The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-09-28

that l had been led astray by
MIR. Watson without first verifying
his statements. That many of Mr..
Watson's statements on foreign mis-
sions had been, time and again, dis
proved by facts-though he did not
give any of the facts. He said he
would rewrite my letter-would
"eliminate some of the Objectionable
features and then publish it. At
ter he had rewritten it, and had
eliminated some of the objectiona-
BILE features I hardy would have
known my letter, but for the fact
1t had my name signed to it, Yes
terday | was in Ideal at the home of
one of your warm friends, and there
was half dozen other Watson men
present. In fact, we are nearly all
Watson men in this neck of the
woods. There was something said
about my letter in the Wesleyan and
l told them what DR.. Lovett had
done. They insisted that l send it to
you for publication and I promised
to do so.
Our church papers won't publish
anything that comes in contact with
their pet theories, especially foreign
missions-they are sorter sore on
that-the collections are short sever
al thousand dollars.
Your friend and admirer,
w. A. GREENE.
Oglethorpe, Ga.
Here's the letter to Dr. Lovett:
I notice in the Wesleyan of June
3Oth letter from Rev. G. w. Math-
eWs asking HAS South Georgia Lost
its Fervor on Missions?" He de-
plores the decline in the collections
since 1906 and suggests that there
may be an unpleasant answer to the
question, and adds 'to know the
cause and to find a remedy are the
things of greatest concern to all who
are genuinely Interested" With
your permission, think I can point
out to him one of the causes, eff not
the cause, Of the decline in the col
lectlons up to, if not beyond, the
nigh water mark of 1906.
But first, | wish to say, bv wav of
parentheses, that I am a farmer and
a strong believer in foreign missions.
l was raised Methodist and taught
when boy to believe it's doctrines.
My father and grandfather before
me were MethOdists Moreover. when
L joined the church | took an oath.
or solemn pledge, which amounts
to the same thing, to support it's in
situations. This l have tried to do
to the extent of my ability | think
l am loyal Methodist | have long
been subscriber to your paper. AS
lar back as | can remember my faith
er used to take the old Southern
Christian Advocate and then the
Wesleyan. The Advocate has been a
welcome, weekly visitor to our home
ever since, l think, it's very first is
sue. Besides, l take several other
papers, my county paper, two or
three political papers, one or two ag-
ricultural papers and Tom Watson's
Magazine and Jeffersonian I try
to keep tolerably we'll posted for a
farmer. Something over a year ago,
l saw an article in one of Mr.. Wat
sons papers headed "By What
Right?" In it he severely criticised
all those who supported foreign mis-
sions, alleging that a dollar thus
spent was dollar missent and a dol
lar misapplied. l wrote him letter
Of protest. Mr.. Watson published my
letter and replied to it, This was the
beginning Of the controversy between
Mr.. Watson and some of our preach
ers on foreign missions. / have been
an interested reader of all that has
been written on the subject more So