The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-12-12
DIR. THOMPSON
And The CHURCH.
Some Historic Facts Concerning
the Relation Of the Church
to Slavery.
FREEDOM AND ITS MEANING

hbLUUM AMI llC MtANl lN0
Statements Explaining the Truth Of the
Famous Remark-Thomp.o p.on. Not the
Alliance. Responsfbis-rhe Methods by
which the Church Can Command the
Lcvs and support r the Masses.
AS matter of justice to myself
and to accommodate those who de-
mapd some proof, l purpose giving
to the public in brief series of let
ters TO THE CAUCASIAN some of the
facts that seem to justify me in be-
lieving, as | said at Cary, on the
16'h of August, that "the church
does not comprehend its mission.
1t stands to-day where it has always
stood-on the side of human slavery,
and not on the side Of human free
DOM"
Whether this "uncalled for" "un-
Fortunate" foolish" but now ia
nous" remark be true or false, I
alone am responsible for the utter
ance Of it. The Alliance has no
more responsibility for it than the
Southern Methodist Church, of which
| am also member.
This letter is intended by way of
introduction to clear the way for
those that shall follow. l have
thought it worth while, at the outset,
to note the course of misrepresenta-
tion INDUCED in, whether conscious
ly or unconsciously by my critics,
and to Indicate again my attitude
from the beginning. If seem only
suggestive, | shall follow on to the
proof.
OF my critics in general and espe-
cially of the batch in Mr.. Daniels
picturesque symposium of October
22d, have no unkind words to say.
They have all used, no doubt, all
the charity and common courtesy
that they could command. We
had no right to expect from them
what they didn't have. 81 have al
ways thought" said Lord Falkland,
"that there should be as little bitter
ness in religious controversy as
there is in a love letter, and that the
contrary way is as void of Christian
character as it is of human wis
dom" Wise men never attempt to
teach by mere abuse, or in i'll humor,
When men do wrong, it is because
they lack right ideals. Since We
cannot 60 outside of ourselves in
judging others, ones harsh judg
ment may prove only ones unenvia
BILE character.
Nor can l find it in my heart, since
DR.. Durham's letter came to ligh
with Scriptural references assigning
me, with marvellous generosity, to 8
perpetual home in the eternal tropic.
and denominating Mr.. Daniels E,
"child of the DEVIL" to think un
kindly even of Mr.. Daniels. Prio
to that, had not known who hi
father was. l didn't know but tha
he had long since fallen in valian
defense of his country or been quiet
ly gathered to his fathers. l wa
surprised to find through DR.. Dur
ham that Mr.. Daniels father wa
still living. To have such a father
and to have the world know it, i
punishment. enough to satisfy tn
most vengeful against your valiant
volunteer defender of the Church.
OF the spirit of DR.. Kilgo's letter
l desire to express my appreciation
By the word freedom, l understa NJ
the fullest possible preservation Q
natural rights and the concurren
development Of the individual an
the State; the condition for ever
man which lay in the mind of tn
trainers of the Declaration of Amer
lean Independence; that happy mea
which lies we'll between anarch
on the one hand and monarch
on the other. By slauery, l undel
stand the condition of subsection
the will of another, and the cons'
quent destruction of rights and th
failure of individual development {
the masses. A Church is a religion
society or institution, focus Of
Christian belief, Christian moralit,
: and Christian view of this world an
the world to come. The aggregat
of various denominations of the tin
constitute the Church. and ju
as Christ is known upon caref1
f study by the character of tt
i, life He lived every day among me-
, so the Church is known to the worl
!, by the operation of its major sent
= ment, the character of it's controllin
influence. In every age, the pulp
is necessarily the controlling ner,
/ centre of Church life. Gill
t priest, like people," Is a very o
adage.
: The power of the Gospel was d.
i in the beginning, as through tt
centuries it continues to be, to Il
fact that it is the history Of life tn
" was lived up to it's teachings-tl
!, only character of life that men cou
# believe in and love. The church
: any age, will command the love al
e support of the masses Of, men on
in proportion to its comprehensi'
e and exemplifcation in practi
e of the thoughtful, popular concepti'
e e of the Christ-life. That it has ia
.e ed so signally for nearly ninete
l. centuries as the organic executor
l. the Masters will in the regenel
r tion of the world is sadly due to
h. failure of appreciation of His ch.
acter and practice of His life. On
fools and fanatics should claim th
10 the way the Church has lived is
4 definition of Christianity. Whe
"a since Pentecostal days, have Chr
!. tianity and the Church gone coupl
- u and inseparable' That there 9
~ now, as there have always be
a among both the clergy and the la
e. many thousands of Thoroughbred
in Christians whose lives lift tn,
III above abuse and crsticism, glat
to confess. Such men and women 8
g. now the hope of the race, as
past ages they have constituted I
one helpful human factor in iden
n flying the wheels of time with
IS, progress of civilization and iber
re They are the salt of the earth I'll
never loses its savor-God's SO,
~ thousand that do not bow the X