In Defense of Elder
Cain
By Elders C.F. and
S.B. Deany
Editor Mount Airy News:
The News and Observer,
under date of March 4th, states that John H. Folger, attorney for
the Cain boys in his plea before Governor Bickett for commutation of their
sentence, assigned as one reason why he should do so was that their father,
Rev. Hence Cain, a Primitive Baptist minister, of more than 80 years of age had
taught his sons and parishioners for generations that there is no wrong in
manufacture and use of liquor, that Sunday schools and other schools are agents
of evil.
On the 6th instant the same paper states that the
county officers that were here for the execution said that the Rev. Mr. Cain
preached the righteousness of making liquor and drinking it; that stealing was
more heinous than taking human life, and that Sabbath schools were instruments
of evil.
We, being natives of Surry County, and knowing something of
the life and labors of Elder Cain, we feel that the statements are a grave
injustice to him and the Primitive Baptist church, and is of sufficient gravity
to arouse the righteous indignation of every loyal supporter whether inside or
outside of its pale, and they should not let such flagrant charges go
unanswered.
We feel safe in saying that there is not a more law-abiding,
liberty loving, debt paying body to be found anywhere.
Let us see whether the churches that compose the Fisher’s
River Association tolerate any such conduct as above referred to.
By reference to the history of the association, page 98, we
find that in the year 1890, in their deliberations they advised “all the
churches to deal strictly with any and all members that indulge in violating
the laws, either by blockading or otherwise, and to exclude any that persist in
the same.”
The following year they again took occasion to advise the
churches to deal with any member who refused to pay a just debt or who is a
violator of the laws in any way. Again in 1897 they gave the following
praiseworthy advice: “We advise the churches not to receive or to hold any
member or members that are not of good moral character.”
We note that during this period Elder Cain was present on
many occasions, and was held in high esteem by his fellow laborers.
Further, let us see how our ministry stands relative to education.
Elder A.M. Denny for several years taught in the public
schools. Elder C.B. Denny at one time represented Surry county in the State
Legislature and was a county teacher of public schools. Elder J.A. Ashburn
represented Stokes and Surry counties in the State Senate and taught public
school for years, and most likely did as much for the cause of education as any
man in the county at that time. In addition, Elder W.H. Atkinson, present
moderator of the Association, Elder F.P. Stone, clerk; Elder G Denny, Elder
George Denny Elder G.O. Key and others whose lives are above reproach, teaching
and preaching the righteousness of the Lord Jesuc Christ adhere to the Bible
rule of faith and practice.
We do not object to the modern Sabbath school for all who
want them, any more than we would object to the efforts of any other religious
order, but we think them unnecessary, since Christ and the apostles established
none.
We want Christ as our leader, the Holy Spirit as our
teacher, and His called and qualified servants, and look for no greater
influence for good than the church that the Savior established nearly 2,000
years ago.
We believe in the support of all our State institutions that
guarantees to everybody within its borders its full measure of benefits, with
freedom of conscience to worship God in whatever way seems best to them.
From the above statement made by Mr. Folger and the officers
who attended the execution, they would have you believe if they had only been
reared in Sunday school they would not have violated the laws of our country
Let us see if this will prove true as we recently noticed in a paper that a
correspondent of the Journal of
Industrial Education says that in the Joliet Prison he found 1,494
convicts; and of these 1,087 had a fair education, 129 being college graduates,
90 per cent were educated men, and 91 per cent had been Sunday school pupils.
We also wish to call your attention to a statement made by
Mr. L.S. Tomlinson in the News and Observer under the date of March 17th.
Mr. Tomlinson is the largest time merchant in North Carolina and is also
president of the Southern Cotton Association.
Wilson, N.C.
March 15, 1920
To the Editor of the
News and Observer:
I notice in recent issues of your paper a statement relative
to the execution of Joe and Gardner Cain, in which the statement is made that
their aged father, Elder Cain, preached and taught the righteousness of the
manufacture and sale of whiskey; that stealing was more heinous than taking
human life, and Sunday schools and other schools were agencies of evil.
Now what I want to say through the columns of your paper is
that this statement is absolutely false, so far as it applies to the Primitive
Baptist church in this section. Having been reared in a Primitive Baptist home,
and boarding in a Primitive Baptist minister’s home for three years, and since
then identified both socially and commercially with Primitive Baptist people
for about 26 years, I feel that I have a fair knowledge of what the Primitive
Baptist preach and teach, and stands for in this section.
They are among our
very best citizens, and stand for high morals and the best of everything
pertaining to the advancement of their community. As individuals they supported
the prohibition movement, and all other movements that has for its purpose the
better things of life. It is true they have no denominational school. However
they believe in state and county schools and support local school tax. They do
not believe in Sunday schools, but have no quarrels with the other fellow. As
to the best of my knowledge it is the only denomination that will exclude their
members for not paying their honest debts, or endeavoring to make the best
satisfactory arrangements. If Elders Gold or Boswell, whom I so well know,
should say a member was in good standing with the church, we would extend him a
liberal line of credit without further investigation.
Yours very truly,
L.S. Tomlinson,
president of Wilson Chamber of Commerce
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