Rare Book Monthly
Articles - October - 2003 Issue
The Doctrine of Caiaphas by Rev. David Murdoch D.D.
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Monday Morning, September 3, 1860
Rev. and Dear Sir,
I received your kind letter Saturday noon, but the pressure upon my time, in order to get our academy building ready for use this morning, was so great, that I have scarcely been able to give your suggestion any consideration, and this morning finds me no less absorbed; yet I cannot bear a hasty and brief reply. I am very favorably impressed with your suggestion, and I can see clearly how, by a word or a nod in the right direction, from the right quarter, just now, all schism may be quelled, and yourself and our church working in unison, though separately, the cause of Christ advanced thereby, and souls saved. An object like this should certainly engage our first desires, rather than any selfish ends. Sacrifices, great sacrifices, should be submitted to, if necessary, to accomplish such an object. How we need wisdom from above – lest our prayers be for it.
I will do what I can. I have broken the ice in the hardest spot. I have foreshadowed your plan to Dr. Beadle, Mr. Gillett, and Mr. Beach, all I have been able to see, and I am a little disappointed to begin with. It took better than I anticipated. Mr. Gillett viewed it favorably; Mr. Beach commended it quite warmly; Footnote no. 5 Dr. Beadle was far from denouncing it, but viewed it with suspicion, as a matter of course. We must not, however, take him as any criterion. The matter must be managed prudently, confidingly, and charitably, if it is to succeed.
Since the gossip has got abroad that you had leased the old Episcopal church, all sorts of rumors have been rife. I have insisted that you had a good motive, as now appears. When the people become satisfied that your motives are pure, and that you have no desire to harass the church, I believe all will come to a good termination. Dr. Beadle must not be expected to enlist very heartily; and those who think, under all the circumstances, that the Pastoral relation should be severed, must not be classed your enemies, or the peculiar friends of Dr. Beadle’s, as against you. I shall consider it no breach of confidence now to explain, publicly or privately, yet cautiously, your position; but if you have objections, I should be glad to be informed at once, before I trespass.
I firmly believe, as I have before held, that, if you would throw yourself unreservedly into the hands of the congregation, you would not suffer; and I am, more than ever, convinced that, had my counsel, given with the best of motives and friendly feelings, been wholly, or even in part, followed, a great deal of wear and tear of spirit would have been saved, all in better shape. I have not an ill feeling laid up: others probably, may have.
Hastily as I have turned the matter over, I have thought that to-day may not be the most proper or the best time to take any action upon the subject of a mission church. Some explanation may be proper. It is a subject for prayer and mediation, and I incline to the opinion that it would be better to first bring the subject before a church meeting; and I would favor an early call of one for that purpose.
With kind regards for yourself and family,
I am, sincerely and truly yours,
Orrin Robinson
Footnote No. 5: See Mr. Robinson’s third letter, in which he says, “Dr. Beadle, in all our affairs, universally says NO, and is skeptical of all new moves.” The NO has it now. Mr. R. dare not peep not mutter since.
Query. Was the above letter written to lull suspicion till the “snap judgment” could be obtained? I do not believe it: but of what other use has it been?
