The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-06-12
from the Hendersonville pioneer.I

FROM Gne dclQerSOuflilO IlouOCisI
Mr.. EDITOR 1t will be recollected by
yourself and numerous readers, the suspen-
sion from the functions of the gospel minis
try, pronounced against me by the disloyal
rebel Presbytery of Concord, eo-called, at
its spring sessions in 1886, in consequences OF
my writing the following letter to Rev. j.
Rumple, the stated Clerk of Presbytery.-
Here is the offending document:
HENDERSON Co., N. c., April 4, 1865.
Rev. j. RUMBLE Dear Brother This
is to inform you that disclaim the authori-
ty and jurisdiction of Concord Presbytery in
its present ecclesiastical relations.
LIST. Because 1 think the Presbytery has
been guilty of great and unwarranted
schism in the church, which is the body of
Christ"
3D. Because, when was ordained to the
work of the holy ministry, l solemnly vowed
to God to study the peace, purity and pros
perity of the church, neither OF which, in
my opinion, can be promoted by the present
position of the Presbytery.
Sd. am not, and never have been rebel.
understand this decision to be a rebel meas
ure, sustained and driven through the church
byrebels, and none OF hers-if not, I am simp
ly mistaken I cannot cooperate with you.
I prefer the church as organized by our
fathers. Your views are not my views; your
policy is not my policy; we are not agreed
we had better separate.
With these views bid you, and through
you the Presbytery, adieu.
Respectfully,
JOHN G. CARSON.
The above letter was referred to q commit
tee composed of the following persons:
Rev. J. L. Kirkpatrick, D. D., A. W. Miller,
G.. D. Parks, B. L. Beall, R. q. johnson, s.
G. Miller, D. D., with Ruling Elders W. S.
Harris, R. J. Mcdowell and W. F. Cowan.
This Committee brought in report, declar-
ing the above letter offensive and disrespect-
full, and in violation of my ordination vows,
and contrary to the constitution of the
church; and that be forthwith suspended
from the functions of the ministry, and cited
to answer to the above charges at the next
regular sessions of Presbytery.
The reader will bear in mind the fact,
that the old school Presbyterian Church has
been rent asunder by the rebels of the South,
who have organized themselves into sepa-
rate and distinct Church by which act they
have been guilty of the sin of schism, and
have disclaimed the authority and jurisdic-
ton of the good old mother Church. to
which we all recently belonged. My crime
consists in the fact that disclaimed the au-
thority and Jurisdiction of Concord Presby-
terry, so-called, after it had been guilty of
this schismatical act, and declared nv ad-
herence to the old Church, the Church of
our fathers. l appeal to candid and i'm
partial public, had l not that right2 For
the exercise of that right I was, in the most
summary and indecent manner, without no
tice, trial or any chance of defence, suspen-
ded from the functions of the ministry; and
recently, latter notice. deposed from the sa-
cred office. Mr.. Editor, if they choose to
leave the church, had not the right to re-
main2 Most unquestionably had They
have assumed to dictate and act for me, and
infict the severest censures of the church,
because refuse to tamely submit to their
usurped and unrighteous authority. They
seem to be very Jealous for the constitution
of the church and ordination VOWS Let us
see how they have kept both. Book of Dis
cipline, Chap. 5, Sec. 8, reads as follows:
"When complaint is laid before the Presby-
terry, it must be reduced to writing; and
nothing further is to be done at the first
meeting (unless by consent of parties) than
giving the minister a fullcopy the charges,
with the names of the witnesses annexed;
and citing all parties and their witnesses to
appear and be heard at the next meeting"
Mark the language of the discipline as quo
ted above. when complaint, &C., nothing
further is to be done at the first meeting, un-
less by consent OF parties" Did this shield
of the constitution afford the accused any
protection No. sir; I had no lntimation
of the purpose of the budy, until I saw my
suspension published in the newspapers of
the day. The first thing the Presbytery did
was to suspend me from the functions of the
ministry, passing judicial sentence, with
out citation or trial, or any chance for de-
fence; and then, after this judicial decision
and action in the premises notify me to at
tend the next meeting of the Presbytery for
trial. The reader will see by a reference to
our book of discipline, Chap. 5, Sec. II, that
a minister under censure must be "twice
duly cited" to trial before the Presbytery can
suspend him. was suspended" without
notice or citation of any kind. This 18th
section further says: "And if, after another
citation (Which makes the third, he still re-
fuse to attend, he shall be deemed contuma-
cious." was deposed after the second cita-
ton. The reader can see at once the regard
these jesuitical inquisitors have, for tie
character and rights of those who oppose
their revolutionary and wicked schemes. I
am charged with violating the constitution
of the church, iu disclaiming their authority
after they had committed schism, and gone
out of the church. Gentle reader, they are
the guilty party in their ordination to God,
they promised "subjection to their brethren
in the Lord )" also, to be jealous and faith
full in maintaining the truths of the gospel
and the purity and peace of the church,"
Chap. TO- Sec IL. Instead of " subsection to
their brethren in the Lord" they have rebell-
ed against the lawfully constituted authority
of the church, and rent it in twain instead
of studying the "purity and peace of the
church, they have broken its peace, and
greatly marred its purity. In doing these
things, have they not violated the solemn
covenant engagement they made with God,
when they assumed the office of the holy
ministry? Impudent, reckless and unscru-
pulous, as know them tobe, hardly think
they will deny it. I have never resisted
any lawful authority, or the exercise of it,
neither civil or ecclesiastical, Book of Dis
cipline, Chap. 30, Sec. 4. They have done
both; they have resisted the civil powers of
the land, and the lawful exercise of that
power, by giving aid and comfort to one of
the most reasonable and wicked rebellions
that ever was waged for the overthrow of
any government; they have resisted the
=" lawful power" of the church, and "the
lawful exercise of that power" by commit
ting the sin of schism, in doing which they
have violated the constitution Of the church,
and their ordination vows.