Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-12-04

-VIeWs
would be the members of the Wilmington Ministerial
Union" we said Nor is that really the last analy-
sis because, your Union is composed of preachers
representing many denominations which are widely at
variance matters of religious teaching what
have that after the views Of all outside preach
ers have been censorized out Of columns the dom
nant representatives in the Union will not turn upon
the weaker delegates therein and, by internal APP
plicaton of this censorous policy exclude the views
the minority representatives from the columns Of
local ewspapers"
Mr. Cooke denied that any such results would attend
compliance with the demand of the Ministerial
Union.
Are you willing to accept the consequences of
refusal to do this thing?" Mr. Cooke finally inquired
I'VE are" was the reply
Even If informed that the preachers composing
the Ministerial Union may advise the members Of their
congregations to reading THE EVENING JOUR-
MALI"
Absolutely" we said "The columns of this paper
have been, and will continue to be open and
free 10 all egioniss We do fear that any such
boycott will be attempted, or that il will be success
fu if attempted Our faith in the far-mndedness and
liberay of this community mpels to say that and
to adhere to it,
Mr. Cooke away. chagrfned and dissatisfied. I'm
medately after his departure the editorial mo Reig-
ious Discrimination" written for the next days
paper. faith in the far-mindedness and berality
justified Before nghtfa the edition of the paper of
November was sold out. Subsequently demands for
copies Of the editorial from this city and outside
with insisency that was necessary for us TO
reprint several hundred copies of that editorial page
to supply the demand There nothing or
remarkable about the editorial Its redeeming quail
ties taken from the Declaration of independence
and the Constitution of the United States which ever
lasting documents stand for religious liberty. free
speech and free press.
And now let us refer specifically to Mr.. Cookies
letter, which is incorporated in the body of this edi-
toral. II peases to know that he found mo Re-
gious Discrimination interesting reading and that
to his way of thinking it made out good for
THE EVENING JOURNAL We deny his assertion
that made the Ministerial Union look small" It
made itself look small by permitting Mr.. Cooke to
influence It TO pursue such un-American path he
because of ong-standing antipahy for Pastor Rus
SELL blazed for it. II is hattering to note that Mr.
Cooke says that a case Of special pleading, the
mo Religious Discrimination editorial is entitled
the blue ribbon That phrase Is red-booded. Il
savors OF the paddock the .tanbark and the county
fair. It is pleasing that Mr.. Cooke can become
at times of the earth earthly and indulge in phrase
that appeals to the lay mind
But all that is beyond the point We deny that we
discriminate in favor of 9Pastory Russell We affirm
that give in the of year. ten times much
space to the newsand views of members of the Minis
erial Union give 10 the news and views of PAS
tor" Russell and his followers The columns Of our
paper constitute a conclusive REPUTATION of Mr.
Cookies assertion that Pastor Russell has the excu-
sive privilege of indoctrnating the public through
THE EVENING JoURNAIt We know that when
Mr.. Cooke makes such charge he cannot rep
resent the sentiment of the members of the Ministerial
Union because there preachers in our city who
the columns this paper freely the pur-
pose Of matchmaking the public than do the members
of that Union. In fact of the most prominent
praise the "No Religious Discrimination" editorial and
thank for the expression of such hroad-minded
American views
We do not think Pastor Russell is the foun-
tanhead of all wisdom, as Mr. Cooke puts IT, nor do
accept the dootrinal views of Mr. Cooke Our posi-
tion Is simply that under American system he has
as much right to express his views through the col
umns o. this paper has Mr.. Cooke anyone asso-
with him in the censorious enterprise upon which
he has embarked with so little thought OF the vital
American principle that it seeks to violate We also
would remind Mr. Cooke that the policy Of sitting
freedom of religious thought by repression suppress
sion and exclusion played out years ago and that it
has place in twentieth century religious news
paper work.
J That Mr. Cooke and certain OF his associates re-
gard the Russell interpretations of the Scriptures
farcical interest us No doubt Pastor" Rus
sell and his associates think that Mr. Cookies nterpre-
atons Of the Scriptures equally farcica and there
may ne many members OF the Mmlsterlal Union VINO
think the way because they belong to other de-
nominations and cannot be in accord with HIS doctrnal
views II is function public newspaper to per
NIT all OF them TO lay their views before intelligent
and discriminating public that it may make its own
choice No preacher who has faith in the convincing
power Of his doctrine should be averse to be-
coming party TO such policy
Mr.. Cooke says the Russell interpretations Of the
Scriptures positively dangerous TO the public
morals" We propose test We have here in our city
an International Bible Students Class Il is made up
of men and who have accepted the doctrines. of
Pastor" Russell We know only two members of that
class Notwithstanding ignorance with respect to
its personnel. challenge Mr.. Cooke to lay
before us any proof that acceptance by those
men and women Of the Russell doctrine has
made them immoral, immoral dangerous TO the
/ public The field is wide open. We invite him to
produce his proofs He has made the declaration. II
his duty substantate II, not by glittering and
] - - .-.- Il L-- - 1919. -.