A Silly Misrepresentation.
By James White
In a discussion to which I was challenged by Eld. Treat, in Indiana, he made the assertion that we took our doctrines from the writings of Sr. White, and that we called her writings Present Truth. In reply, I pointed out his ignorance of facts, or recklessness of statement, by informing the audience that in the early history of our work the phrase Present Truth is often used to designate a small paper published by Bro. White, bearing that title. And whenever it is used to define any system of faith or doctrine we invariably confine it to Rev. 14. I further stated that, so far from our taking our doctrines from her writings, those writings are not doctrinal, but practical. Our doctrines are entirely from the Bible; but we have doctrinal writers, and in this respect our people consulted their writings rather than hers; and that even my own writings were consulted on doctrinal points more than hers. The editor of the Christian Record was present, and his record of that explanation is as follows: “Elder Waggoner himself, in the debate, said that Sr. White was endorsed by the church, ‘But,’ said he, ‘the church looks up to me five times, yea, one hundred times, more than to Sr. White, humble as I am.’” This is what I call a very silly misrepresentation. Were Eld. Mathes an ignoramus, unused to recording passing events or preparing papers for the press, it would appear more excusable. But for a long-time editor and publisher to wrest words from their connection and so completely destroy their intent, garbling sentences by inserting words that were not used, to mislead the reader, is without excuse or palliation. But it is what we must expect from them. All religious denominations in that part of the country unite in testifying that the Campbellites never represent their opponents with fairness and candor, seldom, if ever, treating them with respect. Their egotism and self-sufficiency are so unbounded that they act as if no other people could have equal rights with themselves. A thorough exposure of the fallacy of their system, of the manner in which they pervert the gospel, is all that is needed to break the pride of their power and to rescue souls from their destroying influence.