Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-03-20
"WilI Not Do for tets Age Of Inyestiga.
tiOn and PrOgress-The Old PurI-
tanic Notion that Ministers are
Scarcely MOrtaIs, and Must
be Doomed to
''LOng Faces, Dreaming Voices, and Live
Among the TOmbs, VIII Not Do
1t Has a Tendency to CIOthe
Religion in False COlOrs, and
Makes 1t Hideous Instead
of Bright"


do this not through any prompting of the
cacoethes Scy'fbendi, bu6 On account OF the
magnitude of the question and the issues
involved. 1t is no puerile question of mo-
ment, Messrs. Editors, but one affecting the
standing, integrity, usefulness and lives OF
men charged with the greatest embassy the
world ever knew. Let us have no unkind
slurs, no unbrother cuts, but a manly chris
tian discussion of the question. Is it the
imperative duty of ministers to remain in
cities Scourged a0ith q fearful epidemic
a0he,t their flOcks and all iOhO can hare left?
That's the only question. Are they to oe os-
tracised for leaving with their congregation,
and ''shorn of their influence" for taking
care of their wives and childrenp Mime
answer to them that do examine me is this,
have we not power to lead about sister, a
wife, said Paul, as well as other apostles and
as the brethren of the Lord?'' Il Cor. tx, S.
Why then should ministers be required to
sacrifice their loved ones by remaining In
an infected district, when all others are
urged to leave? Why excoriate them for
doing what every sensible man is found
plOrinq the t. do? But you say,
Unfortunately for the brethren whose
cause Mr.. Barksdale pleads so atfectionately,
the people have made up their minds In their
case, and decided against them. The verdict
is sealed and irrevocable-" This Is where the
great misfortune lies. People will not think.
The masses are ever ready to receive popular
opinion, whatever that may be, as correct,
and claIaor for it without stopping to inquire:
SIS 1t right?" 1t is a very mistaken idea
that the roc popui Is indisputably the UOT
Del in every instance. Popular opinion IS
often wrong and SO glarngly so at times that
the scriptures admouish US: Thou shalt not
follow multitude to do evil; neither shalt
thou speak in cause to decline after many
to wrest judgment. (Ex. XIII, 2 prove
all things. hold fast that which is good" Il
Thes. V, 2l), is the divine injunction. Popu-
lar ooiaIon laughed to scorn the Son of God,
and cried: Cruelty him! Cruelty him!"
Popular opinion led to violation of God 8
most holy and wise law in the marriage
covenant, and Jesus corrected it. Matt. ",
3l-32.) Popular opinion has slain its thou
sands, and the W Mt Of moral courage to
withstand the current and break, like the
surge -repelling rock, the unreasonable pres
sure, its tens of thousands! The press and
the pulpit are the great factors in the torma-
ton Of public sentiment. and l feel 1t my
duty to cast what little influence l may pos
sess in favor of what | honestly conceive to
be the correct view OF this important ques-
ton. Ministers families are as dear to
them as to those who feel 1t their imperative
duty to fee with theirs from the land
of death. You called my attention to Paul
as one who was not ''afraid of the fever,
for he visited Pubiius and laid his hands on
him and healed him. Admit it. But are
ministers now endowed with such q miracu-
lous power? No one claims they a,e. Look
at the reading of the commission under
which they were sent forth: ''As ye go
raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have
received, freely give" Matt K, 7-9). This
power was to establish christianity in the
minds OF the people, according to prophecy.
Tne people lad been taught by the prophets
the signs by which the Messianic reign
should be known (see lisa. xxxv, 5, 6; Matt
TX, 49, II was this evidence which Jesus told
Johu s disciples to relate to their teacher,
who had sent them to inquire, art thou he
that should come, or look we for another?'
Jesus performed these miracles before them,
and then said: go and tell John what
things ye have seen and heard, how the
blind see, lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the
deaf hear, and the dead are raised" But
miracles having answered the purpose de-
signed are now Withdrawn from the church.
Ministers are no longer able ''to cure the fe-
yer" Their work is now limited to preach
ing the word, not curing diseases. AT prop
er times they are to visit the sick and admin
lister the consultations Of the gospel. When
are the proper times? When more good than
evil can be accomplished. Your correspond
eats have mlsapprehended me entirely.
YVES neUer an opportunity for doing good.
So far from saying this, | distinctly intima-
ted, if not said, it icdS the duty of some to
stay. It was the duty of those who felt so
inclined, for where conscience approved and
Providence dictated was their post of duty.
Yet, in the face OF this, DR.. jones says:
Then men of reyered memory, such as Drs.
Bowman, Davis, Slater, Roseborough, and
others, died as the fool dieth." | am aston
ished at his declaration, when had so ten
derby and affectionately referred to this class
Of honored brethren as heroes to whom all
honor is due. Proudly will We embalm their
noble deeds In memory's most sacred casket,
and our chlldren's children shall learn to
speak their merited praise" Ia Justice to
myself, l hops those who read his reply and
did not see my article, will get your issue of
the fifteenth and read what did say. Another
writer says: IF a pastors people ever need
him il is In time of trouble. If one
wanted a congregation, the camps Joe Will
Hams and Wright were open every day with
six or eight hundred people to the herald of
the cross" Who called this in question Z?
Not |, for the writer acknowledges he had
to 90 cut of the infected city TO geE to this
congregation of SIX or eight hundred. But
il Is said: Gle that loseth his Efefor my sake
shall find it, etc. And in your structures you
add: The preachers ought to have re-
memberea this last text above all
others, and should have been
prepared 10 glory in fluctuations, " etc. Well,
as that text is net, by its divine author, linn
tied to the clergy (who are wont to interpret
it as referring to Christ's sake, and not to
those who obstinajely refused to leave infect
ed districts when transportation and food WAS
offered them), for it says every one," not
preachers alone. | would ask, Did all the
editors who so numerically berate the absent
preachers observe it according to your appli-
cation? You, Colonel Keating, stood nobly
at your post, will admit; but not all who
ply the lash. Alas! many remind US of what
Jesus said of a certain class ''who lade men
with burdens grievouJ to be borne, and ye
yourselves touch not the burdens with one of
your fingers. Again, Messrs. Editors, you are
unfortunate N your other quotation and its
application. L refer to the ninety first psalm.
Surely, we are not to apply this In literal
sense TO ministers of the present age; and
where is the authority for limiting it to min
listers az all In any sense? And vet in your
editorial, it seems to me you take 1t in lit
erGt sense. In retutatlon of that view,
only ask your readers to turn to the chapter
and read the seventh and tenth verses: ga
thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thou
sand at thy right hand, Dut it shall not come
nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou
behold" 'nelther shall any plague come
nigh thy dwelling" Did not the fearful
>,
their families, and STAY father, and son, wife
and daughter? Let US be cautious, there
fore, how we quote scripture, lest
we pander, unintentionally, to infidel-
Ity. The scriptures are 2 storehouse
OF comfort to the pious. 1t is slight to
their path and lamp to their feet But
we must never peryert its meaning. 1t was
from this same chapter the Devil tried to
tempt Christ. The reader will remember
that when Satan had taken Christ into the
Holy City and set HIM on a pinnacle of the
temple, be said unto him: IF thou be the
Son Of God cast myself down, for it is writ
ten He shall give his angels charge concern
ing thee and in their hands they shall bear
thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot
against stone" (Matthew iv, 6 J Thus,
leaving out the important clause, IN all thy
acayS, which you will find in the eleventh
verse OF the Psalm, For He shall give His
angels charge over thee to Keep thee in all
thy ways" He sought to induce the Savior