Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-30
no INVITATION To
NOTED HIGH CRITIC
BY LOCAL BAPT|STS
Invitation to Or. John Clifford,
President of Worlds Bap-
fist Alliance, Withdrawn Aft
ter Debate


of the old Testament as a collection
of stories not fit to be taught to chit
dren. motion that was made at the
weekly meeting Monday morning. Of
Baptist. ministers to invite him to Attain
Ia met with such opposition hat II
was Withdrawn.
DIR. John E. White said that In failing
to extend this invitation, the confer
ence had turned itself into an eccls-
siastical conclave and had put DR.. Cliff
ford on trial. He added that the con-
ference had placed itself on record as
tabooing a Baptist minister because Or
several things of which it didn't APP
prove. and that the effect would be
unfortunate
Dr.. Clifford is one of the best known
preachers in England. The alliance or
which he is head includes all the Bap-
lists in the world. At this time he Is
in the United States. Gladstone once
spoke OF him in parliament as the man
who holds the conscience OF the non
conformists of England"
Members of the Atlanta Baptist con-
ference think that the question before
them Monday morning is one OF the
most important they have evr consio-
cred. After the meeting one said that
IL marked the beginning of contest in
the south between high critics of the
Bible AMI those who hold to the ortho-
dox belief The discussion in the con-
ference undoubtedly viii arouse con-
ment throughout the church world.
DIR. BROUGHTONS ORTHODOXY.
The orthodoxy of DR.. Len G. Brougn-
ton, who brought up the question OF
DR.. Clifford's views on the Bible, was
good-naturedly question He referred
to the fact that he administered com
munion in London in a Congregational
chuch. and this reference was repeated
and declared to be a mild instance or
heresy. DR.. B. d. Gray and DR.. White
also expressed the opinion that Ir,
Broughton, because of his views on
alien immersion and communion. was
not In position TO oppose DR.. efforts
coming to Atlanta
DR.. Broughton explained that his opl1o-
sition consisted merely In his being I'm
willing to be a member Of commits
tee that had been appointed to invite
Dr. Clifford. The discussion was prin-
cipa1ly between him and DIR. White. The
latter insisted that the soul Is free ana
that restrictions Of creed must not be
cafrie1 too far. x -
The discussion began b. DR.. Cray
moving that DIR. Clifford be invited -
Atlanta to address sthe Baptists OF this
city and the whole state at a mass mee--
ing a the auditorium. He proposed that
meeting somewhat similar to that re-
Gently held by Presbyterions be arraiIg-
ed. committee of four, OF which pr.
Broughton was a member, was appointed .
to invite DIR. Clifford. Hesa once vOic-
ed his objection.
Il hate to say what I am going TO-"
he began. No one honors Dr. Clifford
as a civic leader more than / DO. But
could not be party to an invitation
to DR.. Clifford to come here to speak as
Baptist or an evangelical minister
DIR. Clifford is not an evangelical
Christian. He belongs to the highest
OF the high critics. For instance. willie
in London. I saw in one of the papers
an account of a controversy relative to
a statement churchman had made that
the Old Testament scriptures were to be
treated only as history written by men
Immature minds and limited knowl-
edge In that same paper DR.. Clifford
sal over his own signature: For ~
years have held and taught that the
so-called miracle of the Old TestsInenr
are collection of old stories not fit TO
be taught to children
DIR MilIard once said in this confer
ence that DR.. Clifford remarked to him:
We are all high critics. all Of US that
have any sense
81 may be an alarmist, but 1 think
the greatest evil today is this charge
against the integrity Of the Bible II
land and in the New England states and
now is coming south"
DR. WHITES REPLY.
DR.. White, in replying. said:
/"No difference in regard to the Bible
exists among us. / would take tnc
most steadfast position where 1t became
my duty to defend it. But we have no
right to invade the region of conscience.
don't know that any of us could say
T. -
testament is true. For one thing. the
devil does a lot of talking there.
81 do not believe that there is an
effort to unfellowship DR.. Clifford. II
he is such hereto, then the Whole
Baptist alliance has gone wrong. Ii
could be no faint upon the Baptists OF
Atlanta to honor him.
when you start to draw lines OF
dogmatic creed, you start trouble. l ann
ready to live and die on the principle
that mans soul is free. As Baptist
/ don't believe 1t is right to refuse to
invite Dr. Clifford here. I think that
If you do refuse this invitation ana
continue on this principle you will spIlr
the Baptist church from end to end
believe in the competency of the soul =
DIR. BRoUGHTON COMES BACK
When he had finished DR.. Broughton
spoke again.
= Il WISH TO SPEAK, uc cd1es AOt g
Baptist, but as an evangelical minister
Dr. Whites speech was good but IL
lNrninds me of a funny story. In a
country town doctor was sitting in
front of his office smoking. Across the
street near Masonic lodge, where they
were raising two or three fellows
negro ran over to the doctor and said.
Boss, dey says fer you to come ODER to
de lodge Tell 'em I'll be over when
/ get through smoking, he said.
THE negro came back in few mn
utes. Dey says you must come now
he said.
When I get through smoking an
swered the doctor.
a second later and the negro rushed
out of the~1odge.
Boss. dey says you must come dis
minute
:. Well. what's the troubler asked the
doctor.
pes hit one OBJ de men wild de wrong
maui
. DIR. White used the wrong maui This
isn't a question of burning somebody &c
the stake because of his views. it -
a question Of whether we viii step sside
from our regular procedure and extend