The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-01-19
The Armstrong Trial.

Aue AElubtrVHG VTlul.
ATLANTA, January A.-Yesterday was Civ
en- the particulars OF DR.. Armstrong; trial
up to the exclusion of the reporters by the
court, and mention was made that the case
had been continued till Jan. 20. The follow
trial:
The court consisted Of the following men,
Rev. H: K. Reese, of Cave Spring Rev. r.
g. Pond, of Albany Rev. Chas. ii. Strong.
Of Savannah; and Rev. Mr.. Lucas, Of Bruins
wick, Mr. Hunter president and MIR. Strong
The right of Mr. Hoke Smith to act as
counsel fer DR.. Armstrong raised = very inter-
esting question, that evoked discussion and
was finally left to settle itself. The point was
that Mr.. Smith, while he had been confirmed
over five years ago, had never been q commu-
meant, and therefore was not entitled to serve.
Mr. Smith owned to the facts. He was con-
frmed in 1873 but had never partAkcn of sac
rament. Bishop Elliott had confirmed him.
Bishop Beckwith made . brief talk, in
which he maintained that MIR. Smiths atti-
tude as . nOn-communing confirmed member
did not constitute him q commandment.
Mr.. Smith read a printed opinion of Bishop
Beckwith's, printed in the Parnh Monitor, in
which he passed this opinion upon the indcfi-
mite status of communicates.
II am aware that much trouble and no little
confusion has been caused by efforts to an
swer the question, 'How long may 4 man alb
sent himself fro II holy communion without
forfeiting his right to be numbered among the
communicating Of his parishT If the Eng
lsh rubric, which requires that every parish
Toner shall commune at least three times
in the year, of which Easter to be one" were
in force in our church, this question could be
easily answered, but inasmuch as it was
dropped from the American prayer beck, we
seem to be without guidance, except such as
may be inferred, first, from the rubrics at the
beginning of the communion Office, and, Sec
ond, the rubric in the book as reported to the
general convention Of 1883 BY the committee
quire more space than l can command in this
number of the Monitor. Let ME, therefore,
simply say that tho rubric in the proposed
book is not law, thong! it may become law.
1t restores the English rubrics in our prayer
book referred to above are law and they spec
ify causes for which communicates may be
repealed from the communion. To drop q
mans name from the communion list without
authority of law seems to be 4 quasi condem-
nation Of him which l could not officially adj
wise: take the liberty, therefore, Of sug-
costing that in making out the list Of commu-
nicants for the next convention, the clergy
omit only the names of such persons az they
would advise to stay away were they to give
notice OF their intention to come to the holy
communion. l cannot but hope that the diff
culties which beset this question may induce
our next convention to settle it."
This ma tier was talked over at quite . con-
siderable length. TIL. court finally decided
to let Mr.. Smith remain, while not deciding
whether he Was or was not q COMMUNICATE,
the general convention not having settled that
issue.
All Of the records and sealed packages Of
evidence from Cincinnati and elsewhere were
handed in, mainly by Bishop Beckwith. A
commissioner in Cincinnati took the evidence
and mailed it to the ecclesiastical court in care
of Bishop Bcckwith. The Bishop had opened
one package not properly labelled to ascertain
what it was, but on finding it's subject h. had
not read it. This Was admitted by the de-
fence.
The package was opened by the court and
marked, aud the court, on motion Of Dir. John
S. Davidson, then adjourned until $3.50 this
afternoon to enable the counsel to examine
the testimony.
AFTERNOON SESSION..
The Eclesiastieal court met 1t $3.50 D. m.
and had a brief scSsion. The case touk an I'M
expected turn. Mr.. Charlton, the ~counscl for
the prosecution, asked q continuance to get
the evidence Of three witnesses journalist
broker in tickets, a Mr.. Foote. He stated
that the evidence WAS Indispensable.
The court finally decided to postpone the
case until the 26th, when the trial will be re-
sumed at II O'Clock.
wilson, of Augusta, for the defense, and Mr..
lawyers, while mr.. Hoke Smith, aiding Nr.
Davidson has a high reputc.
Mr.. Davidson is President pro ten of the
Senate and Grand Master If the Aasons in
Georgia. He is an able lawyer and An orator
of remarkable power. Mr.. Charlton was y
long time solicitor of the Savannah circuit,
and he has inherited from his father, the late
Judge Robert d. Charlton, both ability and
speaking power. Judge Charlton was a poet,
too.
Th> case will be conducted with signal
abilitv.-Auyusta Chronicle and Consiitu-
~tionaiist.