Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-09-15
For the YorkvIlle Enquirer.
"REUCHL1N" AND REV. w. 9. DAVIS.

the memory OF tne heV. WIZ. " oo'io, "no9o
dust, at least, he should have permitted to rest
undis!urbed in the grave, shall proceed to show
up one of his msapprehensiou viz: the suspension
and deposition of Mr.. Davis. "Reuchlin" says:
"The Presbytery of Concord continued to cite
him as our book [Confession Of FAITH directs,
until April 1911, when be was suspended from the
exercise of the Gospel Ministry, and in October
following, he was solemnly deposed from the Cos
pel Ministry" In proof of these things, he cites
"Baird's Digest, PIP. 646 & 7, sprague's Annals
of the American Pulpit, vol. 4, PIP. 1923 & 4, and
Church Records" Whatever may be found in
"Baird's Digest" or in "sprague's Annals" on
this special subject, if there be anything at all
there on this matter, it was derived from "Church
Records" as the original. But what "Records"
are these? "Records" of what "Church" are
these Are they extant in printed books or
are they now lying in manuscript, in the archives
of some church, or Of Concord Presbytery p
"Reuchlin" has not quoted one syllable from any
"Records" to prove his point; but has left his
readers to rely alone on his ipsc dizit-his bare
assertion, for the truth Of what he says. Nor do
we, his readers, know who he is; for he has
chosen with how much msgnanimity, let the pub
lie judge) to make his attack whilst concealed
sub rominis unbra. On what then shallw predi-
cate our faith of his ahrmations?
1t is certainly grave matter to publish to the
world, that certain dead man and minister, cal
ling him by name, was on certain day "suspen-
ded," and on another certain day "deposed from
the Gospel Ministry" for any cause, and leave
this improved.
Mr.. Editor, am very sorry, at this late day,
to have occasion to speak upon so grave matter;
but have to say that deny that Mr.. Davis euer
was lawfully Suspended from the exercises Of the
Gospel Ministry; end deny that he was srer law
fully deposed from the Gospel Ministry.
On the above denial, my proposition here, 1
argue thus. That special, or Pro-re-nata meeting
of Concord Presbytery which was held at Hope
we'll Church, N. c., on the third Wednesday in
October, 1910, upon the action of which the al-
legged "suspension," and "deposition" of Mr..
Davis is based-I affirm the same said session an
unlawful meeting, by the laws Of the Church, and
incompetent to do church government and discip-
line.
The law of the Presbyterian Church which reg
ulates special, or Pro-re-nata meeting OF Pres
bytery, is as follows: "The Moderator r =
shall call a special meeting. For this purpose
he shall send circular letter, specifying the par
ticular business of the intended meeting to every
minister belonging to the Presbytery, and to the
session of every vacant congregation, in due time,
previous to the meeting, which shall not be less
than ten days; and nothing shall be transacted
at such special meeting besides the particular
business for which the judicatory has been con-
vened" (Conf. Faith, Form of Oh. Government,
Chap. X. Sec. 10, 1921 1881
Now to the facts. Concord Presbytery met at
Hopewell Church, N. c., according to previous
agreement, lin Oct.) Of this meeting Mr.. Davis
had no official notice. He says Of it: 81 got no
official notice of tiny congregations got none"
X "Mr. Walker, Mr.. ]. B. Davies, and
Mr. Neely, and their churches got notice of it."
Now is it not manifest that on the application of
the law to the facts this case, that for the want
of the prescribed official notice, by "circular let
ter" or otherwise, directed to Mr.. Davis, Mr..
Walker, Mr.. J. B. Davies, and Mr.. Nicely, and
their congregations (being now integral parts of
Concord Presbytery)-I say, for the want of this
notice of the intended special meeting, such meet
ing became an unlawful Presbytery, and was,
therefore, not judicatory of the Presbyterian
Church, and consequently was incapable to do
Church government and discipline. This meeting
of some ministers and Elders, was conventional
only.
Again: By the law of the church, as above quo
ted, a lawful Presbytery when in special meeting,
can lawfully do "nothing besides the
particlar business for which the judicatory has
been convened" But this body, having (unlaw-
tully, as I have shown tabled charge against
Mr.. Davis for the "doctrines in dispute" (Which
was the special business for which they had been
convened) did, "besides" this special business,
adjourn 10 meet at Rama Church N. c., another
place, and for another "speeia" business.
They had no power to adjourn after the especial
business" had been transacted. They might rise
to meet on the regular adjournment, but they
could not adjourn to another place. Now 1t Is
clear as noon-dsy that in the application of the
church law (as quoted above) to the facts in this
case. the session of this body held at Rama
Church on the 18th of December 1910, according
to adjournment as above, was also an unlawful
iudicatory of the church, not only because Of the
want of conformity to law when at Hopewell
Church. but because they had unlawfully sad
iourred" to meet at Rama Church Everything,
therefore, which was done by them in the case at
Rama, was null and void. This body, however,
which met at Hopewell, to table charge against
Mr.. Davis, and which met afterwards at Rama,
to try, and issue said charge, "cited" Mr.. Davis
to appear before the Presbytery at Charlotte N
C.. at the set time for its stated meeting, viz on
the first Tuesday in April 1911. MIR. Davis did
not obey or regard the citation; for he felt that
he had not been legally summoned, and that he
had been treated both unkindly and unjustly.-
Concord Presbytery met in April 1911, and pro-
ceeded, in the face of the law, and in view Of oil
the Irregularities in this process at Hopewell and
Rama, they proceeded in the case, and construed
the uon-appearance of Mr.. Davis, and his mat
tention to the citations issued, to be crime-the
crime of contumacy-and for this they proceeded
to sssuspend" him-not for "errors in doctrine" :"
And this is what ''Reuchlin" means, when he
- .,rLo pr.oh,tory of Concord continued to