Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-15
4. THE wHITsrTT RESIGNATION.
DR.. Ry1and, just from Louisville
Talks of It-Long Pending.

Rev. c. X. Ryland, d. D., returned on
yesterday from Louisville, KY, where. BY
appointment OF the trustees OF the South
IN Baptist Theological Seminary a COM
nittee OF which he is a member met
July sih TO attend 10 some special work
connected with the seminary.
In response TO inquiries, Or. Ryland
stated that the mission OF his committee
did not bear upon the question of Rev
Dr. WhitsItts resignation as president
He had full and free conversation with
DR.. Whitsitt, and believes that his resig-
nation was the result OF conviction on
DR.. Whitsitt's part that he might now
eliminate the personal element from the
protracted controversy, and leave his
friends free 10 act for the best interests
OF the seminary.
Dr. Ryland says the resignation has
been pending for some time, withheld
from the public for good reasons, but
president Whitsitt evidently preferred not
to delay longer, and hence the announce
ment on Wednesday.
SO FAR as the large majority OF the
Board OF Trustees are concerned. DR..
Whitsitt has their entire confidence, and
ne feels the greatest comfort in the fact
that these honored and trusted men have
stood by him. With the faculty and stu
dents Or. Whitsitt is the one devotedly
loved, and his separation from them will
produce keen pang. No one questions
Ut. Whitsitts conscientious devotion 10
truth and duty, his success as president
or MS exalted motive in the step he takes
in voluntarily resigning his high position.
The seminary under DR.. Whitsitts
management has been growing steadily,
ana the last session, with 300 students,
was one OF the most successful in its his
tory. Only last week the Norton family.
or Louisville presented Dr. Whitsitt with
5000 10 add to the endowment Of the in
sutution- The entire property and en-
dowment Of the seminary has reached the
splendid figure OF $500 900.
The resignation OF DR.. Whitsitt takes
effect in May 1899. when the board meets.
Inc next session will go on as usual.
THE "WHITSITT MATTER"
The history of the "Whitsitt matter is
well known to the reading public. In 1885,
about the time he was elected president
OF the seminary there appeared in a
northern paper a statement from Dr.
Whtsitt that during part Of the seven
teenth century the Baptists I'm England
did not practice baptism by immersion,
but sprinkled, as several denominations
do now. The publication was the occa-
SION for an uprising among DR.. Whitsitt's
enemies. Some declared that his state
ments were erroneous, and calculated to
DO the Baptist denomination a great deal
OF harm; others insisted that while the
learned teacher might be correct he acted
very indiscreetly in saying anything about
II, especially first in any other than a
Baptist publication. Some even claimed
that the line Of succession OF Baptists
was broken and consequently there were
no Baptists at ALL since the Baptsts do
not accept even immersion by Pedobap-
fist ministers.
ATTACKED AND VILIFIED.
Attacks on the "discoverer." as Dr.
Whitsitt was called, never ceased, even
unto the present time. The Western Re-
powerful Baptist paper of Louisville. IT.
self waged an unrelenting war on him.
Several attempts were made TO get the
Southern Baptist Convention to take ac-
ton In the matter. and refute or remove
DIR. Whitsitt. Influence was brought TO
bear on the Seminary Board TO remove |
the president, but both bodies stood by |
him, and some called him a martyr of |
truth. Many reproached and even abused |
and vilifed him. Many also upheld him |
and stood by, and still stand by, with !
confidence in and devotion 10 him which |
cannot but arouse admiration. During |
all. too DR.. Whitsitt has acted the man
and the gentleman. Not an unkind word
has he said against his bitterest enemies
however ungenerous he may have con-
5idered them. He does not state why he
resigns. but he has been so repeatedly
indicated and upheld by those in author
ty al the seminary and by the great ma
ority Of the Baptists Of the South that
doubtless he feels he has reached that
,oint where he may stop the clamor and
division his presence makes with not the
east compromise OF his manhood and