Smyrna times., 1872-06-26
For the Smyrna Times." "
Our Church.

l saw in the TIMES, of June 1lth, that "our
church " has another bold defender under the
name "a o. Hand" Our learned friend
starts out strong and scars high. lie says
" | saw in the TINES, May 22d, a communca-
ton under the head of Our Church, signed
Pilgrim, and whether he is follower of Ma
homet and on a pilgrimage TO Mecca, or fol-
lower of some other leader or strange god, | |
know not. but judging him by his communica-
ton l should infer that he was not follower
OF the meek and lowly Jesus" Now let us
see how much A. O. Hand is a follower of the |
meek and lOwly Jesus Friend Hand, was not
Jesus reviled but revied not again, and did he
not say in his teachings, Blessed are they
which are prosecuted for righteousness sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven y; and
again, blessed are ye when men shall revile
you and persecute you, and shall say all man
ner Of evil against you falsely, for my sake,
rejoice ye, &c Now, Friend Hand, you are
encouraged to rejoice; instead of that you are
quarreng with Pilgrim for doing the same
thing that you are doing. Are you following Me-
hometf tell US for you have departed from
the spirit of Christ, and if any man have not
the spirit of Christ he is none of his" And
again, he says, =" do not justify the conduct
OF those he speaks of, if such there be- Now,
Friend Hand, be honest-don you know there
is such? Men who attend to their secular
business and stand around and talk politics on
the sabbath day you do know it, and what is
the use to try to cover it up by saying if such
there be-" But has Pilgrim pursued the
proper and Christian course in order to correct
the evil; let US see. Jesus, in his teaching to
his disciples Matt, 18th chap Is, l6, and II
: verses said: Moreover, if thy Brother shall
tresspass against thee, 20 and tell his fault be-
d tween thee and him alone if he shall hear
! thee thou hast gained thy Brother" &c
{ Now, friend Hand, are you teacher in Israeli
: How do you apply this passage of Scripture tx
!; !; PilgrimS He did not complain of any one
u tresspassing against him did he? This pas
e sage of Scripture is personal, and you canno
7 change it. Pilgrim did not say that any on
r. was tresspassing against him-but against God
y Therefore, if thou bring thy gilt to the altar
y and there rememberest that thy brother has
d aught against thee leave there thy gift befor
81 81 the altar and go thy way first be reconcile
to thy brother and then come offer thy gift
VI This command is also personal; if it was nc
le so, who could go to our Lords table? Whe
a did you, friend Hand, 60 to the altar and ther
le leave your gift and become reconciled to you
brother?
10 You acknowledge there is such men in ii
" church. But Pilgrim has published the faul
u. of his brethren to the world in new6pape
SUI deny this charge, because the Saviour sa
ss "WhO is my mother? He that doeth the W
tlc of my Father, the same is my mother, sist
ut and brother" therefore, they are not brethrt
oI because they keep not the commandments
Il In God. | say have not published them to Il
k5 world, because they are the world themselve
:cu and the world knows its own. To injure Il
.ls- church of God! Friend Hand, has Pilgri
Ter injured the church Of God because he
Dy spoken against corrupt ring? In my opinio
ere the corruption that Pilgrim speaks of iniur
&c the church great deal more that Pilgrim h'
OF Again, =" We would advise Pilgrim to hui
TOT bic himself and lay aside his green glasses
gsf gfet Friend Hand, are you honest? How can y
the the see any good in corruption, with or witho
Tue glasses? You cannot advance the Maste
au H., Kingdom by covering up sin-so you are oil
n'y sandy foundation, as much so as Pilgrim.
,I ,Iu And here is Resident again. Well, do
1ne feel like wasting my ammunition on wild gar
" because find nothing in him but the same
hey glowl-like a ravenous beast that has b.
kee 3 robbed of its prey-and because him q
/. iasi s. A. o. Hand we're born both at one time,
OF they are twin brothers at least
ven PuGRTAI