Evening journal., 1917-01-05

and ] believe you expressed the feel
ings OF practically every member Of
our denomination. not only in the city,
but throughout the conference terri
tory Again thank you.
Yours most sincerely,
JOHN L. JOHNSON.
Pastor Scott NJ. r Church"
Again, I'm the same issue. III by
any chance you ever have done any
thing against the Methodists in this
conference district. they can well af-
ford to forgive It all In return for
your editorial on this Wesley Church
trouble" said the Rev. George White
Dawson, pastor OF Asbury NJ. Z.
Church, this city. Il formerly was
pastor OF Wesley and ! know its peo-
pie. agree fully with your edi-
torial assertion that an end should be
put to this so-called trial"
When my brethren In the ministry.
members Of my own conference. are
misled into the making Of such as
J sertions, surely 1t is in order for me
/ TO tell the truth about this matter so
as to clear the matter up in the minds
Of people who do not know the facts.
That THE EVENING JOURNAL is
not only a jealous advocate OF reform,
but that it believes IN radical meth
DDS for the treatment OF evil. is plain
from the closing paragraph Of its
editorial OF December IS. There is
only one consoling thought in con-
nection with the farce-comedy That
Is, that in view OF the animus under
lying the proceedings and of this
ridiculous and yet harmful vindictiye-
ness that has featured the trial, II is
not at oil likely that the ecclesias-
tioal jury will stultify itself by re-
turning a verdict OF guilty against
the defendant trustee. and that a yer
dict of acQuittal will serve as
stinging rebuke TO his chief accuser
But, even with the verdict Of acquit-
tai IN hand, Wesley still VIII have
suffered much harm through its con-
gregation having given harborage 10
disturbing elements which never
should be tolerated in any religious
society" That puts me as pastor Of
Wesley Church and the faithful God
fearing men and women who have
stood by me through this fearful per-
secntion, IN an exceedingly bad light.
IL makes us out to be a wickedly dam
II any wonder that with all this array
OF power massed against us some Of
our people have become frightened
and others have become discouraged? ?
4 owe It 10 Wesley Church. to ths
Wilmington Conference, to my family
TO myself and to my God to seek anc
secure vlndication for the truth lhi
Word Of God says: "Tet not your goot
be evil spoken off, Ny good name i
all possess that is Of any real value 4
Methodist minister who will not protec
his characer against assault should no
be harbored In our annual conference. I
[ should keep silent In view Of what ha
Z been said and done J would he COW
ard. yea, worse than coward Their
are some things In the history Of thi
case that should come 10 light and b
= given TO the community through th
Q public press. Darkness must bc dispele
Z by the light. Ignorance must be over
J, come by information The secular pres
= Il a mighty agency for the overthro'
+ Of tyranny and oppression. Evil car
/ not endure exposure.
The Beginning OF the Trouble.
This trouble in Wesley Church be
y gan two years ago when I set out Il
4 enlighten tho people in regard to tn
J. methods and the teachings Of the no
y torious Pastor Russell. II developed
!, that there were a number of disciple
! OF Russell connected with wesle,
= Church who were not anxious to b.
8 enlightened. There is evidence {,
i prove that the followers OF tn
4 prophet OF Millennial Dawnism hau
i carefully laid their plans to captur
h Wesley Church without having thei
4 plans discovered. They had been lef
In undisturbed possession for twelv
!, or fifteen years. As result tn
: church was in a depleted and a dis
:, heartened state. Everything was a
4 q low ebb. A number of those VIII
: were in control OF the church. includ
= ing several trustees. seemed to be il
Is favor of keeping the church down an
,e frowned upon my efforts to rebuilt
n the walls OF our Zion. Others respond
Il ed to my efforts and some splendi
N new material was taken into th
"a church. Nearly all Of the activ
- workers in the church we're solidl
a with me and the work was movin
r. forward al the beginning of this cor
NJ ference year. In August / gave a
q address on THE Peril OF Russelism
m TO which | invited Pastor Russell an
1d his followers At that Mrs. Ell
an Jones and several Of the trustees too
II serious offense Mrs Jones Is
by superior woman OF great intelligenc
who had n large following of ardeI
ow admirers among the members an
n friends OF Wesley Church. Ut
~ fort.nunately her husband. who VIZ
M formerly member Of Wesley Churc
n. became infatuated with the views
az Pastor Russell about twenty yea
ago and has done what he could
!. overturn the doctrines Of Methodist
Whatever the cause, II rs a histor
~ fact that Mrs. Jones withdrew fro
w Wesley Church soon after my addre
~ on THE Peril of Russellism." a
-, though she did not hear the addres
- 1t became increasingly evident to n
Nv, that Russellism was at the buttO
%. OF the trouble in Wesley Churc
e Having become acquainted with q
methods OF Pastor Russell Il dawn
Wy upon me that we were face 10 IA
~ with trained, deceptive, unscrupl
Gus foe. trembled as l came
NJ realize the nature Of the impendf
'lty struggle. Not that ] am easi
tln- frightened. I have fought for {
I y truth on many a battlefield and new
vet have I shown the white feath'
NJ I prayed earnestly over the matt
DO and committed my all to God, L
mt holding back my good name.
re- termined TO stand for the right
hat whatever cost.
heir .r.. -. - -. 4.-,,n ~ =