Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-24
BAPTISTS SEVER
CHURCH AND STATE

at him. but no reply was made to the
challenge.
Are the charges true?" called voice
from the audience.
Facing the ouestioner and rising to his
fun height, Dr. Nunnally stool for mo-
ment with uplifted hands and then shout
ed in a voice like a trumpet;
They are falsei They are untrue! They
are obnoxious! They are insulting!
hurl them back from whence they came!
When the charge is made that /, Judas
ike, betrsy trust reposed In me- nins
n hack. When / stoop as low as that
men will be sold like sheep in the sham
bles at two for a nickle and four for
dime!''
There was an oppressive silence fol-
lowing this outburst and then DR.. Nun
nally proceeded to discuss the question
al issue. His position was that the mon
ey advanced was not gift from the state
hut simply a payment 10 the denomina-
,ion FOR services rendered in educating
the children Of the state.
Rev. A. AZ simms. OF Hawkinsville,
suggested that a personality funeral De
he'd. He hoped that DR.. Bell would not
notice the personal references that had
been made.
Lets bury all unkindness right here"
The hearty amens heard on all sides
hin. DIR. simms agreed that Baptists
were doing exactly that which they would
unduaIifedly condemn in others. DIT. +.
q Mcconnell spoke in an effort to get at
tie truth OF the question.
The home board was supporting church
Is in different states that were being as
sisted by the states. IL was not the state
helping the church. but the church helping
fhe state To educate her children. When
Macon
the city government made gift to II
taken from money paid in as taxes. The
seminary at Louisville had received
similar gift from the city of Louisville.
We would have 20 go far back to get be-
hind this question -"-- ~
DR.. John d. Jordan. OF Savannah. in OPP
posing the resolution, said there was
Catholic school in Savannah where the
tenets of that church were taught. This
school was supported by the city out OF
money raised from the people. although
no teacher who was not Catholic could
be employed. He had cried out against
this injustice until he found that Bap-
lists were doing the same thing and then
bis mouth was shut. The Baptist schools
in Georgia. he said. were receiving not
more than $1,000 from the state. This was
a very small sum for 100000 Baptists to
bubble over. Let them go down into
their pockets and pull out the money.
Rev. p. A Jesup said II these schools
did not receive state aid they must die.
DR.. T. p. Bell. OF Atlanta. gained the
floor. Expectancy was on every face, for
they thought he would reply to the per-
soual references OF DIR. Nunnally. But he
was after bigger game He made brief
but telling argument. and his words swept
like grape-shot into the hearts. of his
hearers. He pleaded like a great jurist
addressing a jury.
These schools" said he. ARE Christian
schools. II not. the claims they make are
lie. INA are .Baufist schools IL not. the
claims they make are lies. Being Bap-
list schools they are sectarian schools. 1t
Is said that their efficiency and their lives
depend upon the aid they receive from the
state The state is taxing against their
will. many Of her people to make Baptist
schools efficient The constitution Of
Georgia says no money in the public
treasury shall either directly or indirect
~ aid any church or sectarisn institution.
when county boards OF education pay
out money to support Baptist schools they
are violating the law. When Baptists
receive money from the state they are vi
olating the time honored Baptist principle
Of complete separation of church and
state. Baptists are in the minority now.
but let them consider how they would
feel II these conditions prevail in the fu-
ture I'm schools conducted by Mormons,
by Spiritualists or Christian Scientists"
The discussion was cut or here. for it
was half-past 10 o'clock. and the meeting
adjourned.
The convention spent the morning in
hearing speeches on different reports. A
telegram bearing frateraal greetings
from the North Georgia convention. sign
ed BY DR.. John w. Heidi, was received
and read. and President Northen was di-
rected TO reply to IL.