The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-03-26

ABBEvILI.E, March 81, l67n.


Editors Press ant Banner: .
In your issue OF the 18th Inst appears n card
from the Stewards OF the A. NJ. f., Church OF
this town, relative To an article published the
week previous in the Medium. Now McsarS.
Editors, cstcCming plain truth above the
proudcSt trophies OF creation, deem 1t prop
or and necessary, to give frankly, and c%llIc.
lily, the sum and substance of the whole mat
ter. The inference Is that I c~EdravOrcd touii-
earth tina: no person cnuld attain to mem.
bcrship in said church, except true aud trle,i
republicans, and that certain political rcqui-
sites prcponucrntrS that OF religion. Sucii IN
idea would he utterly absurd, us Is apparent
In the fact that three OF the mostactivc color
cd Democrats In the county were members {;
one Of which has been recently expelled FOR
malpractice. In mutunl nversation with
the Editors Of the Medium. respecting the
letter written by Inc. to y. s., district Atlor-
ncy No:LhrOp. ! spoke Of tho unsccmly as
prlsiol Of my maine, by quilt" q number OF
the brethren who stood high n the church,
simply on account OF the pacific ard just per-
fnrIlance of my duty. In the absence Of any
design on my part, ut publication or i" iniliI
riatc the dignitarles OF said church. and stated
that one or twoo OF It's officers called me rpard
informed mt that the matter had hcrli
brought before the official board for action.
and thai / would have been turned out, but
the Pastor objected ils consideration. In re.
ply, l instantly expressed That ! had Sniu
nothing but what ! knew and could prove 10
be true, and If i was to be turned out or the
church on that account the sooner the better.
What | had to endure and contend with how
ever will only bc known In the great day OF
final adjustments. But I was willing to bear
the burden for the sake OF the church, ! loved
so dearly, yet | knew 1t would be such, as
none but one full of patience, and crninnicd
with the grace OF God could stand. 1t WAS nd
mittc,l by the said board that | hGd been nc
cuScd OF having circulated among the white
citizens OF tho tow that said church and
school house were nothing more than politl-
cal synuGoCucs. ] denounced II as false IN
toto, and re fcrel them to every whito per-
son in the place for satisfaction. II was also
alleged by some of the suid brothers, that
sent q detachment Of State Guards under
command Of Capt. White to capture Il rtpub-
lican meeting tho night before the election, Il
thing unknown to me. am absolutely fault
cd because the republican party filled In 1879.
when they had 10 ticket In the field. In short
I am the general target Of MI the cynics In
the connection, especially those wl0 wish to
make the church a prop to aggrandlse their
personal ends. The reading OF the M
mcnt applicable to the case Is instructive and
suggestive. Hear II: Thou shall not bear
false witness against thy ncighhor. Tho Spe-
ellie and undcniablc intent OF This holy In
junction was to obviatc cUmmOtion IN the
house OF God, and to teach men to speak the
truth or be silent. Oh that the men OF my
race would but inlbibc this one grand discip-
line! thai unrcStrnincd municatton OF
thoughts and opinions. being oneof the moSt
precious rights OF man, every person ought TO
be allowed to speak. write and publish freely
according to the dictates of his " con-
science, when he Is responsible for II abuse
Oh '"'S ''osfS Nt'pe''' ". ii. PRESLEY.