The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1918-04-19

adjuvants to this kingdom spreading
seemed TO have been lost in the strug-
gle for place and for power and Tor
something else We may not name
here. Hence, this second group con-
tends that a division oil this large
unwieldy body into two camps with
UNCONVENTIONAL understandings and
working peace would be far better
than a reunion OF the bodies. They
contend that each convention work
ing separately has done more con-
structive work in the short time of
their separation than all did working
together for many years, Therefore,
they conclude that reconciliation and
peaceful working understanding
without reunion is the happ;est solu-
ton to our Baptist family differences.
To our way of thiaking, this group,
while meritorious in many things,
4. places the emphasis of the dissolu-
ton Of our national organization at
Chicago in the wrong place. They
seem to place at the door OF the prin-
| ciples upon which our convention
was founded the blame for its tur-
MOL. for its non-constructive policy,
| for its undemocratic procedure, for
its demagogism; when the fact is
that the democratic principles so
fundamental aud essential in our
church and all of its organized eff
forts; the principle OF democracy, OF
our union, of our being together was
not at fault. Our being in one great
Baptist body was not the cause of
the sterility and turmoil The cause
was in the failure of the manhood of
the convention to assert itself in
terms Of pure church democracy; the
tive leadership; the failure of our
former united convention was in the
inability Of those in control to ad
vantageously organize and direcs the
great body of people under their in
fluence. The failure was in a grow
ing intelligent convention trying to
adjust itself to outgrown, antiquated
business rules, regulations and meas
ures. The failure was not in our
being together, 1t was in our nor be
ing close enough together. This
group Of whom and to whom We have
been speaking is also comparatively
small.
But, thirdly, and finally, alGther
group which seems to be both large
and inteingent; in fact. this group
seems to contain four ifths Or posi-
bly, Jline-tenths of all the 7aptisla of
the nation, both great and small;
this group is struggling for, praying
for, hoping for peace reconciliation,
union. Their claims and arguments
seem to- be logical, intelligent, Chris
tian and irresistible. First, this
group is contending that as race
and denomination we are tho weak
and inexperienced to divide or re-
main separate; that the enterprises
already established by the church
and denomination, in order that they
should reach the highest state of
usefulness and Christian efficiency,
need and deserve the united support
of the entire Baptist family; that
because we have made mistakes, re-
CARELESS of by whom these mistakes
! and blunders were made, that they
are not cause sufficient to eternaily
separate the Baptist family and trans
NIT to Baptist posterity legacy of
hate and misunderstanding. This
group believes and contends that a
| united, reconciled, peaceful National
Convention, reconstructed and formed
: after the manner of pure Christian
f democracy, directed by safe, sound
{ sane leadership along the line OF
, modern business methods can do more
: to advance the kingdom of grace to
/ which we are all pledged with sa
3 cred oath than can two organizations
4 spending much of their time pulling
f one against the other. This GROUP
a contends that there is sufficient in
g telligence in the church to adjust its
d differences, unite its strength ant
g thus prove to the world its capabilit!
g of self-government. This group II
s anxious that the entire church shall
g reap the benefits OF the missionar!
l. efforts and good graces Of the grea
e white Baptist family. This group rec
D. ognizes the supremacy, of the churcl
IS as expressed in its organized effort
D to do the Masters work. This grou
4 would preserve, would keep, woul
a hold sacred the memory and goo
ts name of the fathers Of the church
" of the leaders and pioneers Of Bal
,e tist work and effort; men who hav
n done much for the denomination
to whose names should ever adorn til
OF Baptist scroll of honor, even thong
n. some of them may be in their grave
i'd others whose days are BEND the
CHI and who are not prepared for tn
da.. nf Hnhtninn and cnaad Th