The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-31

nal sympathy with all Christian people. and my
readiness to unite with them in every good word
| and work. love all who love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity. and would far rather coop
crate with all for the purpose of winning a soul
to Christ. than hold myself aoof in order to gain
| q proselyte to a sect.
have heard of the intended visit to this city
of Rev. Samuel P. Jones, with mingled feelings
of distrust and hope. Much has been said in his
favor and ae ainst him, and the whole | was
coming to the conclusion to lend my counte-
nance to his presence and Judge with char
ity those phases of his work which challenge
animadversioBs. / have been inclined to enter
tain this intention largely because of the court
eous and considerate tone in which he has been
spoken of by the correspondents and editors of
Baptist journals
But l have recently seen credible state
| ment of one of his public utterances, against
which am moved to make my indignant pro-
test. That statement was this: 'sIf any man
says that the only immersion is baptism, tell him
| say he is Z, liarn
take exception to this language, not because
he has expressed his dissent from an opinion
held by millions of intelligent people; not be-
cause he has violated the demands
of courtesy and good faith in pro-
claiming sectarian opinion from an
undenominational platform, nor because more
intelligent person would have represented the
view he travesties in more exact phraseology,
but because of the gross and insulting epithet
with which he has branded the men and women
who hold o sacred conviction. Whether cor
rectly or in mistake, the fact remains that null
ttudes of proud and influential persons are con-
scientous in their Interpretation of the teachings
Of Scripture regarding the mode of baptism. and
with malice toward none and with charity for
ALL they feel bound to render strict and loyal
obedience to their honest understanding of the
word of God. If Mr.. Jones had charged them
with a want of intelligence I could have smiled
at his ignorance and pitied bis self-concet, but
when he says that IN protesting this conviction
they are liars he presumes to stigmatize them
with an epithet that society has ever regarded
as among the vilest in the catalogue Of the
terms of vituperation-an epithet which gentle
|. men never apply to each other, and which the
lowest scullion would not use. except in the pas
sion of malice, and for the purpose of inficting
deadly insult.
Mr.. Jones has already grieved multitudes of
decent people by the coarSeness of his denuncia-
tions of meanness and vice, but they have ac-
cepted his plea that he resorts to such devices in
order to attract people of the baser sort. When,
however. this moral scavenger dares TO reckon
as offal any accredited denomination of Chris
tian people for the simple reason that they are
true to their conscientious convictions, he
proves the coarseness of his moral fiber and
puts himself beyond the pale of recognition
on the part of all who have regard for the amen
tiles of Christian brotherhood, of social comfy
and decent speech
L utter my protest in the interest alike of de-
nominatlonal fealty and Christian catholicty.
should count myself paltroon were to give
the countenance of my support or even my pres
ence to man, coming here in the garb of a
Christian minister, who vilifies the honest con-
viction of the denomination to which belong,
or outrage my sense of the respect due to the
equally consciention opinion of any other portion
of the great brotherhood of Christians.
l do not presume to dictate to you what
Is your duty In the premises, but
know what is my I shall not at
tend his services. In fact, it is proper that I
assume that man protesting such high sense
of honor as does Mr.. Jones. would not wish the
cooperation of those whom he has denounced as
liars nor l see how self respecting i'm
mersiopists will be willing to seek lessons of
purity, love and honor from the bilingseate
gatherings of mountebank. who in addition
to all the other indecencies of his speech, has
dared to call them liars. Let me say to this FAC
cuser of his brethren" Mr.. Jones, Before God
they lie not That which they declare they sin
cerely believe" Mr.. Jones claims, understand,
that his special mission is to the and vile.
Let all who consider themselves included in
either class find ample room to wait upon the
ministry of a man whose stock in trade is sour
rilty and scum. REUBEN JEFFERY.
MAY 80, 1856.
In conversation with Doctor Jeffrey, he
stated that the authority for his protest was a
letter in the New York Independent, the truth
of which he had taken the pains to verify.
Under the conviction that Mr. Jones had used
the expression quoted, his sense of Christian
honor aud loyalty would not permit him to re-
main silent The congregation received the pro-
test in the spirit in which it was given. and the
expressions of Endorsement of the pastor were
hearty and sincere.