The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1873-11-27
COMMUNICATED,

and strengthened with our strength.
which few yeras past would have
been almost impossible to changed.
For the A. X, Church in doctrine,
government md discipline (when
duly administered In mildncsS) was
esteemed 10y our fathers and profess.
ed by ouraclves as the best and pu>
rest church under the broad canopy
of heaven; and the very name will
long remain dear TO our hearts and
precious TO our memories, But when
Shiloh and Tirzah congregations wcre
united together by twenty YEARS
ministry, for their Pastor whom they
loved as good minister Gf the gos.
pei, to be suddenly removed, by the
first Prcsbytery, from one Of his
churches, against his and their cons
sent, without judicial investigation
or conviction Of crime, was an act
too "'chrtstiom to be endured, for il
was 4 Erieyous wound inflicted upon
them in The house Of their friends.
The wounds of our enemies are Cruz
q. But, oh! how grievous arc the
wonn1s Of our friends! History in>
forms us that the great Caesar cn>
d"red ? score Of wounds from his
encmlesi 0Ht pne stab nnly from his
friend Brutus was sufficient to over
come him.
Since the freedom of the press, kept
within proper bounds, Is protected
10y law, for the publication Of ours
rent facts for the information of the
people, surely the first Presbytery
Ought not to object ta have their Of.
fetal acts fairly set before the peos
pie. Hitherto, resting our cause up>
on truth, carefully relating the cir>
cumsianccs, characters and acts as
set forth, portrayed and dclinea,ed,
we are opposed TO their partial ad.
min'Stration which cripplcs the Las
bors Of working minister, alcniates
the members Of Shiloh, and cxpcls
the congregation Of Tirzah. For bv
their acts they have forced the large
congregation Of Tirzah to join the
Prcshytcrians, have broken Shiloh
congregation, and have compelled
Rev. ID. y. Robinson to preach to
other denominations, or to travel be.
y"nl the limits of the first Presby'
tc'Y. Instead Of the Apostolic in,
junction "kebuke not an elder, but
cntrcat HIM as father, and count
him especially worthy Of double hon.
or who labors N the word and doc.
trine," they summoned him Ia att o,h
extraordinary meetings at Winn,boI
ro time and again. Aud, finally,
with closed doors they ended their
trial Of the innocent preacher. For
hundreds o: members belonging To
Shiloh and Tlrzah, with annual Re-
ports during hIs twenty years miuis-
try are liSIng witnesses how holly
and justly and unblamably he be.
havcd himself among them while he
cxhortcd and cOmfortea and charged
every ono of them, as a father doth
his children, that they would walk
worthy of God who hath called them
unto His kingdom and glory"
Regardless Of the wishes Of Tir.
zah, and Of the earnest entreaties
contained IN the Memorial from Shi>
loh praying them not to remove their
pastor from them, grave considera>
ton was given to the semi written
statements Of certain favored lar.
tv; for whose sake, although they
unanimously voted him clcar''of all
censure, they proceeded forthwith to
remove this man of unclouded repu-
tatiOn from the bosom Of his friends,
and this minister of gigantic miel-
lect from the house Of God where
many of his most beautiful sermons
had been delivered. For some time
Presbytery attempted to supply the
vacancy by seumons ofstheir own.
But soon becoming weary by distant
journeys from home, they carefully
sought ont q minlster from The secs
ond Picsbytery to take charge Of the
dismembered congregation and To
occupy R"brnson's pulpit for ever.
II job in the anguish Of his soul
would exclaIm "miserable comfortcrs
are ye all )" If Shiloh should he bro-
ken, and Tirzah should leave the first
Presbytery by their unkind jurisdic-
tion towards them; may not one who
was the o reat eat sufferer OF them all