The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-07
Hartford M. {. Church
Defends the Clergy.
WANTS BASSETTTOG GO
A Resolution is Adopted Endorsing
the Action OF the Minority Trus-
tees of Trinity College Who
Voted for Professor Bas-
sets Resignation.
Especial to News and Observer,


Hartford, N. c., Jan. THE Quarterly
Conference of Hartford Methodist church
was held here yesterday, Rev. J. E. I'LL
derwood, presiding elder, presiding. Very
strong resolutions were passed endorsing
the action of the minority Of the trustees
Of Trinity College in demanding the resg-
nation of Prof Bassett. Resolutions were
also adopted censuring the Boston Trans
Crypt article.
Presiding Elder Underwood, who recent
" wrote an article for a daily newspaper
criticising the News and Observer, was
in the chair. He tried very hard to SIP.
PRESS action and refused for a time to
allow the resolution to be offered. An
overwhelming majority demanded his re
&C gnition.
So far as known, Mr.. Underwood iG
the only presiding elder who has sought
to aid in the attempt to destroy" the
News and Observer. He hastily stopped
his own subscription and is understood 20
have advised other preachers to do like
wise. He also wrote long article, pup
lished in the organ of the Cigarette Trust
and Southern Railwa y-formerly called
the Raleigh Tribune and now called TIKI.
Morning Post--attacking the News AMI
Observer. 1t was Incorporate, un-chria
tan, unfair and some OF it's statements
and inference were unwarranted. Evident. y
Mr.. Underwood had been listening 20 d
would not have given circulation 20
misleading suggestions unless he had been
imposed upon.
1T Is In his district that his policy is
first repudiated--a healthy sign. The
Methodist church at Hartford is one Of
the strongest and wealthiest in North
eastern North Carolina, composed of edu-
Gated, thoughtful, patriotic men and wo-
men. They have recently built very
handsome church. The pastor of that
church is Rev. NJ. H. futile, one of the
ablest and most successful OF the young
men OF his church.
In this connection it may be we'll to
reproduce the following extract from tie
letter written from Durham, Iauding Bas-
sett the Dukes, and the majority OF the
trustees. Here are the most insulting ex-
pressions, though the warp and woot of
the article from the inside is insulting
and contemptuous:
There is another element in Southern
lie that these men knew admirably how
to use-the country clergy. THE METH
ODIST PREACHERS ARE THE PRE-
SERVERS OF EVERY OLD IDEA.
TIMID TO THE POINT OF COWARDICE.
THEY CAN BE DRIVEN TO ANY CRUEL.
ACTION if they are made to t. nix that
the pillars of society are about to be
pulled down. There are a number of
these men on the Board of Trustees.
When white supremacy" was cried ard
"hen 1t was predicted that mer would
take their sons from college if DR.. Bas-
sett was retained. THE PREACHERS
WE'RE SIMPLY SCARED INTO SUB
MISSION.
The seven men in the boaiI who voted
to accept his resignation were the political
boss, Simmons, and five preachers and
one layman.
The eighteen who voted for FAIR
PLAY and academic freedom were in The
main laymen-prosperous laymen. who
are succeeding as business men and pro-
fessional men
The other fact Of far-reaching conge.
quence is the clear light that the incident
threw on the character Of the clergy.
lhey are good" men. BUT THEY
STAND AND HAVE LONG STOOD IN
THE WAY OF ALL PROGRESS IN
THOUGHT IN THE SOUTH. THEY
RAVE BEEN USED BY THE POLITI-
CLANS AND THEY USE THE CHURCH
us TO STIFLE REAL FREEDOM. To
say tins IN the South is to call down on
ores head the curse Of the church. But
his Bassett case has caused many man.
VINO never thought OF it before, 10 see
now large part of the SOUTH IS REAL
L1 CHURCH-RIDDEN.
There is a part of the story that has not
Oten publicly told here. If the board had
voted to accept DR.. Ba&sett'5 resignation.
large part OF the members would have
resigned instantly. Every member Of the
faculty would have resigned A large
ocdy of the students would have gone
away. All these facts have gradually
scme out during the week since the
meeting The reactionary politicians and
preachers would have had a college with
half a board, without students: and
THEY WOULD HAVE LOST THE BENE-
FACTORS OF THE COLLEGE, What
would have happened then is now a sub,
ect of OCULAR SPECULATION.
Why should any self-respeeting Meth