The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-24
DR.. ARMSTRONG A JOURNALIST.
His Congregation Goes to Pieces and
he Goes to Editing.
GAt{antG Constitution. |

A meeting Of the vestry of st. Philips
church was held to-day at o'clock. The Ses
sion was one Of more than ordinary interest
as every member of the board expressed his
opinion freely and to the point. 1t was seen
from the beginning of the meeting that a ma
iority Of the vestry were highly indignant at
the action Of Bishop Beckwlth in removing
Rev. J. G. Armstrong from the pulpit OF St
Philips and the condition OF affairs since nv
removal. For a time it looked as though ST.
Philips was about to loose its entire board o.
vestrymen. as nearly every member expressed
much dissatisfaction at the condition OF the
affairs of the parish and talked as II they were
going to Withdraw from the church: The
designations OF Ex-Governor Bullock, junior
warden, aud of Vestryman Henry B0ylest ton
were received and accepted. James Thomson
jr., was elected junior warden to succeed eX
Governor Bullock, and j. w. Johnson and E.
c. Peters selected to succeed ex-Governor
Bullock and Henry Boyieston as members OF
the veStry.
The financial condition of the church came
up in the general discussion of matters of IN
terest to the parish. It was stated that the
congregation OF st. Philips was gradually de-
creasing in numbers owing to the pro>ecution
Of it's rector, and that many rented pcws were
vacant every Sunday, and that the collections
had gone down to nothing. These collections,
it was announced, had decreased from $75 per
month to S. or $40, and that the prospects were
they would 60 much lower. One or more o.
the vestrymen stated II as fact that some OF
given Tor pew rents when they became due
ON the ground Of the removal of DR.. Arm
strong. In consequence, the feeling ran sc
high that some members OF the veStry eX'
pressed Il desire to withdraw from st. Philips
and start an independent church, with Dr.
Arm strong as its pastor.
1t was also given out that fully ten per cent
of the congregation would leave ST. Philips II
they had somewhere else to go, and certainly
so if new church was built and DR.. Arm
strong made its pastor. 1t was also the opln
ion Of some OF the members of the board that
q large portion Of the congregation would
quietly withdraw from the church under the
present condition of affairs. and the congre'
gaIion of ST. Philips would gradually 80 to
pieces.
After discussing other matters OF general in:
terest the church meeting adjourned unt:l II
o'clock to-day.
At the meeting to-day the advisablity OF
collecting together the congregation OF me
parish 10 take action upon the present condl'
ti0n of affairs will be discussed.
J. II. Ketser, who has been member OF the
vestry for ten years, sent In his resignation,
and Capt. f. ]. S. Gay, treasurer OF the church,
will likely file lis tomorrow.
Yesterday DR.. Armstrong aSSoclatcd nlnSeli
with the Su,uiuy Telegram, taking hall IN
terest in the paper. This action was freely
discussed on the street. and was received Wlth
much interest by the doctors friends. ,,u
\ ConstRution rcprcsentatlve cnllcd on mr.
Charles r. Logan, proprietor OF the Telegram,
and ask ed if the statement was true. Mr.. Lo-
gan said
ayes. DR.. Armstrong has associated him
self with the Telegram, and preSenthis sa!uta'
tory next Sunday
"Wil hc have an interest in the paper"
ayes. \ half interest.
'Will he have the editorial management:
ave shall edit the paper together
The 74l,ylWm Of Sunday contains an euilo-
rial article on DR.. Armstrong, presumably
written by him or with his consent. aliudln"
to him rs having fallen, not like l.uciicr 10
rise no more but "like ihc Meek and Lowly
Nazarire to have a glorious resurrectlon.'