The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-22

it will provoke much unrest and discus |
sion as the protest forecasts, but if there |
shall be discussion, and If 1t be conducted
on the high plane and in the Christian
spirit that has characterized the discus
sion on the floor of the conference, it Will
not only not be a calamity as charged in
the protest, but will prove source of
Intellectual awakening in the church upon
the. subject of our faith and doctrine. 1t
will thus result in widespread and per-
manent good and prepare the general con-
ference to consider the new statement
carefully at some future session. Many
of our people are absolutely Indifferent to.
and wholly uninterested in, the study of
the cardinal doctrine of the church. The
church will not, therefore be confused
by discussion, as is charged in the protest,
but clarified and Illuminated, especially
as our awakened interest in this matter
will give every pastor favorable oppor-
tunity to preach afresh on the distinguish
ing doctrines of Methodsm.
Language Is Exaggerated.
81 This protest holds that the intro
duction of the resolution into the con-
ference and it's passage by the majority
is the cause of division in the delega-
lions and in the college of bishops, and
are such that Ito use its language, there
we differ unalterably upon the very foun-
datons of our faith" We think that
this statement greatly exaggerates the
result of what has taken place. The foun-
dations of our faith are not in any way
involved, except that we are seeking to
have them clearly stated and firmly be-
lieved: but if it be true, as alleged in
| the protest, that there are serious diff
| ferences manifest among the members of
| this conference on this subject, 1t is GER
| tainly true that the discussion of this
subject has not caused them; it has sim
| ply revealed and brought to light diff
| ferences which already existed. There are
| no differences on fundamentals among the
members of this conference, at least so
| far as the discussion of this question
| on the floor of the conference has brought
| to light.
60 As to the charge made in the pro-
| test that the action taken at this con-
| ference will be laid at the doors of our
| church schools, that they will be made
| to suffer for it, we reply that what has
| been done by this conference with
| large majority vote can come before the
| church only as the action of this body,
| and not as the action of those who
| CHANGED to originate it and speak for It,
| To saw otherwise Is to reflect upon the
intelligence of this body. 1t Is is true.
as charged in the protest. that this move
ment emanates from our church schools
| this should not be held as a thing against
| them, but as something to the credit of
| their wise foresight and sane leadership,
! seeing that this conference by a large
majority vote, taken with the utmost de-
| liberation has passed the resolution that
was offered We do not believe that the
| endowment and patronage of our church
schools will suffer because of this move
ment but that If it has am effect at
all IL VIII increase on the part of our
| Intelligent and wealthy laymen, the sense
| of our Indebtedness to our church schools.
Take Up Personal Matters.
Cd We regret that we are forced by the
protest to take up personal matter, and
| to answer the charge of inconsistency
made against the first signer of the reso-
luton.
We are compelled to answer that we
regard the charge as disingenuous and I'M
| fair The striking out of what these pro-
testants are pleased to call the strongest
expression in the paper" was done before
there had been any discussion other than
was favorable to the main intent of the
paper, and was Immediately and cor
daily consented to by DR.. w. f. Tillett
against whom this charge is brought. I'M
mediately preceding the motion to strike
out DR. Tfllett had spoken. His speech
was geographically reported in the
Daily Advocate, and was easy of access
to the protestants. He had said in his
address: II desire to call attention to
the fact first of all, that these resolu-
tions reaffirm our faith in our existing
standards and in our Twenty-Five Articles
of Religion. Let no one. therefore. think
for a moment that this is an effort to
repudiate in the slightest degree, the faith
of our common Methodisrn, which has
been a unit from the beginning. 1t is a
call for new statement, a new express
sion of old doctrine. not for repuda-
ton in any sense of that doctrine which