The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1868-10-29
For the Lancaster Ledger.
A Conversation Between a Methodist
aud a Pfesb yterlau,

Sbr'st anc the Apostles opposed ny The
men Of their day Why they forsook
tue assembling of themselves as .he man,
uer Of some is, is only known to them
selves.
M.-What charges did they prefer
against the Preacherf
PIT seems there was none but there
was leng and frivolous statement Of
complaints, too tedious and Improbable to
relate: suffice it 10 mention one, which
will serve as a sample for the rest. They
were much d'spleased with him for msking
mention Of drunkenness in his wife's
Obituary.
M.-Wss al. the members offended a,
him on accouut of the expression OF drunk.
ennessi
P.-Surely not. No Christian could
be offended at it.
NJ What disposition was made Of the
subject matter OF complaints by Presby-
terv
P.-Tbey referred it to select Com.
mittee.
M.-Who composed that Committed
P.-Messrs Chalmers, Ransom, Hun
tiers and Mcdonald. Four Ministers and
one Elder.
M M-IIow did they proceed
P.-They required the Pastor to give
his statements of the diff Guilty before he
knew what the ac:users had against him
M.-Ilow could he do tka,i
Pile could not do it without spirit
OF divination. For he said that he was
entirely ignorant Of what they had against
him, although he had often inquired.
M.-Do you know what statement OF
grievances they laid before the Commit
P.-We do not
M-Did Mr.. Robinson know and an
swer to the statements Of his accusers be
fore the Committee made out their Re
portl
Pile did not.
M What did the Committee Report
P.-Thev recommended Presby.ery to
release him from his Shiloh congregation
without accusation, or finding fault with
him in any degree: but disappearing Of
the NAL contents as acting hastily in with
drawing from the congregation.
M.-Did Mr. Robinson's friends request
Presbvterv to alloS him TO continue with
them as Pastori
P.-They drew upa Memorial to Pres
bytery which was signed by n respectable
congregation, declaring that he had
-PIsEssU >thorn roef both AS Q Preacher and
as man: that they had seen .nn,n;"s
umiss 10 him: and that they earnestly
requested Presbvtery not 10 tear their be
loved Pastor from them.
M.-What did Presbytery do after
hearing the Report of the Committeei
P.-Some wished TO vote on the q ies'
ton Immediately.
Mis- it possible that any Member Of
Presbytery, with no more light on the
snhjsct before him. than contained in the
Committees Report, would be willing to
vote on 80 important matter as this;
which was to separate Pastor Of twenty
years Preaching from eighty or one hun
dred members of his congregation forerer,
who memorial Esd them for his contin'
uance2
P.-Why, my Christian friend, the
Preshytery had not heard Of the Memoir
al. What the Com miltee heard we know
not: but Presbvlery only heard the Re-
port Of said Committee which recomend
ded his release.
M.-So the Report was voted upon
Immediately bv Presbytery
P.-We are happy to say wiser coun
ci:s prevailed for Mr.. Ross declared that
he woald not vote until better informed.
And Mr. Boyce moved a reconsideration
which was carried by an overwhelming
majority.
M-Weil. I am surprised that any
Christian would vote, with no information
on the subject. to release a Minister Of the
Gospel from his congregation. who had
preached TO the people Of that congrega'
ton for twenty years. while two thirds OF
them earnestly petitioned Preshvterr to
continue him amongst them: but my
surprise is increased, when. after an in
ves:igatlon Of the whole matter by the
Committee there was no complaint,
charge. offence or censure, spen an The
least degree, sustained against Mr. Robin
son by the Committee, who persisted in
his release.
P-Do you not know, my good sir.
that this ia the way TO dispatch business 7
And that this ia the way business Of the
greatest moment-such as concern the
Of our sous, is dispatched? Consid er for
one moment the state Of our country
Who rules now the councils Of our Ma
tion2 Who stands at the head Of the
Governmenti Who obeys the law q
Who observes the Constitution Who
is approved when he does righti Who
is safe in his person, property, Office. char
acter or relipioni Was not the President
Of these United States impeached for
nal feasance in Office uwustiys And
had he been tried by majority instead
Of two third vote what would have be
coma OF as, the Constitution and the
Common ,OeoiM
M-WeIl-Bu what did P,esbytery
do after reconsideration
P-They acted. as Committee OF the
whole. upon the Report, during part Of