The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-12


Il is bad policy to wound friends IN
order to spite enemies.
The cry of loyalty to the institutions
o. the church., will never force the Meth
odist people into line with an institution
when they feel that a wrong is being
lperpetrated. When these vows are s~ken
to support the institutions OF the
church. it is implied, of course, that
the institutions will be so managed and
conducted as not to interfere with a
mans duty to God, his country, or hlm-
self. The love of God implies also the
love of country. The true christian IL
always the true patriot The VOWS Of
the church should be taken not only with
the spirit but also with the understand
ing. The intellect as we'll as tho heart
should be in the VOW A blind unthink-
ing devotion to the institution of the
church. whether right or wrong IN their
management is not loyalty, but rather
dIsloyalty This blind, unthinking devo-
ton to the church and her institutions,
regardless OF their dIiit ngs, il what
brought about 'The dark ages" devel-
oped the Roman Hierarchy, and estab-
lished the Spanish Irquisition" A man
may be loyal and support the institutions
of the church. and he may be Just rs
| loyal and not support the institutions of
the church. 1t depends altogether upon
circumstances 1t is almost an insult 10
the intelligence and integrity of tie Meth
odist people to say to them: THE proper
authorities have passed upon this matter
/ therefore you must acquiesce" The Meth
dists will investigate, and ought to inves-
| t:gate, this and all other matters for
| themselves; and then, We believe, they
will do what is right in the sight of God.
This is the only true loyalty. No otke,
| is worthy the name.
| Now a word to the attitude Of the
North Carolina Conference toward this
matter. The impression has gone nu:
that. because of it's apparent silence az
| its last session at Goldsboro, it indorses
the whole Bassett affair. Never was
there a greater mistake. There was not
| really silence. The whole case was IDLY
drawn up among the preachers and lay
men. Resolutions were drawn up to y:
offered to the conference These reso.
| buttons condemned the utterances Of
Prof. Bassett, and requested the board OF
| trustees, in the best interests of The
college, to accept his resignation. Those
who took the initiative in the matter
| felt the pulse of the conference far
enough to find out that large majority
was in favor of the resolutions They
were not presented to the conference fJr
adoption for these reasons: The Bishop
thought they would pre2ipitate heated
| discussion on the conference floor t7Tats
might be hurtful. He advised that a pc
| tition be presented to the board instead.
A prominent member OF the board OF trus-
| tees approached us with a request not
to offer the resolutions. He said TO pass
the resolutions would look Ike the con
| ference did not put the proper confidence
in the board, and would seem % be TAX
| ing the case out of its hands. He fur
| Their said the resolutions were unneces
sary, as he was reasonably sure that tie
trustees would accept Prof. Bassett's res
ignation. For these reasons and Tor these
alone, the resolutions were withheld. 1t
is but justice to say that this trustee
voted to accept the resignation, and hon
estly believed that a majority OF TIE
board would do so. He is acquitted OF
ali blame i'll the matter. He has stree
written me saying that subsequent de-
velopmcntS IN the case show that the
resolutions ought to have been adopted.
/ thought SO then, and ] think so st;l.
Many who were opposed to the resolutions
were in favor of the pct ton, ard WEI,
ready to sign it. This WIS not gotten
up for lack of time There is great nur-
y and confusion towards the close CT a
conference. Methodist preachers are not
towards or tools to be used by 1esigpILg
men to accomplish any end or purpose,
however wrong. They will speak out for
the right assert their independence, and
stand UP for pr ncipal wherever and whc@-
ever the test comes. The preachers ana
laymcn, as body, condemn tho evil 1T
terances OF Prof. Bassctt, are well aware
of their damaging effects upon the col
lege, and will not be satisfied until he
is retired from the faculty Moreover,
they are not we'll pleased with any man
agement that would disregard their wishes
and demands by retaining him there
They are not gong to allow their God
gwen sentiments to be ruthlessly trampied
undor foot Tie sentiment which me
South holds will soon be the sentiment
OF the whole country, North and Sout1,
upon the race problem Similar ccnd-
tons will inevitably produce the same re.
suits everywhere.
The time has come for the church 10
act The correspondent of the Boston
Transcript writes: THE College has
ceased to be the property of the MGtho-
dist church, although it keeps its Mctho-
dist affiliation." If this be true, then
we have nothing to do with its manage
ment. Let us keep hands off. But il not
true, then the time has fully come for
the church to assert her ownership and
control of the college, or else turn it over
entirely to them who think they have
a better right to own and manage it,.
This contention cannot long be maintained
and the college continue to prosper.
M. H. FUTILE,
Hartford, n. c., Jan. 18th, 1904.
(Mr. Tuttle is a native of Caldwell
county and is pastor of the Methodist
church at Hertford.-Editor.)