The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-11-30
Dr.. Bradley Again Exoner-
ated OF t.eresy charge.
SNOW is SHOWED UNDER
Abortive Effort to Besmirch Character
of Noted Minister Aborts Again.
DR.. Bradley Makes Statement
Defining His Position.

4.
church OF Atlanta, was exonerated
of the charge of heresy preferred
against him before the North Georgia
Methodist Conference in session at
Newman. The report of the investi'
eating committee was as follows:
1--WE, the committee in the case OF
Rev. H. S. Bradley, charged with dis
seminating doctrines contrary to the
doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, after a careful con-
sideration, find no trial necessary"
When this announcement was made
it was loudly cheered by the friends
Of DR.. Bradley. This is the second
time DR.. Bradley has been exonerated
of this ridiculous charge by a COM
mittee of his brothers.
After the committee had reported
DIR. Bradley asked permission to make
a statement to the conference. Among
other things, he said:
"When / first came up before you
here several days ago, | refused TO
discuss with you the merits OF my
position, as 1 wished the matter to
be gone into fully if You so desired
and did not want to throw any inf1ll-
ence On the subject one way or the
other, but simply desired that it be
given a chance to come up on it's
merits.
Now, however, that the matter has
been settled, I feel that with your
permission, would like to make a
few remarks regarding the attitude
occupyI came into the church when
quite child.
'T am free to confess that the real
reason why entered the Methodist
church was because the ones loved
were In it and because my associa.
tions drew. me to the church. Had
my associations been otherwise,
would just as likely have been Pres
byterian, Baptist or member OF any
other denomination as to have been a
Methodist.
"The true state of affairs was that
came Tito the church as child won
to it by the affection had for those
who were already in it.
"But during the last ten years
have reached period where you
might say I could conscientiously sift
matters and see where I stood and
why l really was a Methodist.
Il love my church and like it in.
deed better than any other church in
the world. I also like the policy Of the
church, though I reserve the right to
differ with that policy at the proper
time and in the proper way.
"But it is no secret that there are
expressions in our articles Of faith
which have a Calvinistic flavor in
their Interpretation of certain doc
trires. To this Calvinistic flavor l
cannot subscribe.
81 like the Methodist church be-
cause the rights of any member are
guaranteed to him. He is not re-
CURED to believe anything in the ar
ticles of faith that are not strongly
backed up by Biblical teachings.
'In this way, every man, so to
speak, stands in his own shoes. The
church does not endeavor to coerce
his will.
"The fact that the Methodist
church does not tolerate free htuoght
is, above all things else, what draws
me to it.
"This is a progressive age, and I
want to see the church advance and
broaden with the advancing and
broadening age of the world. If the
church does not tolerate free thought
progress of the age, there is only a
question of time when it will go to
pieces.
my position in brief is as follows:
There has never been moment since
l have been in the church that l have
not had offers: which would have paid
me more money than the work I have
! tried to do for the Methodist church
and since have been drawing money
from her treasury.
"I am frank to confess to you that
I belong to a school of thought that IS
known as theistic evolution. Through
this thought we teach that God is
working in and through us and all
things higher and higher up to the
perfection of His plans. This, to my
mind, is better than the idea that God
made all things at once and then left
things alone"