The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-30
Methodist Close Communion

Methodist Close Communion.
10 NE Editor IF tie Gl0Je:-NIy only
apology for sending the accompying article
TO YOU, is that il has been refused by the
Wrald, in whose columns the discussion
was commenced The article of mine
which appeared in that paper, was IA simple
statement generally of acknowledged facts
10 this Mr.. Austin replied at considerable
length. denying my position. and challcng-
ing me to produce my authorities and then
entering upon u discussion of the entire
communion question.
To this article could hardly help reply
my. and never doubted that paper which
had published a challenge would allow the
challenged party to answer through its
columns \ few days after the manuscript
hal been sent to the U9uM, | received it
by the hand Of mutual friend, with the re-
mark that the editor was willing TO publish
il, but wished me 10 modify some express
sons which he thought severe, and which
he feared would offend some of his readers.
thought il little strange that he had
not been as particular about offending his
readers when he published Mr.. Austin's
article, but Notwithstanding this, | made
the alterations suggested, and studied brc-
yity so that this with my first article,
would not occupy the space which had
been given to Mr. Austin.
A few days after ! had sent it to the
HeraM the second time, my attention was
called to an editorial in that paper, which
attempted something like review of the
controversy, but which was so untrthful
and unjust that | could hardly credit my
senses while reading it.
In it the Editor states that Mr.. Johnson's
article, which had called out mine, "was
in the interests of peace" Now had he
kept himself posted in the matter, he
would have known that the quotation from
Dr. Hodges speech which made up the
bulk of that article, was a direct attack up
on two of the leading denominations of tho
country, episcopal and Baptist and that
it called forth protests from the leading
IllNil anu l'hlltIo III lutSt
and that at last DR.. Hodge wrote letter
to the Examiner ami Chronicle, in which
he apologized for the speech, by stating
that he made it in the interests of no de-
nomination. that he did not intend to ex-
press the views of the Alliance, but simply
to state his OWE personal convictions.
And yet in the face of all this the Editor
of the HtraM says that he published this
very quotation, with commendatory re-
marks by Mr.. Johnson in the interests Of
peace
Then abiding to my article he passes to
Mr., Austin's lengthy reply, and speaks of
ii as a powerful article" thereby throw
ing the whole blame of the CONTROVERSY
upon me.
Now, If the HeraM had not wished for
this controversy, it should have stopped it
before ii commenced, or even after the ap-
pearance Of my article, ii should have con-
fined Mr.. Austin to a simple refutation of
my authorities, which occupied less than
one-eighth of column, and refused to
publish his challenge, or to allow him TO
enter upon his rambling and ncohcrcnt
discussion,
But more than this, the Editor Of the
He'aM having plead the case in the inter
ests OF my opponent, proceeds to give
Judgment against me, and then to preach
me sermon on the blesscdness of peace!
Now, what could have led to this strange
conduct what made the Editor of the
HeraM violate his promiscI do not
know. can only say that it looks as if
some Jesuitical influence had been brought
to bear upon him which he had not the
strength to resist.
Ia closing this review, | would say to
HIM that feel greatly obliged for his pious
advice, hut feel constrained to add that l!n.
til his moral sense is quickened lie can
hardly hope to succeed as a preacher and
That judging from some of his editorials he
had not better add to his already of diver.
'iiied employments. ID. 5.
LETTER TO THE HERALD.
In an article of mine which appeared in
tlc Iief0M rev weeks ago, l stated thai
the leading Evangelical denominations in
this country occupied precisely the same
position upon the communion question
and offered leading authorities in support
of my position.
| did not make this statement to pro
woke controversy, nor to strengthen my
position as Baptist but hoped by a sim
pie statement of facts to lead to bette
understanding of the views of the different
Evangelical churches upon this importan
question, and thereby furnish basis fol
cooperation in the leading benevolent en-
terprses of the day.
This article called forth lengthy
rejoinder from the Rev ii + Anstin, who
denied my position, as it regarded the Meth
odlst church and disputed my authorities
First. quoted this rule from Methods
manual; "Let no person that is not mem
Der of our church be admitted to the com
munlon without examination, and withou
some token given by an elder or deacon.
To this, Mr. Austin makes the following
verbose answer snow Bro. Spencer neyel
quoted that from any manual of the Metho
dist church; he never saw that quotation il
any manual of the Methodist church more
than this we challenge him to find it in an,
manual of the Methodist church."
| hereby accepted the challenge and sen,
to the GLOBE Office the manual, with IN,