The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-04
BISHOP ]. B. CHESHIRE
WRITES ABOUT THE DENOMINA-
TIONAL DIFFICULTY IN
MITCHELL COUNTY.
STANDS BY REV. mlLNOR JONES.

And Speaks in Warm Terms OF the
! People ot Rukersvilic--TheirC Clever
ness and Hospitaiity--He Confirmed
"a Glass OF Thirteen there Last Month
--IIe Seems Skepticai About the
Statement that the Court House Was
Too Unsafe TO Permit Preaching In.
SEwANEE, Tenn, July 81, 1895.
10 the Editor Of the News ana Observer.
DEAR SIR: Some one has sent me a
copy Of your issue Of the 28th instant,
containing the card Of several gentlemen
of Bakersyille protesting to explain the
action Of tho County Commissioners Of
Mitchell county in refusing TO ALLOW the
uae Of tho court house for our public
worship, and also containing a severe
arraigumont Of tho Rev Minor JOncp,
our missionary in that county. Though
| am too far away from that locality 10
make any particular enquiry into the
matter at present, feei compelled to ask
space in your columns for few words.
In the first place the action Of the com
missionors was explained to our people,
who made inquiry, as having been taken
at the instance Of Baptists and MethO-
dists who made complaints to the com.
misai0nors because Of the doctrines
preached IL this be a false charge it ia
none OF our making. II is the eXplana-
tiou which was given Us Of the cause Of
our exclusion. If the commissioners
made the order because they considered
the court house unsafe, they should have
given that explanation. If any false
charge has been made we are no ways
responsible for it.
Secondly, as to Mr.. J0nes's preaching,
! have simply to say that | know enough
of Mr.. Jones and Of his teaching to be
able to assure the readers of the NEWS
AND OBSERVER that the communication
above referred to gives a totally unjust
and misleading impression of the man
and of his teaching. | am persuaded
that the person who makes the state
ments in that article either makes them
at secondhand, or else gives the impress
sions produced by Mr.. Jones upon
strongly prejudiced mind, and not Mr..
Jones's actual words or allegations. 1t is
we'll known that the Episcopal Church,
to use the familiar name, does teach as
an essential part of the gospel scheme
of salvation, certain truths and certain
practices not taught or observed
by many Christians. These Mr..
Jones is accustomed to present with
great force and persistency, but he does
not hold or teach any more than do,
that man cannot be saved by Gods
grace without these. l do not wish to
make any explanation at this distance
as to the particular allegations against
Mr.. Jones, as set forth in that article,
but I cannot refrain from saying that
several statements thence, both as to
Mr.. Jones's words and acts, seem to me
to have reference to things within my
own knowledge, but in every instance
their true character and bearing are to-
tally perverted, and show in the mind of
the writer either an absolute ignorance
Of what was done or said, or most
amazing misconception Of both the char
acter and the purpose of the parties con-
cerned. | cannoB, at this distance, speak
more specifically, because | only suppose
that | understand the illusions of the
writer.
am not, of course, in the habit of
hearing Mr.. Jones preach, but be did
make in my presence a somewhat ex-
tended address in the courthouse at
BakersYille at our last service on Sunday
night, June Both, and am assured by
Mr.. Thos. a. Lane, of Bakersville, that
in that address Mr.. Jones took exactly
the same ground that he was accustomed
to take in his preaching. While | could
understand that there was much in his
preaching to provoke antagonism in
those who were not disposed to accept
the truth which he set forth, yet there
was nothing which in the least degree
could justify any of the charges made in
the communication referred to. And to
show how very much the writer of that
paper mistakes Mr.. Jones's true feeling
toward other Christians, may say that
upon the occasion OF our celebration of
the Holy Communion in the courthouse
Tuesday morning, he specially requested
me to invite members of other religious
bodies to receive the Holy Communion
with us.
In conclusion, no one, l am sure, can
have a higher opinion of the people of
Bakersville than Mr.. Jones has. And !
| believe that the people of that commu,
nifty have, as a whole, a corresponding
regard for him He has frequently as
sured me that he had never been to any
place where he had met with kinder and
better people, and saw many evidences
of the high, popular regard IN which he
is held. | remained in Bakersville with
Mr.. Jones four days last month. think
/ do not exaggerate when | say that over
a hundred people came to see us, to talk
with us about religious matters and the
church, and to get prayer books, of
which we had a number for distribution.
Considering the size of the town, | have
never preached to such congregations
anywhere in the Diocese. | confirmed
| thirteen people where that ordinance
had never been administered before, and
received every possible kindness. By the
testimony Of Tie writer's of the article of
last Sundays issue, the county o1sumis-
| sioners seem 10 have been afrala L6at our
! con C~egcti0ES wore 50 large aaS 20 tudan-
ger the court house. ny conclusion is,
! .h#"et0re. that sutD@ al our brethren in
! E&kocsvliIe have somehow misunderstood
/ Mr Jones 5 think that the people Of
! tua5 l0mu0Ditg have no quarrel with
either MIN or tu5cdUrch which st serves.
I am sure that 50 far as ny experience
| 0Oac 7 bava OuIv oOOd thiuos tO saw Of