Evening journal., 1914-12-07
MONDAY DEC. 7 1914.
LEI HIM APPLY THE TEsT.


To the Editor Of THE EVENING JOURNAL:
sr-Your editorial OF December a. entitled Russell.
Cooke and the Open Door," calls for brief reply and
will plead guilty to two of the charges in your
dctment "a did offer 10 write comments the
Sunday school lessons for THE EVENING JOURNAL,
on condition that you exclude the expositions by Mr.
Russell think you made mistake in not accept
ing offer It would have been an advantage to the
paper and benefit 10 the public in my humble opn-
ION. The offer is still open.
(2) In regard to the threatened boycott After
friendly talk Of hour the occasion of my
second visit expressed the sentiment that if you con
tnue the Russell Sunday school literature, as matter
OF principle you cannot blame the ministers If they adj
wise their people not TO allow THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL in their homes. AS matter of principle on
our part, believe his views religious poison
that benefit Is that an infringement
upon any ones liberty? II is a poor rule that does
The Ministerial Union did not assume to dictate in
This matter Our resolution was in the nature of a
protest and petition. You will admit there can be
question about the right of protest and the right of
petition in this country.
Of using the columns Of for the propagation
the peculiar doctrines of his church. to my knowl
in his views, he would not ask such favor
have a very distinct recollection of your saying
to that you would not allow THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL to used the advancement any particular
sect creed but that you allow Russells comments
the Sunday school lesson because he Is unsecarian
That Is what had in mind when ! said, in my letter
that you give him the exclusive privilege OF in
doctrinating the public
ready TO join hands with you In the maintenance
religious liberty when that liberty is properly defined
and safeguarded against abuse
wish to say that I have never intended TO reject
In any way the personal character Of any of the
followers Of Pastor Russell. only referred to the
tendency of his doctrine in regard TO future punishment
break down all restraint against wickedness on the
part of vicious element of society There enough
sin and vice and crime abroad in the land TO make
the thoughtful think more
II occurs TO the writer that you have gone beyond
what the situation justlnes in your attempt prelu
dice this matter in the public mind. You treated
IN courteous and friendly manner both occasions
Of my visits to your Office and our conversations were
NJ ] am 10 10
question the sincerity the Christian character Of
the ministers Of city. We may be a little slow az
tines but We have the welfare Of the community at
heart Treat right. and you will have our sup
peri fof every good cause.
GEORGE A. COOKE
Win respect the first part OF M Cookies letter.
AZ say is that we appreciate bis frank al
mission that be endesrored have himself substi-
tuted for Pastor" Russell the weekly expounder
- the Scriptures and that admire his own good
opinion q himself modesfly and yet 50 pointedly
szpressa1
We are equally ven pleased that he admits that
suggested 70 the possibility Of q boycott against
paper by the members Of the Ministerial Union
persisted 10 printing the Russell Sunday school
3hle lesson exposition We except. however. the
qualified way 10 which he puts &
When III Cooke came 10 our once on November
asst he said be appeared the representative Of the
Wilmington Ministerial Union. He had been delegated
&c said 70 offer Tor publication certain ant-Russe
f@r-Nrle ana 70 urge me exclusion OF Pastor Rus
sells religious views from columns. We told him
would publish the resolutions If he would accom-
pany them With indemnity bond signed by property
owning members Of the Union 10 protect US against
suit for libel We refused positively TO permit him.
the Union OF anyone else to censorze our religions
columns against Pastor" Russell anyone else 1t
was then that he said not what he says he said
but the following:
Are you willing to accept the consequences Of a
refusal to do this thing?"
1--WE are" the reply.
Even If informed that the preachers composing
the Ministerial Union may advise the members of their
congregations to cease reading THE EVENING JOUR
MALI"
Absolutely" we said. "The columns OF this paper
have been, are now and will continue be open and
free to all relgionists We do fear that any such
boycott will be attempted, that VIII be success
full If attempted faith in the air-mndedness and
lberality Of this community impes to say that anC
to adhere to It,"
AS he had come to representing himself to be an
authorized delegate from the Ministerial Union and az
at stage the conversation did he dinerenate as
between himself as delegate and an individual
the inference conveyed that he had been author
lied to make boycott threat if mder methods SHOULD
fail TO accomplish the exclusion end sought TO be at
tanned. That the only construction we could pu
lpon It
Quite naturally resented it. We now are in
formed by three Of the most prominent members o
the Ministerial Union that the threat Of a boycott
never suggested authorized at the meet
ing and that Mr.. Cooke never was authorized Il
suggest the possibility Of such thing That informa
ton is pleasing was nconceivabe that any bod
Of preachers that had enjoyed for years such unre
stricted use OF local columns with accompanying
Tree church notices charged for in other cities coul
assume such an attitude in the OF well-know
open-door policy with respect to religion We knew
that we had been the good. and. at times potenta
friend of all the members of the Union-often prais
ing seldom criticizing and always manifestng a d,
sire TO help them in their religious work We kne
that boycott based refusal to violate OF
open-door policy would be outrageous return T,
many past fayors done 10 those who. as Mr. Cool
very plainly ntimated. might engage in it. It is f
that reason pleased TO announce that NJ
Cooke had absolutely authority for conve
ne such threat and that in doing il he di
loL express the sentiment Of MANY membeIs of th