The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-07-27
How Georgia Minister Squelched a
Scandal.

Inc french prOverb that ga lie viii
travel seven leagues while truth is put
ting on her boots, :" has very aptly illus
trated an occurrence here which has
stirred up the social circle of this COM
munity in such manner as it has never
before experienced.
1t appears that about a month ago a
son of a well known gentleman OF
Greene County was turned out of the
Baptist Church for drunkenness and
other immoral acts unbecoming a pro-
Tossing Christian. The turning out was
not done until every known means of
reformation was tried with the erring
young brother, but he was deaf to en-
treaties and laughed at the threa. of
| expulsion. After the Church had acted
! on his case, the mother of the young
gentleman, it is alleged, Immediately
set in circulation most damaging
series of reports affecting the moral
standing of the Baptist preacher in this
| place-Rev. c. II. Strickland-and re-
lated circumstances with great
particularly, connecting the rever-
end gentleman with ladies
of the highest responsibility
in this community. The names of no
less than four ladies were mentioned in
these damaging reports, and three of
them were widows-all of them beau
| tiful and accomplished-against whom
the breath of suspicion had never been
raised. These reports flew like wild
| fire through the community, and caused
a social earthquake. As soon as they
came to the ears of the accused pastor,
he acted with great prOmptness, decis-
ion and judgment. A Conference of
his Church was held, the matter was
laid before them by Mr.. Strickland, and
a committee of five was appointed, con-
sisting of Capt. w. II. Branch, E. c..
AKennebrew, Esq, T. d. Sanford, S. j.
Moncrief and G. A. Davis, Jr., " For
the purpose of investigating some ru-
mOrs affecting the character of Rev. G.
H. Strickland, with authority to cite
any member before the Conference
of the Church, for any offense in con-
nection with these rumors.n The COM
mittee at once proceeded with the task
imposed on them, and yesterday their
report was laid before the Church and
acted on.
Your correspondent attended the
Baptist Church at the morning service,
and was much impressed to note what
a large and intelligent congregation
was assembled, comprising, as it did,
the most prominent citizens of this beau
tiful little city. A large portion of the
congregation consisted of ladies, and
every one looked grave and seemed to
realize the solemnity of the occasion.
1t was not funeral, certainly, but it
was to pass upon the future well being
of one of Gods appointed disciples, and
the meeting gathered were to pass SEN
tence upon their pastOr-whether he
should live or die a moral death. No
one present could fail to be impressed
with what fervOr all entered into the
devotional exercises preceding the Con-
ierence. The accused mans demeanOr
WAS that of an innocent man, and this
opinion is based upon an extensive ac-
quaintance with men of all conditions.
He stood in the pulpit, man of posi-
bly, thirty years of age, the finest type
of physical manhood in all the
brotherhood of ministers of Georgia,
with clean-cut profile, cleanly shaved,
honest-looking face, and manner at
once graceful and engaging. After
singing several hymns, in which that
grand old Crock of Ages" " was de-
lightfully prominent, Mr.. Strickland at
once entered Upon his sermon, taking
his text from James" They were
called Chrittians first at Antioch" He
then proceeded to explain the meaning
of the term "Christians," and gave a
vivid description of the difference be-
tween those called Christians and true
believers. He is certainly a powerful
preacher, and while not a college grad
uate, he has studied to advantage and
uses choice and appropriate language.
He has a natural gift of OratOry, and it
was not hard to understand why he was
so much beloved and admired, not only
by his own congregation, but by all
those with whom he is brought in con-
tact. He does not round his periods
too ornately, but, like skillful painter,
With a bold master-hand he puts on the
canvas before his followers a living
picture, clear cut and true to nature.
After the religious services were con-
cluded, Mr.. Strickland announced that
it was his desire that all the proceed
ings in regard to the investigation OF
matters connected with the rumOrs
should be in public, and he requested
all to remain. He then suggested the
appointment of Moderator, and James
l.. Brown, Esq, was chosen. The Con-
ference then opened with prayer by P.
B. Robinson, County Judge. Capt.
Branch then, on behalf of the Investi-
eating Committee, arose and made re.
port. He stated briefly that they had
found much difficulty in tracing
out the source of the rumOrs
affecting the character of Mr..
Strickland, but in every case all the
reports were eventually found to Origi-
nate with the lady whose son had been
turned out of church for misconduct.
The committee had made a thorough
investigation, and performed the duty
without regard or favor toward any one.
They found reports had been industri-
ously circulated, and on citing the lady
to substantiate her charges, " she de-
MED knowing any thing, believed moth
ing, and had said nothing derogatory
to the character of Mr.. Strickland, and
would sign any paper to that effect. "
This settled the matter cOhclusively so
far as the pastor was concerned, but
the committee then decided to summon
the originator of these damaging reports
before the Church, and she was accord
ingly summoned to answer to the charges
of ISLANDER and putting in circulation
slanderous reports" She was also noti-
fed to appear at the present Conference.
The report was received and the COM
mittee was discharged. Judge Robin
son then moved that a resolution be
adopted that the rumors about Brother
Strickland were based on malicious lies,
and that it be so entered upon the
Church minutes. In offering this reso-
luton, Judge Robinson called upon any
one having aught to say against Mr..
Strickland to now stand forth. There
was no response, and the resolution was
adopted. w. G. Durham, Esq, then
moved that the author of the reports be
excluded from the Church for SANDER,
and for circulating slanderous reports.
4 ~ I l.