The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-08-10
For tbs Transcript.
ToLEnA, Aug. 18th 1865.

Dear Sir: -.
In an editorial under tho heading Of
"Locan, in ,unr Est Issue YOU say
some thing Of the clergy of this town
which ems to me to call for lit,lp
notice. You represent them as ''per
scouting" and "deuouncing" "a M
Shook Of Marion, who advocates the
inctrinc Of the second Advrnt isis"
Yet while they are engaged in a trade
Of persecution they are not manly or
lcnges which he has presented to dis
cuss the bible on ,hcSo points, and dc
tena the bible and the holy religion they
advocate
Now Mr. Editor as t. he ministers
o! Toledo prosecuting NJ. Snnok tha,
! il new ana very strange t. me. l have
been out of town considerable part Of
the time since lie came here and If
cour>e,~lo no: know all that my bre'h
rem Of the ministry haze said ana done
If there has been any combination
FOR ned, by the ministers, 10 pcr>ccul.
| Mr.. Shook | know nothing about il. a.
If any Individual has prosecuted o.,
| scnffrd at him, or his doctrines. Of that
am ignorant. | certainly wnnll n.a
approve Of any such a course f Er
ccln e
While abhor every distinctive dee
trinr advocated BY Mr.. Shook, respect
the man as an crr,ng brother Ut the RAJ e
# Adam. and have, and will continue
to treat him with civlli,y.
| am bound ~ no law, moral ~
civil, to atf .rl means, d, f.cil,ics IT,
propagate his peculiar doctrines, No
more sir, than you would be bon, Il /"
provide facilities for any South Carol;n
coprerheal to PROF agate his alsorgahz
ing doctrines.
Suppose yourself 4 levou', conscien
,iou> christian, bound in conscience t j.
keep the Lords day (hp tirst da, T
the we.k) as a sabbath, and Your wit"
becomes converted 10 the doctrine It
Mr.. Shook !; yonr domestic harrires
would be at an end. You and ven,
family must both keep ,wo sahha1}.s,
| or one or the Other violate YOU, cor.
cien,ious convictions. or be COMMUNIST
annoyance to each her. / know
something Of TIE disastrous cnnscuuon
COS which have followed in the line o!
Mr.. Shocks coaajnors. Bur | mus,
say not word, or Mr.. Weitinr. or
somebody viii charge me with s'rerse
cutting" or "scofiing' or "drncuncinn. :
l had always supposed that it was tht
privilege of every American citizen T.
speak, Of every public teachers doc
trines, with the utmost freedom. and il
il is thought to be danye, Gus TO the in.
'erests Of society, or contrary t. III
teachings Of the bible dennnnce it 4.
| sach. This IS no persecution as lone
Is the person Of the man. or his mora
character are not assailed. You a,e
riuh' in Your philosophy with respec,
to The lneypcliency cf all violent mean.
in staying tie progress OF new doc
hine Persecution il always wronn
and always ,tinries he cause Of The
persecnfor more ihan that If ii e pp,so
cuted. Ba, you are wrong III ,eur az
plica'lon Of Your good doctrine Mr.
Shook, to my knowledge, has NJ, beer
prosecuted by the ministers Of Toledo
A 10 accepting Mr. Shocks chalIen
ges | suppose We had right to ac, &C
cprdlng TO orr own views Of prorret,
on that question. Each of us has is
own work to do, and his own accou,
to give to his Master. A to myself 4
discussion with Mr.. Shook. AT this
time, was All imrnssibi'i'y, without
neglecting duties which supposed t.
/ paramount. Does Mr. W.iiny inlpe
that every nan who holds u doctrine
different from himself, has r,gh L.
demand his time al pleasure, To discuss
publicly with him Yea may have
other reasons than fear for declining thu
challenge Of even well trained pnel5si
You may think yourself better
employed or you may think that even
a victory would cos, much more than i
would tbe worth. As for NJ. Shook
would say that while / respect him as !,
man Of considerable ability his fear
has never been befnrc my eyes. | be
| lifva his whole system, As far az It Is
peculiar is founded on false interprcta
| ton OF scripture. This will be sl.awn
by the minister's # Toledo as soon as
We have time 10 d. II.
am certainly not opposed to discus
sion, and feel prepared to defend ever,
point Of doctrine which hold dilieren,
from the main doctrines taught by Mr..