The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-07-17

GENTLEMEN Il exceedingly re-
gret to see men, wno seem to be just
and rational on other subjects, SO un-
just, impatient and irrational on the
subject of religion. 1t has been well
said by Shakespeare, that,
"Trihes light as air
Are to the jealous combinations strong
As proofs of holy writ
This is true, land it must fit many
heads and l believe that many Of the
oral hyper-criticisms made on Mr..
Houtz's reply, in late number of the
COLUMBIAN, demonstrate the truth of
this conclusion.
In Justice to Mr.. Houtz, l must
say that l have always found him a
very courteous gentleman. He has
always treated me kindly and courte-
ously and it has been, and ever shall
be, fully appreciated and reciprocated
by me.
1t is true that we differ on many
religious views, but this is our privi
lege under our free government, and
shall be no cause Of trouble between
us, for if we cannot agree as God de-
mands we will agree to disagree as
God and orr country permits. l shall
fall out with no man because he does
not think as l think, no matter how
much l may desire it to be so, or how
Just my claims for the desire.
Mr.. Houtz did not intend to convey
the idea to any mind that l sanctioned
what he said in his address ar the
Zion Church last Feb, when he says,
"Many of your own people were there
among whom was Elder Mcnamara,
who listened with gertlemanly pa
.ience to the discourse" This state
ment is true, and trust that it is, and
ever shall be characteristic Of Nc
Namara and the church with which he
is connected, to always give fair,
christian, courteous attention to those
upon whom it devolves to preach the
Gospel. Mr.. Houtz's remark in re-
gard to "Another public discussion, "
is rather misleading; but l am not
willing to accept the construction that
some have placed upon it, viz: That
Mr.. H. intends to make the impress
sion that he had previously held dis
cussion with me on the subject of bap-
tism, and that all hearers were fully
satisfied with his calculations. l am
compelled to admit that this implica-
ton is couched in the sentence if we
accept its construction dramatically.
But Mr.. H. is too much of gentle.
man to fabricate an impression, in
tentionally, so void of truth. Mr.
Houtz and many of his members
know, that after the discourse alluded
to, was delivered, that l held conver-
sation with Mr.. H., during which |
endeavored to induce him for the sake
of Christ and his fellow man to NEE,
the issue squarely in joint discussion
with me and that he declined on the
ground that he did not believe ir
controversy.
Therefore, Mr.. H. could not in
tentionally have made the impression
dramatically implied in his letter.
| must also confess the propriety o
Mr.. Houtz's advice to Bro w. L
McH., where he says, 81 would advise
you as young man hereafter to Lei
the originators of a project like this
assume the responsibility themselves.
So say l. Yet, l believe Mr.. Hout;
to be unnecessarily and unwarrantably
severe and captious, in his insinua
tons respecting w. l.. McHenry's at
titude in this matter, and also in hi
statement concerning Elder Singer
standing with the church.
Mr.. Houtz has no ground in justice
or in fact, on which to base hi
punctuated doubt that w. l.. Nc
Henry was telling the truth, when h
said, that it was members of Mr.
Houtz's church who requested him t.
write as he did. Indeed, it is but to
true, and l fear that it is this, tina
created so much impatience an
captiousness on the part of Mr.. II
who is generally kind and patient.
But if Mr.. H. desires to know VIII
those were of his church, who mad
said request, he can readily discove
them by simply inquiring.
AS to Bro. Singers character {
standing in the church of Christ,
will simply say, that Mr.. S. cam
among us bearing written testimor
from the congregation to which h
belongs, commenting him to the col
fdence and love Of the brethre
among whom he may sojourn. Th