The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-02
SHOULD AGREE TO DISAGREE.

A generation ago it was common
for representatives of two churches
TO meet in joint debate to discuss the
doctrine and polity of their re-
spective churches. Great crowds at
tended, sectarian partisanship was en-
listed and sometimes the religious
champions literally made the fur
ny." While the people enjoyed the
brilliant and often bitter repartee, it
is doubtful if any good purpose was
subserved, and if the denomination
zeal was not promoted at the cost OF
religion. However that may be, 1t Is
CERTAIN that gradually these public
debates ceased and the debating par
sons agreed to disagree about doc
trine ard polity. We heard less OF
"the iron wheel of Methodism and
less of 1.-The fatalism and close COM
munion' of Baptists. The preachers
and laymen found out that the peo-
pie in each church were pretty we'll
satisfied with the faith and practice
of the church to which they belong
ed, that below the surface when 1t
came to noble deeds and loving SER
vice creeds did not separate good men
and women. Therefore sectarian diff
ferences doctrinai dogmas, diversity
in church government have been less
and less regarded and the people of
both these great denominations have
been pulling, each in its own groove,
tc spread scriptural holiness and
make men better. They recognize
that men and women do much good
on this earth and get to heaven
just as surely whether they go
by the wet or dry road, and that the
matter of the choice of denomina-
tlonal route is usually made by each
mans mother or graldmother long
before he was born.
Occasionally, however, in these lat
ter days we hear an echo of the ole
time controversy, but it is not attend
ed with the bitterness as of ypre. In
II late issue of the Biblical Recorder,
commenting upon a talk of Bishop
Duncan at the Charlotte Conference,
Editor Bailey said:
The Methodist Way.
We Iaptists have our difficulties in
connection with calling and-to make
q woodworking pastors; but after
reading the following picture of the
Western North Carolina Conference
by a Charlotte Observer reporter, We
ought TO rejoice in our troubles.
"Tn the afternoon the Bishops
address. before reading the an
EouncementS, was a great utter
ance, such as might have been
expected of him. 4 suppose
said he, none of us realize what
is involved in moment like this:
not merely a man and all his
complex interests, not merely
woman and her children, her
home and associations, but also
the spiritual life and instruction
and destiny of many hreside
and many q community.
'He exalted the mud-sills in
Gods temple. who arc willing -
bear His burdens without COM
planning, who are willing, TO
change the figure, to go anywhere
and commit themselves to the
church,; who do not think more
highly of themselves than they
ought to think. God loves them
just as much as the decorative
parts of His temple. God would
never have used them as He does,
if He had not known their value
and could trust them. The man
with the large salary cannot fill
these places. He has not the
lofty Pauline spirit. He is the
confectionery fellow. His talks
are sugared over with a very
questionable kind of saccharine
matter. He is too good to go
Ia
ment of the head, known as the
big head. This disease is worse
than yellow fever, for it cannot
be cured.
Doubtless the man with the
big salary will submit to all this
abuse with a smile.
Concluding. he said he had
never had a more earnest, faith
full set of presiding elders than
these in nineteen years. IF any,
thing. they were too faithful. /
have never known a more pug
nacious set, as a set. If they ever
get into your hands, and you are
their presiding elders, deal ten
DERBY with them for they fought
we'll for you
He gloried in the unity of
Methodism wherein every men,
Der looks after his own appoint
ed work.
"You tote fair with a Metho-
dist preacher and he'll stand any
thing. But where politics enters,
they'll kick, and kick hard, and
they ought to kick There We're
signs of hearty approval here.
Go wherever YOU are sent he
advised dramatically, and stand
up to the rack whether there is
fodder or no. fodder
''Rev. p. ]. Carraway's prayer
was most remarkable, both with
in itself and because of its eff
feet on the crowd. The men in
the congregation were on their