The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-07
(North Carolina Presbyterian

issue between us. The News and Oh
server with nice discrimination says
'"Ihe Biblical Recorder replies to tn,
North Carolina Presbyterian"
The first issue is a question of fact
The Presbyterian objected to the state
ment by the Recorder that there were
many Presbyterians who are convinced
that the States policy is inimical tC
Christian institutions and Christian de
nominations" The Recorder attempts t.
prove its allegation by saying "The activ
ity of President Shearer before the Gene
raj Assembly Il few years ago would 60
to indicate that at that time he was
not far from holding that position. Inc
Recorder ought to know that DR.. Shear
er's bill before the Assembly contempla
ted an increase in the appropriation to
the University and simply Il change in the
policy of the University itself the eieva-
ton of its standard for graduation and
the elimination of the lower classes. rms
was. avowedly. one way of taking the
University out of competition with the
private colleges. He authorizes us to say
for him now, that the State institutions
are here to stay and that it is both
patriotic and Christian to do all that is
Dossibe to keep them free from abuses.
while the Church schools In fair and
honorable competition. serve the purpose
of lifting the State institutions above
the plane of politics, with its contami-
nations.
That other presbyterian leader" might
go that far without being anywhere near
the Recorders extreme positions If there
are any abuses in our State institutions,
it is the function of n religious newspaper
to point them out-and the Presbyterian
will join the Recorder in the effort to
reform any evil proved to exist, in the
management of them.
As another proof of the 'many Pres
byterians'' the Recorder says: ''For in
stance. we were never more cordially en-
dorsed than when we made Il speech in
elaboration of this position at REQ
Springs. in the heart of the Presbyterian
country, to an audience in which there
were supposed to be five hundred Pres
byterans." Here again. with a degree
of uncandor that we are compelled to
condemn. the Recorder omits 10 state
that the speech was made at Baptist
Chautauqua. But we let Red Springs
speak for itself:
Red Springs. n. c., July 90. 1893.
Rev. A. J. McKelway, Charlotte. n. G.:
Ny Dear Sir:-The five hundred Pres
byterians who asserted to Mr.. Bailey's
views on State Aid. on the occasion of his
address here last year. exist simply in the
young mans imagination. While he may
have been complimented for his effort.
know of no Presbyterian here or else
where in this community who favors
his views. There may be some, but l
don't know them. / simply write you
this in the interest of truth. | think Mr..
Bailey mistook Baptists for Presbyte-
rians.
Yours very truly,
d. p. M'EACHERN.
In view of which unsolicited testimony
the Recorder will pardon us if we ask
for the names of the many Presbyte-
rians'' it has ''seen. talked with and han
letters FROM endorsing its proposition
that the policy of State aid Is ''inimical
to Christian institutions and Christian
denominations" We should like to see
how large their number and influence
is as compared with the number of our
adherents in this State.
''No higher education by the State is
better for Christianity than for the State
to maintain higher education. And upon
this proposition we take our stand" TIC
which we can only reply: There arr
things ut which one stands struck silent
as at first sight of the Infinite"
The Recorder fishes out the same old
dead fly. from the Christian Advocate
ointment and buries it in its own. Al
though the fly is in a still more decom-
posed state and the protest of our olfac-
tory nerves is a strong one. we shall try
to take it ont of the ointment, and de-
nominational jealousy out of this discus
sion.
The Recorder. following the Christian
Advocates lead insinuates that we are
Influenced in our position by the fact that
President Alderman, President Mc1vel
and President Holiday are Presbyte
rians. The Recorder is our first inform
ant as to the UNCONVENTIONAL complexion
of one of these gentlemen. But we arc
sure that the Recorder will admit that
their Presbyterianism is nothing against
their Christianity. Neither is that OF
Professor Holmes and Professor Vena
BILE. Nor is the Methodism of Professor
Williams, who is n minister as well as
a Christian. Nor is the faith OF DIR
Hume, one Of the prominent Baptis
preachers Of North Carolina Nor of Pro
fessor Gore, another Baptist, nor of DIR
Manning. Il devont Epscopaian, thes
and other such being Of the University
Nor will the Recorder raise any ques
ton as to the Christianity OF ProIesso
Claxton. of the Greensboro Normal, VIII
is superintendent of a Methodist Sunda.
School, nor of Professor .Ioyner, who is
if we are correctly informed, deacon
i'll the Baptist church.
Now the Recorders catch-word
Christian Education. 1t begs the Who'll
question when it assumes that institu
tions with such men as these in thei
faculties, cannot be Christian institution
because they are partly supported b.
the State. We happen to know tina
there is an optional Bible course in a
least one Of these schools. And We
when the Recorder is looking for a
illustration to Justify the Baptist Conver
ton for meddling with the politics
question of State aid it chooses the 50
loon. the Devils trap for souls. rs
parallel to our State educational inst
tutions. I'm view of its position it says
the Presbyterian cannot encourage ii
readers to vote against liquor me no
the ground of Christianity
Just let North Carolinians consider tina