The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-02-09
KELLEY-ABB0TT.
The Christian Advocate Pours Hot Shot
Into the American Office.

Into the American Office.
Christian Advocate.
The Nashville American seems
anxious to re open the Abbott-Kel-
ley business. Is it dissatisfied with
the outcome of that tribulation
which it brought upon the treasur
er by publishing and displaying his
unwise pieces? Or is the Vendome
Theater losing money and needing
10 have public attention called to
that schoul of morsls2
On the 18th of January the Amer
ican's readers had "Dr. Kelley and
the Press duly displayed on the
editorial page, informing US that the
theater question twill not down at
the bidding of either individuals or
boards The oyer-a-column of
extracts managed to work in, neat
y, yindication Of the stage aud
sneer at John Wesley and the
Methodist Discipline. The pater-
nifty of the article hardly admits of
a doubt.
The following day another article
appeared, occupying two columns OF
the editorial page and headed ''Dr.
Kelley Again" 1t might have add
ed Again, and Again, and Again
for the persistency with which the
American kept its favorite divine
before this public is amusing TO
those who regard true inwardness."
The treasurer, in this article, ap-
pears to labor under the apprehen-
sion that somebody supposes that
he ''aeted under sense of pressure
in signing the short letter which the
board of missions NOV. 25th) ac-,
cepted, in which short letter he re-
gretted and withdrew certain arti
cles which the American had pub
ished for him, in SO far as they JUS
tilted a notable disturbance of pub
lie worship at McKendre church,
and pledged himself to wholesome
views of discipline against theater-
going. He is disturbed lest the i'm
putation of cowardice should at
ach, and complains of the manner
n which the boards action was
published in the American of the
Doth of November and the Chris
tian Advocate Of December Sd as
unjust and calculated to make the
impression that his pledge and
withdrawal was not purely on his
own motion, but done to escape
censure or to hold his office. He
says:
al had at the time regarded any ac-
ton on the Peterson and Kirkland pa
per as pending l. would not have pre-
scented the letter accepted by the board
If the board had sanctioned the publica-
ton of that paper Or any reference to it
when it directed the publication of my
letter and its acceptance by the board,
[ would at once have Withdrawn my
letter.
Ii this emphatic denial does not re-
move the idea that there was sense OF
pressure on my part at the time j
signed the "letter," then | shall beg
leave to withdraw the ''letter," so far as
in me lies, and to lay before the whole
church the facts attending the matter,
from beginning to end. l shall also
claim the right to defend the truth l
represent from the many assaults made
thereupon by the publication Of paper
containing my lifelong views, written
before any word had been spoken in the
board"
This is one more blunder of our
con -ectional officer, and the Amor
can is, in large measure, responsible
for it. He offered the article to this
paper. We declined it's publication
(as we had done on another occa-
SONY giving him this reason: II
will do you harm and do the church
no good. The publication of Nov
Goth and that of Dec. Sd will be
sustained by the facts and by the
record whenever they are published.
II was drawn up in careful kindness
to DR.. Kelley. He had crippled
himself for usefulness, and the
board had no interest or desire to
break him down, but rather to re-
store him. The board directed its
secretary in connection with the ed
itor of this paper { both of them
members and presently to give the
short but sufficient ''letter" of its
treasurer to the morning paper as
well as to the church press. Why
his caution? The American COM
pels us to tell the reason, as openly
spoken in the board: That paper
has such an unlueky way ofputting
things to suit itself in connection
with this matter.
Finally, in reply to the Ameri-
cans filings at the Christian Advo-
cate, as "proscriptive," etc, in de-
Ginning to reopen the Abbott-Kelley
affair, our reasons are:
l. We declined in friendship to
the person whom it Injuries by its
patronage.
9. We care for the church and for
the interests Gifts missionary board.
8. We have regard to the charac
ter of this paper. The public is
weary, if not disguised, with the
Abbott Kelley literature.