Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-21
ESTA BLISHE ED 1910.
TIE LoNe.DAN1EL Controversy

their limits they are paramount, and should
be, but the greater assemblage Of the who'll
people, whose mouthpiece Is sthe free, I'M
trammeled press of the country, is supreme
over them all. Il covers the whole field o.
human hope and effort, and with the impair
TALLY and fairness Of a neutral body in such
cases as that Of Daniel "a. Long, decides
with judicial fairness. Representing this
high court, the APPEAL, mindful
of the lessons which great church
dignitsries have had to learn in
Teformations and sohisms, but with perfect
confidence in its zeal for right and justice,
il not in its theological learning and piety,
approaches the task and to-day sums up as
between the contestants and declares the
verdict of the people. 1t is that Mr.. Long
has put himself beyond the pale OF the Pres
byterian Church by the establishment of the
"Church Of the Strangers" and should 10
furthersnce OF the peace which passeth all
understanding, and in justice 10 himseli, break
tn. bonds Of "Presbytery" and hereafter con-
fine himself to the simple doctrines, devoid
Of dogma, which he gave to the world in his
manual Containing the leading Prin-
ciples and Articles Of Faith of the
Strangers Church in Memphis, Tenn"
In that "Manual," the publication of which
raised the hopes of those who look beyond
dogma for living faith, we do not find one
word indicating even so much as the exist
ence of Il Presbyterian Church. Ga the con-
trary, on its FIRST page we find positive as
sertion that 'Ehis 1.-THE Strangers church, is
independent because no other church or &C.
clesisstical body has power to reverse its de-
cisions, or to interfere with its internal af-
fairs" sour Articles of Faith" it says fur
thee on, "are based upon the fundamental
doctrines of christianity" and that "no
unnecessary walls CT separation should be
built up between those who mutually recog-
nize each other as true followers of the Lord
Jesus Christ" 10 these quotations Mr..
Long struck directly at the Presbyterian
Clurch which has built a wall, and very
strong wall, of separation between itself and
others who believe in Christ, and that wall
Is posed Ct "the Westminster confession
OF faith, the long an short cateehisms, and
the rules, regulations and orders for church
government" These, if the Strangers Caurci
was to be even in sympathy with the Pres
byterian Church, through him as its perma-
nent pastor, should have been set forth by
Mr.. Long as bis personal guides, at least in
4 pulpit wherein he has worthily achieved
50 much Of the respect, esteem and
confidence, not only of those who worship
with him, but Of the public generally. He
owed it to himself to make such an an
nouncement, to declare that while the con-
greg alton Of the Strangers Church was not
ameuabe to any ecclesiastical body, he was
and must be until he formally absolved him
self OF his allegiance to the Presbyterian
Church. A failure to do this has led to the
pickering and controversy of the past few
weeks, which, as is usual in such cases, has
been fruitful only OF confusion to plain peo-
pie and scandal TO the cause of christianity.
The people, who are not versed in the multi
tudinous laws aud ordinances and intricate
rulings which have grown up during the
three centuries of the life of the Presbyte-
rian Church, cannot understand how Mr..
Long can contend that he can be Presby-
terian minister and pastor of the Strangers
Church at the same time. 1t may possibly
harmonic With that infexible and severe
code by which the Presbyterian Church has
Beyond is pale seems hs-~sS- b.sJ
unbendiug, unyielding and unforgiving, 61i
they cannot see it. They cannot understand
how 4 man can serve two masters-be amen
able to the Presby tartan Church and pastor
OF congregation that declares 1t sis amena-
BILE to nc. other ecclesiastical body" Handi-
capped with this irreconcilable position Mr..
Long entered upon the controversy with the
presbytery and with Mr.. Daniel at a disad-
vantage, which beca me palmer to the read.
ers of the APPEAL the longer the con.
troversy was prolonged. The sympa-
thy ct the general public was with
him and was against Mr.. Daniel,
and if there had been the least
excuse Tor it the verdict would have been
against the latter, who seemed, and is
uujusty deemed by many, to be a self
prosecutor pulling his work to the very
verge Of malignant persecution Mr.. Long
had allthe advantage of boldasss Of position
and undeniabls popularity, while Mr..
Daniel, who has proven hiGiself an honest,
Jealous defender Of his Church, its doctrine
and polity, against the irregular. 10 say the
least, proceedings OF brother minister,
fought against these odds inhering in
Mr.. Long. Whether by nisapprehension or
ignorance OF its doclrines, the Presbyterian
Church is at a disadv antage in discussions
especially where IaFgeuess and freedom in
religious matters are at stake. This, too,
weighted Mr.. Daniel, who conducted him
self with fairness and candor aud with a gen.
erous appropriations of the abilities of his
opponent. He commended for the laws and
ordinances Of his Church, andktated them as
they are applicable to Mr.. Longs attitude
toward it with lsueh singular clearness and
force in his irst letter as to leave nothing
more to be said, In that letter he put Mr.
Long upon the defensive, and there it
still leaves HIM, Notwithstanding his two
ingeniously -worded letters in answer. Mr..
Long has made a mistake great but not
an irretrievsble mistake. To a man like
him, with the courage OF his convictions, it
ia an easy thing to set himself right. He
can cure himself of his seeming contumacy
toward the Presbyterian Church by taking
leave OIL IL tuu idunCnAbR IlAASch lASC VI IL
on the theological ocean. He has only to say,
81 am no longer a Presbyterian minister"
and reaffirm the Independence of his little
Manual, and future will open for him
such as has never come to any min
lister OF any church in Memphis. That
Mr.. Long can be very useful man he has
given US abundant proof. The character Of
his congregation proves it. 1t is not Presby-
terrain, nor, as we understand, is it even
leveued by Presbyterisnism. 1t is composed
of intelligent and self-respecting men and
women of all shades of christian
belief, who are wearied of the
"damnable iteration" OF dogma and
long for the simple philosophy of the Christ
who had neither church nor presbyters, and
whose sweet consultations and spiritual phil
osophy are ever. living fountains whence the
richest in intellect and poorest in spirit may
draw inspiration and find balm for every
wounl. The christian world is sick nigh
unto death with the squabbies and conten-
tions of those who profess to be not merely
followers Of the Man of Peace, but to hold
commissions directly from him as exemplars
of that peace. The people are ready
for a change, and appreciate the
fact that We are now in one Of those periods
of transition when out of the disputations
anu IuInOH VI Cc1tuElco lucNc NC
evolved the philosophy OF the Founder
of Christianity-wh n the coatings of dogma
(which il has been obscured will drop away
1s9m and reveal it in the strength and purity
az its primal beauty and perfection. TWAS
S,scause Il was believed he had engaged
Na this work that Mr.. Long was 50
Sarmly and generously received by the
public more than Tor his eloquence,
the strength of his logic, or the SYM
metry and clearness of his statements, and
tine people read with deep regret that he had
again committed himself TO "Presbytery" at
Somerville, and had assumed the bands
which they had supposed he had cast away
forever. They took the title of the Suan-
gers Church TO mean what il implied, aad
they hocked to it as the one church above all
others where broad and liberal christianity
was to be preached. And they have not
been disappointed in this preaching, but the
reassumption OF Presbyterianism by the
brave and eloquent young pastor confounds
fbom and fhev Lear will tend tn afav the tide