Belle Plain, Kansas
Mr. Roy E. Cogdill Lufkin, Texas
I appreciate what you say in last B. B. in regard to G. C. Brewer's attack on me in the Gospel Advocate. Even before I got my G. A. out of the mail I had a letter from a noted brother urging me to reply to his attack, and also saying that he had written the G. A. urging that I be allowed a reply. I sent a reply, rather brief, composed almost entirely of Brewer's published statements that have appeared in F. F., and G. A. It was denied a place. After I had written at least three times asking why it was denied space, I received a reply saying that it might start unpleasant personalities. As though his article was not strictly personal. The fact is that it would have awakened unpleasant recollections that Brewer most certainly would be glad to have forgotten. A man who writes and speaks for the public certainly should stand back of his published statements till he retracts them. And why a writer's published statements should not be again published by the same paper, lest it start unpleasant personalities, is for others to explain. It is beyond my comprehension.
After Brewer made his Abilene speech that has been troubling him for more than ten years, I said to some brethren: "In my judgment G. C. Brewer is the Isaac Errett of this generation. Errett headed every "trend" away from the gospel, and Brewer is doing the same." The soundness of my judgment has been greatly confirmed during the last ten years. And it would seem that he is going to have a free hand in publishing his writings. A few men and a journal with wide circulation can lead far from the gospel line, in a comparatively short time.
As certain as it was unscriptural to organize human institutions to do the work of the church sixty years ago, just so certain it is that it is unscriptural to organize human educational institutions and support them from the Lord's treasury now. And as certainly as driving the wedge of humanisms rent asunder the spiritual body of the Lord fifty years ago, just that certain will the driving of the same wedge of humanisms again rend asunder the spiritual body of the Lord at no distant future day. That men of ability, who thirty years ago, met in public debate the advocates of unscriptural things, and defeated them at every point, would now be defending (?) humanisms with exactly the same manner of confusing things not related, and employing exactly the same tactics that they exposed, is a marvel of the age. Were it a new and younger generation of men, it would not be so astounding. But when it is the same men who were in the very front ranks in exposing humanisms in the church—well, it is enough to cause sincere men to bow their heads in shame and sorrow, and to make angels weep—if such is possible.
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his."
In faith, hope and love,
W. W. Otey
P. S. This is a personal letter. But what I write can be read, repeated or published, at any time the one receiving it desires so to use it. And what I say in private about any man I am willing to say to the man. And anything I say or write may be published without objections or complaint from me.