The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-17
DR.. WILLIAM wHITSlTT.

throughout the South. lie was educated
at the DIVERSITY OF Virginia and in Ger
many and has been connected with the
Seminary for about twenty-five years as
professor He was CO-laDorer I'm that
institution with the late Rev. Dr. John A.
Broaddus, who IS SO Rel-known IN Rich
mond the late WIiiiam Williams, very
brilliant and scholarly man. Dr. CraW-
ford II. Toy, who as now holding a pro
censorship at Harvard University, and
Rev. Or. J. G. Iliden, OF this city.
The institution was at that time located
in Greenvile, :. G.. Dr. Whitsitt Is an
accomplished teacher, a profound stu
dent "a vigorous writer, and high toned
Christian gentleu an. lie has many
friends In Richmcnd.
10 is a noticeable fact that the contro-
versy which arose from certain views
published bv Dr. Whitsitt setting fOrtn
the result of some historical investiga-
tons about the Bapusts has been badly
mixed up by various newspapers, both
religious and secular All sorts or state
ments have been made. and the origin
and history Of the controversy IS known
by comparatively few people.
AT the annual meeting OF the Kentucky
Baptist Association held last month, that
body withdrew an support from the
southern Baptist Association on the sole
ground that Dr Whtsiu was an UNIT
person TO be at It's head.
The matter has twice been brought up
before the Board OF Trustees OF the Sem
mary. but Dr. Whitsitt was sustained
both times. and 80 was noe seriously con-
sidered at the last General Association.
rhe Seminary was never in a more -four
sshing condition Ia It's history than II ts
now.
DIR WInTsITTs VIEWS.
A representative OF the Times inter-
viewed a gentleman who IS thoroughly
familiar with the controversy end Sc
cured from him the following facts,
which may be regarded as authoritative
ana reliable:
President whitsitt published in 1896
n book entitled "A Question in Baptist
History" some years ago he published
editoriany IN the New York Independent
G. series OF articles on the same Ques-
zion. 10 has been criticized by some for
publishing these views IN ''Pedobaptist
paper" his critics being under the i'm
preston that the Independent was on
tho Pedobaptist side. The paper In ques-
ton. however. is a non-sec'arlan religious
publication and claims TO DO Independent.
President Nrhitsitts book was a defence
~ The position taken in the articles pub
3ished I'm the Independent Ills thesis as
set forth in that paper and also IN his ar
ticle on 'Baptists' published in Johh-
son s. cyclopedia was that previous to the
yesr l6u immersion was not pracuced
ag the ana-Baptists OF England, ana
further ne held that Roger Williams was
probably sprinkled and not immersed
OFFENDED LANDMARKERS.
President Whnsitts course and posi-
Con on these questions gave serious Of
fence 20 large bodies Of Baptists. part-
cularly In the southwest including Ten
nesscc. Kentucky Arkansas. Louisiana
and Texas. The Landmark Baptists
are especially strong IN tho regions
named. These are largely dlciples OF the
9ato notorious J. r. Graves, editor of the
Tennessee Baptist" which was formerly
published In Nashville. They contend
vigorously againstaiien immersion. that
- immersion performed by any hut
Baptist minister. They also refused 10
practice pulpit afiihation with ministers
OF othor denomina tons. In short, they
are the high church Baptists many OF
shem holding 20 what IS called Baptist
succession, that Is. a line OF churches
coiains straigh. down from the Apostles.
Various Baptist associations and con-
Sentions In Kentucky. Mississippi Louis