The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-09-05


violative of Church Constitution, is binding on
the property and conscience of all church mem
bers
We have rebuilt waste places, secured en-
dowments Tor some of institutions, although
we do cooperate with the Northern Church. and
if DR.. Neel desires to exercise the functions of
woundheaers, or to use the graces which heaven
mas endowed him with for restoring the ecclesias-
tical blind to sight, or making the sick churchmen
whole, would it not be better would it not be
kinder, would it not be more helpful to the peace
OF the church, that these discussions in regard
to organic union be kept out of the Southern
Church and would 1T not be generous for
Dr. Neel to go into an organization which has
been instrumental in producing these sad con-
ditions in Kentucky, Tennessee Mississppi Ala
Dana, Arkansas and Texas, and which he now in
substance, claims has developed and evinced
more distinctly Chrstlike spirit than his own
brethren.
For one, l do not believe that the Southern
Presbyterian Church could ever be brought to
treat sister Presbyterian Church as the North
ern Church is treating the Cumberland Pres
Dyteran Church. Outside of Christian character
there is that in Southern manhood which would
revolt at participation in so great and SO cruel 4
wrong.
Unbiased men who look at the situation which
has been forced upon the Cumberland Presbv
terians by the Northern Presbyterians Church
cannot fall to see that the great motive in thus
distractng and dividing the Cumberland Presbv
'eiidl Church is to get a foothOld in the South,
through which the Northern PRESBYTERIAN Church
will be better able to divide to scatter. TO DESTROY
to absorb the Southern Presbyterian Church.
1T IS not reasonable to believe that the Northern
Church would disrupt the Cumberland Presby-
terrain church, persecute its members; drive them
out OF their churches; take their property; spend
thousands OF dollars, and questionable and
cruel legal procedure to terrorize and ntinidate
the Cumberland Presbyterians if the onlv DIR
pose was to force upon unwilling Christians an
objectionable, and to Them an unscriptural Con-
fesslon of Faith, and to drive them into dis
tasteiui 1oid and to engage in a of ecclesas-
teal determination, upon innocent women and
children, all to get few thousand more nominal
members on its roll The real purpose is to get
a foothold in the South, along side the Southern
presbyterian Church. and from this to absorb and
conquer the Southern Presbyterian Church and
IN this work men of DR.. NeePs attainments nietv
and zeal, ought to be slow in taking a part.
oome OF the brethren seem to be anxious to
throw up their hands and cry out 81 have sinned
l surrender, and to rush into the bosom of the
Northern Church; but there are manv thousands
OF presbyterian in the South, who will not stand
Tor this absorption through articles of agreement
ieading UP to organic union. Whether there are
few or many which constitute the Southern
Cnurch, there will be a Southern Church main
tanned III the lace of all this cry which uplfts and
Imdehnes the power and purpose of the Northern
Church IN It's mission to divide and DESTROY the
Southern Presbyterian Church
Leaders i'll the Northern Church openly rejoice
IN this disturbance in the Southern Church and
tney nave the sagacity to that those who are
disturbing the peace of the Southern Church are
their best allies and helpers
Inc scenes now being enacted throughout the
south IN the persecution and wrongs inflicted I'D
on the Cumberland Presbyterian Church will he
re-enacted when this attempted organic union
s Si De forced upon the Southern Presbyterian
Church. Can it be that men like Dr. Nee1 and his
associates are willing reproduce in the Southern
Presbyterian Church these dreadful experiences
winch now gather about the Cumberland Presbv-
terrain Church. and will they go on INSISTING mon
forcing this issue upon their brethren in the