Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-15
DR.. MORGAN's POSITION.

The Lynchburg, Va, CHRISTIAN Or
CANCER publishes in full the CORES
pondence between Rev. DR.. T. J. NOR
GAN, president OF the AMERICAN BAP-
TIsT HOME Mission SOCIETY and Rev.
DR.. r. III. BOWLING, president OF the
VIRGINIA BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION.
The former has decided 70 forecloss a
second mortgage on the Virginia Semi
nary and thereby force q sale OF the
institution which is recognized through
out the country as the temple of learn
ing of the Negro Baptists Of the United
States This is done because Of its OPP
position to and disapproval of the course
Of President G.. W. HAYES.
We are at loss to understand how
DIR. MORGAN can defend his position
He does not say that the children of
that institution have wronged him or
his, or that the Board of Trustees Of the
institution has taken any action reflect
Ing upon the organization Of which he
is the official head. He does it because
he says Prof HAYES signed mortgage
and Prof. HAYES says he did not sign
it.
For this reason, he proceeds TO attempt
to destroy the school in order to "kin
off" one man. He would shoot the in
nocent in order TO reach the guilty, re
CARELESS of the fundamental principle Of
criminal law which says that it is better
that ninety-nine guilty men escape
rather than one innocent man be pun
ished
DR.. MORGAN has reversed this by say
ing that il is better that three hundred
innocent persons be punished than that
one guilty person should escape.
This statement is made upon the
basis that all that DR.. MORGAN has said
is true.
We desire to show that even granting
all that he contends. he would still have
no justification for his attitude.
But, did Prof. HAYES tell an untru h7
Did he sign the mortgage and then say
he had no recollection of having done
so? This is the question which can ne
submitted TO the VIRGINIA BAPTIST
STATE CONVENTION at Petersburg in
May.
If he did sign the mortgage and DR..
MORGAN has his genuine signature in
New York, why should the distinguish.
ed Doctor press the matter further:
What can he hope to gain by so doing?
We regret TO note the widening breach
between the Baptists of this state. A
truce should be declared and harmony
prevail. The commonwealth is large
enough for both.
But, If the Society is determined TO
try conclusions upon the lines marked
out, the course of every Baptist of color
is plain. The mortgage controversy
will be lost sight of aud all of our peo-
pie viii be called upon TO rally in sup
port OF that institution OF learning at
Lynchburg, the destI uction of which
would be dire calamity to the Baptist
hosts of old Virginia.
Rev. DR.. BowLING's letter sets the
pace and rings out the warming. The
statements therein contained will be
cordially approved by the great mass of
colored Bsptists.
Mr.. A. HUMBLEs, the wealthy colored
Baptist of Amherst County holds first
mortgage on Virginia Seminary. he
has stood between it and destruction
before and we feel safe in saying that
he will do so again.
For this, he will receive his reward,
for our pockets are not as yet empty or
our treasures entirely depleted, and
when the red flag of the American Bap-
fist Home Mission Society is hoisted at
Lynchburg, it will serve only as a
warning signal for the Baptists to rally
and come Co the rescue.
Nothing could arouse us as this would
do, and the sooner the agony is over the
better.
DIR. MORGAN, in our Judgment, has
made a mistake.