Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-10-23
WHITTIER aRE We DRIFTISGI
The Presbyterian Charsh Matter Discussed
eJa Correspondent.

TAHLEQUkn. l. T. Oct. IS.
short article in last weeks CIuETTATS
attracted my attention and is food for thought.
Il is headed "So Longer an Elder" Then
follows = copy OF the action OF the Cherokee
Presbytery notifying DR.. A. W. Foreman
that he has forfeited his ofHee as an elder Of
the vIniis Presbyterisn church. and instruct
| ing said church TO choose additional elders.
+ On reading saeh = communication. one Is led
| to ask the question; What oaense has Dr.
Foreman committed that necessitates such
action By the chsrokee Presbytery2 Surely
< the Presbytery would not procsed to sueh
severe treatment wItheus due inquiry. AMI
the andIag OF some good and snfieient reA-
sons FOR sueh action. What are the charges
and specifications brought and proved2 Has
/ the Doctor been guilty Of some nagrant i'm
morality Has anything appeared in his pub
I lie OF private life ss q aan, a gentleman OF q
christian that renders such sctiOn by. and no
ties nom the Cherokee Presbytery proper.
just Gn1 rights No enc will question FOR
moment the right and duty Of each and every
/ religions body to be watehfal over its best
and highest spiritual Interests. and 10 purge
itself from all impu-sty in vhsteVer shape.
and TO encourage. ealtivate and insist on all
]
evate the standard OF true. spiritual. scrip
taFaI growth In grace. That il All right; they
snoald keep themselves pure Well, what
has the doctor done that ne should be depOsed2
Did the examining committee Of the Cherokee
Prssbytsry fnd that the dector had been
guilty Of lying. stealing. dsfrauding. cheat
ing. eounterfeIting. forgery OF dishonest deal
| iag In any way. or were there any hints that
his condue. had been in TIA rem0;est degree
snch IS 70 lead the Purest and most chaste 10
believe that he had tarnished his fair name
by breaking the seventh commandment
looked the article in TuE CHIEETAIS over very
carefully to nnd just what was the Doctors
special and particular sin / was personally
| interested and mlch concerned in mind. and
would have been soreiy hurt and grieved had
found any such charges against him. for he
is 4 very dear and warm personal friend
have known him all his life. / knew and loved
his venerable father for many years Bat.
thanks be &c God. found no charge Of i'm
morality or any hint OF . loose OF dissolute
life. What then was the doctor guilty Of, to
bring down upon him the disgrace Of being
deposed from the honorable pOsition In the
church which he held2 Let rs LOOK again and
see just what the charges and specifications
are; read carefully: AN elder baPtised by
immersion. etc, decides that the elder has
thereby forfeited his once IS an elder
There IL ls. Rnb your eyes and re a that
again. Then tell ne. In what age srs We
liyIng2 Are We living IL almost the dawn Of
the eoth century, or ara we yet living In that
age Of persecution told Of in our school his
tories when Hoger Williams. acknowledged
to be 3 good and noble man. was driven from
his heme among the bigOted eOlOnists because
be believed in Immers ion2 Dr. Foreman is
acknowledged by all TO be = good msn. and
one who has done more for that same ehE-ch
than any other man in Yinita-
This calls 10 mind smother transaction.
souse three years ago. OF the same Cherokee
Presbytery and the same VInitA church \
certain man. q member in gcOd standing.
against whom there was not breath OF sus-
nIcion as to stealing. adultery OF any immoral
conduct whatsoever. but enc whose life before
the public, in this nation, for forty years,
has been as a leader In church work. always
ready to take part in meetings, active End
jealous in Sunday School work, the only lay
man who tries 10 labor for the spiritual good
OF the prisoners in oar national JUL and has
always been forward in every good work
this man. like the good doctor. was greatly
surprised TO receive copy Of the action Of
the Presbyterian church Of Vinita. notifying
him that he had been suspended from con-
nectiOn with sEid church because OF con
tamsey." And to this day as far as anything
he has 10 show, he yet remains suspended.
for he has never been ofciAily notified that
said church has ever taken any further action
in the matter. Bat he daily thanks God that
suspension in his case does not mean death
And be thinks he has very good c0mpany-one
suspended from the church. the other .depesed
from the eldership in the same church. Does
sach action tend 70 the glory OF God sud the
best spiritual good OF the church memberss
Does it iift them mp TO close walk with
GOds Has this aedon OF the Yinita church
been the means blesf OF the Master 10 win any
one In Vinita from their sinful ways and in
duce them 10 lead better iife2 How many
has il caused 20 quit swearing and sabbath
breaking aud go To praying aud 10 now
attend church service and the weekly prayer
acelings
loarEs for . pure Christ life.
CACsCs JR SO cKgEcH