Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-09-08


I shall not pretend to say what motives promp-
ted "Reuohlin" to write his article, but can say
that the spirit which is manifested in tits, inmy
Judgment, by no means lovely one. But aside
from this, he has: been led into some errors, in
point of fact, which feel persuaded he, as o 10
yer Of truth, must regret. In noticing the Leo
lures, "Reuchlin'' ''raises," and remarks upon
three questions
/. "Who is the Rep. ". G.. Daris?"
In his eremarks'' in answer, he takes OCCASION
to make personal, as we'll as professional at
tack, on the memory Of Rev. VIM. O, Davis, who
is now dead-who was an aged minister Of the
gospel of Jesus Christ-and who spent o long life
in the service of his Lord and Master. He says
of Mr.. Davis, that he was 'given to metaphysical
speculatisns-had no small share of vanity and
| dogmatism, stubbornness and ambition to be sin
gular and great-erratc in his courss-had great
fondness, even mania, for authorship-and That
he was guilty of bile quibblings and evasions"
in the progress Of his trial before the judicatories
of the church for alleged "erroneous doctrines" !"
Now, Mr. Editor, hold it to be settled feet
thatno vhere within the lids Of these ''new books'
is "Reuchlin" warranted thus to speak to the
prejudice of the memory of this venerable minis
ter, whose body has long been resting in the grave
He has not even limited to US that he here finds
authority for his unkind and uncalled-for denun-
citation of the dead. His attack, therefore, Ihold
to have been unprovoked, and unwarrantable.-
But, inasniuch as we have only his words for what
he has thus said, will let it go for what it is
worth. "T
In speaking of Mr.. Davis, in his professional
capacity as minister of the gospel, "Reuchln"
says: sHe began to be charged in 1907, with
holding and preaching erroneous doctrinss"-
that "after complicated routine Of citations
and trials on the part Of Presbyteries and Synod,
and of subtle quibblings and evasions on his part,
the matter was referred by appeal to the General
Assembly in 1S1o"-that ''Mr. D. declared him
self no longer member of the Presbytery, or Of
the Presby terian Church, although not having yet
heen either dismissed, or had sentence passed ~
upon him but was still under censure Of charges
pending"-that ''he was suspended in April 1911,
and in October following, was solemnly deposed
from thegospel ministry" In the conclusion Of
his paragraph, he says these care all matters Of
church history" In, proof of "alp' these allega-
tious, he cites the authorities Of "Bairds Digest,
pp. GAG & 7; sprague's Annals of the American
Pulpit, vol. 4, PIP. 123 a, and Church records. ;"
He has not quoted the words Of these, his author
tiles, for the benefit of his readers, but has only
cited certain printed books, or manuscripts. The
sum is, we have only his words for these also !;
and will also let this pass for what it is worth
as evidence, viz: nothing. .-...-.' -
may state here, that the historical facts which
will be presented as proceed, are taken princi-
pally from small work, entitled "A solemu.Ap-
peal to On impartial, Public" by W. C..Davis.-
This "Appear was published soon after the events
occurred; it was generally circulated throughout
/ the community, and remained uncontradicted.-
Inasmuch as no one dared to contradict the state
ments made, whilst there we're many living wit
nesses to establish their TRUTH it is certainly too
late now, to object to the testimony given This
"AppealY is still before the public, and commend
it to oil who wish to know the truth in this mat
ter. ..F
I readily grant, Mr.. Editor, that Mr.. Davis
"began to be charged in 1907 with holding and
preaching erroneous doctrines" and that on these
he was tried by his own Presbytery. The true
record is, that whilst the Presbytery, in their de-
cision, condemned the doctrines as erroneous,
they considered them as not striking at the ,gtals
of religion, and not likely to do much harm, and,
therefore, they judged them as not inferring sus-
pension, but only judged Mr.. Davis worthy Of a
rebuke for rashIy preaching those doctrines before
he had consulted his brethren. But I deny that
he was ever afterwards lawfully tried in Presbyte
ries or Synod, on the charge of preaching '.erro.
neous doctrines" where he used "subtle quibblings
and evasions," and chsllenge "Reuchlin" for the
proof of these, in the authorities he has cited
After Mr.. Davis was tried and acquitted by his
Presbytery (the First Presbytery Of South Csro-
iina) as I have shown above, the Synod Of the
Carolinas lookup the trial uithout any retereae.
or appeal from the Presbytery, (which the Synod
had no right to do) and referred the case to the
General Assembly Mr.. Davis protested against
this reference, and appealed to the Assembly
The Assembly sustained his appeal, thus virtually
approving and confirming the judgment of the
First Presbytery of South Carolina.
In regard to the teachings of Mr.. D., 'Reuch-
lin" says: "until 1910, when the Assembly con-
demned eight doctrines taught in book called the
GOSPEL Plan x + 4 and decided that he who
taught these errors should be dealt with by his
Presbytery, according to- the discipline of the
church relative to the propagation of errors."-
Even in this, he does not give his aders strictly
correct history. .-. -. .
The Assembly do not say condemn" they
"consider" some of the doctrines contrary to the
Confession of Faith, and in regard to others, they
"consider'' the mode of expression as unhappy
and calculated to mislead the reader. And they
"udge" and "declare" that the preaching or pub
fishing of these doctrines ought to subject the
person, or persons, so doing, to be dealt with by
their respective Presbyteries, &C., e., for pre-
sent or future offences. 1t is not 'decidedn that
Mr.. Darts, specifically, should be dealt with by
his, the Concord Presbytery, for having preached
or printed these doctrines" Then, Mr.. Editor,
in 50 far as have found, it is plain, even to o
demonstration, that "Reuchlin" has trodden upon
nnhallnwed ground. He made personal attack