Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-09-03

the level OF 'atr0clOuS crlm0F" 1t was.
that followed my beloved and devoted
flock, exercising our unquestionably legal
right, in withdrawing from the Snyod of
action; reasons arising out of what we
deemed the cruel and ruinOus injustice,
resulting to us from the hasty and ill
considered action Of the Synod. But this
was case where we were not bound to
give reasons: or to be held amenable to
any one for the SOundneSS of those reasons.
1t was case in which the law maxim
fully applies: "Volnatas stet pro ratione.'
The law calls upon no man to give his rea-
sons for asserting legal right; and it was
the assertion and exercise Of the right to
that body has been compelled to exalt to
the rank of ssatrociOus crime' in order to
justify:-(a) Their President in issuing his
pretended order of suspension: and
(b,) themselves, in cOndemning me, even
to the sentence Of deposition, because I
did not submit to sentence, which in
the judgment of all the world ercept the
Virginia Synod, was simple nullity.
Nay, more. If the Report Of their proceed
ihgs on the oath of this month (August)
found in the Baltimore Sun, be correct,
pdpal doctrine s'that the right to suspend
minister during the interim Of Synod is
lodged in the President"
appeal to the judgment of Lutherans
to determine whether such acts and claims
can be tolerated:
'Men make resolves. and pass into decrees
The motions OF the mind: with how much ease.
In such resolves, doth passion make f1aw
And bring to nothing what was rais'd to law"
lam charged with an attitude so 'defi-
ant" that ssfurther forbearance" with me
would be useless and tall attempts to win"
| me sfrOm the error of my way would be
unavailing."
AS to this, / say that never once did the
President Though so instructed by the
Constitution he claims to uphold) come to
| me in the spirit of brOtherly kindness and
of fatherly counsel, before hastily and I'M
lawfully suspending me. Had he done so
instead of taking counsel of the enemies
| of my church and myself. he would have
found younger brother, who would have
met him in humble hope and in the spirit
| of Christ, ready to pray with him for peace
upon the foundation of Christian princi-
Pile. Had he done SO in the spirit of peace
and love. the blessing permitted to the
peacemaker might now have been his, and
great evil avoided. And again / say
that if be had left me and my congrega-
| ton "tO pursue the even tenor OF our way,
without attempting to s'unchurch or pro-
scribe" us for doing what we thought at
the time and still think we had the church
ly right to do, the gentle influences of pa
tient forbearance and the manifestation
on the part of Synod of a willingness tc
withdraw the sting left lurking in their
decision, might have led to the healing OF
a breach now irreparable.
| IF my offence be of such mortal kind,
That neither service past nor present sorrows,
Nor purpOSd merit in futurity,
Can ransom me into his love again,
But to know SO much be my benefit;
| So shall cothe me in forced content,
To fortunes aims"
Defiant have not been; righte0uslJ
indignant have felt since the decisions
Of the special session of the Virginia SYNOD
shocked my soul and reused within my
heart:
1.-The courage never to Submit to what deemed
| A cruel wrong
The Synod of Virginia has placed me il
good company, though am not worth!
the association. Luther suffered for con
ness in the Gospel. The Apostles wer,
martyred for the sake of their faith ani
work; and, above all, as the infinite heart
of God is above our beclouded souls, Jesu
Christ, the Master whom we both claim t.
serve, sacrificed His life for principle an(
for the good of those He loved. In hum
BILE imitation of these, acknowledg m!
frailties and infrmities, but avowing tn
sincerity of my convictions of duty in thu
course I have felt constrained to pur
sue I am prepared to adhere to princi
pie and to stand by my flock, whateve
worldly loss or danger may beset me.
II would seek unto God, and unto Coz
would commit my cause" Job. 49,
Respectfully,
| J. BAcHMAN HASKELL,
Pastor of the Central Ev. Lu'n Church
Of Stanton, Va