The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-11
MINISTER'S In A SNARL.
REV. THOMAS DIXON DENOUNCE5
REV. j. B. HAWTHO RNE.

The III Feeling Started by Rev. Dixon's
Failure to Get a Pulpit During the
Conference-Rev. Dixon's Popularity
In the South Not Increased by a
Partisan Attack on This Section.
ATLANTA, GA, May 10.-Rsv. Thomas
Dixon of New York, who has gained much
unenviable notoriety on account OF an In
terview published a short time ago in the
New York Press. vilifying the south, has
created a genuine sensation in Atlanta.
Last night he lectured at the Young Mems
Christian Association hall AS a preface to
his lecture DIR. Dixon denounced DR.. J. B.
Hawthorne, pastor of the First Baptist
church OF this city, for using his influence,
as he claimed, to prevent him from preach
ing here last Sunday The lecturers harsh
criticism OF the Atlanta divine was cut
short by MIR. Donaldson of Norfolk, Va,
one Of the audience, and delegate to the
southern Baptist convention now In
session. who arose and said: "Dr. Dixon.
DR.. Hawthorne is not present and cannot
answer your charges, We paid our money
to hear you lecture on backbone. aud would
be glad to hear you on this subject" DR..
Dixon finished the sentence and then said:
II will begin my lecture, but up north I
have had men shake their fists in my face,
aud / am not afraid OF a man waving his
hat at me-"
DIR. HAwTHoRNE's ANSWER.
At the session of the southern Baptist
convention this morning, DIR. Hawthorne
rose to question OF personal privilege.
The floor was granted him and he proceeded
to answer the statements made by DIR.
Dixon. 81 received the following tele-
gram" said DR.. Hawthorne, from DR..
Dixon, dated New York, April 23: DIR.
j. B. Hawthorne-Suddenly decided to at
tend convention; please assign me pulpit
for Sunday morning. Must have it for adj
vance sheet OF American Press Association.
Answer Immediately. Thomas Dixon, Jr.'
replied in letter stating that all the APP
pointments to preachers would be made by
the conventions committee on religious
exercises. and that did not feel that was
warranted In making any appoint-
ments for the committee, but If
Mr.. Dixon came to the convention
he would be treated with courtesy
and would doubtless receive an appoint
ment to preach. When 1 made my reply to
Rev. Dixon's dispatch was not acquai lted
with certain offensive utterauces ABOUT the
south which Mr.. Dixon had made and
which had been extensively published in
the newspapers. and l was not familiar
with certain heretical utterances in which
Mr.. Dixon indorsed DR.. Briggs and other
equally heretical teachers. After / had
mailed the letter in reply to the dispatch, [
met number OF the Baptist ministers of
Atlanta, and read to them Mr.. Dixon's
telegram. These ministers unanimously
decided that should write Mr.. Dixon and
say that If he came to the convention with
The expectation OF getting an appointments
TO preach he would be disappointed.
MAKE UP OF THE COMMITTEE.
''The committee on religious exercises of
naNx Nf~fs kEIe1 a. ii
composed OF the Baptist minis ters in the
oity in which the convention meets. There
was not a word of disoourtesy or unKindness
In either of my communications to MIR.
Dixon. In my last communication I
simply did what I was instructed to do by
Baptist ministers who felt it was due Mr.
Dixon that we should make the statements
we did in advance Of his coming to the oon-
vention.h
DIR. J. William Jones, secretary Of the
home mission sboard of the southern Bap--
tist convention, who was present at the
conference of ministers at which DR.. Dixon's
telegram to DIR. Hawthorne was read, sup
plemented DR.. Hawthorne's statement by
the following: There was at once gen-
eral expression of Indignation that any man
should telegraph three weeks in ad vance des
mauding pulpit Sunday morning during
the session OF the southern Baptist conven~
tion. 1t was regarsed as a case of 'monu-
mental cheek even for Rev. Thomas
Dixon, Jr. By unanimous voice Of the
conference, DIR. Hawthorne was directed
to write to Mr.. Dixon that he not only
could not assign him pulpit In advance
but it was due to properChristian candor to
say TO him that ii he came to Atlanta ex-
pecting to occupy any pulpit during the
meeting Of the southern Baptist convention,
he would bs disappointed. The reason
assigned for this was not simply bis abuse
Of tho south recently published In the
newspapers land the correctness Of which
he had not up to that time denied) but the
utter rotteuness Of his theological views,
and his generally sensational methods and
utterances."