The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-24

retirement OF pastor OF cnurch! -
On the other hand, does it not show ex-
actly the contrary?
Three months passed by. The Baptist
State Convention met at Charlotte. Rev.
j. c. Massee, smarting under the de-
served criticism of a free press for his
incendiary utterance in Raleigh, arose To
speak on the report on publications and
made this astounding medieval declara-
ton:
II believe the day will come when
the license of editors of our great
daily papers will have to be curtailed.
These editors are exerting too much
influence and power over the popular
mind. too often not wisest and best,
and | believe the day is not far dis
tant when the government will have
to lay the strong arm of the law on
the press and repress abuses"
The Charlotte papers say that all over
the house there were voices of protest.
Rev. Henry w. Battle, chairman Of the
committee, was entitled to recognition.
He replied to Mr.. Massee in these words:
Il do hope that l misunderstood
the trend of that brothers bright
speech, but l must protest against
the views as expressed. We Baptists
of all people recognize the liberty
and freedom of the press as fundamen
tai Of religious and civic liberty for
which we have always fought.
IF ever this beloved government
attempts to lay its heavy hand upon
the press columns then the liberty
loving Baptists, with that same spirit
that fired the breast of their Baptist
poet Milton, will thunder protest
that will shake America to its tounda-
ton. Much as we love our dear coun-
try we would rather see the ocean
waves rise mountain high and sweep
away every vestige of American civil
lZation and leave this continent an
irredeemable waste than to see the
voice of public opinion stifled and the
press throttled."
This brave and manly declaration was
received with hearty "Amens," so the
Charlotte papers said. 1t expresses the
views of all the people of North Caro-
lima except "sublimated refawmers" who
WISH 10 lUIOllic Tic plSSo 1OI NAAhANAHAi'S
their incendiary utterances.
In my criticism of Mr.. Massee's utter
ances. wherein have l offended any man
who believes in White Supremacy and a
Free Press? Wherein have l assumed
''hectoring the religious denominations"
Wherein have l sought to Invade the
churches and dictate to them?' Can any
fair-minded man say that the News and
Observer has done anything to warrant
Mr.. Bailey in saying that 1--WE have come
to- the spectacle of ''the Raleigh Bap-
fist Tabernacle asking the News and OBJ
server for permission to call pastor
and receive his ministry in peace?''
What warrant is there in the News and
Observers criticisms of Mr.. Masses ut
terances, which even Mr.. Bailey dares not
endorse in so many words, for the false
statement that the News and Observer
"bloated with ambition, put forth de-
liberate and a desperate effort to lord
it over Gods heritage?"
IT will be noticed that the Massee Incl
dent has been gone into at length, but
little has been said about the Bassett
incident. The reason is this In common
with many other independent Methodists In
North Carolina l resent Editor Bailey s
"hectoring'' our church. Who made nm
bishop of Methodism or a judge to de-
eide Methodist differences? He would
do well to Skinny on his own side /
have been Methodist for one hundred
years counting a true and long Methodist
ancestry-too long to submit to dctatlon
from a young editor, whose only claim to
treat of Methodist topics is that his lam
ented father was named for a noted
Methodist divine There is a difference
among Methodists about Trinity College.
Nine-tenths Of the Methodist laymen are
tired of Kilgo and Bassett and will not
be quiet while their fantastic, vicious
and incendiary sensationalism is lnJurlnS
the college that is dear to them. Every
person has a right to criticize Kilgo's and
Bassetts public utterances, Of course, but
what business is it of Bailey's to meddle in
the contest that is going on in the Methodist
church to decide whether Trinity College
shall be a Methodist and Southern institu-
ton or an annex to the Cigarette Trust
alien to North Carolina Methodism? Does
he rush in to hector Methodists because
he is as much enamoured of the Standard
Oil Trust that has made Chicago Univer-
sity a freak among colleges, as Kilgo is
enamoured Of the Cigarette Trust? Or is
there an alliance, offensive and defensive,
between Kilgo and Bailey to destroy
newspapers and public men who
refuse to accept orders from them? Is
the Biblical Recorder to join the
Southern Railway, Cigarette Trust, Wits
key Ring, and the Tilgo- Bassett
crowd to destroy" the News and Obser-
yer because it will not wear any yoke.
corporate or ecclesiastical? Unless
animated by some such purpose, why does
Editor Bailey come to the defense OF
l. 4 L