The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-12-03

April -, 1S57-Fifteen years are
now passed away since | became
member of the NJ. E. church. Have
learned its history and discipline and
in some of its rules | can see beauty
and excellence and in others | can see
want of Christian principles and had
| been called to make a rule book,
should certainly have amended a por-
ton Of its provisions In the first place
1t tOlerateS War-makeS it the duty of
| a church member to go to battle at
the call of his country and in a war
with Great Britain, Methodists of Eng
land met MethOdistS of America and
engaged in murder and plumber with
out any regard to the precepts of Jes-
us to love one another, to pray for
each other and learn to forgive enc
mics. The early Christians would not
fight and gave this reason: I'VE are
Christians and cannot fight" If Chris
tians can take the life of Christians
where is the sign of fellowship, ex-
| listing inthe great Christian family?
Do not the Heathens act in the same
manner? We are toll dthat Washing
ton. Jackson, Taylor and Bonaparte
were great soldiers and consequently
great and good men. l suppose upon
the principle that the man whomur-
ders one man is a william, but if he
kills his hundreds or his thousands he
is a hero. And public imposes on his
! life the character of a good man. Yes,
a Christian. This doctrine l do not
subscribe to, even should it consign
to doubtful translation such names
as the above. nor do | believe that the
judge of the Kingdom will be partial
in Judgment, but will give OF all MUIR
derers an equitable sentence, either to
a place of rest and peace or to the
dark abode of the wicked.
M. E. Church Splits.
The point at which my mind reverts
| is slavery inthe church and defended
by the BIBLE have read that good
book, and believe it to be the founda-
ton of our Christianity. But could |
believe that it tolerated slavery as
practised in this country. | would dis
card it and deny the inspiration of the
entire volume. The NJ. f. church in
| the year 1914, split on this question.
| The slave states, excepting Maryland
and Delaware, forming a slave organi-
cation and that portion now obtaining
| the character of prOslavery, par ex-
/ CellenCe, and Notwithstanding the sep
aratiOn slavery exists in Delaware and
Maryland. and in the free states many
! of the brethren sympathize with the
brethren of the South. From the year
1854 to 1914 the church continually
was becoming more pro-slavery but
the world and some leading ministers
/ took advance ground for freedom un-
til in the last named year the outside
pressure became so painful that to
save the organization a separation was
considered necessary and was carried
into effect.
| Had this separation failed or had
! the church abided by the rules of the
/ southern members I should have con-
! sidered it my duty to have withdrawn
| from such an organization. 1t is a
/ strange-a wonderful thought-that
any religious body should maintain
within its rules or tolerate two Of the
most prominent and notorious evils of
this, or any other country and try to
prove it by Scripture. But there will
come an end 10 oppression and may
/ Heaven speed the day.
September %, 1S57-This. day COM