The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-03-01
LOOKING FORWARD.
The Future Work of Oar Joint Com.
missions.
O. l.. HALEY.

the Negro people, and am inter
ested in all of them. The fact that
some of them do not see as l
do, and so do some things that l
wish very much that they would not
do, does not destroy my interest in
them. Even when they do not fully
understand our motives. ard enter
tain some doubts as to our intentions,
do not allow that to ALLEVIATE my
interest for good will
The brethren of the Boyd-Jones-
Frank way of thinking and acting,
are making grave mistakes. But that
is a privilege that has never been
denied to Baptists. One could not
be free unless he is free to do wrong
as well as free to right. So, l am
glad we are able to make mistakes
We shall not bear anybody i'll will
because they make mistakes. We
may want commiseration, ourselves
1t is when one deliberately chooses
to do wrong when he might just as
freely have chosen to do right that
we have to withhold our approval
That is what it appears to me that
these brethren have done. But they
are well within their rights. They
are Baptists. If they choose to take
the course they have taken, they have
perfect right to do So And no one
must undertake to deny them. We
shall not think well of their use of
freedom, but we will have to contend
for that freedom. Personally, l am
sorry to see them take the course
they do. For it will hinder cur good
purposes, and deny us the privilege
of helping them. For we cannot go
would be to deny our own deep con-
victions, and to court disaster. But
no one must ever deny them the
right to take their free course.
But that will not, in my judgement
hinder our work in harmony with
those who agree with us in the in
depreciation Of the right use of those
who agree with us in the interpre-
tation of the right use of our liberty.
Our own minds are very clear as to
what is right among Baptists. And
our commission was working under
a specific deliverance of the Southern
Baptist Convention on the very point
at issue, viz: UNCONVENTIONAL Con-
troll" We have gone clear through
that question, and have seen the
disastrous consequences Of the denial
Of it. 1t is not an open question
with us. We have seen Boards of
Trustees, chosen to administer de-
nominational trust, set, themselves
up as independent and self-perpetua-
ting, and then take the denomina-
tons dearly bought interest, and
make something wholly different and
antagonistic out of it. That is taking
a friendly asset and perverting it
into pronounced opposition. In the
commercial world, that would not
have very lovely name. And we
have seen enough of that sort of
thing. We may make mistakes, but
we do not intend to make the same
kind of mistakes twice at the same
place.
Our commission has, by no means,
abandoned our good intentions. We
will go right on, as we find oppor-
tunity. The Seminary will be built,
have not a doubt. If the other
"
do not know any one who may de-
ny them the right. They are amply
able, they say, to do so. And we
shall have at least two good semi
naries, and in time some more. We
nave no occasion to forsake a good
undertaking, just because some other
people are going to do a good thing
like it. Say a good word for them
and let them rally those who believe
in that sort of thing. If they would
only insure that it should not some
day, he made a Methodist Seminary
by the Board of Trustees, who are
made independent of "Denomlnational
Control" and are self-perpetuating
it would make it easier to encourage
them.
But there are some other people
greatly interested in this same ques-
ton Of lending a hand to a worthy
and rising people,.
Another Joint Commission.
There are two big brothers instead
of one. Our brethren of the North
ern Societies, ard latter OF the North
err Bal fist Convention. have been
interested in helping the Colored
people, and have been doing some
splendid york. So, at the last ses-
sion Of our S. B. Convention, they
proposed Joint Commission on the
whole wide question of Work Among
Our Negro Brethren" The S. B. Con-
vention promptly and gladly appoint
ed their half of the Joint commission.
The personnel of that Joint Com
mission will be of interest to all
your readers.
Who They Are.
The chairman of the northern Com
mission is DR.. Carter Helm jones,
pastor First Baptist church. Phila-
delphia, and son -of, Or. j., 'Wm.s Jones
OF Va. Or. G. N. Brink. correspond
ing secretary of A. B. P. Society of
Philadelphia, (recently como from be
ing Ed. Sec. Of Home Mission Socie-
- because of his close relation to
the whole question was asked to co.
operate with US, though himself not
q member of the commission. Then
there are DR.. A. S. Hobart Of Gro
ger Seminary. DIR. e. H. Hovey, Sec.
Home Mission Society DIR. Clifton
ID. Gray, Ed. standard OF Chicago;
Or. F. T. Cabin, pastor First Bap-
fist church. Pittsburg. Pa; Dr. f.
NJ. Goodchildg pastor B. oadway. New
York. aud Deacon Smith G. Young,
an active layman Of Lansing, Mich.
Surely whatever these men approve
is worthy of attention.
From the Southern Baptist Con-
vcntion, the commission consists of
DR.. j. B. Gambrel, president both of
tho S. B. Convention and of the
Joint Commission; Z. w. Stephens OF
Missouri. former president S. B. Con-
vention; Prof w. j. McGlothlin Of
our Louisville Seminary; DR.. r. II.
Pitt, Editor Religious Herald. Va;
DR.. B. j. W. Graham. Editor Chris
tian Index of Ca; DR.. z. T. Cody,
Editor Baptist Courier of S. C., and
o. l.. HALEY. pastor Eryay st. Church
Dallas, Texas l make no Plea on