THE BAPTIST UNION.

Evening Star, Issue 7411, 5 January 1888, Page 4

THE BAPTIST UNION.

fO THE EDITOR. Sin,—Mr North's serrr.onette upon "accuracy " U interesting; but, seeing the text is of his own providing, and not to be found in anything that I have written, I fail to see its relevancy as bearing upon the subject in hand. No one disputes the importance of accuracy. Mr North finds fault with me for having in my last " omitted from it all reference to the ono letter which was referred to in the discussion—that by the Rev. C. 11. Spuvgeon." This I ennnot but regard as a challenge to make it public. I much regret this. Purposely I had kept this letter back. I havo no wish to import Mr Spurgeon's name into the controversy. I owe him much, and I deeply regret that my reading of Scripture forces no into the opposing camp. My traditions and pcraoiiaHnclinationx would cause mc to follow him at this time, but I should play traitor to what I believe is the truth if 1 did. Before giving tho full text of the recommendatory letter I bore from him, just a prefatory word. When 1 was in Auckland the Kev. T. Bray, of tint city, charged mcjwith having procured that letter by representing to Mr Spurgeon that I had roturncd to orthodoxy, and believed in the everlasting suffering of the unsaved. Mr Bray'a statement is utterly untrue, and is devoid of any foundation whatsoever. I am mush indebted to Mr Nor Mi for his clear and frank statement that even had Mr .Spurgeon been under this impression, "it is fair to add that Mr Spurgeon blames no one but himself for his mistake." But let me place this beyond controversy. Mr Spurgeon, writing me, says : "I feel deeply sorrowful for your change of doctrine, for I fear 1 was not a little proud of you, and greatly rejoiced at the way in which you had returned to tho old moorings after some buffetings. Your new views arc so oppos-ed to the avowed faith of the Church to which you have so long belonged, .and to the teaching of its pastor, that I suppose you do not consider yourself as ono of us; but I can never cease to take a deep interest in you for your father's sake, and, indeed, for your own—for whatever you may or may not hold I shall ever esteem you for many tilings." With this preface, let me now give in full the two letters I read at the Conference, at the same time throwing the onus of their public production upon Mr North :

Upper Norwood, November 16,1583. Dear Mr Brown.-Itmust everlastingly be a serious evil to tho heathen to have sinned against tueh light as they have had ; but unquestionably Scripture says little of thoir future, and uses such language os " more tolerable." I do not wonder at your perplexity, but I do not bco that it c in liavo any injurious effect upon jour preaching. llonce I send endued without reserve, wishing you a grand and gracious career. I would pronounce a blossing on you and your wife. M>y vour love and joy increase day by day.-Youm heartily. O. 11. SrunoEON.

I may just explain that the above is a letter in answer to mine, in which, while stating that I had not tho slightest sympathy with what are called " larger-hope" views (as held by Canon Farrar-Baldwin-Brown—and may I not add Mr North ?), yet I could not believe and teach that the untold myriads of heathen—who have lived acd died without offer or opportunity of salvation— must inevitably spend an eternity in conscious suffering in Hell. The Becond letter is as follows : Upper Norwood, Nov. 16,1883 To friends in Now Zealand. Dear Brethren,—Mr Chaiks Brown and his wife aro two earnest workers for our Lord, and I am glad to commend them to the affection, fellowship, and confidence of frienc's among whom they may sojourn. Mr Brown can preachjwith much acceptance. Mrs Brown has labored in Zsnana work in India. They are both ready to do anything for the Lord Jesus. C. 11. Spuucjeon, Met. Tabernaclo.

It is with the greatest reluctance I thus respond to Mr North's challenge, but I feci I have no alternative. I wish he had understood tho reason why this correspondence was withheld, and not preyed for its production. This letter is already long enough. With yoni permission, sir, I will to-morrow finish my reply to Mr North.—l am, etc., C. C. Buown. Timaiu, January i 5, 1888.