Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-05
REV. MIR. LONGS CASE.
His Accusation and Defense BE-
fore Presbytery at SOmerviIie.

at Somerville, the following from the
Somerville Reporter of the Sd inst.
will be of general local interest. The
grievance" signed by several min
listers and elders has been published.
The answer was as follows;
MR.. LONGS ANSWER.
SoMERy1LLE, Tenn. April 81, 1882.
To the Committee appointed by Presby-
tery to consider the Memorial presented
by Messrs. Rosamond, Lapsley, Daniel,
Richardson, Rose, ct al.
DEAR INSTRUMENTATION me to
respectfully say that if my conduct
has been grievance in lettering the
cause of Christ or Of the Presbyterian
Church it was without any intention
upon my part, and | sincerely deplore
| it. beg leave, however, to say, that
| do not believe it has been a griev-
ance or detriment to the cause, but
only to some individuals. The charge
that have ceased to preach with any
view to building up the Presbyterian
Church is simply an assertion which
time alone can rectify. The second
charge made in the memorial is not
true in point of fact. There was
already an organization in existence.
ItWas simply reorganization with
new members. AT that reorganization
l was requested by the congre-
CATION to act as chairman. This | did
which |, or any man, had a right to
do, if requested by the congregation.
1t is we'll known principal Ofcongre.
gatiOnalism, that every church organ
ICES itself either with or without a
minister, as convenience may decide.
This, however, was no reorganization,
but revival of active existence which
had been discontinued for three years.
The third accusation | admit, viz:
"He has served the organization regu-
larly without consent of the Presby-
terry, and proceed to give my reasons.
| began serving this church about the
1st Of July. | had been called by the
Park Avenue Presbyterian church to
preach only on Sabbath mornings. The
balance of my time was my own. |
considered | had a right to preach
whenever and wherever the opportu-
nifty offered. When, therefore, this
church was opened to me, | not only
felt it my right but my duty to avail
myself of what seemed to be not only
wide field for doing good, but also
providential opening. | did not at
that time ask the consent of the Pres
bytery, because | did not consider
it a matter properly coming I'M
der its authority, for the sim
pie reason that | was giving
to this organization that portion of my
time which my own church did not
require, and which | had an indispu-
table right TO spend in proclaiming
Gods truth whenever l had the privi-
lege of doing it. In December the de-
mand for my service became so urgent
in this church for my whole time that
| felt constrained to lay the matter be-
fore the Park Avenue church.
At a congregational meeting it was
unanimously agreed that | might dis
continue my labors there from the
FIRST of January. Since that time |
have been preaching both morning
and night at the Strangers Church.
Since the lst of January | have felt
bound to ask the consent of the Pres.
bytery to my carrying on the work,
and have not done so because there
| has been no regular meeting Of the
Presbytery, and | was aware Of the
fact that if special meeting should
be called for the purpose it would be
composed almost entirely of gentle
men who had presented this memorial,
and whom | knew to be unfriendly to
my work, and from whom l had no
reason to expect the slightest justice.
For this reason | did not ask called
meeting. / had no intention or desire
to set at naught or defy the legitimate
authority of the Presbytery. In proof
OF this lay before this committee a
formal request from the Strangers
Church that the Presbytery grant me
permission to labor for them as stated
minister. have indeed high am-
bition that the work that | am doing
there will be permanent in its results
and it is my daily prayer that it shall
be. | would consider myself mos
unworthy servant of the Lord Jesus
Christ if | could wish the work / dc
on earth to be confined in its results
within the narrow limits of our little
church. | must deny that my con.
duct in connection with the Strangers
. Church or otherwise has been as Diet
! rimental to the unity, peace and pros
.. perity Of the Presbyterian Church il
q Memphis" as has been the conduct O
/ these bretheren who have presented
this memorial, and beg leave to say
that ii the question was submitted Z
the intelligent people of Memphis tn,
e vote would be in my favor by an over
whelming majority. If any evil ha
(. resulted from my course | most sin
a cerely regret it. / have never sough
d conflict, but onlype also den,
e that anything that | have done ha
: been "subversiye Of the law and orde
3 Of the Presbyterian Church at large.
v The Southern General Assembly, a
d its meeting in Charleston, S. c., il
Il 1880, decided by an overwhelmin
4 majority, if not unanimously, tia
e there was nothing in the nature auC
!. constitution of the PresbyteriaI
n Church to forbid Presbyterial
/. preaching to or becoming the paste
t. Of an independent church if, in tn
" Judgment of the Presbytery, the caus
n Of Christ would be advanced thereby
q and further, that no PreSbytcry shoui
q remove one Of its members from a
independent church that undoubtedl
ii demanded it. In our Souther
m church there are numerous indepen
Is dent churches supplied by Pres6yt,
IN Iian ministers. In the Norther