The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-16
sTAt.NANI POOLS Oh, LINING MATEKa.

4 few Years ago Waiter Page. hunting doubt
less for the bite OF phrase wrote OF The South 5
misfortune in still following its clergy by the
ostagnant pools Of theology The resulting out
hurs, Of Indignation must have been gratifying
10 Mr. Pages vanity, but II expressive of
little beside an undue sensitivencss on the part
Of the south The "stagnant pools have for
Years and still continue. To furnish life-gyug
waters. Even in its politics. which perhaps !r
ritated Mr. Page more than all else, the South
sees the nation coming IN repentance TO the faith
which Il has consistently held
We take up this old matter of tile preachers
and the stagnapt pools III view OF the lllustra-
lions to the contrary afforded In Richmond this
week by the two incidents of the Methodist Con-
ference and the Anniversary meeting Of the
First Baptist Church Reports to the Confer
ence showed that the strong and militant Meth
odist denomination Is giving with ever more
liberal hand to education and to missions. Its
membership is devoted TO the practical ends Of
better citizenship Its schools flourish, its i'm.
pulse toward higher standards of living is con
stant and consistent No problem Of civic or
economic betterment but finds in the organized
effort OF the denomination aid in its right solu-
ton AT the anniversary of the First Baptist
Church one Of the speakers made the striking
statement that the history of the South showed
at It's various stages the great movement Of the
hour centered at some time IN one particular
State Virginia afforded the men who were the
handspring of the revolution. AT another period
South Carolina the center of national
thought Later Henry Grady aud other
GeorgIans spoke the prophecy finding fulhlmept
in tue present. Within the decade North Car
olna has sounded the note of popular education.
In South that is coming rapidly to It's higher
destiny of wealth, and commerce. and morality.
the church has been the potent factor In nerying
the abors Of those who have been engaged in
the new construction, II has been kept pure,
bat it has not stood still The theology it is
true. is old. but il, is fur from stasnant
II needs only that anyone knowing conditions
should realize the growth of the south for MIN
TO see the relation of the church to It's advance
nent Under the influence OF an abiding at
tacument between the masses of the people and
the religious organizations, southern lie has
neither sacrificed principle To accomplishment
nor progress 10 tradition II has been at once
active and steadfnst- AS result have the
miracle Of a great section outstrippng every
other part OF the country and still practically
free from the abuses. the civic disintegration,
the lowered standards of morality which else
where are the hard penalties With which success
is purchased
What Mr. Page and bis following do not seem
10 understand is the fact that the church rela-
tionship 10 life in the South Ia everything ex
oep, Il stagnant idea a nebulous belief II IL,
ON the other hand. force exerted through
teachings from which the individual gains a
new perception Of his duties an a citizen Keep
ing itself aloof from politics. the Southern
church does not therefore stand aloof from life
On the contrary It's influence is thrown In the
scales on the side of great reforms the side
of progressive policies. the side OF the ac
ceptanee of civic responsibilities, The preachers
still lead an ever growing host But their leader
ship ia moral and stimulating. The old pools
whereby they lend their people are still filled
with moving waters. pure and sweet,
FAIR DEALING SUCCESS