The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-11-16
A Famous Church Trial.

Louisville Ky, November 1.-THE
P~resbytery Of Louisville (Southern) has
resumed the trial Of the Presbyterian
Church VS.. Converse. & Converse, the
Presbyterian Church being represented
by Drs. Daniel and Bogss. the prosecu-
tors, and the defendants being ably
sustained by Mr.. Thomas w. Bullits,
their counsel. This trial had it's origin,
it is said, in an editorial which appeared
in the Christian Observer some time
during last autumn charging that there
existed among the friends Of Prof Wood
row aplanfor disruptinglle southern Pres
bytcrian Church, and bringing forward
three preachers in Memphis. Tenn, with
the plain intimatiOn that they were con-
cerned in the contemplated schism.
Thereupon the three preachers, Drs
Martin; Daniel and Boggs, published in
the Memphis Appeal a statement to the
effect that no further defence on their
part was required than that they should
make known to the good people of their
congregations and Of the vicinity that
the Christian Observer, which had as
sailed their loyalty to tho church, had
for many years borne a bad reputation
as to verscity.
After some pretty warm discussion in
the papers, it became apparent that if the
Messrs Converse cid not bring the matter
before their Presbytery it would be done
by some member Of the Presbytcry; at
any rate. they took the initiative and had
. meeting called in January for the
purpose Of considering their for a full
investigation, and inviting the Memphis
preachers to come and formulate charges
against them. These gentlemen appeared
at the first meeting, and when the Con-
verses demanded in Presbytery whether
the Memphis preachers had anything to
allege in regular form they ct nee tabled
. charge of violating the Ninth Cam.
msndmcnt under many specifications
about twenty-five in ali.
AS soon AZ the Indictment was pres
ented the Copyerses filed q demurrer
and strenn0psly urged the P%resbytery
10 dismiss it on the ground that it was
50 frivilous and lndefit that they did not
know how to plead to it. The Presbytery
however, oyerruled their demurrer and
though the Converses warmly protested,
ordered them to enter q plea. They
then, with much hesitation and long
delay plead not guilty and the Presbytery
ordered the trial to proceed.
The prosecution summoned q number
Of witnesses from Louisville from the
State Of Kentucky, and from the South.
ern Church At large to testify as to
the reputation Of the Christian Observer
and its editors, and proposing to prove
that that reputation was, as they had
originally affirmed it to be, bad as to
veracity. To all these inquiries as to
reputation the Converses fled exception
on the ground that they were not
pertinent to the issue. These exccp-
tons, persistently urged before the con-
mission appointed to take testimony, by
Gel. Bullitt counsel for the defendants.
caused the trail to drag its tedious length
along. but the commission finally over
ruled them and ordered the questions to
be forwarded taken to the witnesses. Ap
peal was then to the Presbytery there
by causing further delay. But Presby-
terry sustained the commission, and
prescribed . form for all such ques-
lions nearly identical with that used in
civil courts for the same purpose.
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