Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-29
Cheap LartyrdOlal &.


To the Editor of The EvENIsG STAR:
wish, in your widely read paper. to correct
an erroneous impression that must have been
made by telegram sent all over this country
during the past week.
The Baptist ministers of Philadelphia an
nounced themselves as protesting in the name
or Christianity against the arrest of Godfrey
Hubert, Baptist minister at Skiem. Norway,
who was recently sentenced by the courts of
justice in Norway to pay fine of $50 for bap-
tiZing convert, both CT whose parents were
members of the church. This is characterized
rs not the rash act OF a mob but the formal
action of the courts of law. which stands in
painful contrast to the fact that every year hun
dred of thousands of immigrants from Scan
dinavia are welcomed to the United States to
enjoy citizenship. and the fullest liberty IN the
exercise of their religious sentiments. 1t was
resolved to request the Secretary of State to
instruct the American minister in Sweden and
Norway to inquire into the case, and copy of
the resolutions We're ordered to be sent to the
Secretary of State"
1t is to be hoped that the true anirnus of this
dispatch will be at once apparent to all readers
OF it, doubtless it is to the Secretary of State,
and will be to the American minister in Sweden
and Norway.
In the absence of full information as to the
facts one may CLEAN enough from the item tele
graphed over the country TO conclude that here
is another case of cheap and easy martyrdOm.
Some Baptist missionary. whose convert is a
minor, refuses to accept as valid the baptism
made by the state clergyman in infancy. The
parents refuse to consent to rebaptism. In the
face of the parental protest the second baptism
is made. This becomes offence to the par
ents, who hold control OF the child. and an Of
fence TO the state religion. Now. Mr.. Editor,
while We NAV think that this is much ado about
nothing. We must also see that there are two
sides to it. and that the narrowness of the pro-
eeeding Is not all on one side. Where the most
bigOtry is to be found depend>yery much onthe
way We look at the facts. Isn't it another in
stance of counting the stake for matter in
volving no principle? /. for one protest against
having my sympathes appealed to on behalf of
objects of religious persecution when really it is
case in which men have put themselves where
they are by an exhibition of narrowness
Who are these Norwegians that are to be con-
verted to baptism by immersion? The Hon. s. s.
Cox, of New York. in communication sent
from Norway and published in one of the lead
ing newspapers in this country. says:
Most surely. this people cannot be the offspring of
sea robbers for never lived upon the earth sim
pe-heared and Pious people than these haired
''Ihey are honest people. We see no besgary, no
[SSrhC9ses no & and hear Of very few crimes Of
enness is rare. They love nusc and flowers. and
Idle Even the girls are knitting while Attending sheep
and COWS Living IN Norway is cheap. and there are
Of this people there pubic scandal in the whole
tbe Moa % Goo oon , nod nP my heal among
country / have had full opportunity to observe the
CHARACTERISTICS of this people from end of the land
tine other"
We give such a people credit. In their cold
climate, for refusing to be converted to INNER
SION Thirty dollars was a small sum to be i'm
posed under the circumstances. And If with
out being put under the water they have
church that gives them honesty industry frees
them from public scandals. beggars and prisons,
why should our churches waste money in send
Ing missionaries to them? Especially if it is
only to convert them to a cold bath in mid
winter. PEW.