Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-22
For the Patriot.
The Graves TrIaI-NashviIIe Chris
tian Advocate.

The last issue of the Nashville Christian Id
rocate looms with what ii would style Il notice
of the charges preferred against and trial Of
Ed J. r. Graves, now pending in the First
Baptist Church.
The article is characteristic of that paper.
1t is difficult for it to know how 10 treat an
oppOnen: with that christian bearing that
should characterize all religious journals;
more especially is this the case, when that OPP
poaent has taken it upon himself to examine
into and call in question the orthodoxy of the
Methodist fraternity. 1
1t may not be known to your readers gen
orally, but it is known TO the readers of the
IAdcocqte and the Tennessee Bqpta. that the
former paper has let slip no timely oppor-
tunity to malign and diSparage the moral
character of the editor Of tie latter; and it is
not now to be a matter of surprise. now that
Graves prof'ssed brethren lare end~avoring
TO put him down, that thesNashvil!e Mctho-
dist Adg,cate should step in and with 'blun-
darb,iss wei charged" "JHlg array" But we
are happy TO be able to inform that paper,
that it's work, as heretofore will prove harm
less in the premises. | know and assert 1t as
fact that the great body of the Baptists in
the Southwest portion nf the First Church
and few others excepted-are with Graves
in has editorial course. And although por-
tion of the said church has given the AdOOcdte
an opportunity to strlte bloW, that blow will
fall as harmless as the thrust of an infant.
Lay not the fla ttering JUNCTION to your
heart Mr.. AdUocate, that whatever Graves
may hereafter write and publish tending to
show the orthodox position of the Methodist
church, will fall "still-born." No sir, he VIII
continue to write and to preach and to vindi-
cate the truth of the gospel, despite the puny
efforts of his enemies
will quote a short paragraph from the said
article:
1--WE must admire the courage of Dir. Howell
and others, and of the editors of the Baptist
papers at Tuskegee, Ala, and Charleston, 5.
c.. who undertook Mr. Graves. They have
brought him to trial. As every Methodist
has long known, there is no difficulty in sus
tanning ont of the Tennessee Baptist. charges
of the kind brought. Whether those chris
tan gentlemen who stand up for the truth (?)
and honor of the church, having brought Mr..
Graves to the bar, can hoLd him there and be
sustained by their denomination at large, re
mains to be seen"
The AdUocne admires the "ccurgge' of Drs.
Howell, Henderson and Tustin. That may
be true, but what will it have TO say of their
'judgme,t" and prudence at the winding up of
this .farce.
Every Methodist knows there is no diff
Guilty in sustaining. out of the Tennessee Bap-
tist, the charges" All! think you SO? 1t
seems to me that the subscribers of the Bap-
list, some II or 900, being readers Of the
paper, ought to know full as well as the
Methodist, whether the course of ]. K. Graves
is slanderous and libelous.
The AdUocdte says it remains to be seen
great body of the Baptists. Yes, that is the
question. And will it allow me to premise?
If 50 it will be thus: Long after those who
would destroy the christian life and moral
getfulness, he uiH sill lire in the Acarts of his
brethren.
The Adrocate rejoices not in iniquity bit IN
the hutt." but would rejoice in seeing Ed J.
Il. Graves crushed to the death. Wei Mr.. Id
rocqte, if you shall live to see that event, it is
quite presumable you oeW chronicle the eUeat.
| advise all lovers of truth and justice to
procure a copy of the last Methodist .ldvooate
and read what its editor has to say in the
premises. j. Il. RUTLAND.