The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-10-06

1t is well known that all OF the
.]u'l%r& in Missouri were very rciuc-
taLt to enforce the laws against min
listers Of the gospel for exercising
their professions without having Ia.
ken the test oath, and. availcd them
selves Of every prctcnsc to discharge
those who were accused.
Three ministers, charged With tho
crime OF preaching "thc glorious Cos
pei Of the Son Of God.'' were arraigi,.
cd before certain Judge. 1:,y
were regularly indicted, and it %;.>
understood that the proof asai>t hr'n
Was clear.
. "Are you Il prcachcr?' said the
Judge to one OF them.
"Ics, SIR replied the culprit.
''To what determination do You be-
long%'
. Il am christian sill" (With dig
inity)
"a Christian! What do YOU mean
by that? Are not all preachers Chris
tainS?'
81 belong 10 the sect usually, but
wrongly called Campbclitos." >" Not
so much dignity.
! "Ah! Then you believe in baptiz'
ing people in order that they may be
born again, do you?''
81 DO sir" (Dcfa ntly.
"Mr. Sheriff discharge that man.
! lie j.. an innocent man! lie is indict-
!, cd for preaching the gospel, and
there is not a word Of gospel in the
stuff he breaches! 1t is somo of Al
exandor Campbell's nonsense. Dis
charge the mani"
Exit CampJclitc, greatly rejoicing.
care you preacher " said the
Judge addressing the second crimi-
nal.
II am, sir" said the miscreant.
cor what denomination are you"
81 nm methodist, sir" His looks
showed it.
"Do you believe in falling from
grace p
Il do, sir" (Without hesitation }
"Do you believe in sprinlling peo-
pie instead Of baptizing them 2
II bel eve that people can be bap-
tizcd by sprinkling Much offended.
"po you believe in baptizing ba-
bics ?"
at is my opinion sir: that infants
ought TO be baptized. Indignant
ly.
"Not word Of Scripture for any
thing Of the kind, sir!" shouted his
"honor.-Mr. Sheriff, turn that man
loose! lie is no preacher Of the gos-
pei! The gospel is truth, and there
is not word Of truth in what that
man teaches! Turn him loose"
Methodist disappears, not at al
hurt in his feelings by the judicial
abuse lie has received.
':What arc yon sir?" said The Judge
to the third tclon,
'':>'omc people call me a preacher,
sir"
"WEqt is your dcnomination?'
81 am Il Baptist" Head up.
lis nDhOI fONh lCiHiiNc lNI', anu
he locked softer and sad. After y
paN.c he said:
"Do You believe in salvation BY
gracc?'
u do" Firmly.
"Do you teach that immersion only
is H"pli>u:!' p
Il In, is my doctrine" Earnest,
Iv.)
"And yor boptize none but those
who believe in Jesus Christ?'
"Tha, is my faith and practicc:"-
With c,n,ha>is.)
"Ny friend, fear it will so hard
with You. | sec you are indicted
for preaching the gospel, and it ap-
pears to me by your own confession
That you arc guilty."
Baptist looks pretty blue.
"May it please your honor" said
the Baplist's counsel springing to his
feet; "thai man never preached tho
gospel. have heard him say q hun
dred times that he only tried, ! Lavo
heard him try myself"
"Mr. Sheriff, discharge this man!
lie is not indicted for trying. Thcrc
is nothing said about the mere effort
Let him 90 sir! | nm astonshcd
that the States Attorney should an
noy the Court with such frivolous in
dictmcnts!' =
Exit Baptist determined to "try"
again.