The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1869-11-04

DIS having any IiShlo VI piiNicSSS
among them. And since they have
no rights and no privileges in the
congregation from which they with
draw, and since Prcsbytery has no
authority over any matter of any per
son who is not a member of some con-
grcgatlon under their jurisdiction, 1T
is impossible for Presbytery to reach
their case by releasing the pastor, de-
claring the congregation vacant, rein
stating them into full membership,
and receiving commissioner from
them as the representative of the con-
gregation, against the consent of the
Pastor and the majority members
thereof, without an infraction of the
constitution. The laws of any State
sustain tbs citizens Of the State as
having the rights and privileges of
citizenship only SO long as they do
continue to remain citizens of said
State. As soon rs they withdraw
their allegiance from the State and
remove bc.'ond its jurisdiction, the
State shall no longer throw its man
tie of protection over them. And
Prcsbytcry can afford no protection
to persons who do not belong to some
congregation of their own dcnomina-
| L..
their jurisdiction. Therefore, when
ever Prcsbytcry travels outside of
the constitution to hear the COM
plants, and to redress the grievances
of disaffccted minority party, nine
months o"tSide Ct' the congregation,
by releasing the minister from his
pastoral charge, and rc-insta,ing
them into more than full member
ship, by receiving a commissioner
from them as the representative ofthc
congregation, they certainly act in
bad faith to the pastor and the pco-
pie, who arc faithful in the discharge
of their whole duty, and thus they
"creatc jralousics and dissentions,
and otherwise cndangcr the peace
and comfort ofrhc Church," For the
foundation of all republican govern
mcnts, both of State and Church de
pend upon the will of the majority.
No person can for one moment be
regarded as representative To the
Legislature who has not been chosen
by a majority. And no minister can
act as moderator of Prcsbytcry un-
less chosen by a majority of it mem
bcrs, except as is otherwise provided
for i'm the constitution.
In the translation Of L.inistcrs
from one charge to another "Prcsby-
tcrics are required to act with great
caution, dclibcration and tenderness
towards all lpartics concerned. When
call has been regularly laid before
them, they shall summon the con
grcgation in which the minister is
settled, and that by which he is call
ed, to appear by commissioners, on n
day appointed for that purpose, that
the reasons both for and against the
translation may be fairly and fully
stated and discussed" After which,
if Presbytery "and the minister call
ed acccdc to it, they shall forthwith
dissolve his pastoral relation to his
present charge, and proceed to settle
him in the congregation whittier he
is called" Behold! what caution
and tenderness is hereby demanded
of Prcsbytcrics in the removal of
ministers from their pastoral charges.
They shall summon the congregation
in which the minister is settled, that
commissioners may appear before
them for consultation. They shall
consider their objections to his trans
lation even though the minister de-
sires it. And they shall not release
him from his pastoral charge, unless
the minister accedsc to it. Such eau
ton, kindness and tenderness to-
wards all parties concerned is the law
Of the Church.
But we are exceedingly sorry this
rule of caution and tenderness was
not observed by the First Presbytery
at Winnsboro, September 1868, when
Rev. ID. p. Robinson was released
from his pastoral charge of Shiloh
congregation. 1t is true that was not
a matter Of translation. 1t was a
question of removal, to CRAFTY mi
nority party against the consent Of
the majority. This minority party,
which had Withdrawn from the con-
gregation nine months before, ap,
peared before Presbytery with COM
plants against the pastor In what
capacity did they appear? clothed