The Magnolia gazette., 1899-11-25
ONCE MORE
REV, T. c. scHiLLrNc REPLIES TO
MEMO.

Edltor Gazette: | greatly regret
that 1t becomes necessary for me
to reply to Memo again. Sin, 70
he had utterly failed either TO
prove or retract his unkind as
sertions or charges, | sincerely
hoped the matter would rest. But
he continues to write, becoming
each time more resentful. Much
of his last article | cannot afford
TO notice. 1t is written in so an
cry tone that silence is its
best answer. Once | hardly be-
l;eyed Memo capable of saying
such things. But the old adage,
"We live and learn" is still true.
There is one point in his last
which, as see it. demands at
tention, and tnat is his mention
of small donation made several
years ago in case of misfortune.
Surely it was going far out of the
way to bring in so small matter.
If Memo will signify his willing
ness to accept it, will return the
amount with interest.
Nemo's great hobby, as every
one knows, is religious declen-
sion. = With him everything is
going to the bad. There is no
prayer, no vital piety, no high
attainments in grace. Something
is always wrong with the churches
and church people. For many
years he has laid his complaints
bafore the public through the coll
umns of this paper. The writer
does not remember to have en-
gagged in conversation with Memo
in a dozen years, when he did not
have a long string of complaints
to draw out. He lives on grum
bling corner and he sees every
thing and everybody from his
standpoint. With him the church
ordinances are small matters, and
Baptist doctrine, taken as whole,
is a pill too bitter for his theolog-
ical stomach. The writer once
heard Memo, in speaking of bap- :
tism, call it "a little ordinance. "
A minister who was present and
who has since gone to his reward
made this reply: II don't think
anything Christ did is little. Z"
And be it remembered that Ne
mos contentious have been with
the Baptists and Baptist preach
ers, although he has tried to
make it appear otherwise. Memo
says that ] can not prove from his
first article tLat any one denomi-
nation OF preachers was meant.
Very well. To the law and the
testimony. In that first article
Memo was writing about Baptist
affairs. He discussed something
that occurred at 4 Baptist church.
He quoted from Baptist preach
er. He also said that the state
ment made nthe card from which
he quoted was sad commentary
upon the religion OF the Baptist
denomination. Memo then went
on to score "our preachers, -
meaning evidently, Baptist min
listers. This was Aug. 8. Here
is my proof and | submit it to the
jury. In order to show fur
ther that he has had no refer
ence to other denomination
quote from his article of August
10, as follows: 81 would ask, who
are these preachers? 'On what
meat do those Caesars feed that
they have grown so great that
they cannot have their work re-
viewed by their own layman:
They are public men, represent
ing the Baptist interest OF our
people, but pay little attention to
the spiritual portion Of that inter-
est.
The above is too plain to need
comment, and shows that Meme
has tried TO dodge the real issue.
Every one knows that Pedo- bap-
tist ministers do not represent
Baptist interests.
Memo asks that bring up those
'serious charges, I" which will
now proceed to do. Special at
tention is called to the following
assertions, made by Memo, con-
corning Baptist ministers and
their congregations. In order tc
state the matter clearly / will ar
range them under five heads:
/. That our memberships (ol
churches) are deprived Of all in
centiyes to a higher life.
2. That our memberships (oi
churches sit down on the ordi-
nances and do nothing.
3. That a cheap religion is Of
fered to the worldly the preach
ers, Of course, as the leaders.
a. That the necessity for con-
81.