Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-01-25
TERM S.
Communication.

Editor Sentinel asd Repubhcon-You are
entitled to credit Tor opening the columns
of your paper to correspondents. 1t is an
evidence of liberality-"f a disposition, on
your part, to treat every body fairly. and to
allow boih sides of question to be heard.
Any subject that interests your readers and
affects large number OF persons, If moder-
stely treated. is proper for the newspaper.
To inform the public, and defend personal
character, when il can be done In no other
way, is one Of the purposes OF journalism.
And editors who criricise you for mecdling
In church fights would do well to consider
vino il was that re-opened the quarrel, what
reason there was for il. and how else than
through the newspaper the demonstrating
party could viudIcate their good faith. The
writer is not without hope that something
has been gained in the interest of peace
and tor the honor Of religion, by the pubIi-
cations you are complained of for permit
ting. But for them 1t is not likely any at
tempt would have been made towards a
reconciliation of differences. The one
party, satisfied with their action, would
have rested at ease the other, feeling ag-
crieved, would have sssin resorted TO hri-
CATION. For 1t is too plain TO admit Of
Question that the Mifliin church, for tn.
reasons gwen, even if Correct, cannot rid
themselves of their contract with Lost
Creek A Court viii enforce it. Ii does
not require lawyer TO see this. II Lost
Creek demanded interest when it was not in
the agreement, Miffi,n could refuse to pay
il, but II could not refuse 10 pay the sum
nanIed in the agreement and set aside the
contract entirely. Whether tn. congregs-
ton return TO the b:i K church or not,
the moral and leg Il ob;ig atoms are all the
same have failed to see any abuse OF the
congregation in anything that has been pub
lshed. The reverse was stated. The
hastv and ncslied-for return 10 the chapel
was distinctly charged upon the few. There
are men and women in that church-and
b-lieve all nf Them. with the exception, per-
haps of less than a score-whO would sac
rifi:e much rather than TO have a>sented
undersfsudIngly, to anything of the sort.
II their was an honest Misunderstanding OF
the committee, in regard To the terms OF the
contract, they are as innocent as the con-
erepation. II there WAS "a power behind
the throne stronger than the throne," and
81 fab mis- ~ls.l
then the power is guiltiess. II there shall
vet be an offer to carry our the agreement
it will be accepted as evidence of anthones'
mistake in declining TO do it before. If this
is refused or neglected the Inference Of bad
faith cannot well be resisted. Neither the
committee nor congregation can afford to
subject themselves TO such an itnput ition
And until forced To do 50 by the .'irresisti'
BILE logic OF Facts" the writer will continue
to expect better things-even the things
that make for peace All this Is from tht
standpoint OF the Miffiin church, assuming
that their committee were honestly mista'
ken or clearly right and Lost Creek wrong
But suppose the reverse. and that Los
Creek happens 10 be right in the matter o.
cash pay nfent or interest, and sufhcien
security. What thena Which party VII
Justly be chargeable with bad faith. Al
individual who, without sufficient reason
goes back on his contract suffers in repufa
ton. A government or nation that repudi
ates its obligations is dishonored. AND
what viii be thought of christian churci
that not only makes no effort to redeem III
promises but publicly declares its Purpos'
not to do sol
One thought more. Suppose the settle
ment, made last summer at the urgent re
quest of a committee Of Presbytery anc
bappiiy contaminated BY the churches II
tie fall, should be altogether broken up and
set aside, Go our good friends Of the chape
realize where they will stand 1t would b
we'll :, reflect. The old feud opened vi
again. Perhaps another vexatious and ex
pensive awsuit, for rent and other things
lasting for years, With all its evils, whicI
are apparent. This, il seems, must folio"
or else . renewed struggle for another con
Rregation to worship in the old church
And in tha. case the result can hardly b
doubtful. "a word TO the wise."
FAIR.