New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
A PROTEST AGAINST sECTIONAL1sM

SOUTHERN BAPTISTs URGED NOT TO ANTA"oNi"h
THE MOVEMENT TO ESTABLISH \ NATIONAL
YOUNG PEOPLES UNION
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; In Part II Of yesterdays Tribune read
With much interest OF the organization by some vi
he best men of the South OF he southern ba"o'
Rights League; also the statements made by freSi-
dent Manning OF the deplorable conditions that eN-
ist in many States because this little ancient
regime has had control OF southern pohucs lo'
nearly twenty years.
! Wish to call attention TO another ahcie"'
regime" that has done and IS dong great Marin
10 the South and that will. IL 1t succeeds IN the
movement in which ii Is now engaged "o NV ~
On lrreparable injury.
The great Baptist communion OF me nut"
;tates like the Methodist and the presbyterian IL
divided by sectional lines According TO the EleN-
enth Census there were in the Baptist Church reg
Mar as distinct from the numerous sinai secs
that have br,nched off from the main body more
than 900 900 members, OF whom s0OG1 belonged 10
the churches OF the Northern convention I'-o'f'l
10 the southern convention. and l3b-lp 10 'he
Afro American churches. Here is a great body
Of Christians having "one Lord. one falth' one
BAPTISM" who separated from each o'ne'
voars ago by causes that longer exist. Nhlle'
for financial and other reasons those bodieS Hnu
fl convenient and desirable to MAINTAIN 'heH sep
arate ORGANIZATIONS. there is no ieason why 'he'e
should not be some one bond OF union between
tbem some place occasion in which they car!
meet in Christian fellowship. and obtterate ana
FORGET the past sectional estrangement WIN al
its bitterness and its woes. The Baptist 'h'lure"
Of thirty years ago, now part OF the !ou"6' f'V
gressive and wide-awake' generation o. 'he nv"
south that has arisen. sincerely deslrous mat
,bis NAV no brought about and have long been
eager for some avenue to be opened for IT, Ihese
heard with 10y OF the organization OF the haP"SI
Young People's Union. association thdt Ste'heu
70 open I'D their longed-for opportunity. the cen
49, &c in
oned somewhat on the line Of the Epwof'h heasue
OF The Methodist Episcopal Church or OF the Chrs-
tan Endeavor Association, whose membership Is
not limited by UNCONVENTIONAL lines It's opJec's
are to stimulate the young people OF the bapUSt
faith to active participation in all branches OF
church and mission work. There is scarcely
church Of this denomination In the North ana West
hat has not It's union Within the last two years
this organization has been growing rapidly else
where and is now being vigorously pushed IN the
south where il has been received with great FAVOR
nv those for whose special benefit it was designed.
Unfortunately for the South. there are among the
elder Baptists Of the pulpit and the pews lew
men and women of the ancient regime VINO can
neither forget nor forgive, and who are so wedoed
TO the idea OF keeping alive the past IN the minus
Of the new generation that they are bitterly OPP
opposed 10 permitting their young people TO unite
with those of the North and West in the Baptist
Young Peoples Union. Realizing the strong hou
this organization already has upon the MINDS OF
their Young people they are now working most
zealously to bring about a split by organizing
similar association whose membtF ship shaIl "e
confined exclusively TO citizens OF the south
Next July a National conference Of these organlza-
lions is 70 be held in this city. very large at
tendance Of delegations from the Northern anu
Western unions is assured. 1t had been expected
that the South would be proporonately well repre-
sen.ed but this opposition has been pressed with
such QUIET vigor tina; this expectation may he dis
appointed 1t all depends upon the action mat Sha!
be taken by the Southern Baptist Convention which
IS 10 meet at Washington few weeks earlier AT
that convention an attempt will be made TO or
ganize an exclusively Southern union. This move
ment has its head and front at Richmond win
The Religious Herald" very influential denomi-
national paper, leading il. Other papers OF woe
circulation among Southern Baptists are following
its lead. as many of the older pastors and re-
Ngious teachers This opposition had gained many
influential supporters before 1t made any puohc
showing Of It, 1t has gained so much Roadway that
many Southern friends of the National Union FEAR
they will not be able TO head II on put theS WI"
Try do il
1.-The Christian Index Of last week published
letter from r. II. Edmonds, Editor Of The Manu-
facturers' Record" of this city. and one OF the
prominent supporters Of the National as against
the proposed Southern organization which gave the
following for opposing this sectional move
meni. The letter addressed 10 Ex-Governor
Northern another Baptist layman who is very
strongly opposed TO the sectional union Mr. Ed
monds, in part, said
We must face this question in the light Of the
that the South has entered upon an era
in which We cannot control the feelings ana sent
must. If to do work. become = some
extent part of the Baptist denomination with me
thousands of outside people, the Baptists Of the
South, well other denominations. must be
prepared TO meet them with hearty welcome
without the tnge of sectional spirit or without any
sentiments Unless do ths-an1 this | believe
can be done simply by keeping intact all present
organizations and letting the Baptist Young PeO-
on which the Raptsts Of all sections can unite for
good fellowship and acquaintance-we shall fail 70
meet great opportunity. With this In existence
seek 10 draw the line against the southern Bap-
list Convention but just surrey Southern
Baptists attempt TO draw the line advance We
will create a spirit Of opposition on their part.
20 contend against the organization OF such bodies
the Baptist Young Peoples Union Of America
and the Christian Endeavor Association. These
things are in existence and Il becomes the part Of
those interested in the welfare OF country and
In the advancement Of the Masters TO turn
them into right channels. and seek TO advance the
in broad spirit Of patriotism that takes in the
whole country.
In these paragraphs Mr. Edmonds speaks. not
alone his own sentiments but those that animate
the hearts and inspire the actions OF the Baptist
young people and the young Christians OF all ie-
nominations OF the New South. and only OF
these. but OF very many Of their elders who are
tired beyond Of the sectional spirit that
would keep the South and provincial and
countrymen in all good works for the cause of God
and humanity and for the progress and prosperity
Of common country. SOtTHRON.
Baltimore. March 90 1886