The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-12-19
Reply 10 Mr.. Coughs Reply.

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Mr.. Cough had made certain statements
with regard to Mr.. Wesley. I called him
out in PRINT, and from his published an
swer, and not from hearsay, based my ar
ticle. The quotations proved to be identl-
cal with statements made 10 Gravess Iron
Wheel. He says he never read the book.
Of course his denial ends the controversy
on this point. It is however q remarkable
coincidence that Mr.. Coughs quotations
should agree precisely with Graves's, and
be arranged in the same order, though TAX
en- from different books. Mr.. Cough is
certainly following very closely in the foot
steps of this illustrious calumnlator Of
Methodism.
MIR. Cough, like Mr. Graves did, studies
Mr. Wesley's early history, and searches 1t
for the expression Of views at variance with
those known to have been entertained by
Mr. Wesley after he became the founder Of
the united societies.
Is it not unfair to attack Mr.. Wesley for
the holding of views upon the manner Of
administering the ordinance Of baptism,
opposed to those held and taught by him
during the most important era OF his life
If Mr.. Wesley, while teaching the doctrines
of the church. of which be is the recognized
founder, did not hold the views ascri5ed to
him by Mr.. Gough-and all persons con-
versant with this feature Of Mr.. Wesley's
religious belief, know that he did not hold
such views-then it is reflection upon the
life, character, and memory. of that emil
nent divine TO ascribe to him the holding Of
such views, and is calculated to place Mr.
Wesley in false position with those whose
knowledge of the history of Mr.. Wesleys
life is as limited as that of Mr.. Cough.
Suppose I were from my pulpit to ar
raien the Apostle Paul as an enemy Of the
Christian religion, and undertake to prove
it by quotations from the New Testament,
showing that, at one time in his life, he
actually prosecuted the early Christian
church, and securing letters of authority
from the High Priest at Jerusalem, arrested
and cast into prison men and women who
we're Christians. While such are the his
torical facts, would not such charge and
the garbled excerps supporting It, unac.
companied by the facts in the after life of
Paul-the most important and interesting
part of it-present most upjustihable as
persion of the Apostles character? Would
nv persistent declaration, that the histori
c Il facts stated were the exact words Of the
Now Testament justify or mitigate the
wrongfulness on my part OF such an attack!
Now can it be construed as ingenious on
the part of Mr.. Graves and Mr.. Cough to
refer to transactions which occurred in the
early years of Mr.. Wesley's ministry at
Savannah, when it is an pndisputed fact,
that years after, Mr.. Wesleys views, char
acter and life-courSe, were changed, and
that he established two churches, one n
Europe and the other in America, whose
doctrines and government show ciearness
Of intellect and pureneSs OF heart, free
from the extreme severely Of his former
high church views. Like st. PAul, he was
conscientious but mistaken and rash IN his
religious zeal.
Mr.. Cough ca never hope to merit the
esteem of Methodlsts by making assaults
on the integrity of the founder Of Method
isu, and though these assaults appear IN
indirect form, they, as will appear from
what has already been said, reflect, and un-
Justly reflect, upon the good name of Mr..
Wesley: they make him out as man who
held on the subject of baptism opposite
views to the belief he endeavored to iocu.-
cate in others.
Dir. Cough declares ne quoted only "Mr.
Wesley's words. which he had right to
do" To prove what? Immersion bap
tism? Why no! Mr.. Cough knows that
be repudiates immersion baptism as prac-
ticed by Mr. Wesley in both the churches
established by him. Is this d fair argI-
ment? Does it not serve to mlslead tie
uninformed? MIR. Cough rejects INNER
sion baptism as practiced by other denoml-
nations of Baptists. as we'll as by Method
ist churches Now is this right? Is his
conclusion warranted from his argument?
To prove that immersion is the only cor
rect baptism, and then reject immersion as
practiced bs all other denominations ex-
cept his own, cannot stand the test OF just
criticism.
With regard to the proselyting of two of
nv young members, I have no reply to
make. The public have my statement and
Mr.. Coughs reply. The community is
conversant with the historical facts con-
nected with the case. and their intelligence
and piety can judge between 1s.
MIR. Cough says, II have no inclination
to compare my brother to a dog baylng the
moon" He misunderstandS l intended
no such comparison. The sentence was an
exclamation of surprise. quoted from
Shakespeare.
In a!lusion to my age. Mr. Cough IS
quite pathetic, and rejoices in his own
youth. Will he suffer ME to remind him,
that while youth has its possibilities, 1t has
its dangers, responsibilities. and uncer-
tainties Rejoice" but remember"
In dismissing this unpleasant controver-
sy, wish to say that ] designed no contro-
rersy with the Baptist church of Manning
or elsewhere. have Il profound regard
for the denomination, and while feeling
called upon to repel an unwarranted attack
made upon the founder of my church. to-
cether with individual actions which did
not think comported with the love which
Christians should bear toward each other,
it will be my purpose to cherish, as far as
NAV be, that charity which ''sufereth long
and is kind" HENRY n. MOOD,
! Pastor of Methodist church in Manning