The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-24
Bailey Thinks He is "In=
spired."
Continued from First Page.)


or tried to dictate to that chruch.
Baptists are very jealous just at that
point. Every church is independent
and brooks no outside interference.
If my understanding of your posi-
ton is correct, to-wit: That you have
confined your criticism to Brother
Massee's prediction that blood will
run in the streets and torches put
to our homes unless we treat the
negro better, and 2, to Bro. Masses
statement in Charlotte II believe the
day is not far distant when the gov
eminent will have to lay the strong
arm Of the law on the press"-I say
that il these two things constitute
your offense, you will be upheld by
everybody in North Carolina, and
more by the Baptists than other folks,
because ours is the most democratic
church in it's government and we
think we believe more in the freedom
Of the press than others. The posi-
ton of our church was correctly
stated in the Convention by Dr. Henry
w. Battle, who, speaking kindly of
Bro. Massee, utterly destroyed his
declaration for press censorship"
This Baptist deacon states the News
and Observers position. 1t has never
said a harsh word about Mr.. Massee
personally. 1t has not even suggested
that his church should want another
pastor" as the Morning Post did. 1t has
not given any advice to his church or
sought in the slightest way to influence
its action. 1t has never sought, even
in the smallest degree, to control the
policy of any church with relation to
its pastor or anything else. 1t has linn
tied its criticism to the two utterances-
one incendiary and dangerous to race
harmony, and the other subverslve OF
free press. If this be treason make the
most of it, 1 hold the same view with
reference to criticism of preachers as
was expressed in the Biblical Recorder
few days ago ,to-wit: "a minister's opin-
ions are not sacred. There is no divinity
that hedges his view from attack To that
Il go one step further: AS long as min
lister breaches the gospel of Christ, though
no divinity hedges his view" the press
ought to refrain from criticism, even if
he errs. But when he leaves calling sin
ners to repentance and makes his pulpit
a place from which he breaches sociology,
stealing under certain conditions, and
then predicts, because he is criticised for
his unsound views, that 'the government
will have to lay the strong arm OF the
law on the press''-I say that when \
prea cher does this, it is not only permis-
sible for the press to criticise and ex-
pose the fallacy of such utterances, but
that it is its high duty to do so. II 1t
fails, it is unworthy of the confidence Of
men who look to it to lead. l am not
afraid to contrast records with Mr.. Bat
ley as to fair treatment accorded to Bap-
list preachers and Baptist laymen. If
the seal of confidence were removed his
| "hectoring" over good men in his own
church would not be pleasant reading. He
will not find in all the South single Bap-
fist preacher who has been criticized ex-
| cept Massee in the News and Observer
and not one whose motives have been i'm
pugned.
| If anybody is to blame originally for
printing Mr. Massees remarks, 1T GER
tainlv is not the News and Observer. They
were printed first in Mr.. J. c. Cadets
naper and were furnished to that paper
by its bright local editor, Mr.. Edward
L. Conn Both of these gentlemen are
well known Baptists. Did they desire
20 "play pope over alI?" l think not.
Thev printed the remarks without any
desire to injure their church or Mr..
Massee. That paper exercised the great
est care to do Mr.. Massec no injury, go
ing to the extent of submitting the article
to him in type and receiving not only
his approval but his thanks for he said
THAT is all right and very fair. thank
YOU. sir" If the Times did nothing
wrong-and it did not, as all tair-minded
nren will say-why must the News and
Observer be destroyed for copying what
1
the Times printed and giving Mr.. Massee
ran opportunity to explain his statement
in the same issue in which it appeared?
| The State press-(always true, faith
| full and brave, except little subsidized
or muzzled annex that thinks the only
way to be right is TO be advocating what
| is alien TO North Carolina -immediatel
voiced the Statewide criticism of the II,
! cendiary utterance, papers edited by Bap-
lists as well as of other denominations
speaking out in tones of Indignation.
Patriotic men began to pour communi-
cations of denunciation into the News arI
Observer office. At that juncture Mr..
Mass ee. came to the office. re said that he
regretted the occurrence Che never sail
he had changed his expressed views) and
said in substance that if the News and
Observer continued its criticisms it would
make his work failure or cause his re
.noval from the State. He threw himself
uron the mercy of the paper and begged
10 hnI