The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1919-09-26
ARMISTICE VIOLATED
BY NORTHERN CHURCH
Says DIR. Handy, by Recent Organi-
cation of the Maple Avenue
Church In Marietta.

| i ne IdSC issue VI IlS MdIlSbIh pa
pers contained glowing articles, with
striking headlines, heralding the an
nouncement that a new Methodist
Church had been organized here, a
great collection taken to erect new
building and that the movement had
been launched under most favorable
circumstances. Of course it was not
the intention of our town papers to
commit their columns and influence
to an organization that strikes di-
rectly and nefariously at the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, South.
| write that the unprecedented public
may understand the motive and ami
mus of the movement.
do not question any work done by
the spirit of God in conversion or con-
secration to the service of Christ. l
do say if l had crept into Marietta,
Ohio, and without saying a word to
the pastor of the Northern Methodist
Episcopal church there, had set up an
opposing altar, that my motives would
be open to question, in the light Of
present fraternal relations between
the churches and in the light of pro-
ceedings by legally appointed commits
sions from both churches, toward uni
fication. Let US briefly review the his
tory of the past.
Fifty years ago it was thought by
certain rabid northern Methodists that
the Southern Methodist church had
fallen with the Southern Confederacy,
and so, in company with scalawags,
carpet baggers, free hooters and 9th
er political and ecclesiastical mounte-
banks they came down to reconstruct
the South, administer on the estate of
the deceased Southern Methodist
Church and otherwise pose as the adj
vance guards of civilization to be-
nighted Dixie. Of course with the
motley company above described,
came some well-meaning people,
against whom the above descriptions
are not urged
However, the Southern Methodist
Church did not fall with the Southern
'Confederacy, but endured poverty and
distress with our people and continued
her ministry of mercy and grace in
the trying days that followed the
Civil War.
The Northern Methodist Church
took many of our church buildings in
bandit fashion, under the protection
of Yankee guns and held them till
they were compelled to relinquish
them. Rather poor samples of the
spirit of Christ! Some well-meaning
men and women joined this church
and gave assistance to the crusade.
The Northern Methodist Church,
though unlimited and not needed, has
been here ever since.
Through the years it has had pre-
carious existence. The money dis
pensed with here, used in the North,
because of the polyglot population,
would have yielded much larger divi-
dends.
This expenditure of money and men
up there very probably would have ad-
ded 100000 to the membership of
that church instead of the scattered
5000 of which they boast in the whole
state of Georgia.
The dark days Of confusion, strife,
corruption and oppression and abject
poverty passed and brighter day
dawned in the South. 1t was proposed
that the bitterness of other days be
forgotten and fraternal relations be
established. Agreements were made
and finally joint Hymnal was pub
lisehd Altar against altar was no
longer allowable and the waste of
treasure was to cease. The churches
had the same general rules, the same
policy, the same articles of religion,
but separated by consent in 1874, be-
cause of radical abolitionism that had
become predominant in the church
north of the Mason and Dixon line.
Slavery is dead and the South is
glad of it, so why not unite these great
religious bodies into one mighty or
ganic force to give larger and more
efficient aid to the evangelization of
America and the world?
The thought was pleasing to many
minds. The arm;stice vas siR~ed
Love-feasts were held and the glory
of the millennium plrpled the noun
tain SUBMITS, as observed by many
eyes.
Earnest minded, capable men in
both churches, undertook to remove
the difficulties and solve the problems.
That work is going on now. Progress
has several times been reported.
1t wa sexpected no new territory
would be invaded while the armistice
was in force. Common honesty and
adherence to agreements are fine
CONTINUED on page fourl