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Brother Wood Leaves His Text Brother Wood leans his text and puts me on the stand. So witness must tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing hut the truth. Let me say first of all, that all who know me know two things: First, that 1 am always opposed to newspaper controversy, and, second, that 1 am fraternal in my feeling,s where people will let me be, and I might add a third —that I will stand by my chuich at whatever cost- You have no doubt noticed that Brothc r Wood says he has had op position here for seventeen years. That is none of my fault, for 1 have only been here six months and a half- But this statement is rather a significant one to me —a minister of the gospel to live in a place for seventeen years and have opposi tion among the Christian people. There must he something wrong, either with him or his method. 1 am inclined to think that it is I.is method that is wrong, for 1 think his intentions are good. He says he has not had a meeting that has not been interfered with. 1 have held many meeting in many towns in Georgia, from the top of the Blue Ridge to middle Georgia and from east to west and I had no op position worth mentioning. De nominations have not always taken hold of my meetings, hut that was their business, and if there was good in the meeting and they failed to attend it was their loss, for I did not expect to get any of their mem bers or any members from their families. But they always do man ifest some interest in the meetings I hold, and none go away feeling insulted. I think this is where the trouble has been with Brother Wood. From what 1 have heard since coming to Winder, the real trouble began last year, when the gospel train ran through Winder, or started at Winder, and all re- ligiotis denominations got on and took their seats. They had not gone far before they were put oft', not withstanding they had paid their fare, as they thought, hut without a word from them, they were put oIT. And many of them had been invited to that special smi e, and they went away, many of them say ing they would not go there any more. 1 say this: A man can t ex pect cooperation of other denomina tions if he stands up and claims he has discovered all the truth there is and that there is nothing left for the other fellow. This is a time when people demand the right to interpret the Scriptures according to the light they have, and when any man begins to criticise the re ligion of our fathers he may expect us to balk. Brother Wood says he is glad his article published in The (i corgi a Christian Messengei was published in The Winder News. Why did he tell the editor of that paper that he was going to answer his own article and that before any one had said anything about it? Why did he write an article for the paper in an swer to his own contribution bin which he decided not to publish if no one said anything about his first article. Why did lie tell the editor and others that piece was not writ ten for that paper and but a few of his church papers came to this town? I leavc.the people to decide. Brother Wood says lie has the kindest feelings toward the masses of the members of the Methodist church, and that his article only had reference to those who in any way hindered his meeting. This would appear to a man who can read English quite a different state ment from that implied in his first. No one ever said there was no oppo sition to his meeting,for there i.~ not a man in Winder who does not know that tlu was some opposi- 1 tion,especially of the negative kind, 1 yet I do not believe there was a man or woman in the churches of this town who did not want the meeting! succeed but they did question the ; to methods and did not want their own people interfered with. Brother Wood says the reason he charged sectarian opposition is due to the fact that lie asked Broth er Berry and 1 to close our churches and attend his dedication service. Now Brother Wood knows that 1 told him when he asked me to close, was not in favor of closing for anything, and that lie would have as many people as he could get in hisjhouse.that if the other churches closed they could not accomodate the people, but that I would bring the matter to the attention of my board and if they said close I would do so. This I did, and they asked me to say to him that they thanked him for this invitation, but declined , to accept This vote not to close j was unanimous. Now this was not [ organized opposition for who would , say that any church has to close its doors and stop business in order to j prove it is not opposed to some other churches? This same principle holds true with reference to the fraternal spirit being broken by a conference between Brother Perry and I. Now what are the facts in this ease? In the early part of the year I entertained my official board one evening and before they left I told them that I wanted to take up the matter as to the time of holding our meeting and we agreed on . the time, provided the time did not in terfere with Brother Wood’s meet ing. They asked me to see him and find out when he expected to hold his meeting and his answer was to determine whether we would hold ours on the time agreed upon. When this matter was settle*!,l brought up the matter of closing the Sunday night services and the Wednesday evening prayer meeting during re vival meetings. After we had dis cussed the matter a little with no one favoring closing, I put the ques tion and they unanimously voted to keep tlie church open at the stat ed hours for service. 1 am told that it was not satisfactory last year wlii'U this rule was followed- I found my people unwilling to close when 1 came here. Later l men tioned the matter to Brother Berry, but his actions in the matter had nothing to do with mine. It was already settled so far as our church was concerned. My position has always been that to close your church disorganizes your own forces, and every church stands for distinctive doctrines and besides it is never satisfactory with all the people and as many can go as desired when there is no meeting at their own church. Is there any sectarian op position in that sort of position, if so, 1 feel to see it.' tiie night we kept late goers. The night we kept late hours, at which time my official hoard advised me to preach a doctrinal sermon, has not yet rolled around. The only night we stayed later than usual, I asked the men of the con gregation to remain after the ser vice that 1 might call their attention to an important matter. What was it? I had been visiting that after noon and saw things that almost brokemy heart. 1 talked that night on “The Church as a Saving Force,' to lead up to the matter. Now this is what we stayed so late for: To see if we could not fall on some plan by which two or three men in Winder could he saved from a had habit. I succeeded in getting all the men present to promise to do personal work and try to save these men, and have reasons to think that meeting did good. We had one regular meeting of the board of stewards during your meeting, and we always stay lat** at that meeting, but if you or your meeting was men tioned, 1 do not remember it. TIIK I)O*TIUNAI, SERMON. I did not know that it was a vio lation of any fraternal relationship for any minister to preach a doc trinal sermon at any time in his own pulpit to his own people. No, not if there were protracted services at every church in town. But why at this particular time? It was not because there was any sectarian op position organized, but because in visiting the people I found some of my members who said they knew nothing about the doctrines of the Methodist church, and there in that Methodist family, I resolved to preach a sermon on “Methodism and What It Stands For.” And at prayer meeting that night 1 an nounced my subject. The next day, I think it was, someone said they wanted to get out circulars and scat ter over the town, for our people needed to hear it. This I did. And, really, I did not know that it was any crime to do that, for they had been announc ing their meetings, and they got out circulars that same day after 1 did. They had the pictures of three men and one woman in the windows of the stores, and about the only thing I felt ashamed of was that m.v method of advertising seemed so tame, but that was releived when they followed after me and got out the little innocent looking dodger. Now, gentlemen and ladies, what hurt the meeting just at Ibis stage of tlx game? If everybody will keep right quiet I will toll you all this secret, which I think all want to know. Brother Wood’s church was not satisfied with the circulars, but they sent to Atlanta and got a 1 stenographer and slipped him into the Methodist church to lake niv sermon, and not until after it was over did I know he was there for that purpose. When I got home someone come to my house and said: “Did you know that Brother Wood’s church people had a sten ographer at your church today to take your sermon? " My reply was that I did not know it, and that I did not think they would do such a thing. “Well,” my friend said, “they say it is true.” And sure enough it was. Now my private opinion publicly expressed is, that is getting too “fraternal,” for so far as T know, it has never happen ed before in church history, not withstanding the Hies through which we have come. Well, sir, that thing was on the lips of every one the next morning, and it was that straw that broke the camel’s hack,for of all the people who men tioned it to me,not one but thought it an unchristian act. What would you call it anyhow? What is it they call a fellow who disguises himself and goes into a meeting —“organ- ized opposition?” Well, what was the motive? Was it to get informa tion? Let’s sei>. You can get all the llest Iwioks on baptism for a song. You can get “McTyer's His tory of Methodism" for $1 AO What did they pay for this one ser mon? lam told it cost them more than SIA.OO. Now I don't know, but 1 am inclined to think the mo tive was the one expressed by one of Brother Wood's members, who on Monday had not found out what was in the sermon, hut who said: We got a stenographer to take the sermon yesterday, and we are going to have it published, and we will make Hunnicutt look like fifteen cents.” Now, I both feel and look very much the same, hut sure as you live, Brother Wood, this hurt yourj meeting more than all the other op position put together. At least that is the opinion of the witness you put on the stand, and he must tell the truth. WHV THAT SERMON ON BAPTISM TO FOLLOW THK OTHER. Why should I not preach a ser mon on this subject at any time in mix own church to my own people? Must 1 preach on tame subjects just because they have a protracted meet ing at Brother Wood's church? I do not know what Brother Wood preached on the three Sundays of my meeting, neither<l*> 1 care. He could have preached on Campbell ism one Sunday and baptism on both the others, if he had so de sired, and I should not have opened my mouth. For it was none of my huniness Does that seem like I was evading the question? For fear that it does, I will give another rea son ! What was tne most promi nent thing in sight in Brother Wood’s church during the entire meeting? It xvas those placards hearing pas sages which he thought best proved his mode of baptism. The unin formed sometemes see those things and ask for an explanation, and a man has not got time to sit down and give his views, so I announced that I would preach on the subject of baptism from a Methodist stand point. Not thinking that I was. stepping beyond my rights, for it had not been suggested that it was not wise to preach on baptism dur ing his meeting, or until Brother Yiolett left town. In fact, I was of the opinion that baptism was rather an important subject during this se ries of meetings. PERSONAL WOliK KOil THE MEETING • 1 will say that if 1 kept any one from going to your meeting, 1 do not know it, though I did not get out and work for the meeting, and really I think this is asking too much. However, I did go to Brother Wood's meeting as often as lie did to mine. He called one time dur ing the fifteen days my meeting ran and 1 returned his call. My family attended as much as they desired, and I did not object, neither did I try to influence any of my mem bers from attending and some of my people who did attend have told me that for every one of Brother Wood’s members who at tended my meeting, there were at least five of my members who attend ed his. I feel sure it was about that proportion the night that 1 was there. Now if Brother Wood an nounced for my meeting, and ad vised his people to attend, he gave them advice which he did not fol low himself, and my meeting was the first in town. Yet I do not care, and have not charged them with sectarian opposition organized to hurt my meeting. I just sup posed they did not want to come, and this is a free country. MY VISIT TO ONE OK BiiOTHKR PERRY'S MEMBERS. Yes, 1 called on one of them, hut not one who I thought was thinkingof joining Brother Wood’s church. I had heard this man talk before and knew that he had no idea of changing liis church rela tions, but I had heard that Brother Berry had heard it and had called to see him, so I told this brother to ; let’s have a little fun at Brother Berry’s expense, and asked him to call Brother Berry up over the I phone and tell him that he was* a little troubled about church matters land that he would like to see him. All this was in fun, the brother so understood it then, and so stated to the man who went to him last week to investigate the matter. I suppose to get this important in formation for Biother Wood. But why put it in the paper after he said it was all a joke? This brother gave me the privilege to use his name in this paper, but-1 withhold it. You can get it either from me or Brother Wood. This same brother gave me the authority also to state that the afternoon of the morning that I was there to have a little fun, one of Brother W ood s members came in to his place of business and took him hack to the rear of his store and asked him how he liked their new preacher(mcaning the evangelist.) The brother said, “very well as far as 1 have heard him.” Then the visitor said, “wouldn’t you like to join our church.’ - To which Brother Per ry’s member replied, “No 1 have not been in the Baptist church quite a year yet, and guess I will stay there,” or words to that effect. If I had thought this man was thinking of joining, i certainly would not have said anything to him. For it was ik.no of my busi ness, if the whole Baptist church had decided to join. THE UNKIND REMARKS. In this matter witness has forgot ten, hut feels sure that the most unkind thing that I said during the meeting, if it was unkind, was to criticise the methods used. I think I did say .that the methods used caused people to form a low esti mate of the church. This is what I mean. I heard some young men say that it was dangerous to go down there unless you expected to join. Another said in my presence he wanted his church certificate, but guessed he had better wait until the meeting was over, for if they found out that he had it they would take it from him. Another man came to me and asked how much 1 would give him to join my church? ( This was said because some had been offered some sort of reward, or remuneration if they would join. Then turning away, he said: * Well I am going to wait and see if the price won't go up.” Now, I know all this was in a spirit of fun, but should we act so as to cheapen this sort of thing. Now a few things in conclusion. 1 desire to say first that l tried to keep from going into this matter, by simply staling that there was no “organized opposition” in the inethodist church, hoping that Brother Wood would let the matter drop and save me this unpleasant task; but he comes on and leaves his text and puts me on the stand and says you must testify against yourself, o r the ease is lost. Now T am through, and the public can read what 1 have said and think of it as they may. I leave them to judge in this matter. 1 think it very unfortunate that this charge was made. Do not see what good Brother Wood expected to come from making such a charge about a people among whom he lives. It can’t be undone now. All we can do is forget each others mis takes- I will treat everybody the liest I kuow; wish everybody well. Am trving to do my work the best I can. Have all I can do to attend to my own business. Have no un kind feelings toward any one. Can pray for my enemies if I have any. In fact, am trying to keep sweet. Am always for the under dog, whether it is mine or not. Can join hands with any organization and work for the uplift of the world, if they will let me interpret the scrip tuns according to the light I have. Don't cart' so much what a man believes, if he will live by the (iolden Ride- Don't care much for profes sion, if man will do right. Have great respect for any church that tries to save souls. Think the Methodist the greatest church in the world or I would get out of it. So long as I think this will try to defend it. Am glad I am alive and in a good h umor. Now, Mr. Editor, with a hovf and a smile, I say goodly, wishing everybody a merry Christmas. W. T. Hcnnutti f