The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-10-27

t;st associations IN various southern states
have passed resolutions demanding Dr..
Whi,sitts removal from the presidency OF
rbe seminary Dissatisfaction is more or
less widespread. especially in kentucky and
in the southwest, Dr.. Eaton keeping up the
irvitat;on through his editorials in The Wes-
tern Recorder at Louisville. and Dr.. Car
roll holding up his end of the fight in Texas
The matter has gone so far that leading
Bartists are anxioas 10 end the controversy
ami stop the agitation. Hence the Nash
vile conference. which was the voluntary
etfor; Of leading men to bring about better
understanding between the opponents III the
controversy. The 10 lowing is the address
OF the conference:
Dear Brethren: We the undersigned
Bactists, Tor the sake OF peace anl good tel-
lowship and in the hope Of sloryfyins God
by promoting the best Interests OF our demo
minatioa address the following statement 10
our brethren in the soQth:
FirSt-We call on all BapiistS to JOIN US IN
daily prayer for the peace and prosperity OF
our Zion. We have faith in the presence
and power of The Holy Spiritto guard and
guide US as q people. IN these days OF hurt
tul coute1t;on let Us avoid incorporate q $
cussioa and cease the introduction OF reSolu-
lions provoging controversies in associations
aud conventions, and letus betake ourselves to
daily prayer as one man, that the sovereign
Spirit may restore peace according 10 the
divine wisdom.
Second-We regard DR.. WhitSitt as COM
pe;eut historian, but we should not, ia this
statement. shield him from any fair criticism
that the English Anabaptists first adopted
immersion for baptism in or about the year
l64l; and We protest thatit is unbaptistic 10
criticize him as a Baptist for this opinion.
For, if We accept said opinion as q test Of Dr..
Wh:tsitt,,s orthodoxy, We thereby make a new
test of orthodoxy aad surrender the time
honored Baptist principle Of the Bible, and
the Bi5le alone, our only guide in all matters
OF faith and practice. And as We depart
from this old landmark into this new tes, we
come to the violation Of another honored
Baptist principle-freedom of speech. For
Dr.. Whitsitt is avowedly in .'hearty accord
with bis Raptist brethren in every distinc-
tive principle which they hold" He has
not uttered one word contrary TO the Bible
or Baptist faith; he has simply expressed his
opinion about a matter OF history. II then.
he be displaced for his opionion, it will not
be DR.. Whitsitt who is sacrificed, but our old
Baptists principle Of freedom ofspeech. be
do not intend to argue the merits Of the
case, or TO express any preference for DR..
Whitsitt, but to call the attention Of our
brethren TO the fact that these two great
Baptist principles Of appeal to the Bible
only and freedom Of speech are in danger OF
being lost to US by this attack upon the preSl-
denG of our seminary, ifit be successful.
1t would be calamitous error TO condition
faith and fellowship among Baptists upon
post-apostolic history or tradition rather
than upon the pure word Of God, and to re-
strict freedom of speech By the command
ments of men. We are aware that many
brethren, honestly gcieved at Dr.. Nhitsitt
utterances, are proceeding against him IN all
good faith, and DO not intend an attack upon
these two ancient Baptist principles. We
deeply sympathize with their earnest spirit,
but we 6eplore the fact that their actions
will reach beyond their intentions, and II
they strike down DR.. Whitsitt for the causes
alleged, they will also strike down these two
cid landmarks What is true with reference 10
the history of English Baptists in l64l will
soon be brought TO light, if it be possible TO
get at the real facts. We would accord
brethren on either side Of this discussion
full freedom Of speech; but we are opposed
to either side making their opinions test
of Baptist faith and fellowship; we depre-
cate the passage Of such resolutions by our
associations and conventions as tend 10 es-
tablish this test of fellowship; and we call
on our brethren to stand with US as we
stand by these old landmarks.
Tbird-We do not take up Dr.. Whitsitts
opinion to the prejudice of any brother or
set of brethren, nor will We adopt their
opinion to the prejudice OF DR.. Whitsitt.
Neither he nor they cease to be our brethren
in full, loyal fellowship because of what they
respectively believe about the introduction
of immersion in England in l64l. We in-
woke all parties on both sides to realize
afresh that we are brethren. In his state
ment to the trustees, published in the con-
vention minutes, Dr.. Whitsitt says: in re-
gard TO the articles written as editorials for
the Independent, l have long felt that 1t
was q mistake" AS to the johnson Ency-
clopedia article; he says: 1t will be very
pleasing TO me if can honorably procure
the elimination from 1t OF whatever IS often
sive to any OF NY brethren Again: ''Re-
garding the charge that expressed con-
viction that kinswoman OF mine ought 10
follow her husband into Paedo Baptist
church, it was neve. my intention 10 lnd!-
cate belief that the family outranks the
church Of God believe that obedience 10
Gods command is above every other human
duty, and that people in every relation OF
life ought to obey God rather than man"
Again, IN his book on "a Question in Baptist
History" he says: ''Immersion as a reh-
gious rite was practiced By John the Baptist
about the year 80 Of our era, aud was SOL
emnly eujoined by our Saviour upon al OF
his ministers 10 the end Of time. No other
observance was in use for Baptism in New
Testament times. The practice, though some
times greatly perverted, has been continued
from the apostolic age down to our own. As
l understand the Scriptures, immersion IS
essential to Christian baptism These eX-
plantations, together with the statement that
he would correct, as soon as he could, all
that was offensive in his expressions seems
10 10 challenge the full, hearty and COM
r .ete acceptance of the most exacting Of his
''relHTSu we oSSp4y y tHPo'-1"S "At1 - 80
WI have been wounded or preludiced by
these controversies, on whichever side they
may ,5, 5ut, for the sake Of the Lord and
H, cause, let them ''seek peace aud pursue
~ The masses Of our people, who are not
involved in these unfortunate personalities,
can easily and promptly respond to this aq-
peal.
Fourth-We invite our brethren to a con-
tinued confidence IN the board OF trustees OF
the seminary. At Q meeting Of the board in
Wilmington last May, after q full and free
conference with Dr.. Whitsi,t. a satisfactory
settlement of the trouble was affected with
practical uaniuity, and the following state
ment was made 10 the convention. See
I1iDutes.
Firsr-"That we account this fitting &C.
casion to reatirm our cordial and thorough
adherence to the fundamental articles adopt
ed at the time when the seminary was es-
~ i. ., ,yy-ho hn-