The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-08
Dr Eaves Defends Attitude

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 So far as the letters of Messrs. Whit ten and Willoughby, published on Mon- day, concern matters, I am averse to the humilia tion of pleading my cause. If my work does not justify my secretary ship, if many are not being saved from infection by the great scourge, if others
 are not being given new hope and cour- age, if yet others are not comforted or restored to health if the rather intri- cate work does not run smoothly, and if
 multitudes are not learning how to avoid disaster, that would be cause for taking away my bishopric. Therefore, l shall
 be glad for anyone who has doubts on
 the subject to kindly visit the sanatorium and dispensary, or go around with our nurses, or help me in my lectures and | other educational service. At a minimum 1 of cost we are, I think, getting maxi mum of results You will remember that Dr. Cunningham. recently stated that since our work began in 1910 tuberculosis ir Birmingham has been reduced, in it's fatal cases at least by more than two | fifths.
 | With this I dismiss the personal ques- tion and leave it to the people who know. 1 One thing, however, I should have stated long ago: I believe Mir Whltten to be a most self-denying and kindly soul beloved of many and earnestly desiring l to do the will of God in the earth. All the more am I distressed therefore when l I find him "forsaking the word of God that he may serve tables. in this instance
 the tables of stone. l differ from him though I am unworthy to shine his shoes. | Passing to the theological point which
 has caused my good brother great dis ! tress, there seems to be a real misun-
 derstanding for which my faulty exposi-
 ton is to blame Allow me to explain
 that I intend no dsrespect to the deca- 1 logue bv any word I have spoken or ! written. As to this decalogue or Ten Ccmandments:
 l l. It is indeed Hebrew code. It came | in the process of the development of the i worlds religion. It is Jewish, not Chris | tian As in other nations, ancient and ! modern, codes of law have been formed, | so among the Hebrews We believe that the decalogue is most admirable sum-
 mary of ethics, religion and civic duty, | given by God to the Hebrew people. l 2 The Hebrew state was both a relig- ious and civil organization. Hence, the decalogue sets forth both civil and re- ! ligious duties In this it radically diff fers from our American law. which sep
 a1ates church and state. unfor-
 tunately, many Americans cannot get rid | of the idea that the state ought to fur l ther the interests and plans of he church,
 though the constitution definitely sep | arates the two.
 | My discussion of the matter is wholly l confined to the function of pastors of churches These men are not civil, but
 purely spiritual, functionaries. Not only
 are they clear of responsibility to make
 and enforce our laws, but experience shows that when they turn from their i proper duties as spiritual teachers and i ''gospellers' they weaken their influence,
 confuse the minds of men, and by grasp 1 ing at social and civic reform, the 1 shadow, lose the substance, viz the sublime skill to bring the souls of men
 under the power of God. The law is in l ferior to grace. It is external and it is i weak. To lay stress on law is to miss
 the spirit Henceforth this must be laid | to heart by men like Messrs. Whitten 1 and Willoughby: .'Ye are an epistle Of ] Christ. written not with ink, but with the | spirit of the living God; not on tables of l stone. but on tables that are hearts of ' flesh" That is Paul's way, and it far
 surpasses the way he once had, when