Newspaper Page Text
January 12, 1910. THE PRESBYTERIA
William T. Ellis, of Philadelphia, to meet Mr. Watson
in public debate on these questions. Of all men
in this land, Mr. Ellis is the best qualified to speak.
First. He is not a missionary nor connected with any
mission board. Secondly. As a newspaper man in
Philadelphia, connected with the secular press, he was
requested by some business men in that.city to make
a tour of mission stations all around the world, to
see for himself?to report to them. Thirdly. He spent
a year and a half, perhaps two years, in visiting mission
stations in all parts of the world, and has brought
back an unbiased report. Fourthly. He is not blind
to some mistakes that have been made in mission
work, but acknowledges them when found. Fifthly.
He commends the mission work in general (as he
found it in operation) in the very highest terms as
orudent efficient and effective Rv reason nf his ner
sonal observation in heathen lands and his freedom
from previous bias, he is the one man in this, country
who is competent above all others to cpcak this
subject.
To this proposition for a debate with him, Mr.
Watson replies in the "Atlanta Georgian." in these
words: "Should I accept a challenge to debate with
so comparatively obscure a man as Mr. Ellis, how
could I decline to accept the dare of Mr. Anybody
and Mr. Everybody who might desire to advertise
himself at my expense? There would be no glory in
overcoming a person who has no particular reputation."
?\T. _1. in T LI t n . 1 1 ? CAT itr.
i\o giory: is giory tne amDition ot Mr. watson
in this matter? Mr. Ellis would argue not for
the sake of glory, but for the sake of the truth! The
disposition to seek "glory" rather than the truth of
the matter is not helpful.
"No glory!" That was the strain of Goliath's disdain,
when he saw David armed with a sling. Those
who have heard Mr. Ellis can easily anticipate what
result would follow should Mr. Watson meet this "obscure"
man.
Mr. Watson says that he would be willing to
debate with William J. Bryan. Yes, we understand.
As well might Goliath have sent word to Saul, "If
you will let me select for you your champion, 1 will
fight him." Mr. Bryan is a noble, good man; but the
one man who is competent to speak on mission
methods is Mr. Ellis, who has personally investigated
the conditions on mission grounds. And with this
man, Mr. Watson declines to debate.
One can hardly help but be impressed with the fact
that a great many recent writers think that nobody
before them ever thought of all the facts of religion
and the scheme of grace, or of such a thing as a scien
tific basis for them. Religion and redemption have
been scientifically studied and discussed and analyzed
from Paul's day down. Modern books may give .some
new theories and some new nomenclature, but they add
nothing whatever to the facts of religion. The latter
have been worked out in real living so long ago that it
is a display of ignorance for any one to pretend to be
bringing them out and classifying them afresh or for
the first time.
.N OF THE SOUTH 37
CIRCUMSTANCES OF DR. ALEXANDER'S
DEATH.
By Rev. T. H. Law, D. D.
Doubtless many of the friends and brethren
throughout the Church have, like myself, desired to
know more of the particulars of the death of Rev. Dr.
W. A. Alexander than has appeared in our religious
papers. During a visit to Clarksville recently, in
oraer to procure tns papers and accounts as stated
clerk and treasurer of the general assembly, I learned
the following:
For several months Dr. Alexander had had some
indications of heart affection, and had been earnestly
warned by his physician to let up in work and do
only what was necessary. He had also suffered recently
from a severe attack of indigestion, which had
laid him aside for a short time. He therefore had hesitated
about attending his Synod at Yazoo City, Miss.,
but finally concluded to go, hoping that the recreation
and the pleasure of meeting old friends, would
benefit him ; and he desired also to consult a specialist
about his heart trouble. Leaving home Monday morning,
November 15, he reached Memphis safely and
took a seat in the waiting room of the railroad station,
between trains. Presently the conductor of the train
from Clarksville, in which he had come, passing
through the waiting room, noticed that he was sitting
with his head hanging down, and observing that he remained
in this position for some time, approached him
and found him dead. There were no signs about the
face to indicate that he had died of opoplexy, and the
inference was that his heart had quickly ceased to beat
and that he had expired without pain or convulsion.
No one present knew him, not even the conductor,
who simply recognized him as a passenger who had
come on his train. But he was identified by papers
in his pocket, and the sad and shocking tidings were
telegraphed to Clarksville, and friends there soon got
into telephonic communication with friends at Memphis,
who promptly and tenderly took charge of, and
cared for, his remains.
Dr. Alexander has left a widow, who was his devoted
companion and valuable help in his important work,
and three children, a daughter, fast blooming into
young womanhood; a son, Will, about twelve years
of age, whom many will pleasantly remember as a
bright and courteous page of the Assemblies at Fort
Worth and Savannah, and a baby boy, about three
years old. And it will be a satisfaction to the brethren
to know that he owned the comfortable home at
Clarksville in which he resided, near by the university
in which he taught for many years, and that he
also carried considerable life insurance, which has
come in, to the great relief and help of his dependent
widow and children in their time of need. This is all
in thorninrh kernintr with hiss hii<sinp<sc1ik#? difirn-tir
I O ?V,W...VWW?..?V VKUIUVVVI
and forethought, displayed so fully in all his Church
work. His books and accounts, as an officer of the
Assembly, I found in perfect order, making it easy
for me to take up his unfinished work and carry it on
until the next Assembly.
The only royal road is the one which bears the
mark of a pierced foot