the substance of the debate and a devastating critique of the errors promulgated by Dr. Charles Briggs and others who would dilute the Westminster Standards.
Posted: The History Behind the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, by Dr. George P. Hutchinson.
New: “The Third Revision of the Directory of Worship” (PCUS, 1885)
- (recent.html) Articles on the Diaconate
Main Links
- PCA Position Papers
- RPCES Documents
- PCA Congregations
- 50 Oldest Churches in the PCA
- PCA Presbyteries
- PCA Agencies
- PCA Book of Church Order
- Historical Development of the PCA Book of Church Order
- History Matters
- Search for a PCA Logo
-
Text Resources
-
Historical Center Info
Newly posted, from The Presbyterian Quarterly:
Selected Quote from “The Deaconship,” by the Rev. Jame B. Ramsay (p. 15):
“But, it may be asked, of what use are deacons to take care of the poor in churches where there are no poor, or but two or three ? That, indeed, is a sadly defective state of the church where there are no poor; there must be something very deficient in its zeal and aggressiveness, if amidst the multitudes of poor around us, and mingling with us, there are none in the church itself. When we remember that Christ in his message, sent to John the Baptist, declares it to be a proof of his Divine mission, worthy to stand at the close of the brief summary of his most striking miracles, as of equal or even greater convincing power; and that the adaptedness of the Gospel to come down to the most despised and degraded of our wretched race—to seize and elevate the vast masses of humanity from their down-trodden condition—is one of its most distinguishing characteristics, and one of the most striking proofs of its Divine origin—Is it not evident that any church that fails to gather in the poor, fails in accomplishing one great design of the Gospel, and in presenting to the world one of the most convincing proofs of the truth and power of Christianity ?” [emphasis added]
- Campbell, W.A., “The Power of the People in the Government of the Church” TPQ 8.3 (July 1894): 404-415.
- English, T.R., “On Licensure,” TPQ 5.1 (January 1891): 100-107.
- Jacobs, Ferdinand – “On the Examination of Ministers” TPQ 4.2 (April 1890): 289-294.
- Lapsley, R.A., “Has the Southern Presbyterian Church Any Distinctive Principles?” TPQ 15.3 (July 1901): 414-430.
This is an interesting article on several levels. Regrettably it reflects the segregationism of that era, in a brief comment on page 416. Curiously however, that same comment also makes it clear—at least in Lapsley’s view—that segregationism was not a distinctive of the Southern Presbyterian Church.
But the main point of Lapsley’s article has to do with a comparison of PCUS and PCUSA polity, and it is for this latter reason that the article is being presented here.
- Palmer, Benjamin M. – “The Ancient Hebrew Polity,“ The Presbyterian Quarterly 12.2 (April 1898): 153-169. [.pdf only]
- Smith, Samuel M. – “The Presbyterian Pastorate” TPQ 3.2 (April 1889): 256-261.
On the Value of Records:
“The American writer, Bell Hooks, in her latest book, Belonging: A Culture of Place (New York: Routledge, 2009), gives us this interesting perspective on the value of the record: ‘In the past I have often scoffed at those folks who cannot go anywhere without a camera, a recording device, video, without some instrument to document for the future. Now that I have witnessed the deep pain and grief that can be caused by loss of memory, through illness, dementia and Alzheimer’s …, I can acknowledge the value of documentation for a future time. I know firsthand what a blessing it is to have a record – a way to remember that goes beyond the mind.’ ” (pp. 185-186).
[from the blog, Reading Archives, by Richard J. Cox]
