Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-17

the convention, and what we have
fought so strcnuously against would
be found upon us unless the minority
would split off: and then undor pro-
position 3, thoy would be stopped
from usnig tho name NATIONAL
BAPTIST CONVENTION, because
they had reunited, accepted the
peace propositions, allowed the law
suit in Cook County, Illinois to be.
como confirmed upon the statue
bokos and the courts, of necessity,
would be compelled to decide that
they were stopped from rcclaiming
that name. The Publishing Board
would be compelled, by all honor
able reasons, to. acquiesce in what
ever the majority might try to put
upon them, and while there is moth
ing i'll Baptist polity that would give
this convection control, yet tho fol-
lowing language i'll these PROPOSE
TONS would stand out against them
and they would have to bow, with
, the understanding that the right Of
dcnominational ownership and CON-
troll" VI that did not mako it COM
plCtc, then the following Language
, completes it: "said ownership and
control in each individual case shall
be determined aud established.
Here the convention would be allow
ed not only to determine, but IL they
colud find nothing TO determine then
they could make, establish, lay out
now lines that had never before been
established by any Baptist organiza-
ton.
| have tried in this article to lay
bef'"e our brethren some OF tho
shrcWl, schemy traps that were set
TO catch our brethren. They are
sugarcoatcd dangers, dangers sugar
coated with beautiful language, put
up By the Shrewdcst men that the
Baptist denomination has produced.
JuG%c Atkinson, who has been for
yea, Il Arkansas ono OF the LEADING
turt"sS in that State, and the advisor
f DR.. Morris and followers, and it
is understood that they constantly
30 to Ism for advice, knew the mean.
ing of these words and their legal
effect. Therefore, being biased to
DR.. Morris and his followers he
would naturally not object to the
use OF these words. DR.. Weaver,
one Of the best educated and most
active Baptist preachers among the
white Baptists, and who has been
very active in the prosecution Of this
law suit and the star witness in the
prosecution, would naturally smile
and allow il to pass. 1t was there
fore, necessary for the leaders of
the unincorporated convention to
grow active and see TO it that these
propositions were amended before
they go before our convention.
! Do our Incorporated brethren
really want reunion? IF so, why
not have it? There is nothing in
the way except one charter and two
law suits, and they are the plaintiffs
in each case and can take non suit
any day without prejudicing their
. case. They can leave it in such a
way that they can start law suit
avn day. Why ask the unincorpor-
atcd brethren to lay down and let
the incorporated brethren by shrowd
language and legal trickery, tie them
hog fashion and carry them off bag
and baggage into tho Morris cnmps.
Without pushing this argument
further, | beg to state for myself as
an individual Baptist, l will never
agree to ii. l want peace, lasting
peace without the sacrifice of con
science. | want reunion, lasting re-
union, without the sacrifice of prin-
'ipi'o. II llc HhlHCOfporalCu con-
Vention accepts these propositions
without amendment, | am Il local
Baptist the balance Of my days. II
The Publishing Board accepts them,
they do so over my protest. When
| started twenty-five years ago to cs-
tablish Il Publishing House, gave all
that both myself and my wife had
accumulated, all these years, robbed
NY children, I did it. with Il hone
that the denomination and not any
f2r;i0G q? brethren should have the
benefits. If this is torn dwon either
by the courts or by trickcry, then we
ask, give us back what we thought
we were giving to the denomination
and let us go unmOlcStcd.
l may have more to say On this
before the meeting of the conven-
ton.