The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-23

] In this respect Every consideration of their
office aud relation to the public ought 70
make the preachers hold to the very letter
Of accuracy. That they4de not dc go is
doubtless due to striving after effect
hold that this unanonyInous Indictment IS
much serious and reaching than that
attributed to DIR. Poteat. 1t assumes. with an
air of confidence, such as inspired by the morat
effect Of Il truism that preachers 1.-THE desig
nation Is unqualified, are uniformly mot care
fur in their statements. and that this reckless
ness. involving disregard for every consideration
of their office and relation to the public" may BIZ
accounted for by "a irving after effect L!
this indictment expresses yonr real conviction,
lenge to Dr. Poteat. that. having brought 4
charge that reflects upon every Preacher OF
the Gospel the wide world over. you proceed ITO
file a bill or particulars or Withdraw your &C.
cusation.' lf. upon the other hand, the Ian
guage to which | take exception does not &C.
! curateiy represent you. being the product of q
life so busy that 1t must at times give forth
ungardsd and misleading expressions, I ask that
you charitably misleading the game human limita :
tong to others. and reflect upon the wisdom NJ
the familiar maxim: physician. myself.
That In individual instances Ministers have
been guilty of loose statements cannot be de-
MED. but utterly deny that such instances have
been so frequent, the number of those offend
ing SO numerous. as to justify such a sweep
ing characterization of the Ministry.
|" Such accusation would have a familiar
sound If found in an anti-prohbition Journal,
during campaign for civic righteousness led
by the preachers fas has been often the easel
and its an'nus then and there. would be mani
fest. but permit me to say II rings strangely IN
The purpose oc this communication not TO
defend DR.. Poteat Che is abundantIy able to take
care of HIMSELF, but beg to say that | fail to
the pertinency of your criticism of the Min
istry since the brilliant South Carolinian spake
on that occasion Educator Che rec
ognizedl and not Minister of the Gosepl.--
Now If an unfortunate and gravely reprehensf-
BILE habit, acquired during period of early
identification with the ministry. possesses sucn
tremendous tenacity that later experiences as the
head OF great institution of learning are unable
to break the spell of its naligant power. then the
affliction of the Ministry must be desperate
indeed Nor do see how DIR. Poteats language.
given in your editorial. reflects every ,
Southern College and University of a non-sec-
tional character This would be to make
the sphere IF his observation far too
row. hapen to know that Dr. Potea,
has spent much of his enlinently usefu,
life in regions beyond the bounds OF his
useful life in regions beyond the bounds of his
native Southland. and that he has fame as
University speaker where Southern ideals do
not obtain Accepting his statement as ''aecur
ate 10 the letter. since he said u know tif
correctly reported1 7 have the ghost of
fear that the horrible conditions he described
referred to n Southern College. Such is my
knowledge Of and faith in Southern Universe
ties that the most remote suspicion that the
speaker had in mind one of them would not have
occurred to me. but for your suggestion.
HENRY w BATTLE. "a Preacher.
Charlottesville, Va. May 2lst.