Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-15
Great is the rumor of this dreadful knight -.

"Great is the rumOr of this dreadful knight
Shakespeare.
EDITORS APPEAL-BelieVing, as | sincerely
do, that you are ever disposed to correct any
unhappy rumor which by chance may find its
way In the columns of exchanges now so ex-
tensively read and copied; that your noble
sheet will protect the innocent, defend the
slandered, and meet out even-handed justice
to all parties, without fear or reward, l,
therefore, wish to call your attention to a
flying paragraph now going the rounds,
and inquire is not there some mis-
take in the statement of the Mem
phis correspondent, who, writing to the
Richmond Herald, says: 1.-The pastors who
left here during the epidemic are shorn of
their influence. One has had 20 resign, and
others will have to go. 1t is like an officer
deserving his post 10 battle; he can never re-
cover" This l have seen in two different
weeklies already. Now, l ask, is it true? l
do not live IN the city; but | thought | live
near enough (only two and half miles from
your cor porate imitsJ to know something of
the feelings OF the community, and mingling
freely with brethren of various deDomlna-
tlops, ak of whom seem TO be devoted to
their pastors, and ready to defend them in
the course they adopted, could not help
asking sis there not mistake in this state
ment?" And we'll they may defend; for
they profess to be called? Is it not to preach
the gospel? Matt. xviii, 1920 Mark
GIii, l4l tells us: HE ordained twelve, and
sent them forth to preach, while Luke liz, 81
affirms: They departed, and tceht through
the tOiOnS preaching the gospel. Imposing
other duties upon them, as the early disciples
were ready to do, the twelve called the multi
tude of the disciples unto them, and said: 1T
is not reason that we should leave the word
of God and serve tables. Wherefore, breth-
rem, look We cut among you seven men OF
honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and
wisdom, whom We may appoint over this
business. But we will give ourselves con-
ti'lHGILy to prayer and to the ministry OF the
word Acts vi, 4. Here then, Is their
legitimate work, Messrs. Editors, as your
re ders may further sse by consulting Eze-
kiel iii, 17-19; 2 Timothy, iiu, Is; l limo
thy, iii, 1916; Titus, i, 3. Why should
they be required by any outside pressure to
tarry In deserted cities, from whence their
have departed, on account OF
fearful scour9e, and become visitors and
nurses to those who are in no state whatever
70 comprehend the gospel? 1t is notorious
fact that minister, as such In his official ca
pacity, is rarely ever desired by the sick, be-
cause their minds are SO deranged by the dis
ease as incapacitates them for comprehen-
sion; and one good nurse is worth Infinitely
more than all the preaching and praying
which the minister could possibly perform.
And, alas, how many precious lives are lost
to the pulpit by the unreasonable voice of
an erroneous public sentiment. Plague and
pestilence, which disorders and depopulates
cities and binders 10 the work of evangelical
ton, is to be treated by the minister as the
Master taught when persecution stopped their
work or smut the gates against them.
when they prosecute you IN thls city flee
into another" Now had they desired fame
faA
have secured it by Laughing at the drawn
dagger and defying its point" But no; to
obey Is better than sacrifice. Jesus COM
manded them to flee, and why? Certainly
that they might preserve their lives
in order that ether cities might be preached
to. Hence we have the declaration found in
Acts vii: 4-"Eherefore they that were scat
tered abroad went everywhere preaching the
word" Tell me not it is the want OF moral
heroism that induced ministers to yield to the
solicitations of their membership and follow
thena to places of safety, where they gould
still prosecute their sacred calhng-E. E.,
''preach the word" II Timothy iv:2.
Was not Paul hero of the highest type?
And yet Paul, TO save his life to the church,
permitted his brethren to let HIM down over
the wall of Damascus IN a basket, and that
by night. Acts TX: 25. Not that he was
cowardly, Sinking from his post Of duty IN
the hour OF battle;" he felt his hour had net
come. But when Gods viii was that he
should no longer Grade his foes by flight.
how subIimely lowered his moral heroism!
No persuasion of friends. no entreaties of
brethren, weeping and falling on his neck,
could induce him to refrain from going up to
Jerusalem. Acts Xxx: 20. Then Paul an
,Wered: What mean ye to weep, and 10
break mine heart? For l am ready not 10 be
bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for
the name of the Lord Jesus" Acts, xxi: IL
Ia Was he hero then? None the less so
when at Damascus he dared to follow his
convictions OF duty. So there
are circu instances when a minister may feel
It his duty to remain IN an injected region at
1ne time, aud not at another, for some of the
ministers who left In 1878 remained in 1873.
All we contend for is, that public sentiment
If the correspondent Of the Herald be cor
rect IN his assertion) Is radically tOrOHg IN
;ondemnlng ministers for dong that which
Ill the authorities urged should Ice DONE. e.,
% evacuate the city Immediately, and thus
nd In preventing the unnecessary loss of life
md additional suffering. Hear the venerable
editor of the Herald, who speaks
II this unfortunate view of pub
&c sentiment. He says: my
observation of the results of the popular no.
ion that it Is the duty of ministers to remain
n places infected with epidemics, during the
prevalence of yellow-fever in Norfolk, some
ears ago, that it is false and perniciOuS.
Italics mine. He further says: MANY of
he ministers, in obedience TO this demand, |
emained in the city, and what was the re. |
ult OF their heroism? They were deserted, |
md very properly, by all the members of |
heir congregations who had the means Of |
scape. la the conste nation and confusion |
he pastors were left, at least some Of them |
we're, without the means Of support, and |
we're thrown upon Their Own resources Tor |
heir susteuance. Their puoiic religious ser |
lces Were entirely discontinued Even |
uneIal services were neglected, or attended |
MY by the undertakes and q few adyen- |
urous friends. 1t was rarely practicable to |
tsH tie sick ami minister religious console
ION. Soon the ministers were seized with |
he fever and added to the number to be
WSed, and, with few exceptions, to be
wied This fearful sacrifice was demanded |
y public sentiment, sentiment no doubt |
onest, but ihcOnsiderdte and pes'niciOus."
Now, Messrs. Editors, you are the men to
orrect public sentiment, which has grown
ut OF mlsc0nceptlon Of ministerial preroga-
ives. Protestant mInlste. do not hold to
he doctrine of extreme JUNCTION; they claim
o power TO forgive sins. They have TO do
nth the living, rational mind, and teach
nat Christ Is abundantly able to save to the
ttermost all who will k, repent and be-
eve, without the aid OF prie hands and
erIcal robes" Nothing but the blood Of
esus, elc. Ihen duiy is 10 make
nown this Christ by preaching. "How
len shall they call on Him IN whom
ley have not believed? and how shall
ley believe In HIM OF whom they have
OF heard? and how shall thsy hear
1Uhout a preacher" Rom. 10, IA, Is. A
Minister Of the gospel Is not, therefore, 10 be
into public nurse. And to
uote the lang uage OF the venerable editor
the Herald, we cannot but think: lit is
Donstrous Injustice to commend other men
'r their prudence IN leaving an infected city,
ed condemn ministers for their cowardlce
nd uniaithfulIess for the same conduct"
nd who that has any experience with yell
w fever cases docs not know that it rarely
Yer is thong ut practicable by physicians to in.
Jduce the subject OF religion at such an
our. Though having no charge of con-
regatIoD, at that time, IL your city, my
,arest church being thirlN mites off LlIHIun |