The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-08-04

fully due until April, 1884, and upon
which $50 had already been paid. You
heard me direct that the remaining SIG
be at once paid out of the 1908 due me
by the church. They believed me to be
vicious, but they were unseemly anxious
for my money to help build their church.
On Tuesday | came to Baltimore, not
secretly nor in flight, but seeking rest
and comfort.
"By the affidavit of the Methodist
Book Concern was declared an 'abscond-
ing debtor from $50, and my goods at
tached Ell route. Despite the fact that
there is to my personal credit over 50, 400
in Newark bank, and the fact that the
Book Concern account was Immediately
settled by telegraph, and despite the fact
that after leaving Newark | sent to a St.
Luke's official for bill of my indebted
ness, yet no one has had the honor to
publicly correct the published charge
that | was seeking to detraud my credi-
tors. And this among honorable Chris
tian gentlemen. Does this look like
seeking the truth, or malicious persecu-
tiono Is the impelling motive upon the
part of those who worked up the scandal
in the fact that I publicly exposed and
overturned their plans for taking the
Sunday school upon beer-selling eXcur-
sion, and that | later sternly protested,
with pen and from pulpit, against the
same persons giving open encouragement
to those who violated the Christian Sab
bath?
ANY attempt, sir, to manufacture a
sympathy for st. Luke's Church by Your
cry as to this being it's hour of betrayal
is unmanly, maiigning, contemplate.
After had lived among them for year
the Quarterly Conference of St. Luke S
Church in March, 1883. among other
commendatory things said: Over $50
persons have professed to find pardon
and peace, and 100 of them have united
with the church on probation. The
labors of our pastor, Rev. DR.. Bristor,
have been constant, earnest. well -directed
and efficient, and to them, under the
blessing of the Master, is our success
dine :: = :: ::
Resolved, That in our official relations
with DIR. Bristo. we have found him 4
wise and judioas counsellor, and a con-
sistent Christian pastor, whose single aim
it appears to be to glorify the Master
And these things are said of me, while.
as now declared was practicing gross
immoralities.
'For eighteen months have, as pas
tor, gone in and out the homes of the
st. Luke's people: have stood with them
in their griefs and trials; have helped to
carry their burdens. | challenge any
man or woman among them to stand
forth in the fear of God and say that
they have ever heard one vile word, one
vicious suggestion, one lewd expression,
fall from my lips. If | were to that
all of the st. Luke's officials have been
equally pure and chaste in expression
then would | indeed be liar.
81 challenge any man or woman in
that church to stand forth and truth
fully say that have ever before them
demeaned myself in any wise as one vile
in thought or immoral at heart Could
immortality thus have burned within me
and not have cleaned forth before re-
liable men and women at some time !?
Can a life thus lived for eighteen months
be overturned in the minds Of all un-
biased people by the statements of four
or even a dozen boys who are self con-
fessed liars? Did my ambition SO aspire
and you recognize the truth, sir-I
could readily have to day more substan-
tial proofs than letters of the sympathy
love and confidence of many members #
st. LukeS. One OF the officials is publish
ed as admitting that had | chosen to stay
i'll Newark could have made II rupture
or schiSm in the church. But crave no
such result. My effort must be to build
mp and never TO disintegrate the Church
of Christ. The wounds given God
cause in this matter have come from
yourself and your friends; in sickness
and with patience | have held quiet my
voice and pen.
"Just what my further course shall be
| shall not declare to you. | shall not
cease to serve God-my disgust is not
with religion. but with some types of it
| have met. shall, by God $ help mani
fest by my life that these scandals are
but the lies of designing prosecutors.
My future course will at least bring a
contempt among all honorable people for
those officials who Judas like kiss while
they betray. and for their associates
whose docility allows them to be made
tools of; together with an increased pity
in the general Church for yourself, so
utterly lacking the courage and principle
needful for seeing common justice done
to the preachers who by church usage
are, unfortunately, committed to your
care.
"And now, sir, leave this phase of
this most sad affair. ! cannot easily be
drawn into any mere newspaper wrangle
for that would be bootless. May God
pity your imbeoility and cowardice; pity
the hypocrisy and docility. the scheming
and lying of those who have taken part
in this matter; and pity me, smitten and
crushed under such 4 false, unjust and
unholy charge. am, sir.
eco r. BRISTOR