Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-03-31
ST. John DEFlEs UNCLE JOE.

In order that all may sec and under
stand the iallacy of Uncle Joe's logic
we will quote verbatim a short ex-
tract from his former article, all OF
which was aired In the light Of Gods
word and scripturally answered in our
last article, and we refer the reader to
it as it is not proper to repeStit. Here
is the extract: "Why do preachers OPP
en- service wish song az pray? Can
you find any scripture in tho New Tes-
lament which teaches that public pray
er is right under any circumstancesP /
say it is not taught in the God given
laws which We as Christians are ad-
monished to obey that public prayer
is acceptable to God"
Since our reply to the above extract
he writes, "Now don't want the public
to understand that l believe a prayer
cannot be prayed in public. 1t can and
it must be a sincere desire OF the heart
or mind" We would like 20 know how
q prayer could be of good effect unless
1t WAS acceptable to God.
Uncle Joe also states in his last that
there is no teaching in the New Testa-
msnt as to the manner or place OF pray.
er except the teaching of Christ to his
disciples. If Uncle Joe will only read
Luke l9:45-47 he would learn something
of the place of prayer. He would learn
that Gods house is the house OF prayer
and it is the duty of people to pray in
it whether they do it or not. Wonder
what he thinks the Lords house is for
If Uncle Joe knows anything about
the Bible he knows that public prayer
Is much taught in the scriptures and
approved by the God OF heaven. For
the first time so far as we know the
world is informed that public prayer is
not acceptable to God. Theologians
have never been able to make this dis
covery, but man by the name of Uncle
Joe says it is not acceptable to God.
Wonder where he learned it? Certain.
ly not from the bible for We we'll know
that the bible nowhere teaches such
doctrine.
Uncle Joe is the only man that has
utterly failed. He forgot to cite one
single quotation from scripture in sup
port Of his unwarranted statement. We
answered in our last his questions OF
proposition, and we did it with Gods
word and pointed out the book, chapter
and verse in which our proof occurred
and Uncle Joe knows that we wrote the
truth, but he wants to dodge the sub
ject at issue by wanting US to give book
cnspter and verse, and his saying We
failed to produce a single instance
where public prayer is taught, and by
his failing to cite single verse of scri p
ture and by wanting the public to &C
cepG what he says as true as though il
were of higher authority than the word
OF God, We defy Uncle Joe or any 9th
er man on earth to disproVe our last ar
ticle by the Word of God. Wonder why
Uncle Joe did not try it? Because hC
knew it was loaded with Gods word ant
he could not di3prove it by the scripture
and he thought it best to dodge the is
sue. Every sane person in Marion
county knows that only public and pri
vate prayers can be offered to God, ant
that they are both acceptable II right
ly offered, otherwise not,
We want Uncle Joe to have all thu
honor due him. We would not pluck
laurel from his brOw," but the idea tina
public prayer is not acceptable to Coz
we are not prepared to receive. Uncl'
Joe is correct about there being to,
much formality and not enough reality
That is the trouble with his articles.
II they had reality they would be logi
cal and scriptural.
To Uncle Joe we say support you
cause with truth or abandon it like
man. We never have or never will ar
que things that we don't believe abou
matters of religion. We can't afford t
act hypocritical, We are honest an,
are seeking the truth, and have no IL
will towards Uncle Joe and we are no
the man to misrepresent or deal de
ceitfully with Gods holy Word.
ST. JOHN.