The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-28
ggieS.
Hear the Other Side.
122l WEST CLAY STREET,
RICHMOND, August &c, 1876. J

1921 WEST CLAY STREET,
RICHMOND, August 2G, 1876. !
Editor of the Dispatch:
Dear Sir,-Much has recently been said
in your paper concerning the action OF the
commissioners of the Methodist Episcopal
Church and OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church South on the subject OF fraternity !;
but to that, as the utterances OF political
organ, did not feel that it would be worth
willie to reply. Indeed, the calm and very
lust letter OF Rev. Mr.. Cheatham removed,
as hoped, all further stirring OF the mat
ter needless. But the letter OF Rev. Mr.
Steel this morning seems to render silence
almost impossible. When say that its en-
tremc violence OF language filled me with
amazement and Indignation, wish emphat-
icallv to disclaim all design to imputc wrong
motives, but simply allude to the well-known
fact OF human nature that men with the
unrest motives may be led by their feelings
to write things that convey to the reader an
impression utterly contrary to truth and
charity. 4 public newspaper is no
place in which to conduct controversy
Of this kind, but certain statements
made by Brother Steel shall not 60
uncontradicted-and my denial Is Ut
least as good rs his affirmation. l. We deny
that either in letter or in spirit any constl-
tutional sanction was invaded by us IN
1914. ,. We deny that we desire to restrict
the rights of any man in any section OF the
land. 3. We deny that the Methodist Epis-
copal Church has a political record any
more, or in any other sense, than the Metll-
odist Episcopal Church South. 1t is true
that most OF our members took one SIDE III
the late civil war, and most OF the members
H. nf1,n
actuatcd by conscientious convictions, and
I can tell the young brother who charges
such fearful crimes against us that the brave
men who fought on either side respect each
others convictions. Nor is the charge true
now. 1t is true that our Church members
mostly belong to one OF the two great poll
tical parties, but not anything like as unanl-
mously so as the members OF my brothers
Church belong to the other. If mine is a
political Church, what then is his: chal-
lenge him to find u corporaPs guard" IN
all Its 100000 members belonging to any
other party. They may be right IN their
political views, and they certainly believe
they are, but it does not lie in their mouths
to charge us with being Il political Church.
We believed slavery to be wrong, they be-
lievcd it to be right; they defended and we
opposed, but on grounds as remote from
politics rs the East from the west.
/, like Brother Steel, am in danger OF too
great length, but 1 wish to add that VIC
equally with Brother Steel rejoice in fratcr-
nifty, and equally deem organic union now
or in the near future utterly undesirable.
II we believed Of him and his people such
atrocious things as he charges against us we
never while the world stands would offer or
accept the fraternal hand. We abide, how
ever, by the noble declarations of the Cape
May address touching the status OF the two
Churches. / have had my say, and nothing
shall tempt me TO say more.
1t strikes me that when men who have
contended as vigorously as DIR. Myers, OF
the Church South, and DR.. Fuller, of our
Church, can reach the cordial agreement
they did at Cape May it is time for us young
men to quit fighting.
Yours truly, JOHN p. Otis.