The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-25
DIR. bird to Mr.. Smith.


Sir: In your issue for the goth inst,
| notice DIR. Bird attempts to cover up
his tracks by raising question of verac-
ity. lie says: Not one word did we
say against the faith or Creeds of the
Baptists, Mcthodsts and Presbyterians.
Neither did we denounCc those denomna-
tiOns or refer to them In our sermon In
any such way" Now what | said was
this: "IIo did not seem satistes with his
Misrepresentation of the book of Nor
mon, hut snccringly attacked the Bap-
fists, Prcshyterians, ConCregationalists,
Catholics, Campbelites and others in
their turn" why did not Mr. Bird reply
to what ! said, instead of replying to
something gotten up by himself of
which I did not charge him?
My letter does not say he attacked
their creeds. But here are some of the
things Mr.. Bird did say of these denomi-
nations: I'VE do not want any more
Baptists; we have enough of them. We
do not want any more Presbytcrians or
COngrcga we have enough of
them. We do not want any more Catho-
lies or Campbellites: we have enough Of
them. We do not want any more Latter
Day Saints; We have too many Of them,
etc, etc. Now, if Mr.. Bird believes lin
all orthodox Crccds," swallows every
word in the Methodist discipline" "en-
dOrses the Baptist confession of faith"
and "hclicves in the Westminster cate
Chsm," why is it he does not want any
more Baptists, Preshyterians etc 4?
Surely il the Crccds Of those different
churches are right, then, Mr.. Bird, TO
he consistent, should have said: I'VE
want men and women everywhere to en-
dorsc and accept those creeds-hecome
good Preshytcrians, Baptists, etA" But
if Mr.. Bird is lahoring for the salvation
Of souls, the fact of him saying "We
don't want any more Baptists, Presby-
terians, Catholics. ETC." is equivalent to
saying "TheY are wrong, therefore we
want no more of them; we have enough
Of them now"
Mr. Bird seems to think that I seek to
"curry favor with the churches of
Scranton" by preiudcing them against
him and his work, etc. But permit me
to say, sir, ~ seek nothing Of the kind
do not 'hclieve i'm the Westminster
catechism." nor endorse the Baptist
confession of faith" Neither do l sub
scribe to every word in the Methodist
discipline" and am of the opinion that
the man who swallows them all is a
whale. instead of a Bird, and will find
that he has got an indigostible Jonah on
his stomach If ever he should come out
of his shell far enough to investigate the
Crocds How in the name of common
sense any man can believe every word
of the Methodist discipline and a the
same time endorse the Baptist confess
sion of faith and believe i'm the West
minister catcchism is a little puzzling 10
me, as these crceds and confessions con-
tradict each other. 1t rather looks to
me as though some one else was seeking
just now to "Curry favor with the
churches OF Scranton"
7 will just here ask Mr., Bird, since he
has said: 81 accept and subscribe 10 ev-
cry word in the Methodist discipline
accept without e1uivOcation or amenda-
tiOn the whole Scriptures as my guide
and rule of life" are you willing to af-
firm that the Methodist church is in
faith, practice. doctrine and orEaniza-
tion i'm harmony with the New Testa-
mcnt Scriptures? If We will not keep
you waiting for an opponent
I'm regard to the patriotism of Mr..
Bird, | have nothing to say; but | am
glad he is patriotic; and as 10 his pro-
claiming "vchcmCntly against preachers
and church members praying, %, God,
thy kingdom come, and then on cleo
tion day going and voting for rum" I
heartily congratulate him in that work,
and pray God to bless every effort put
forth here i'm that direction. We are also
opposed to any one setting up another
prophet over Jesus christ" as much as
MI Bird can he, and suggest that ere he
throws any moro such innuendoes at us
he become better informed in regard to
our faith, Willard j. Smith
Scranton, June 90