The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-17
THE BAPTISTS AND RADICALISM


The Greenville, S. c., Piedmont brings
up for consideration the address made be-
fore the Southern Baptist Convention in
New Orleans last week by DR.. John r.
Sampey, President of that great organiza-
ton, which represents four to five million
southern Baptists. Here is the brief COM
ment of The Piedmont:
Yesterday in New Orleans the Baptists of the
South, assembled for their annual convention,
were warned that the trend toward totalitarian
state threatens their denomination and all others
The warning came from the convention presl-
dent, DIR. John r. Sampey, distinguished scholar,
teacher and Christian leader, of Louisville.
Under relationships. he reminded, the idea of
ga free church in a free state long cherished
in America cannot stand. The state in such
cases is supreme and the doctrine of separation
of church and state is political heresy.
ave are a liberty loving people," DR.. Sampey
said "May we never surrender our historic lead
ership in obtaining and preserving the liberty of
every man to worship God according to the die
tates of his own conscience. We have never
sought this liberty for ourselves alone but for all
men,"
Every American would do well to weigh the
WORDS OF THIS grand ola man OF GOu
1t is to be hoped that intelligent and pa
triotic citizens by the million throughout
the South, at least, will give thoughtful
consideration to the declarations OF DR..
Sampey. The historic attitude and record
of the Baptist denomination in regard to
the fundamental principle of the separa-
ton of church and state is known to all
well informed citizens. The patriotism
and love of liberty of Baptists is equally
we'll known and constitutes record
equally impressive. Radicalism has always
found the Baptist people of the South sup
piled an exceedingly poor soil for the pro-
pagation of isms of all sorts. They not
only love liberty, their country, and be-
ieve in American principles OF govern
ment, but they glory in that spirit OF lndl-
vidualism which in these latter days is so
despised and condemned by radicals of all
hues and shades.
1t is certainly encouraging to other pa
triotic citizens to learn the views OF the
distinguished president of the Southern
Baptist Convention; and to find a great
leader of a great Christian denomination
fully awake to the perils that in this day
beset his country, and displaying the inde-
pendence and courage which have always
characterized the rugged people known as
Baptists.
The question arises as to why DIR. Sam
pey was impelled to bring certain matters
to the attention of the Southern Baptist
Convention and the millions of citizens 1t
represents. The answer is plain.
DR.. Sampey, believing as he does in the
Baptist doctrine and policy OF separation
of church and state is fully aware OF the
fact that a principle established through
ages of human experience is that free
church cannot exist in any but free state
or under a government whose people en-
Joy the blessings of civil liberty, as the
people of the United States have through
out their history as self-governng ma
ton. p. H..
That DR.. Sampey should be impelled to
sound solemn warning at this time to the
American people on this grave subject is
a notable fact and should cause every pa
triotic citizen of the coustry to ponder his
words. ,-
The world today is filled with the sound
and fury of clashings in the political and
religious arenas of those countries where
the principles of civil freedom have beer
done to death by political dictators. In
every such country religious freedom has
been done to death by these same politica
-.