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The Confessional Presbyterian Archive is a curated digital library dedicated to preserving and promoting the writings of 17th–20th century Presbyterian pastors, teachers, and leaders. Featuring thousands of searchable texts, biographies, and historical resources, the archive provides direct access to the primary-source materials of American Presbyterianism.

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The General Assembly [of 1876] at Savannah

Southern Presbyterian General Assembly at Savannah: elected Dr. B. M. Smith, appointed an official reporter, and urgently debated foreign missions funding amid a significant debt.
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A Question for Our Church

Discussion of who may vote in Presbyterian pastor elections, contrasting Church of Scotland practice with the American Form of Government and arguing from Scripture for representative polity.
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The Evangelist and the Presbytery

Contains a Sabbath defense and argues the General Assembly has no constitutional power to create foreign presbyteries; outlines the evangelist’s missionary powers and limits.
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The General Assembly [of 1877] at New Orleans

Report on the 1877 General Assembly at New Orleans: organization, debates over the Revised Book of Order, elections and committee work, and the opening sermon citing Luke 11 and John 16.
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The Late General Presbyterian Council at Edinburgh

A critique of the General Presbyterian Council at Edinburgh, assessing speeches on Christian unity vs denominational identity. Affirms true Christian unity can coexist with Presbyterian distinctives.
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Calvin and Servetus

From The Southern Presbyterian Review (1879): an essay debating the identity of the 'brethren of our Lord' with critical examination of texts, and a historical study of Calvin, Servetus, and Geneva's church-state relations.
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Plans of Church Finance

Examines church finance and the diaconate, comparing plans (subscriptions, pew rents, weekly collections) and debating secrecy, weekly offerings, and allocation for benevolence vs. expenses.
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The General Assembly [of 1879] at Louisville

Report on the Southern Presbyterian General Assembly at Louisville: committees, Sustentation renamed Committee of Home Missions, debates over leave, and declining support for foreign missions. Calls for renewed giving.
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The Recent Ordination at Hangchow

Discusses ordination and church jurisdiction in foreign missions, debating whether evangelists may ordain and Assemblies may form presbyteries abroad; defends flexible missionary ordination.
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Deliverances of Church Courts

Debate at the General Assembly over whether in-session deliverances of church courts are merely advisory or carry legal, binding authority under Presbyterian constitution and standards.
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Revision of the English Bible

19th-century Presbyterian debate over the American Bible Society's revisions of the English Bible—disputes about punctuation, italics, spelling, editorial authority, and ecclesiastical response.
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A Brief Reply to Dr. Wilson on Our Home Missions

Defense of centralized Executive Committees and Secretaries in the Southern Presbyterian Church. A rebuttal to Dr. Wilson’s critique of home missions, sustentation, and church governance.
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A Call to the Ministry

Examines how the Church discerns a divine call to the ministry: inward conviction, a people’s desire, and the presbytery’s judgment. Discusses reluctance, providence, and missionary example.
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A Thoroughly Educated Ministry

Defends a classically educated Presbyterian ministry against lowering standards for rapid growth, urging fidelity to doctrine, true revival, and measured methods.
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Memorial of James Henley Thornwell

Memorial of James H. Thornwell praising his steadfast defense and restoration of Presbyterian church government, discipline, and Scripture-based worship; likened to Calvin.
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The Chief Glory of the Nineteenth Century

Addresses evolution and, chiefly, the rise of nineteenth-century foreign missions— providential openings in Turkey, India, China, and William Carey’s sacrificial labors.
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The New York Observer’s Southern Correspondent

Defense of Genesis and Mosaic authorship against critics who cite antiquities; argues archaeology confirms rather than overturns Scripture. Also reports Presbyterian presbytery meetings and missions.
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A Calm and Candid Review of Some Speeches on Evolution

An 1885 Southern Presbyterian Review piece critiques debates at Columbia Seminary over teaching evolution, disputing whether seminary instruction must strictly follow church standards or permit scholarly freedom.
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Showing 14,341–14,360 of 22,006 items

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