The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-07-26

tice them. Why treat these texts
with such cruel neglect and then ask
for othersy
But. Bro Tyler proposes to inform
us where he stands. lie says: "Well,
/ stand with several million Presbyte-
rians, and as many Methodists, and sew
eral hundred thousand Lutherans, and
as many of the Christian church,
and finally, | stand on the Bible,
the only infallible rule of faith and prac
tice."
Well, let us see. Bro. Ty'er is opp~s
ing close communion. But he says
there is not even one verse in the Bible
in favor Of o. en- communion. There
fore, If he stands on the Bible, he can't
stand on open communion He is not
for close commun ion. He can't be for
open communion and stand on the
Bible. Does Bro. Tyler himself, know
where he stands? don't. Who does?
But, he says he stands with the Pres
byterians, Methodists, Lut 1erans, and
the Christian Church. ID es he? |
believe he is mistaken. | don't bell We
he stands with any of them He thinks
he does. But does he? My bro her is
a Cumberland Presbyterian. Why a
Cumberland? Is it not fact that the
! Cumberland Presbyterian church was
formed because certain parties did not
stand with the IresbyterlansY But
having Sc vered their connections with
the Presbyterians, why did they not
unite with the Methodists, who ere then
in existence and doing business in this
country? In his article Of the 10th, Bro.
/ l.. a
are unscriptural and are innovations on
the simple faith and practice of Tire
! Apostolic church" Why didn't the
founders Of his church unite wi the
Methodists and thus avoid adding
Cumberland Presbyteranism to the
then existing isms? Was it not because
they could not stand with the Metho
dsts?
But that Bro. Tyler does not stand
with the denominations he claims to
stand with, appears from another fact,
viz they do not stand together. Prof.
Robt. Graham, in Christian Quarterly
Jan. 1e75, says: The view taken by
the Disciples is that the Supper is for
the immersed alone;'' that Christ placed
it in his church or kingdom, and that
only immersed believers are in that
kingdom" Does Bro Tyler stand with
the Disciples, or Christian church? He
is in the middle of an awkward predica
ment. He denies that be is a close com
munionist. He says there is no Scrip
ture for open communion. OF coarse, he
is not an open communionist. Where
does he sand? Who knows?
But, as parting shot, Brother Tyler
fires two questions at me:
l. "Will you deny that there are saw
ed people in the various denominations,
who do not believe in exclusive INNER
sion and what you call close commun-
ion?"
2. "Was not your own father Meth.
odist. and would you have com
muned with him, should you have had
an opportunity to do so? If not, why
not?'
To the first question l answer no.
But why does my brother ask it? Ger
tainly not for information He knows
what and all Baptists believe on that
point. There are many saved people in
other denominations. Is Brother Ty Ter
pleading for sympathy? | don't quite
understand his purpose in this question.
| LII ho"Ci w ulIC ECIOub HuCSOiOhS w
say my father and my mother were
MethodisCs, and godly people My ia
ther died when | was three years old.
OF course had no opportunity to meet
him at the Lords Table. But | did not
commune with my mother. But why
this question? Is it worse to fail to
commune with my father or mother
than with other Christian people? Is
my Brother Tyler again begging for
sympathy? He ought to be able tc
answer his own question. But | will
assist him. Now, Brother Tyler, if had
communed with my mother, she Meth
odist and a Baptist, that would have
been open communion. We'll, you be-
ing judge, there is no Scripture not
even one verse for open communion
Then why should | practice it-ever
with my mother? Brother Tyler, why
will you appeal TO blind prejudice, tc
an unreasonmg sentimentaity in favor
of a practice, which you admit is not
in the Bible? 1t open communion is
not in the Bible. why will you practice
it? Why will you defend it? Why viii
you censure others for not practicing it
A. S. PETITE.