The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-10
Wednesday, Dec. 10. 1890.

Outside Trustees Having Been Turn
ad Ont, Will the Inside Trustees
Misappy the Outside Contrib"'
tiOns?
At request of O friend, we let the matter OF
Erskine College rest last week.
We had intended to say nothing on the sub
ject this week.
But Mr.. Chalmers having seen ct to take us
at a disadvantage, by republishing in his own
pauer an article from the Yorkville Enterprise,
at time when 1t seemed impossible for us 10
make reply, we will offer a word or two.
We would not do Mr.. Chalmers an injustice,
.ad therefore copy in full the article to which
reference is had.
II the ear marks do not justify in the fol-
lowing criticisms, we are greatly mistaken,
and would'make humble and ample apology
for what we say.
We ask the reader to notice the Worus III
the preface OF the article, in which he says
.the following oppeared as an editorial" &c.
If Mr.. Chalmers had not known that the ar
ticle was not written by the editor, would he
not have said, '"the following editorial" &c
We leave the public to make their own infer
ence.
Yorkville Enterprise something which he eith-
er wrote or inspired, was there not de-
ception?
hit be true that Mr.. Chalmers either wrote
or inspired that article, and afterwards
palmed IL off on the readers of the Associate
reformed Presbyterian "as an article which
appeared as an editorial in another news
paper, would not the act be reprehensiole'
Besides the words at the heading under his
own initials, we beg leave to offer other rea-
sons for believing that Mr. Chalmers Is the
real au thor of the article which he would pre-
sent to the public as the writing Of an anoth
er.
The whole tenor of the article sounds ike
MIR. Chalmers, and some of the expressions
are certainly his, though by coincidence
another may have used one or all Of them
For Instance, ut (Erskine Coilege) has not
grown and prospered during the past fifteen
years,proportionately with the church. "
THE voice is Jacobs voice, but the hands
are the hands OF Esau."
If Mr.. Chalmers didn't write that, he wrote
something very like 1t.
What does the Yorkville Enterprise know or
care for the number OF graduates In 1917
How did the editor of that paper come to pick
out that very year, II Mr.. Chalmers had not
pointed IL out?
Now. for the final and absolute proof that
he did write 1t or else the author used some
of the swords which Mr.. Chalmers used at
Synod. "Should q majority decide upon Its
removal such action on their part 1--we pre-
sumo, those who objectl would be little less
than rebellion" Mr.. Chalmers used some OF
these very words, or words to that effect, at
the late meeting OF Synod. if he was correctly
reported.
Further, what does Mr.. Chalmers mean by
a majority ?" He writes artfully. Did he
mean the "majority" Of an eight to seven
commission. or did he mean majority" of
the whole church Or did he leave 1t open for
future construction?
We merely reply to his article which "ap-
peared as an editorial" in another paper. ana
which he copied In his own paper under cir
cumstances which he perhaps thought would
give 1t more force than If presented directly
from bis own pen.
At one time Mr.. Chalmers talks eloquently
about the College being church college, ana
when 1t suits his purpose better he urges the
Rock Hill business, and talks about locality
and local interests.
Mr. Chalmers by way OF reproach, and TO
scare the faint-hearted says
"Such action on their part would be little
less than rebellion"
II thank thee for teaching me that word
1t Is a good word, and correctly describes the
situation.
We will rebel, and rebel most vigorously If
any attempt Is made to take our money TO
build college elsewhere.
rebellion" Is good word and is associated
with all that is good and pure in this coun-
try.
This government, the best the world ever
saw, is the result Of a rebellion.
The very church whose sacred robes Mr..
Chalmers wears is the result of q rebellion.
People never rebel except when they feel
the heel Of the oppressor.
People never rebel except from conscien-
tlous principles, and patriotic motives.
Yes, sir. Mr.. Chalmers, we will rebel, and
kick most furiously if you take our money
away from us and divert it from the uses for
which II was intended.
We Will even use the courts to make you
act with due respect for the rights and inter-
ters Of those US who have trusted you and
your associates with our money.
To take Erskine College from Due West,
without reIunding our money, would be all
act dishonoring to even men in the Sc
cular pursuits of life, and would make
the very nameof the Associate Reformed Pres.
byterian church reproach in Abbevile coun-
~.
What would the people say of q religious
body who would first 60 10 the outside world
for money. and after getting it throw out ey
cry outside trustee representing their inter
ests, and then Immediately on the heels OF
that outrage attempt 10 divert the money?
People Of all the different shades OF reli.
sious belief have together contributed thou
sands OF dollars to build, support and endow
Erskine College and her societies.
During the last fifty years agents for the COL
lection of money have gone to every part OF
Abbevllle county. Without regard to reli-
gious fsith our people have given money.
The church is therefore under a moral OBJ.
legation 10 either refund our money or let the
college stay where II Is. The board Of trus-
tees are under legal obligations from which Sc
cret machinations and the implous calling
for divine blessing cannot relieve them.
IF anybody should think that Erskine Col
lege Is a church College. and for that reason. a
secular newspaper should remain silent.
when its interests are assailcd, we would re-
mind them OF the fact that the trustees who
rpDrpgentpd their n eraSts were n rn ed at