The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-25

bratcd naturalist and from the ablcst tbeo-
logians in Gernid,y. Scotland and America,
might be muldPlled almost ad intinitum.
The Appeal an Prof woodrow's Case
and Certsin lQscs,ions Connected with
tf,i
To the Editor Of The Appeal
have jus. read, confess with some sur
prise, your comments on the case Of Prof.
Woodrow, now pending before the highest
court OF the southern Presbyterian church.
My surprise grows out Of the fact made
plainly apparent that The APPEAL, which is
so wide-awake on most topics OF the hour,
allows itself tolag very far behindhand in
its theology. II reminds me Of story told
by 'Old Joe Brown, alias the Hon. Jos. f.
Brown, Unitedista senator from Georgia,
to illustrate the punresonstructed" frame OF
mind in which Il placed his bitter opponent,
Gen. Robert Toombs, TO live and to
die. There was man." so said Old Joe,
"who had set his heart on moving
back from Georgia into South Carolina.
The roads were badly washed into gullies,
and the mud was deep and sticky. His
earthly all was slowed away in cart OF no
great size, but wonderful as piece OF
mechanism, being patchwork, made up OF
all sorts OF odds and ends. And the gears
with which his 'crittur,' tacky lean In
flesh, sore Of back, and vicious In its temper,
was fastened 10 the vehicle, were a thing OF
beauty sure enough The old oman who
trudged on brayely and with unAagging
strides through the mud, demonstrated In
vain with him about those gears" which
she shrewdly declared TO be wholly unable
10 draw the cort over such roads to the Sa-
vannah river. But the old man was de-
termincd upon carrying back to Carolina ev-
cry nickel that was in his pockets. and so de-
clined good advice when II was freely offered
TO him. The long stretch OF muddy road
was sullenly undertaken by the husband,
the more so because OF the prophetical as
peot which he detected in the ''old 'ooman's"
face. Slowly the cavalcade disappeared over
the red-clay hill and the last settlement"
In Georgia was left behind the "old CONAN"
having first prudcntly spoken for her nights
lodging with sympathizing spectator of the
female persuasion, who entertained views
similar 10 her own about the hard-hcadcd-
ness and ''onrcasonableness" OF mcn-folks.
The leaden clouds began to drip, and then
proceeded 10 steady drizzlo which contin-
ued during the entire day, Meanwhile the
hospitable Georgia woman had made due
preparations for her guest, and was contin-
ually standing In the door, her apron
tossed over her head 10 protect troublesome
tooth from the dampness, while she peered
long and searchingy down the muddy road
in the direction taken by the emigranis.
In due time her expectations were real
lied, and the old CONAN, none the worse
for wear, stepped briskly over the thrcsh-
hold Of her new friend TO find pot Of bacon
and greens stcaming in the chimney, and a
pone OF corn bread, rs brown rs chestnut,
while the unmistAknble aroma Of coffee
filed the cabin. And what have yer done
long with yer old mann queried the hostess,
as she assisted her guest TO lay aside her
dripping apparel and cnrobc herself comfort.
ably In garments already provided for her.
We'll, yer sec, said the guest, 4 left Solo
mon a-scttin' in the corner NV the fence,
when old Baldfaccl had done busted them
gears all 10 pieces, right in the middle OF the
biggest mud-hole you ever seed, an hit .
raining as stiddy like as ef hit meant tel
keep hit up all nieht Sea |. old man, YET
Kin look out for old Baldface, and take keel
NV ycrsclf. I'm nlgwlnc ter step back tel
the settlement terscc cf some on 'cm won
take pity on me al, give me place ter dry
my cloze, for itpr gittin' kind OF wet oui
hcyar' And CT fur en- could see Solomon
he WIZ still a-settin' In the corner NV thu
fence. an a-cussin' NV them old gears, rs
always tole him would be sure ter brcal
cnnyhow" The dry, warm garments hat
| by this time been comfortly adjusted, and
with keen relish the two women fell q
work on the sayory yiands. commenting
meanwhile on the wrong-headcdness and
pig-headcdncss Of mcn-folks In general. and
Of old man Solomon In particular" Gen
Toombs no doubt saw the point, and mad,
the application 10 his political creed. TIN
Atrial may. II u chooses, do the Same with
lis theology.
That theology, n npprehcnd Il, Is Abou
this The Bible and evolution mutually
But evolution Is evidently true; therefore
the Bible Is In error, and fatally 10.
Now, as ever arint this, my friend. Prof
Woodrow holds This position: Tho Blbl'
does not settle the question Of the ylrccis,
method which God was pleased TO follow IA
creating Adams body; and such being the
fact, n believer In the bible as a revelation
from God, l. perfectly free to find out from
Gods works In nature (which Il also rive
lalion from God) all that he can as to IN,
method or the probable method In which
creative power acicd In producing Adam
body. So all intelligent Christians hAy,
learned 10 do with regard 10 the matter o
astronomy ard Of geology, which are no
found nj all In the Bible. Aud n an,
Christian secs, or thinks that he sees, cvi
dcnce In the works Of God In nature q
render Il probable. or 10 render II certain
10 his mind. that Adams body was In poln
OF fact formed. mot instanianeousiy, bu
gradually; not Of pulyeriEcd earth. but GU
'dust Of tho ground" After Il has bccI
lifted up into organized matter. he "a per
fcctiy free 10 do % without thereby aban
doning his faith In the inspiration Of God
holy Word. the bible. For the bible, cor
rcclly interpreted, says nothing whatever OF
the subject. A CHRISTIANS scientific creed
then. Is left entirely 10 himself. Just a. hi
political crccd Is left entirely 10 hts own dir
crctlon.
In this position OF DE-. woodrow, twhiol
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