What Is Dr Gibb's Standpoint?

Now, in view of all these facts, is it not too child-like and bland for the worthy doctor to assure you that, in voting now, "it must be borne in mind that you are not called upon to consider any basis of doctrine or polity for the proposed united Church"—only give Dr Gibb a roving commission to seek one. That is, you are not to have presuppositions, but Dr Gibb and Dr Erwin are! Dr Erwin, it is true, vaguely, and not too courageously, hints at this, by nibbling at points in the Confession, so that, if you did not know better, you would think our brother a terrible fellow. Dr Gibb's presup-positions, however, we are not entirely ignorant about; at least, we know what they are not—not yours, nor mine, nor your fathers'. If you want to know where the army is moving, keep in touch with the head of the column. Dr Gibb is the head of the column—and he, to be sure, has no presup-positions! And you are to reduce yourselves to a state of mental vacuity or imbecility, and vote as if "you were not called upon to consider any basis of doctrine"! "Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird"; and yet the Christchurch Presbytery were captured by the sophistry. What you are asked to do, under cover of a vote on the abstract question of Union, is to precipitate in this Presbyterian Church, with its handful of people, its ministers, none of them with the time or requisite qualifications for such a controversy, "that dreadful theological struggle" which Dr Briggs predicts, and which men of any insight will strive to avert from a small Church like ours. To say that the question before you is only the abstract question of Union is to deceive you.