The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-23

Steel for the brave stand which he has
taken He Is honest in the belief that
certain reforms In the government of
growth and prosperity. and, ASA devoted
Methodist. who has the welfare of his
Church at heart. ne has had the man
illness to come out and express himself
freely, knowing full well in advance. no
doubt, that his action would be severely
criticised. IN pursuing this course DR..
Steel mas simply followed the example
OF the iilustrious man who founded the
Methodist Church. John Wesley believed
that certain reforms in the established
Church of England We're needful to spir-
itual growth, and, being convinced. he
not only spoke freely, but even went SO
far as to establish society within the
Church, which. afterwards became a sepa-
rate organization and a great denomina-
ton. In that denomination DR.. Steel is
now an honored minister. We have no
tolerance for the professional agitator
who Is always trying to stir UP strife.
but we honor the devotec who has the
Courage " uSGIdiC men iiS aIiiiAS
that the organization to which ne belongs
is pursuing wrong course.
We do not mean to pose as DIR. Steels
champion. He needs Mons He has been
in many discussion and has shown that
ne is always able to take care of him
self. We mean to employ the incident
10 impress "a great truth. We would
make plain the distinction between the
blind partisan and the courageous re-
former. In the political world there are
those who plume themselves or their
party loyalty. and who go to the extent
voice against the party dicturn; will
never take issue with the party organi-
cation. matter what the organization
may do. The party may abandon its
principles. vet these blind partisans never
enter u protest. They not only 50 along
with the party and vote at the party's
call. but they will even declare that
whatever the party does is right. They
may be convinced that the party is
wrong. but they will never say SO, for
they believe that the greatest of all vir-
tues is party regularity.
The Times will never consent to such
a doctrine. We hold that every man is
the guardian of his own conscience. We
mold that the true friend of any organi-
cation is he who. being convinced that
the party is in error, has the courage to
stand up and proclaim the fact. His
,n,ttn ic no wounds of
friend" His very love for his party i'm
.pels him to warn it against what he sees
to be a threatened danger
Returning TO DR.. Stcel's case, we call
attention to the fact that he has not i'm
peachesf any single principle of the
Methodist church. He believes with ali
his heart and soul On the cardinal prin-
ciples of Methodisln. He is faithful eX-
FOUNDER Of them. He is strict disci-
plinarian. His criticisms relate simply to
Of the minor details of church govern
ment. He thinks that there are better
ways of running the machinery of the
Church. and a1e has given his views
But if the Methodist Church should for
sake its principles for the sake of court
ing favor with outsiders and adding to
its numbers. it is hardly necessary to say
that DR.. Steel and other conscientious
and courageous preachers like him, after
having warned the Church in vain. would
retire from the organization. The lesson
needs not further to be illustrated