The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-09-04
The SINGER CONTROVERSY.

Two weeks ago we announced that
no further communication on the Sing
er matter would be published in THE
COLUMBIAN. Had we known to what
it was going to lead, the first commu-
nication on the subject would not have
appeared. Each succeeding article
brought in some new name, and that
individual then claimed the right to
be heard, and it was accorded him, in
each instance, but when communica-
tions and atfidavits came pouring in
from both sides, it was deemed time
to stop. However as Mr.. Singer was first
assailed the following letter from him,
and extract from the New Martinsville
Republican is published at the ur-
gent request of several of our subscrib.
ers, and then it positively ends. As was
said before, a church tribunal should
try the case, and not the newspapers.
All further communications will surely
be rejected, from whatever source.
A few lines have been stricken out of
Mr.. Singers letter, as they do not
strengthen it materially, and would
open the door for replies from other
parties. which we must decline in adj
vance.
CALIFORNIA, Pa, Aug. IS, 1901.
Editor of the COLUMBIAN
claim the right to answer A. w.
Conner's letter. When l wrote my
first article I wrote in self defense, in
answer to d. NJ. Kinter who had made
a personal attack on me. There are
six men at Saltwater who certify that
Connor had told what they knew to
be positive falsehoods about me. A
man who will maliciously lie about
another-would induce others to do
the same. If this man Conner as the
State Evangelist is so tenacious for the
purity of the pulpit, sohy don't lie get
oct eft. When Conner says that the
Elders at Saltwater wanted to be his
accusers and Judges he knows that he
uttered base talsehoOa. They Of
fered to let him choose one Elder from
an adjoining church, they would choose
one, and the two would choose the
third-and the time was fixed for
him to appear he failed to do so.
Conner flies in the face Of the E7d-
ers at .Still,oater, and the Elders at
Zion, and intends to try to wreak out
his cenyednce on me. l inclose the
finding of the Elders after hearing all
that Conner had to say, as well as all
of his witnesses and helpers; as we'll
as the Editor of the California Mes
senger, and the 1Vetzel Republican,
men of honor with whom have been
acquainted for a great many years; /;
ten honorable christian men from
Saltwater and Benton, have given me
a statement "that they believe that
this is wicked, devilish conspiracy to
destroy my influence as preacher of
the gospel" r. H. SINGER.
The following article is from the
New Martinsville Republican:
GAS an item of news that will prove
interesting to many of our readers, We
publish the following as taken from
the California, Pa, Messenger, where
Mr.. Singer has lived for a long num-
Der of years. A. w. Conner, the State
Evangelist, has told some things about
Singer for which he was convicted of
falsehood. Through revenge, he then
preferred charges against Singer before
his home congregation at Zion, Wash.
ington county, Pa, for Immoral and
unchristian conduct" The trial was
held August 9th, 1891. The verdic,
reads;
"We, the Elders of the Church ol
Christ at Zion, Speers p. O., Washing
ton county, Pa. after due considera
ton of the testimony in the case of A
w. Conner the State Evangelist, anC
others, against r. H. Singer for i'm
moral and unchrlstian conduct, find
that he is not guilty, SAMUEL Fry.
To which the following postscrip
was added:
"Conner and his allies went bacl
fifteen years in their effort to find some
thing to condemn Bro. Singer, and sig
nally failed"
y The editor of the Messenger add
the following;
sit does seem as though the storie
told on Rev. Singer abroad, wer
| prompted by spirit of jealousy. Hi
long residence in this place and the es
TEEN in which he Is held by his neigh
bors, is certainly in strange contras
with the charges preferred against hin
at Zion last week. We are pleased t
hear Of his triumphant vindcation, an
hope for continuance of the success
with which his name has become fami
iar." ......
i The editors of the REPUBLICAN wis
i to add that they have been intimatel
S acquainted with r. H. Singer for q
,. least fourteen years. He has ever ha
;. our confidence as an earnest Christia
e man, and an able and successful preacl
| &c IL 49,.