The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-04
THE REV. D. c. KELLEY.
A Word In Defense of His Position as
Recently Defined in His Lectures.

sN~N S~S"''oii W uillHiuuNNie "Po" VIM WI
duct OF the Rev. d. G. Kelley, Of Nash
vile, for having, as Methodist preacher
i use your own words-"exprossed his
grateful sense Of appreciation Of the fact
that the time had come when man could
believe yhdicrsr his reason dictated without
fear Of pcrsonalronsequcnces. The italics
arc mine, but Isuse them TO emphasize his
uttorance az one. every way worthy OF
commentator, and not OF regret,
on the part OF TnE APPEAL or any
body else. Where is the unsoundncss
OF tho Rev. Keley's utteranccs? This
you have not attempted to show
your readers, but you seem to urge the
point that radical reforms Of doctrine. or
abuses Of power or errors of any kind,
should not be attempted by any member
of an organization while member OF the
organization and protesting loyalty 10 1t.
This was your position as 10 DIR. Nc
Glynn. Many members OF the Episcopal
church took the same position NJ to tho
Rev. Hcber Newton, and distinct charges
OF hcresy were presented against him; but
his more sensible bishop either being in
sympathy with his subordinate, or Gle
afraid that he might simply
DO representative OF wide
spread detection, wisely put the
charges In his vest pocket and there they
have remained. The liberal minded pub
lie will watch with interest the develop
menis that may take place as TO Mr.. Kel-
ley. cannot think that your position in
the matter has been well taken, or that IL
has been we'll considered. II has not the
old ring OF TIE ApPEAL MS 10 Independent
thinking and acting. Let mo apply your
reasoning to yourself right now. TnE Ar
PEAL Is daily endcayoring 10 convert Its
intelligent readers to the doctrine OF
FREQ trade by the very pertinent
argument addressed 10 their under
standing. reason and Judgment, and
would you feel at all satisfied that substan-
tial justice had been done you TO find
yourself read out OF your party because
you have simply expressed your conscion-
tious convictions ON matter related vi
tally, in your opinion, 10 the true welfare
OF both your party and the country, al
though the bulk Of your party may dis.
agree with you? Rather do | think il
your duty, and you seom TO feel IL q
pressing ono, 10 educate your party up 10
your standard by working very earnestly
within the party and while loyal TO il.
Well, II free trade is good thing in
commercial aflairs. and oil world wide
value, pny tell why free commerce in the
world Of ideas ia moi OF equal value?
You saw III, In the article which am
criticising, to speak dispargngly Of DIR.
McGlynn, and also OF DIR. Thomas and
Prof Swing, Of Chicago, and your remark
AZ 10 Mr.. Kelley was that his course was
"yery much 70 be regretted" Now, that
depends. Any one who has had the
pleasure Of listening to these leaders OF
thought and has soen hungry multitudes
GROWING their auditoriums in every
corner must feel sure that they are
both doing a work infinitely more
valuable Tor humanity than they
possibly could while tralnmeled by the
letters OF an ifon.clnd creed which they
could not believe and, Of course, ought not
to teach. II y certainly some evidence
that their utterances strike the public
pulse when the leading daily OF Chicago
takes tidDpains 10 report their Sunday dis
courses IN full 10 give 10 It's readers on
Monday, and. let me say, that compared
with such cxuherant slop rs you give us
from Talmage every week, they are not TO
BIO talked about the same day. l have be-
fore me some recent uttornces from each.
Prof. Swing. in speaking Of the movement
of new thought now going on in
the world. sayG at h going rapidly
forward. The Quakcrha left behind him his
William Penn, the Presbyterian his Calvin,
the Methodist his Wesley, the Baptist his
essential immersion, aud the Romanist his
Keys Of ~. Peter, 10 fly 10 the rescue OF the
spirit OF God In man from the grasp OF that
science (materialisn) which makes all one
the man, the insect and the clod. IL il
the most fundamental inquiry the world
has ever made. The warfare IN most inn
prcssiye because most real. The field Is
around ua, the time is tho present, right
now.
Dr. Thomas said n week ago, "rhe PEG.
Pies pulpit recognizes the good in all
Others. aud the good that all are doing
and u oil minds and hearts could find a
church home In any OF these. could accept
their crccds and 70 with them, then there
would not 10 this large number Of un.
gathered souls. But all cannot do this,
and the further trouble II that these
churches have closed the door against
such, and what seems worse, have closed
the door against progress or growth OF
idcas"-I wish I could quote Il all.
Now, recurring TO Mr.. Kelley, you
stated that "he expressed grateful apprc-
citation OF the fact that the time had come
that n man could believe whatever his
reason dictated without fear Of personal
conscqucnccs. Well, II there anything
wicked In such hopper What shameful
admission that this has not always been the
easel Was not the right Of private
Judgment" tho very fundamental idea
upon which the reformation was fought,
and for asserting this was not Luther
driven from tho Catholic church, And
now, after the lapso OF three or four cen.
turtles, IL II possible that this divine right
Ia not accepted nor permitted within GER
tain churches In frcc Amcrica7 Certainly
IL seems not much 10 our credit.
Now, word Of comment on what you
quote Mr.. Kelley rs having said. Ifprop-
orly quoted his language was unfortunate,
for We cannot believe simply what We wish.
Our beliefs are not matters Of choice. Re-
lief IA a matter Of conviction with intclli.
gent people. Beliefs depend upon evi.
dcncc presented 10 the reason, and referred
10 the Judgment, whose decision Il ire
yocablc when tho proof Il regarded as sui.
iicicnt. Indeed W. are often made 10 be.
licvo unwillingly most unwclcome truths
and facts against our most earnest wish
10 the conirary.i
How many man has taken his scat In
the Jury box determined 10 return YER.
dict In layor OF his friend charged with
crime. Every ipzlinct Of his nature NAV
urgo him 10 fipd bis friend innocent. but
tho memorable proof has compelled him 10