The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-06
Answers the Statements in
the Christian Advocate.
THE LETTER OF MIR. LIGHT
Statement Thatit is Totally unfoundc d
so Far as it Relates to the
Episcopal Church Of
the State.

cation In the Richmond Christian Advo-
cate OF this week OF an article contain
ing the assertion that tho State institu-
lions OF learning are practically under
Episcopal control. and tho additional as
sertion that certain other schools and col
legee advertised as non-sectarian and UNI
cerstood to BIO such. are nevertheless tho
roughly denominauonal in spirit and
practice.
Much discussion was given to the mat
ter yesterday and particularly to the fact
that the Methodist organ by implication
endorsed all the article contained. It is
tlghly probable, in fact 1t Is certain, that
the statements will provoke a long con-
troversy. which VIII echo for some days
yet to come Several Denominations are
Interested and several OF the dengmina-
tional papers will take the matte. up.
Tie Episcopalians particularly are much
aroused, and the weeks Issue OF the
Southern Churchman will contain hot
nature Of this reply Is best seen from
the Interview with the editor OF the
,Churchman, published below:
~ THE ARTICLE.
I The article In question, It will be re-
called, was from the pen OF the Rev. J.
n. Light. Methodist minister OF Lex
tnpton, who was arguing for contribu-
tions to the endowment Of Randolph-Ma-
con College. In support Of this argument
he went on to make the assertion that
NIethodlsts should support Randolph-M Ma
con because they could Apect nothing
from the. other institutions OF learning IN
the State. Certain colleges. labelled as
non-sectarian. are thoroughly oeno'hltla-
tlonal and are using various Influences
to wean Methodist boys from the faith OF
their fathers The State institutions, sup
posed to be enominat onal. are really
under Episcopal control.
In; Its editorial columns the Advocate
called special attention to this article as
timely and suggestive communication
Methodists should awake, said the Advo.
cate, to consciousness OF the Facts set
forth in It, and should bestir themselves
in behalf OF Randolph-Macon.
A GREAT STIR-UP.
with the publication OF the two-the
communication and the editorial-arlses
a storm which bids fair to shake Things
before it IS done, Two OF three o. me
religious papers Will have interesting
things to say next week. The Religious
Herald. the organ OF the Baptlsts. Will
70 In for the subject, though Just IN
what manner cannot be learned.
It Is among the Episcopalians. how
ever, that the real stir Is evident. Nearly
every minister seen yesterday was talk
Ing about the matter and there was no
effort to mnce words. Bishop Gibson
himself. was, to say the least. much In
terested in the Advocate. and was at
first disposed to take some official notice
OF the statements made. He was consid-
erably surprised that such assertions.
which he declared to be wholly untrue,
and unfounded. SO far as they concerned
the Episcopal Church, should appear in
the columns of well-inforned religious
paper.
The reply Of the Episcopalians to the
charge will be made next week through
the columns Of the Southern Churchman
Of this city. That this reply will be
pretty hot one cannot be doubted The
Rev William Meade Clark. editor of the
paper, was seen yesterday and stated
emphatically that he would have some
thing to say, and something very de-
cided.
WHAT MIR. CLARK SAYS.
The line the Ctlurchman will pursue Is
to be seen from, the statement made be-
low by Mr.. Clark. He was asked yes
concerning the matter. and ne wrote GU.
the following:
You ask my opinion Of the statement
in the Advocate that '.the State insu-
tutions OF Virginia are practically Epis-
copal schools; the other statement. lis
1t imaginable that the Epls copal Church
would be without a single institution of
higher education. If she did not feel Sc
cure in the control Of the State insti-
tutlons ?s
The Episcopal Church in Virginia has
not never had and never will, have
anything to do with State institution
of any kind. It has kept itself clear
Of all political alliances and combinations
and has never on any occasion asked any
favor, directly or Indirectly. by word.
act or Implication. OF the State. Its
clergy have confined themselves to
preaching the gospel and advancing the
cause of pure religion. It's councils
have given their time to considering tl1eir
own affairs and have never undertaken
to advise or instruct the State The
Episcopal Church believes absolutely and
uncompromisingly In a separation Of
Church and State, and has invariably
practiced what it preached: and In so
doing made no appeal to popular clamor
or prejudice.
The Episcopal Church In Virginia has
no institutions of higher learning. such
as colleges, universities. simply because
It's people have felt no need for them.
Most of them are sufficiently intelligent
u
mt a frst-class State university.
And when higher institutions are look
Ing for professors they necessarily get
large percentage of them from among
Epscopalians. Is there any law to pre-
vent State institution from employing
the best available professor Just because
he is an Eplscopalian? Is this religious
persecution under new guise? And
are our Methodist brethren driven to
this eStremity7 And does the large mass
OF intelligent CHRISTIAN Methodists In
this State endorse this new method Of
religious persecution Are they willing
to be put In any such narrow and big
oted position as this? Do the hundreds
Of broad-rnlnded liberal-spirited gentle
men of that body In the city OF Rich
mond approve of this relapse into me-
dleval method7 We would like very
much to know
Again. the boards Of all these insti-
buttons are appointed by tho Governor.
Now, there has been no El,scopaltan in
the Mansion for going on twelve years,
md in that time every board In the
State has been completely removed, Did
tho Episcopanan pack them? IL So
L. r<tyr