The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-07

mOn0 DlSDdtcn1n Nnloh hRRRDhNN
At birmingham as "a compromise" SAID tha'
"the opponents Of a Southern publication So
cietv are for the most part very well satished
with the action. for practically it, in their
;pdoment. throws the whole South open to
the American Baptist Publication Society"
and after q glowing eulogy on that great BOOK
trust thus speaks of the friends Of the South
ern series:
Let me say that, of course, our brethren
who have fought for a different result than
that reached at Birmingham are as honest ana
and LOYAL as we claim 10 be. IL was SIMPLY a
difference of opinion"
Very much surprised at tins new version OF
the action Of Birmingham a journal reporter
called on Rev. DR.. j. Is. Hawthorne, who is
recognized as a leader among the champions
of a Southern Sunday-schOOl literature, and
doctor. have you seen the interview with
DR.. A. y. Dickinson, published IN the RlcD-
mond Dispatch a few days after the meeting
and DurpOrting 10 give an account OF the ac-
ton of the Southern Baptist Convention on
thv Sunday-schoOl board question: :"
YES: some friend in Richmond sent me the
paper, and | have carefully read IT."
well. what do you think of 1t? Do you
regard DIR. Dickinson's statement as a tar
account of what was done and its results p
NJ 81 4 W. W. ANA1NNf $3.50
amazed at DR.. Dickinson's statement. i had
rested in the confident assurance that the
friends of Kind Words and Of a sunday
school board had won a great victory, and
that DR.. Dickinson had failed TO get what he
wanted. But il seems that | have been labor
ing under a strange haliucinatiOn that We
sustained q great defeat, and that the only
consolation left us is the closing assurance OF
DIR. Dickinson that our brethren who have
fought for a different result than that reached
at birmingham are rs honest and loyal as we
claim 10 be-
We'll, / confess myself confused and mis-
taken if Or. Dickinson gives the right version
of the matter. The report OF the committee,
as | heard il read, and as | have since care
fully examined it in print, was precisely what
i wanted, and has had my enthusiastic sup
port. and / am unable TO find out where the
compromise comes in, unless. indeed, II was
the location of the board at Nashville instead
of at Louisville. as some of us preferred.
But, while fully satisfied that we
could have carried the convention by
an overwhelming majority IA favor of
Louisville, inasmuch as we had gotten the
board and everything else for which we asked,
we did not think proper 10 make that fight,
especially as Nashville was acceptable TO us,
and has some obvious advantages as the To-
cation of the new board. So when was called
on TO lead the convention IN q prayer OF
thanksgiving for the happy result dld so
0cufuly Uul btuJtlt-N, huQ BAHltu NChbAg
that the Lord would give US grace to abide by
the decision, and that no difference concern
ing ii might ever arise again.
Il would be glad TO know that DR.. Dickin-
sou, who has been 50 intense on the other
side. could say men 70 this prayer. and that
we are all TO work together now.
But | confess that when he says that this
action Of the convention throws the whole
South open 10 the American Baptist Fublca-
ton Society, | am confused again, and am IN
doubt as 10 whether we are TO really have the
peace proclaimed at Birmingham or a con-
finustion of the war which this great society
and its friends-prOmlnent among whom -
DR.. DickinsOn-has SO persistently waged
against the Sunday school series of the South
ern Baptist Convention. We are for peace,
and if there is TO be further strife it will come
from that side"
Have you any objection, DR.. Hawthorne"
said the reporter, ito give the journal a brief
history of this whole question as you under
stand TT"
Certainly not. Indeed, l would be glad to
do so, inasmuch as the statement Of DR.. Dick
inson seems TO me to be very inaccurate and
misleading. The story in brief Is this:
when in 1915 Southern Baptists were
forced by the action of their Northern
brethren on the slavery question TO withdraw
from the old triennial convention and from
the Southern Baptist convention, the separa-
ton was as complete from the Publication
DOtlcLy hS lIOh any OJutIs Tue AliltIlCdIi
Baptist Publication Society. by its publication
of anti-slavery books and tracts, it's bitter sec
fiOnal publications during the war, and its
maintaining for fifteen years after the war as
its organ the National Baptist, which was as
vile a Republican campaign sheet as the New
York Tribune, and by other offensive things,
made itself especially obnoxious TO Southern
Baptists.
THE Southern Baptist Publication Society
was organized in 1916 and located at Charles
ton, S. O., and did the publication work of
Southern Baptists until its propertv was de-
stroyed by fire during the bombardment of
the heroic city III 1868.
"ln the impoverished condition of the
South IL was not thought wise. after the war.
10 revive this society, and the convention has
never undertaken, nor has 1t been proposed
that II undertake a general publication bust
ness. by the way, what DR.. Dickinson has
to say about starting a Baptist publication
house for the South and q Southern pub
fishing society," is entirely without fOunda-
ton, rs no such proposition was submitted or
meant TO be submitted to the convention so
tar as l KNOW
But there was organized in 1863 a Sunday
school board OF the Southern Baptist Con-
%ventiOn, OF which DR.. d. A. Broadus, and
afterwads DR.. G.. c.. Biting and DR.. 7. G.,
Teasdale We're secretaries.
Tins board started in 1864 the Kind Words
Sunday-school paper, snd published other
SUNDAY school help 1t was in his report
rs secretary of tins board that DR.. Biting
made his unanswered and unanswerable
argument IN favor of a Southern Baptist
Sunday-school literature.
AT the meeting OF the convention in 1871
this Sunde, school board was abolished
for reasons no. necessary TO so into now
but It's work was turned over 10 the home
mission board of the convention with in
structions TO prosecute it vigorously. and pay
a troublesome debt which the Sunday-school
board had contracted. This was done at the
meeting Of the convention in Augusta. Ga.
IN 1885, the board reported the debt paid and
that the publishing contract would soon OK
pre-. 1t also recommended the enlargement
OF the series and the making ofanew contract.
That was the time and there was the place
Tor those opposed 10 the series and in favor
OF uniting with the American Baptist Publ
cation Society TO have spoken out. But not
one word OF opposition was uttered on the
moor and the convention unanimously in
structed the board 10 arrange for the enlarge
meht OF the Sunday-school series.
AT the next meeting the board reported for
the approval Of the convention q contract for
tne puDIcation OF the enlarged series, and
nere was another opportunity for the opposi-
ZION 70 DC heard; but not a word was uttered
Dy them, ana the convention nanimously
Notod that the contract with IL. II. Cabaniss.
OF Atlanta, was entirely approved, and the
board was directed TO carry IL out. This il
did, despite strong opposition on tho part az
tho American Ranficf D,ll;..4s-- -.