Danger of what? That the Old Landmark question will divide the denomination. It has been intimated to me by more than one brother, that it will be quite an obstacle in the way of the endowment of Union University, that many are under the impression the denomination in the State will divide. They say, who will then own the denominational property? Brother Hillsman first suggested the idea of division, or rather, he charged that brethren Graves, Dayton, and myself, were trying to divide the denomination on the Landmark question. I hope individuals and Churches will feel easy. There is no danger. The Anti-Landmark men cannot divide the denomination in the State if they would. Nor do I believe they would if they could. They would not repudiate their own brethren for the sake of taking Pedobaptists to their arms. But they cannot effect a division. They are greatly in the minority. I suppose no one will deny this. Well, Landmark men want no division. They are perfectly willing for things to remain as they are. They look on the Landmark question as involving what they conceive consistent practice, and not as an article of faith. It is not a matter that affects Christian or Church fellowship. How, then, can it divide the denomination? He has a fertile imagination -- who can say how? Brethren ought to take care lest the covetous principle avails itself of the groundless apprehension that the denomination may divide. Those who love money too well, may say, "we will not give for fear the denomination will divide," and yet the love will be more operative than the fear.

      I say again, the Landmark brethren do not wish to divide the denomination -- and the Anti-Landmark brethren cannot. There is, therefore, no danger.
     P.

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[From The Tennessee Baptist, June 5, 1858, from microfilm, CD edition. The reference to this document is from Thomas White's Selected Works of JMP; used with permission. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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