Evening star., 1898-07-23

cipaI OF the ChautauQua Literary ana Sci
| entific Circle is scheduled for two lee
lures. The evenings will be given up to
popular lectures and entertainments Bish-
op vincent will present the diplomas and
seals to the Chautauqua graduates
The Kings Daughters will hold their an
nual convention there next week, with the
president. Mrs. Margaret Bottome in
charge Among those who are expected to
take part In the various exercises are Rev.
DR.. Bristol of Washington D. c.; Prof
8. f. Upham, D. D., of Drew Theological
seminary; Rev. Josiah Strong D. D.. of
New York. author of Our Country Miss
Louise ~ Hodgkins of the Auburndale
lMassD Female Seminary; Principal A. H.
BLACK OF the Hudson River Institute, Hud-
| son son. n: Y; Rev. Julius E. Grammar, D. D.,
Rarnss. fne sait,more mno divine; d Colonel w. d.
Dr Price of Sing Sing; Miss Sarah A.
whiting of the faculty of Wellesley Col
| 1ege: samuel s. Hodgkins. New York:
| Prof. Frank r. Robertson. the weIIknown
traveller and lecturer; Thomas G. Hoee a
Brooklyn lawyer who has retired from act
| I'VE practice; Rev. s. E. Simonson nastor
| oi tne Bethel Norwegian Mission, Brook
| lyn and Mr.. and Mrs Frank M. Rucl1 Of
Mount Vernon. N. Y
| Some persons in this CITY who arc nuob
| interested in the affairs of the Southern
nap.ist a,i'. Theological Seminary have re-
| ceived official copies of the letter of resig-
| nauon OF Rev. DR.. Whitsitt president of
| the institution, which was handed in sew
| erai Gays ago. DR.. Whitsitt's resignation
uali.oe r.nis oe acted on until the next regular
meeting of the trustees, which will he in
| May, 1879, when the southern Ran,ist CON
| Ventlon meets in Louisville
| Inc agitation against DIR. Whitsitt has
I 1eeh gong on for more than two years.
II began soon after the appearance of A
SEAL monograph written by him on the
| stpJect OF the practice of immersion bv
esrly English Baptists. He took the posi-
sion .1,as n,a ,or @ certain brief period INNER
| SION @ was not practiced by the early Eng
nsh church An article which he contrib
lieu 10 the Johnson's Encyclopedia also
gave material to his critics. A brisk con-
tioNersy as TO the accuracy of his views
soon took on more or less of a nar.isan
ana personal character. Much bad feeling
seemed to be engendered, and each side
aauea Le Iuel to the flames by accusing the
otner sac OF resorting to unfair tactics
including even falsehood and forgery.
me matter was twice before the trustees
oI the seminary and before the trustees
or the southern Baptist convention IN
both occasions the friends of Mr. Wbi+sitt
triumphed. Although the controversy had
not up to this time injured the seminary
some some OF the friends of the institution, in
GUIDING several members Of the faculty
who have heretofore stood nv Dr White
sltt, began to take alarm They did not
want TO share the responsibility of con-
tli!uihg hght which seemed endless and
Whlch had already created so many aIiena-
tlcns IN the denomination, and was likely
10 create more. They also feared the eff
Iect OF such determined hostility to the
seminary. seminary They, therefore. advised him to
resign, and after consultation with his
friends he did So
Dr: hltsitt had been connected with the
seminary for many years. He has occu-
pied the chair of church history and ranks
among the most eminent authorities on that
subject The agitation has been. most dis
tasteful to him, and his friends declare he
mas ma peen greatly relieved at having reach
eu point where he believes a sufficient
V1ndlcation has been given him To sion ont
The friends of Rev Sam w. Small of
TINS city, and. indeed. in every part of the
eeuItry where Mr.. Small is known, are
grained that President Mckinley has ap-
pointed him chaplain in the army. From
the hrst, SAM" as he is popularly known
mas wanted to go to the front, primarily
because he wanted to be of service To the
ooys' secondarily, because he thought the
experiences in Cuba would be worth the
while, and incidentally because he would
not De averse to the position of chaplain
IN the regular army. 1t is the universal
belief that these regiments of the limited
states volunteers, to one of which Mr.
small Will be assigned will be ones selected
10 remain In the permanent establishment
II there are any additions to that, as every
pody believes there will be, and 1t Is very
probable that the former Georgian will
get all three of his wishes That is of
course, II the end of the war doesn't come
too soon.
A prominent member of the Christian
Scientists Society in Washington says the
christian Scientists show wonderful
tain funds for the erection of new and
sumptuous places of worship. Following
close upon the general announcement of
M M1he 1act that 1. $50 new members Joined the
ocienuSt church In Boston a week ago is
rumor that Second Church, New York,
IS to erect place of worship at a cost of
sl2o,uoo The large number of new MEM
bers announced from Boston signifies the
number joining all Christian Science
churches in the country, for there is, or
ganically but one Christian Science church
and that the Boston one. All other
churches are parts of this the mother
church of all.
1t is now pretty well understood that the
Southern Methodist Church will return to
congress the $2Ss,0oo voted by it to that de-
nomination to compensate it for the de-
slructlon of its property at Nashville
Ienn during the civil war. The refund
WILL be made If made, account of the
manner in which the agents of the church
the bill.
One Of the leaders of the church, In
sCeaking of the matter, said
To my mind, enough was said by sena-
tors at the time the bill was passed to say
nothing of what they have said since to
create the impression that they were mis-
led, certainly to show that they raise the
question of our honesty in the matter, and
that Is enough to indicate clearly that the
money should go back.
Besides some Of the senators spoke Of
the claim as If they thought the granting
or 1t was a gratuity or charity to our
church. and that of itself should arouse our
PRIDE and cause us to return the money
our church does not need, nor want, even
just debt paid to her through any de-
ception, alleged or real, or because Of any
plea OF benevolence or charity. The money
Is ours, that cannot be questioned and we
had right to do we pleased with it
when 1t was paid, but we want 1t to be
paid to US justly and without any question
Of our right or shadow of doubt as to the
honesty of our methods Of obtaining it.
However, l will not argue that point.
We are truly glad that the bishops have
taken the position which they occupy in
giving US that assurance and we defer 10
their judgment as being possibly the best
under all circumstances. We only regret,
and We will never cease to regret, that
this action was not taken by the general
conference in Baltimore, before the Senate
had raised any question of deception, and
when the matter was in our hands alone
Some of the members of that body saw the
inevitable, and increasingly and without
stint urged action. But it is useless to
spend time or life in vain regrets Let us
now go forward. We can show to the
world that our church can be tried and
proved to be true
Baptists have already accepted an inyt-
tation for their May anniversaries of next
year. The invitation came from the First