The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-07
The Rev. Mr.. Campbcll's Case.

An nppePl has been made to us TO bring
about an equitable settlement of the
troubles that are raging in the church OF
the Rev. J. II. CAMPBELL at Susquehanna
Depot, in the state of PENNSYLVANIA, and
which to-day are to be brought under re-
view in the convention of clergymen at
EastoD, in the same state. A macs of doc
uments of various kinds has been trans
mittcd to us, in order that we may study
M the history of the cnsc, and reach
just comprehension Of its merits. We have
taken time TO scrutini2c these documents.
TO weigh the assertions contained in them,
and to form an estimate Of their argument.
II is not every day that n case of the kind
is submitted TO our Judgment.
The Rev. Mr.. CAMPBELL is in n peculiar
situation. lie first got into trouble with
some leading members of his church, he
tween whom aud himself accusations few
thick and fast. He then got into trouble
with the whole body Of his church, which
tried To get rid of him by selling out the
building. lie next got into trouble with the
Disciplinary Committee of his denomiua-
ton, which suspended him for one year.
And now he Is about 10 carry his case TO
the state Convention OF his church, where
he may be pr ecipitatcd into new troubles,
today or tomorrow.
His troubles began over n year ago, when
he tired 10 prove that some of the mem
bers of his church were liars and others
notorious Tcprobates. These persons at
once turned around and accused him Of
living and other evil ways. The uproar in
f4pl ~ nd f.n ~. Il.
of being able to put his enemies out, they
undertook to put him out, and II was soon
evident that they had the upper hand OF
him, Tor they owned the church building,
and had the power TO sell it, Then came
his suspension by the Committee on Dis
cipline, but, instead OF bearing this meekly,
he proceeded to declare. in n printed docu-
ment, that the clergymen composing
this committee were wicked conspirators
against him, bent on running him, from
shameful motives. Now, his case is to
come before the Convention, but instead
of conciiatng that body or reasoning
with 1t, he sends out his defiance of it. and
says il has already "afIronted Heaven
with an net OF brutality, such as could
only be required by It's completely in the
support Of crime"
Aud yet, strange to say, though he had
liars and reprobates among his members (;
though his church fell to ruin under his
preaching; though lac WAS So outrageousy
treated by the Committee on Discipline
though the Convention is made up of
DEMONSTRATING criminals, whom he
holds in contempt, he has been anxious
to maintain his standing in their fellow
ship.
Ca this point, we must decide against
him. When he found miscreants IN his
church, he should have turned them out
nj every hazard; when he found his church
falling to pieces in his hands, he should
have resigned its ministry when he was
condemned by the Committee on Dis
| cipllne, he should have borne it meekly
| and when he saw that the State Conven-
| ton of his denomination was against him
he should have resigned his membership
| with dignity. 1t has been an unseemly
| rumpus, causing much excitement at Sus
| quehanna Depot; and the way for the
| lev. Mr. CAMPBELL to end 1t is to part
| company with the church and denomina
| ton which he denounces. Having don,
this, all parties will feel better.