The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
BAPTISTS NEAR A CRISIS.
4 RUrrURE OF THE CHURCH IN THE
SOEIH IMMINENT

"
a Tunsituoss Caupsirn waEins Against Dr
Uhitsitt, Presidest Of the asatheFn 1aspsts
Theological seni.ary-rhurehes Dividing
% the whitsitt Line-auestisss Iuvsived.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Sept. 10.-Tbere is little
doubt now that the attempt to force the rcsig
nation Of DIR. whitsitt. President Of the South.
ern Baptist Theological Seminary in this city.
and. tho boycotting OF that institution will re-
suit ir n division Of the Southern Church into
two organizations. The developments In the
controversy, which has ragged for some time.
and during the last threc weeks has assumed
a NOR sinister aspect, render such a result
nlllus. inevitable.
Tho Baptist associations have been holding
their sessions in different parts OF this state,
and the strongest resolutions condemnirs nr.
whitsitt, demanding his resignation, and with.
drawing all support from the institution I'M
less no leaves II, have been passed In all of
them. In nearly every case such resolu tons
have been adopted almost unanimously, but in
the Long Run Association, which has just
concluded Its sessions. which werc attended by
several thousand persons each day, tho Whit
slit minority was stronger and tho proceed.
inRs were characterized by a degree OF turbu.
lence and rancor unexampled in the history
of the Church. Delegates stood on benches and
roared themselves hoarse, using Language
which might have been expected only in a red.
hot political convention. The resolutions were
passed, however. by a decided majority. In .
speech made the next day the Rev. Francis w.
Taylor characterized tho methods Of their
adoption as ''disgraceful' and said he had sat
with bowed head. ashamed that his brethren
ana professed followers OF Christ should lend
themselves to such an exhibition OF temper
During the afternoon. at the closing session,
the Rev. DIR. W. f. Powers made his report as
the messenger of the association TO the South
crn Baptist Convention which was held at
Wilmington. n. c.. in May last, where resolu-
lions were passed practically generating DR..
whitsitt. These resolutions, it was supposed.
would put an end to the controversy. But DR..
Powers did not SO regard them; and in his re
port he. foreshadowed the programme which
Of one Of the Baptist churches in this city, pro
poses TO carry out. In his report, he said;
II heard some resolutions read and a hymn
sung. and saw some handshaking. Nothing was
settled at the Southern Baptist Convention.
The battle has just begun. The big Baptists
can be bought and scared; but not 81 the little
ones. would urge upon you that we will have
to do by the refractory Baptists as our fore
three years they thought they were too good TO
lose, but they were finally compelled to expel
them. We might as well make up our minds
Tho seminary i the largest religious insti-
tendance Of 400 to 500 students. 1t is richly
endowed, the largest subscribers being the late
Wealthy SfU family Hf 0S'f foais Tfd 'h The s0iNlS orso;n q
are earnest supporters of DR.. Whitsitt, as are
q vast majority of the communion in this city.
Anticipating the action foreshadowed by DR..
Powers. the other, Baptist churches here pro-
nose to form an Independent association, ex-
viii doubtless be followed by other churches in
the south, causing a split which may prove as
lists and the Campbeliites. The supporters q
the churches that oppose him, and Joining
Tho cause OF this controversy has been ex-
planned in TIE Syn; Trouble began over sew
q Baptist publication and another contrihu-
uon made by him to Johnson's Universal En-
cycllopeedia, In all of which he maintained that
Church. for centuries prior to l64l, and gave a
purely historical account Of how and when the
tism and from sprinkiing to immersion.
or course. DR.. Whitsitt is q firm believer in
be only traced the history OF the method and
described the circumstances under which the
Saaaap ~ to e SispFe9e t unsr Sis Wos a, h fse, some one
WHICH he relied for his contention, but failing
In this. his opponents have abandoned discus
jurious and unorthodox teachings. Even II he
has correctly stated q historical fact. they
20 grave that he and those who believe with
min must be expelled from the Baptist COM
e %nnn sapti ih 9 Gop sxpiaion'io oa SSiHps 5es south On
Whitsitt said:
I'm regard to the articles written as edi-
torials for the Independent, l have long felt
that &c was o mistake, and the generous action
Of the Board of Trustees makes It easy for me
to say that they were written with q view to
stimulate historical research, with no thought
thai II would injure the Baptists and with no
intention to dtsparage Baptist doctrine or prac-
In regard to the article in Johnson's Encyclo-
pedia, he said:
IT has probably passed beyond my control.
put It would be very pleasing to me II / can
honorabIy procure the elimination Of what is
Offensive TO any of my brethren"
In a further statement he said:
On. tho historical question involved I find
fnysef out of agreement with some honored
brethren, but VIVA. have written is the out
come OF patient and honest research, and l can
not do otherwise than rcaftlrm my convictions
Though the rural churches in kentucky
Seem almost unanimous against him. IL is un-
derstood that DR.. Whitsitt has no intention OF re-
signing. II his course were dictated only by
his own lnclinations. he would doubtless sur
render a position which makes him the target
OF criticism, but those who contributed nearly
seminary, and other leading Baptists who have
had no association with 1t, insist that he re-
main at Its head, and he cannot resign without
abandoning his followers.
There Is no question that DR.. Whitsitt is sup
ported by the best intelligence OF his Church In
tho south, but In point OF numbers his follow.
ers are in a decided minority. The trustees of
the seminary have thus far been unanimous in
mis- support, and unless they request his rcsig.
nation 1t will probably never be rendered.