The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-18

versity. He is a man of faith, who
has never been known to call in ques-
n ton the inspiration of the Bible or
the doctrines of grace for which Bap-
lists have stood through the ages. 1t
is an Occn secret that, when Mr..
Rockefeller learned that a prominent
representative of the Chicago Univer-
sity was tearing the Bible to pieces
in a course of lectures, he ordered the
lecturer to cancel his engagements
and go to Europe for the purpose of
purchasing library. Mr.. Rockefeller
in more ways than one has shown
his desire to have men on the faculty
of the Chicago University who are
loyal to the Bible. He may be able
to so influence and reconstruct it as
to save the Baptist churches of the
future from the academic unbelief
which has been going out from it's
walls under the guiSe of up-to-date
learning. If he succeeds in doing this,
future generations of Baptists will
bless his memory"
Within a few days | received let
ter from Prof Albion Small, of Chi
Cago University, intimating rather
broadly that some preachers are in
the habit of telling lies, which letter
| In the name of the maligned [ did not
! answer Then came a letter from
Prof Smaller Matthews quoting the of
fensive words 1T is an open secret
| that when Mr.. Rockefeller learned
that prominent representative of the
Chicago University was tearing the
! Bible to pieces in a course of lectures,
/ he ordered the lecturer to cancel his
! engagements and go to Europe for the
purpose of purchasing a library and
| asking me to give the name of the
representative to whom ! referred. l
replied that it was President w. r.
! Harper, and stating that the open Sc
| crct to which referred was circulated
| in New York while ! was pastor in
| Brooklyn. The next day 1 received
from Prof. Matthews the following
| telegram: "Dr. Harper denies un-
| qualificdly every statement in general
! and in particular. Justice demands
! public correction" | could not con-
| sCientiously correct the statement, for
| | had chain of Circumstantial eYi-
dence which would, [ believe, convince
! a Jury that if was true. So | wired
in reply. what [ have said is true AND
more Will write" and the following
rs the letter I wrote, with the omission
Of some paragraphs which make one
link in the chain of circumstantlal evil
denCe. b"t which ] do not care TO
publish unless requested by Or. Harper
r. some of his friends to do so. If
they so request I will give the whole
several links are painful personalities,
and this il no fitting time for such
personalities
Prof Smaller Matthews,
Chicago University,
Chicago, Illinois
NY Dear Sir:
Permit me to say that l have no
personal animoSity against DR.. Harper,
and was sincere in my note of sympa-
thy | wrote him during his sickness.
In my address l was not discussing
h m. but John d. Rockefeller and the
Chicago University. l did not mention
the name of DIR. Harper, and so far
as I know the papers did not even
infer whom | meant.
There arc. OF course, destructive
critics enough among the professors
Of tho University to make it very
doubtful as to who was meant, and if
you arc anxious to shield yourselves
you have my permission to explain to
the public that DR.. Harper was the
man referred to.
have no disposition, however, to go
into these things, especially since the
sickness of DR.. Harper. whom l have
honored for his genius in educational |
work, and | must confess that / have
wished more than once that he would |
devote himself to secular education |
d
much longer. he will have the same
wish, fer without doubt the scholar |
ship of the world is now repudiating |
his destructive critical views.
/ mrst stand for what seems to
me to be true, regardless of conse- !
uucnCes. and as ] travel over the |
United States and Canada, | find men |
in Baptist pulpits, graduates of the
Chicago University, who are Unitarian |
IN Their views of tho Bible and the
way of salvation In my humble iudg |
ment they are doing much to destroy |
Baptist churches and Christianity in
its fundamentals. That they received |
Their training for this sort of work
at the Chicago University will hardly |
be doubted and it is time that the
Chicago University should be apologize
ing to the Christian world for the |
harm it hae done to the Christian
church. The true scientific spirit
would prompt such an apology now
that recent discoveries and more
thorough research in Germany and
Great Britain have shown the posi-
ticns Of destructive criticism to be
thoroughly untenable.
My battle is for truth and against
the Chicago University only in SO far
as = seems to me to be against the
truth. and [ prefer not to indulge in
offensive personalities, but, if you in
Chicago think that names should be
used in public I submit to your judg-
ment in the matter, and will reluctant
ly give all the facts in my possession
There s no doubt of the fact that
John d. Rockefeller, though esteem
ing DR.. Harper, is not in sympathy
With tho Chicago University in its at
tacks upon the Bible, for attacks they