The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-25
"JcrenltQll.S
Norfolk. Va. Ee

To the Editor Of The Virgininn:
For twenty-five years | have been con-
triouting to newspapers. and fU- near
~ twelve years of that time, | was my
self an humble editor. In all these
4 years have had not a few tllts with
the knights of the Quill" but never
have been so puzzled In trying to form
reply as In the ease of Jeremiah"
In the Nirsiniam of February sd This
may seem to be 4 strange admission. but
1t Will not when | explain why | am
puzzled:
l. He complains about my Christian
sun latter. and Yet confcsSes that
told only the truth. Now what sort
OF reply can man make in such Il
case: cannot apologize for the truth
ana l will not try to cover 1t up, not
even to ease my weeping friend
z. He Is so indefinite as to what he
wishes. II he had said my statements
We're false. might have tried to proye
their truth. but their truth he admits
now, then. what am to reply to? It's
pity t. beat the air His purpose is
not easy to discover. but | suspect he
thinks he is weeping over Il lost ring"
1t really looks rs If he is in fact growl-
ing about it.
He charges me with being proud az
my church The fact may be truc.
but have not used any such language
lie claims also that | made my church
out TO be - perfect, as by Inference
at least, not To have any special need for
the presence of Christ; hut he overlooks
or at any rate omits this sentence
from my letter, rs 1t appeared i'm the
Christian Sun: This is all hopeful,
but there is room FIR Improvement. and
much remains yet to be completed"
Jeremiah thinks we ought to keep
Christ here all the time. and then he so
innGcently hints Il reason for his absence
ahu puts II his way: IF He is not here
IL is because the Church. it's ministers
and members have secularized their
faith, and lost the power of the Holy
GhEss.' With all of "Jeremiah's" weep
ing, ne Is 4 good jumper--he jumps ftom
his idea of Christ's absence to the faith
lessness of the ministers and members
as II cause. If there be the shadow Of
truth in what Jeremiah" says on this
point, | deeply regret it. but pray call
Jeremiah" back, and ask him what
lies between the absence of the Christ
and the unfaithfulness of His Church?
Where are the bar-rGons. the gambling
dens, the houses OF i'll fame, corruption,
public and private, which formerly the
authorities are said to have 'winked
at?" Verify when we recall the history
of acts which came to light less than
two years ago, 1t Is not strange that
Norfolk has been advertised as some
kin 10 'Sodom and Gomorrah." 1t Is
a. pity, and the less Jeremiah" has
to say of the Sodom and Gomorrah fea-
turc, the easier II may he tn forget
that something was rotten in Den
mark"
AS To Christ's presence or absence in
Norfolk. let me say that it never oc-
Cured TO me nor does Ii now seem pos
slble that my statement in the Chris
tian Sun letter could lead any intelliGen.
man to suppose that meant that Christ
has no abiding place in Ncrfolk-for he
lives in the hearts of His people. and
| hope there are many hearts in Norfolk
which are full of His presence. but there
are also many in watch, Judging only
by their fruits. He Is q stranger for
He does not live in bar-rooms. or gamb
linG-0ens. n houses OF ill-fame. or in the
hearts o! those who support and uphold
the same. or even in the hearts of mere
| ly moral men, or Of the Indifferent. or
| Of those VINO worship the God of Mann
mon. ana in these things Norfolk doubt
| less has ITS part. If ~; more. and
from this standpoint Norfolk does need
| Christ, and 1t needs Him very much.
| WIS will dare to say II is not true?
j. PRESLEY BARRETT