The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1907-05-24


thereto in any court Of law or equity from tn,
Confession Of Faith
/ SUITS ARE RESISTED.
This suit and several others Of like import
brought in like manner in the States Of Indiana
Missouri Texas. and maybe in some other States
are now pending All of them are earnestly re
sisted BY the Cumberland Presbyterians. who in
seif-defense and for self-protection have also
brought several suits which are likewise pend
ing
| We cannot believe the majority Of your great
church have sanctioned this cruel and relentless
course of oppression which is being pursued
against us in the civil courts; or. If it has re-
ceived that sanction heretofore. we cannot be-
iieve that. upon second sober thought you will
permit a continuance In the future.
Your church does not need our property, and
even If yon did YOU. as Christian people, could
not afford, if allowed. TO take it from as. II is
not yours. and you ought not to claim ii or to
want IT,
Our church needs It's own property and cannot
well afford 10 do without ii Therefore, unless
forced TO that extremity by the courts, waich we
do not look for our church viii never surrender
litigation even in self-defense and for self-pro-
lection Yet litigation is better than tame sub
mission to great d wrong aud SO great de-
privation.
Our people would not despair, however, If the
worse should come to the worst and our church,
ut the end of prolonged litigation in every State.
should find itself stripped Of every house of wor-
ship and every vestige Of other property Nor
would anyone feel sure that out despoiiers would
enjoy the fruits Of such victory over us.
PROPERTY NO MATTER
We can better afford to. have our property
wrestled from ms than others can to take IT,
Though worth contending for 10 the last extrem-
ity this property is not indispensable to the con-
tinued life and usefulness Of our church. Cum
beriand Presbyterianism rests on a frmer foun-
dation than that and will survive these conflicts
property or no property
You will not longer be misled or deceived BY
the interested declaration that the opposition
among Cumberland Presbytcrians 10 the so-called
union and reunion is insignificant and that II
will soon pass away The events Of the last
twelve months, so palpable before your eyes.
have completely disproved that boastful asser-
ton NOT will future persistence in the unsanc-
tilted course Of wrong and oppression and at-
tempted coercion If allowed BY you result ID
any gain to your church or In the destruction Of
our church. But the more they afflicted them.
the more they multiplied and grew
Already The religious sensibilities of this whole
country. if not the entire world have been shock
ed by this unfortunate and unnecessary con
fict II has brought discfedif upon Tie cause Of
religion and apparently retarded the growth Of
our Masters kingdom in those localities where
the strife has been greatest But Cumberland
Presbsserians have been powerless to prevent IL
Nothing was left bat resistance
They preferred 70 stay where they were Their
conscience would not permit them do otherwise.
They entreaied their brethren not to leave them.
or II leave they must. 70 20 IN pence Theis en-.
tseaties.were disresarded; and they were told. in
effect thai they must 90 tcp notwithstanding
their convictions or. falling to do that. must be
stripped Of their houses Of worship their church
name and their Confession oil Faith. The only
alternative left them was and i resistance Or &c
clesinsticai extinction who IN this uhertS-lov
ing conntry can hlasss tien' The right Of sell.