The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-27

/ RIDDEN.
Think about it, men and brethren.
This estimate of North Carolina preachers
is sent out from Durham. inspired by
spirit that has grown up at Trinity Col
lege, an institution that owes its very life
to the devotion and conservation of Meth
odist preachers! The college, planted and
nourished by them entertains spirit that
heralds them, and all other North Caro-
lima preachers, to the world as ''timid to
the point of cowardice, they can be driven
to any cruel action" as standing Gin the
way OF all progress in thought in the
SOUTH FUSED by politicians" and charged
with using 'the churches to stifle real
freedom"
How do you, Mr. Preacher, like that
caricature being circulated all over New
England as your true photograph? A carl
cature, too, drawn by hand that is close
to professors and leaders in the affairs
of Trinity College. 1t is as cruel and in
famous a SANDER upon good men as was
ever penned Is this the reward those Meth
odist preachers, who i'll their zeal for their
church college, have forgiven much of
folly and evil that have been perpetrated
in the rame of Christian education?
Bear in mind, the ISLANDERS is not confined
to the Eve preachers who voted to request
Bassett's resignation, and North Carolina
Methodist preachers, but embraces also
all 1.-The clergy in the South in its whole
sale charge of standing ''in the way of all
real progress in thought in the South"
and as being the puppets of a political
crowd and obcying their order to 'use
the churches to stife real freedom and
the climax is ''The South is really church
ridden How did the writer learn this?
Was he told it by Dr. Bassett, whose arti-
Gle he unreservedly commends? Did he
! learn it from any ''free-thinker' in the
faculty of Trinity College? Was it COM
municated by any donor? Or did he get
it in the atmosphere of Trinity College or
its Durham friends? Who is the writer?
Is he not a Northern scholar who has
been much honored at Trinity? If not,
who?
No matter where he obtained it, the
insulting statements in every word and
syllable are a cruel SANDER OF host OF
true men, who in every element that makes
sterling Christian character are entitled to
the respect of the world. Many of them
! enjoyed limited educational advantages,
many others are as learned and as Gull
tured as the men who minister in New
England churches, and upon small salaries,
without purse or scrip, they follow their
Master in proclaiming the gospel of the
Word. They are not broad-ln the sense
that the writer Of the Durham article
doubtless calls breadth. They have not
become so latitudinarian as to construe
away the plain directions of the gospel.
They try to preach to dying men repent
ance, faith, right living, and they illus
trate their preaching by clean lives and
faithful ministrations. Now and then
there is a politician" among them, but
in due time he loses caste among his
brethren and in his church, for the only
preacher who long retains influence in the
South is enc who by precept and example
illustrates Bible religion. 1t is true, too,
that some preachers among US shut their
eyes blindly and now and then follow an
: unsafe man Of their church elevated to
! leadership Some do this because they
are so averse to any friction in the church,
that they prefer TO suffer wrong, than to
become involved in church controversy.
But the writer of the article in the
Transcript reserves his most abusive
cpithets for the five Methodist preachers
who voted to save the college from one of
the evils that threaten its destruction.
OF Rev. T. N. Ivey, d. D.. Rev. John N.
Cole, Rev. A. p. Tyer, Rev. f. A. Bishop
ard Rev. N. NJ .Jurney, he says, "TIMID
TO THE POINT OF COWARDICE, THEY
CAN BE DRIVEN TO ANY CRUEL AC-
TON WE'RE SIMPLY SCARED
INTO SUBMISSION. The eighteen
voted for FAIR PLAY" These gentle
men need no defense of their action. The
only mistake they made was in not coup
ling the name OF Kilgo with Bassett and
demanding the resignation of both. This
paper has not always agreed with these
gentlemen, but it is base SANDER to accuse
them of ''cowardice" or say that they
would be 'cruel" or are the puppets of any
politicians. They voted their convictions
after mature dehberation. They had the
independence to do so in spite of the whip
and driving Of the Cigarette Trust in
Guence, and their vote is aDplauded by
ninety per cent of the Methodists in North
Carolina. That vote was cast by warm
friends Of Trinity College in the highest
interest of the college as a North
Carolina Methodist institution. And yet
these five ministers are heralded to the
world as towards and puppets because
they didn't vote as Duke desired. The
article Is most unfair RI tbap, T. AGO.