The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1868-12-03


fore tbem. Now Mr.. p. was it not just
and proper for that Committee to call
upon the Pastor to see il he was willing
to acquiesce. Ye. you say that the Com.
mittee required the Pastor 10 give bis
statement Of the difficulty before be knew
what his accusers had against him
Mr.. p. says he could not do that withou.
spirit of divination, &o. Perhaps, Mr.. p
il he had have tried the fruit OF the spirit,
which is love, JOY, peace, long suffering,
g"r,'e,nS. sonsaSae, ks .-Le~..s.--L-AaSs
succeeded better than by trying the spri.
OF divination.
Again, Mr.. p, there might be such a
thing as a man no. wishing to know or
hear his own faults-I have known men
who would not admit even what they did
know. Mr.. p. says, that the Pastor did
not get chance to reply TO his accusers
before that committee. That committee
requested him 10 romain in the house UNI
til they heard the opposite party, and
they would then give him a chance
They did call for him but he did not ap
pear until the next day after the commit.
tee had their report prepared for prcsbv
terry. This is my understanding in the
case, and bad the evidence Of five 10
ono.
Mr.. p. says the Pastor did not know
what his accusers bad against him, though
he had often asked. ar. p, suppose YOU
were TO commit murder, be arrested and
confined in prison, il you were to ask
every man you would see, why you were
under arrest, do you suppose any one
would be simple enough 10 relate to you
n circumstance that you knew more about
than any one else {; yet. il you had com
ml'ed dozen, you might ask for which
one you were charged.
Well, here comes up that memorable
memorial, signed by q respectable conf
grega:ion-ninety members. Mr.. NJ. says
eighty or one hundred. Now, Mr.. F., il
you we're put upon your oath, could you
say there were ninety, sixty, forty, or even
th'nfv. SssaaturAs - Al 80 >~f--- -g.ss..
twenty genuine members who knew that
there was such paper sent to Presbytery.
| know you have abou. fifty mem bers on
your side, and not more. say know i,
because | have examined the Church re.
cords; but I do not thiuk the names OF
even one half we're on that memorial.
The Church books show abou. ono
hundred aud Eve members in that con
gregation. Tho petition shows that fifty
genuine members have psti,ioned for a
dissolution. Here we would say for the
satisfsction OF Mr.. NJ. (if correctly inform.
ed) that the business Of that Committee
was to inquire into the case, and find out,
il possible, il there really was a difficu t.
existing between Pastor and fifty mem.
bers OF his congregation. They, after a
careful examination, found there was an
incurable difficulty. What could they o.
any other impartial Committee, would
ask, do. but recommend his release.
Mr.. Editor, there are a number of other
questions with vague and frivolous answers
relating principally TO the action OF Pres
bytery thatI will not notice. Presbytery
ls able to defend itself against al such
imputa,ions or charges.
Mr.. =. Gays about eight voted for the
Pastors release, conditionsIy. say, with
out the fear Of contradiction, that the vote
was taken uncouditionalIy, with the ex,
press understanding that the decision
would not crimins,e either party. do
not say how many voted, but i. was, ave,
aye, aye, all over the house.
The question then came up about ar,
rearages. and Presby,ery ordered them
to be paid up to tha, date; and ordered
the Rev. J. Hunter, to preach at that
Church on Friday preceding the second
Sabbath Of October, aud declare the coar
gregation vacant.
Air. z. then save, thus you see a
Preacher Of righteousness, &c., released
from bic congregation by an act Of Pres
by,cry, because a portion Of the members
acting out side OF the constitution aud 10.
depen1e "f the Church authority, be
came dissatisfied with him for reasons
which was not sustained by Presbytery,
as deserving the least degree Of censure,
&c.
Shame, Mr.. p, upon any man tha,
will assume TO himself the time bonored
name Of Presbyterian, and make such
broad and unwauantable assertions -
Would any one who sees ,hi. statement
Of Mr.. p. entertain for ono single moment
a thought that Presby,ery would sustain