Evening journal., 1912-11-01
nE nn.. MORGAN DEFENDS
THE WATKINS ADDRESS
10 the editor Of The EVENING
I0uRNAL.

10 The Editor Of The EVENING
JOURNAL:
Sir.-I have read the letter OF sx-
Dlanation in your issue of 29th inst.
Of my brethren. Carpenter. Wise and
Beauchamp, touching their action last
Monday morning, as curators OF the
Preachers Meeting, growing out OF
our invitation to Dr. Aron s. Watt
kins to address us on that occasion.
have decided ID make reply to this
explanation for the following reas-
Dns:
This letter referred to lacks
comprehensive statement Of the facts,
which | desire to point out.
2--I had tome part in the above
mentioned invitation extended to DR..
watkins
81 really enjoy friendly con-
troeersy with any Of my brethren
when so good an opportunity for II
is given.
Permit me TO say, also, that all
these brethren are my friends, as /
certainly am theirs. and what have
to say will be in the most brotherly
spirit
1-From what is said in the letter
regarding the substitution OF DR.. Wat
kins by the Preachers Association
tor the other brother OF our own num-
ber. It might be supposed, by the
public reading the letter that 1t is an
unusual and very improper thing for
the Preachers Meeting TO do. AS a
matter OF fact il has been the usual
practice in like or somewhat like
conditions In all our history; and
insist could not properly be other
wise II one OF our members is on
the program for an address as the
order Of the day for a particular
meeting, and some one OF recognized
ability and Of representative errand
comes into our midst willing TO adj
dress US upon his speciality, We count
Il q privilege to hear him, and gladly
accord him the place Moreover, the
curators hitherto have participated
in this action, as also the brother
who happened to be- the order Of the
day for that particular occasion.
have been a member Of this Preach
ers' Association during two pastor
ates N this city; twenty years ago
for FIVE years succeeding and for the
three years of my present pastorate
have never known the Preachers
Melting in these eight years of my
membership 10 do otherwise under
tho stated circumstances than II did
lakl Monday morning. remember
dlstinctly twice. once when was
hero before, and once this time. Yher
I, being the order OF the day, waf
asked to give way for a visitor ap.
pearing in the meeting to address US
and 7 gladly did IT, or course I came
on the program at a later day anc
delivered my message II is due him
TO say right here. that the brother
who was on the program for las
Monday morning graciously consent
ed to his temporary displacement fol
this great Prohibition champion, whG
Is running the second time on thu
Prohibition ticket for Vice President
is a Methodist Episcopal minister o
high standing in one of our Western
Conferences. is now Vice Presiden
Of one Of our colleges, and Is unsur
passed In ability and skill 10 presen
truth and carry conviction to hi
audience It ought to be said, furthe
that by actual vote in the Preachers
Meeting last Monday inviting Dl
Watkins to speak. the meeting. as
appeared. was unanimous in thei
support OF the resolution, except thes
tAf NC " AOtAANI hfNt HV Vhj''fAf
to their objection to such action, bu
since they have undertaken to ex
plain. In 0 way, these facts that hav
mentioned ought to be known. also
Moreover. / would like to ask then
which is greater. the Preachers
Meeting or the curators? When tn
body itself speaks the individua
members. whether they are commit
tees or not, gracefully acquiesce Il
h the declsionn That is the rule in al
l organized and deliberative bodies
{~v"It was our claim before our re
y &nation. it is our claim now. tina
N such program had been arrane
Md men had given their time I
" Qation, II was due us and ther