The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-03
THE LIMIT or rAsArroIsal.

During the last few months The Ad- vertiser has had frequent occasion to comment on the narrownsss and bit- terness of some ministers of the 0os- pei. and to oite their intemperanos as one of the evils most to be deplored in connection with the cierico-politioai campaign now on in Alabama.
 Never, however. in the widest stretch of imagination had The Ad- vsrtiser dreamed of the extreme to which that sort of intsmperanoe would go. Of course. 1t expected for itself an unusual share of misrepresentation and denunoiation, for this paper has been through other bitter campaigns and has for years f1ourished on tho boomerang effect of that sort of ad- vertising. Nevertheless. 1t had not conceived the possibility of any min- ister occupying a Christian pulpit who would have so little charity as to at- tack another Christian minister, on account of a legitimate public utter ance. nor that the representative of one denomination would undertake to hold up another respected denomina- ton to misrepresentation, ridicule and contempt. Such is the fact, however, much as 1t is to be lamented.
 On this page Is reproduced a letter from Rev. MT. Clayton. of East Tal- lassee to Elder William Lively, of Birmingham. MT. Clayton is the pas tor of the Methodist church at East Tallassee. and Elder Lively is an &C., tive minister of the Primitive Baptist Church. The Advertiser does not know MT. Clayton. but for years Elder Lively lived in Montgomery. and he is respected by all who know him and is beloved by many. The letter to Elder Lively was sent by him to- The Ad- vertiser for such use as 1t saw fit. Be- fore publication this paper took pains to verify its genuineness. and this MT. Clayton has admitted
 It will be noted that this horrible composition was not intended for FL der Lively's private eye only: It's au- thor was so proud of its production that he requested Elder Lively to pro- cure its publication in this paper. It will be realized, therefore, that he is brazen in his vanity. and abso- lutely blind to the fearful spectacle he has deliberately made of himself. He may have expected that The Adver- tiser would not print the letter be- cause of his reflections on this paper, but if so. his qualification will now be complete, though possibly short lived
 This letter will be characterized by every reader. high or low, Christian or heathen, as coarse, vulgar, vile. One of its clauses has been omitted be- cause its vulgarity might be consid- cred as obscene. The whole thing is revolting in attitude, in tone and in expression. It is as perfect a piece of billingsgate as we have seen in long time.
 So far as MT. Clayton's remarks about The Advertiser are concerned, they are without any foundation in truth. They are plainly libelous, but we will pass them by, knowing that this paper cannot be injured by such wild man. Our protest is against the atmosphere in church circles that has infiamed a fanatical temperament like MT. Clayton's to the pitch of vituperation which has produced a letter to another minister of the Cos pei, arraigning a whole Christian de- nomination respected of all men for many cardinal virtues. Ills letter is its own best answer. Elder Lively de- clined to use space in this paper re- plying to 1t, and The Advertiser has no argument for It's details. We don't believe the Christians of the State. and least of all the Methodists, will have any sympathy with 1t. and very probably many, of his fellow ministers will be strongest in its condemna- tion
 But 1t is @ lesson, horrible lesson. It is to be hoped that it will prove the limit, and that other excitable ministers. with more zeal than char ity or brains, will profit by this fear ful example and put Q brake on their tongues.