Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-08-07
NUnBER lOl

not sufficient to settle their differences.
Scripture, argument and church courts
have ceased to be potent. Good people
are now anxious 10 find fnal authority
as 10 what is right. As an humble
peacemaker propose three tests 10
which the problem of what to do can
be brought, and they promise to be
final for the fair-minded. To them let
us bring our differences. name
them; Civil courts, public opinion out.
side the denomination, and the promise
of results If attempt Il made TO keen
going an organization known as 'Cum.
berland Presbyterian Possibly these
voices upon what is right have not
been hitherto given proper importance.
Civil courts ought TO be counted safe
IN settling the matter of what is right
and of necessity are 50 counted
Judges are unbiased and learned. This
whole question has been put before
them, AT Decatur a civil suit was be-
gun, and the determination of it will
cover all other suits. Il was 40
brought as to cover the whole issue.
We are safe in awaiting the last verdict.
Rushing into other suits means needless
expense and strife, and subjects the
originators to the suspicion of raising
dust to blind and dissatisfy. Suits for
recovery of church property will hold
just as well after that decision as in
junction suits do now.
"Public opinion outside the denom-
ination is most worthy tribunal.
Calm, disinterested, wise, It speaks
through the religious press, conventions
and local individuals. It will surprise
you to see how unanimous it is on this
question. Has the voice ofthe people
become any less the voice of God?
''The promise of results If attempt is
made to keep going an organization
known as Cumberland Presbyterian
is really final in settling this difference.
If there is no promise there shsuld
surely be no attempt Is there the
the same need for Cumberland
Presbyterian Church that there has
always been? When civil courts, as
tute theOlogians, and thousands of
Presbyterian pulpits say we have the
same doctrine the united church will
have, and the public can see no diff
ference, can we get anybody TO grant
us reason for separate existance2
viii not part of the old Cumberland
Presbyterian Church starting in fuss,
with an adverse legal decision, be most
seriously handicapped? As it is practi-
cally certain law will give the property
to the united church, will not the loss
of that be hard to overcome? If the
majority of our churches now suffer
for pastoral care on account of their
poverty, and the ministry suffers for
support, how much worse will things
be with no property and no distinctive
plea and not so many churches. to, help
the weaker2 With practically all the
old leaders going into the union, ex-.
perienced in managing denominational
Interests, can new leaders, though un.
usually strong do so well for long
time? AS public sentiment is now so
strongly against multiplying denomi-
nations and for combining them, will
the separate church stand we'll before
the unsaved world and other churches?
And as the ground is now so we'll COW
cred by powerful and active denomina-
tions, where can the separate church
hope to make headway? There is no
promise of results. So this test of
what is right is against disunion. The
other two are, also. The Decatur de-
cision is so reasonable, so backed by
other decisions, and so likely to be
confirmed by all the higher courts, that
it is practically final. The outside
public has but one voice, so widely
speaking through press, convention,
and local individuals, and that is joy
Ously for union.
care we willing to do right? Are not
these tests safe? What must we do7
There is no undoing what has been
done for union? If mistake was made
in springing it too soon, had we not
better forgive? When we say Too soon
we say we favor it some time. Should
} just having our time outweigh so many
considerations? Come get under this
: benediction: Blessed are the peace
e makers, for they shall be called the
I children of God That is better than