The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1897-02-22
DEFENDS THE CHURCH.

ENCE TO DEALING WITH
SUCH CASES AS THAT
OF e. w. AGNEW.
To the Editor of the Mail and
Express.-I have refrained from
answering your remarks as editor
aud the articles that have appeared
on your pages in reference to the
so-called Agnew case, simply from
a kind regard to the feelings of Mr..
Agnew and his family. There is
a point, however, when forbeararce
CEASES to be a virtue, and it ap-
pears to me that that point has
been reached. In reference to the
question at issue l shall only say.
that the Baptist church has acted
up to her rules Of discipline; that
these rules are almost word for
word copied from the New Testi-
ment, that they have been endorsed
and acted upon by men whose con-
secrated lives have been devoted
to the good of humanity, and
whose pietY and philanthropy is
urquestioned. Imagine the posi-
ton of one who takes upon him
self to criticize the action of
Chr;staio church, who is constant
ly advocating the sale OF cigars
ard Z newsparers on Sunday; who is
opposei TO the maintenance of the
sanctity of the Christian Sabbath,
and that in direct opposition to the
laws of the state. Surely a little
more modesty would be becoming
in calling in question the action of
a denomination that has on its roll
some of the worlds best men, and
membership in this country aloEe
of over four million persons.
What has been said in some cf
the papers of this city in reference
to the recent noble acton OF the
Baptist church is il reality a blow
at Cnristianity-not very heavy
blow it's true, yet as regards the
motive behind it, bow. 1t touches
all churches; it affects our common
Christianity, it is the world trying
to bring down the church to its
own miserable level. Under the
disguise of religion, utterances
have been made that are not In &C
coriarce with the teachings of the
New Testament. Sentime entail
gush has been poured into the ears
of the pubic, which is most en-
phatically not according to the pre-
cepts of our great Master. Has
there bcen one hearty, vigoro is
denunciation of crime in any one of
the newspapers that have published
these attacksl If there has beer
I have failed to notice il. To
pat the criminal on the back, to
condone his offence, is n ot the best
way to influence for good the ris-
ing generation. Christ's treat
ment of the thief on the cross was
held up for our pattern, but moth
ing was said about his treatment
of the other one, for there were
two. That did not serve the purpose
of the writer. The way Jesus
dealt with the woman taken in
adultery, has been dragged to the
front. Now l n not aware that
any one in the Baptist church has
suggested stoning as a suitable
mode Of punishment. Let ne
show how this writec uses scrip
'ure. ITO the woman whose faith
e, used her to touch the hem of bis
gar, uent, Carist said, BE thou
whole She cam. to Jesus fol
healing and he healad her. .Wha'
connect,o, I that has with the cass
in point. I c ,nnot see. What dix
he say of the Woman whom he pro
claimed sinner, "Her suns which
are many are for @iven," becaust
she was wsepiag o.tEer tears OF
penitenca az his feet. And wha
did he say to the world? "ihougt
your sins be as scarlet t.,ey shall