Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-10-10
En- liz ENnI

Mcs-Gs. Elitors:-Sulr me 10 avail m?>cI; "i y"nr
courtesy. and HE freedom Of the press, 10 insert u
brief explanation IN relation In 4 conflict IN which
have been very reluctantly drawn bv a certain rcNc!-
end gentleman Of the Prcshvtrriau Church. In par
.uancD Of charges preferred by me against the snid
reverend gentleman, West Hanover Prrshvtcry ap-
pointed II OF investigations. The Chairman
eXpoundrd the Constitution and full explained thr
difference between n committee and n commissions; me
one being clothed with judicial phwerS, the other not.
The mode "f proceeding pursued by the committee
called forth Il protest from me. a. It WAS well ca!c"!a'
ted 10 elicit Il negative testimony, which proven no.
thing. II is true some members of the Church. who
knew the facts. were appealed To-, but they were re-
lurtan; Ia disclose the truth, unless they had been Ju'
dIrially examined. Others were not disposed Ia mp
prrcintc them in their true light. | then learned
had proceeded informally and uncunstitu,ionally as II
Innn al the world cannot prosecute n gospel minister.
\. tl" next meeting Of the Prc-bytcry, The Charge
and specifications will @" up tabled III constitutional
form. am suffering here NJ present from II false
hue and cry ri persecution III the reverend gentle
man. This cry il unjust and premature, If my chnrccs
sl.ail turn oUi tn be well substantiaicd. Unless ! hal
been well insured Of this, by an array Of positive aud
circirustautial proof, TINT no nt could -Gt aside, il!cy
never would have been preferred. y thing I" be per
sccution mus, be unjust. There Is III the minds oi
many Il supposed sanctity about the m!nIstcrlnl Of
flee, which implies the requisite amount OF know
ledge and qualifications TO discharge lts duties hright:
IL was through my agency and iIStrintilthli'y al'i
Capt. Nillians, alone, thu. PrcshyterInn!sll wh~ tir-i
Introduced INFO IIIS lflEHDD li'b. q ilFA 30 . ~
byterian ministers {" preach i'll my house and my
school room, before there WAS u Church erected. a
Gentleman of the Church, since dead, Capt. VIII
IiamsD was efficient in aiding Inc in procuring culirl-
bations To the building oi the Church. The land
upon which the Church stands wus II donation hy me
Ia the cause. Ii il lntcrsectcd by II circular race
track, and up to the time Of my getting possession ~
il, the place was one ~ Il great deal oi dissipation.
gave my money freely to the building oi the Church.
Ny course towards the present pastor has been hbrr
al, kind, patient, i%ndulgent and torbenring. My pur-
pose is not 10 enter into charges or specihcnu"iIs
here. These will be- reserved for the proper time aud
place. | have not the broad pamoply OF the Church
thrown around me, but | have received u Prcsbyie-
rim education, and my aim is to uphold the honor ui
my mother Church. can afford 10 he defeated, but
] cannot afford 10 purchase success IN any thing, 10y
dislnnorGblc means.
Urine, but not the scatfnid, calscs shame. "N to
j. h. that can hurt you, II YOU be- Jealous OF good
Blu; il. also. YOU suffer any thing for justice sake,
blessed ARE We" All good comes by -niicrIns.--
I."nh al the cross Of Christ. when his cnclnics cried,
cruelty him, cruelty him. My only fear, III this IN
-tunr", is, that mhy not be made 10 suller enough
that good may flow. have rnkcn my stand on tia.
side ui the new testament. The new testament Ia
christianity. ] hive taken my stand On the rld" ri
Justice, principle aud right. Having defined my pre-.
sent position and future purpose III tins innttcr, one
which ] regard IN true ~ honorable tn me, | would,
without comment here, invoke the attention, Ill the
meanwhile. until further action al NIL Siicklrrs for
lnw and constitutions, Ia the confession ri faith, AMI
the two Iusl chapters in Gods word oi truth.
T.. }. GARDEN, VI. d.
WfLLiESHuRG, Oct. !, lSji.
L. S.-lhrrc urr five members Oi my household,
though not all with mo AZ present, members al the
Presbyterian Church.. | mention these things Ia
show how unioundrd the imputatIOn OF persccutlon,
or cnlcuvoring To iinpugu the honor Of religion, mu.t
..s.. : ,.t.l,, - .nrA y, - tr,.I r.