The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-04-19

: Mr.. Blackburn answered that this did n
bear on this particular case.
h DR.. Flinn-Would the Church now reco
8 nize any member applying for membersh
a necessary business?
: Mr.. Blackburn-It would be inconsister
for the Church T. do IL.
Mr.. Gilliam-Dld the young lady voluntar
y say that she thought her work sinful?
Mr.. Black burn-Yes, sir!
MR.. FLINN IN BEHALF OF MISS MEANS.
DR. Finn was then heard in reply. He sal
: that 1t was true that people had been stone
: to death for violation of the Sabbath day, bu
: called attention to the fact that this was !
!! accord with the early laws Of the countrie
, themselves and was not In accord with God
law. While Sabbath observance had dc
creased from what 1t was In the days of thei
forefathers, he did not think that the venert
tion of the world for the day had decrease
any. 1t was as much a sin tn ride on the SAT
persons so considered 1t. Telegraph wire
we're used on certain occasions by members
just such bodies as this for evangelical bns
ness. Was that crying violation OF the Sal
people by their peculiar ideas drifting ava
from the truth, In their zealousness. He sal
the necessity for the work must be In th
work ITSELF He asked Mr.. Blackburn to sa
work as was absolutely necessary should b
done on the Sabbath day.
Mr.. Blackburn replied that 1t was only JUS
tiflable In cases where It was necessary I
preserve life or property.
THE YOUNG LADY DID NOT LIKE Mr.. BLACK
BURNS COURSE, AND ASKED FOR HER
LETTER OF DISMISSAL.
DR.. Finn remarked that the telephone wa
a necessary thing to use on the Sabbath n
any other time to call physicians. etc. III
said lie believed the young lady TO be an eur
| na fpl nf1nn1p6
the course OF the pastor and this easily &C
counted for her desire to withdraw from th'
church. The session had misconstrued he
course. He believed that the peace and pros
the young lady's complaint was served. II u
hard to draw line and say that certain worE
was necessary and other not necessary:
they ran people out OF the church for suct
reasons it did away with the whole object o
the church, which ia TO Chrlstianize the
world. 1t would not injure the discipline o
the church 10 sustain the young lady. Th'
chief aim Of the church was to sanctify com
mon sense. He said that he couM not posi-
bly, see how. Mr.. Blackburn could class such s
case as this with cases Of burglary, stealing
and lying, In the category OF Saobath-break
Ing.
There was alittle general talk and then tht
Presbytery took q recess till p. IN.
| The night session began with the disposi
tion OF Important business, after which tn
case Of Miss Means was once more resumed
| Mr.. McMaster asked that all be given ar
opportunity to express their views on the
case. On motion, five minutes was made the
limit In which each should express his opin
| lou.
DIR. GIRARDEAU THOUGHT 1T WAS JUST Te
TAKE POOR GIRL BEFORE PREJU.
DICED COURT.
Dr. Girardeau thought that the session
should be sustained, as, under the circum
stances, 1t could not do otherwise than decide
| Col. McMaster: Do you consider IL just &c
take q poor girl before preJudtced courl
without council and treat her In this manner
There are two modes OF trial, by process and
without process. In case OF q voluntary con
fession, there was no alternative but TO do az
they did.
The RevrJ. B. Dunwoody. expressed him
self as In favor OF sustaining the action OF the
session.
The Rev. T. B. Hay said that this case ap
pealed to the chivalry Of the members, and IL
was bad that young lady should oe the one
to bear the brunt of decision In so impor
taIned he could not see how any one could
hereafter be taken up on the charge.
DR.. w. G, Vardell thought that the young
lady had judged her own case In her comics,
otherwise under the circumstances.
The Rev. j. L. McLees thought that she
should have taken the position offered heI
acted right under the circumstances.
DR.. Tadlock thought that the action OF the
session correct, only having doubt as tc
the grade Of punishment.
TRIAL WITHOUT PROCESS.
DR.. s. M. Smith thought that trial without
o
or being turned out, so that she could do moth
Ing but act as she did. The case then did moi
come under the head Of cases without pro.
fTtt. tIs fNa aaNI o. n
Ing she was before the session, as the action
then was final. She should have been ad.
monished then, and II necessary suspended
afterwards. Nearly everybody violates the
disciplined all should be. Where shall the
| line be drawn between necessary and un
necessary Sabbath work9
The Rev. D. j. Brimm thought that the ses
sion should be sustained.
The Rev. H. G. Gllland thought that the
matter Of her confession removed all blame
whatever from the session for It's action. The
session did right.
OF action OF the session irregular. but ht
would sustain Its action.
Elder John Conant said that he was com
PEELED 70 work on Sunday, and knew but lew
who did not do so. If any were to be pun
ished for 1t, let 1t not be this poor girl, wher
so many men, recognized as members II
good standing In the church were now com
milling the same sin. ave are all equally II
|
be treated equally while there. A defence
less woman should not be made the example,
MISS MEANS HAD NOT A FAIR TRIAL.
Col. F. w. McMaster covered his objection
| tn the case with an unanswerable argument
He said, first, Miss Means had not had fall
trial; second, that the judges were prelu
diced, and therefore incompetent to try the
case third, that the expression reported L
have been used by Miss Means IN her oonfes
sion was not such as would have been uset
say that he did not believe she made use o
the expression ; fourth, she had no counsel q
the trial; fifth. no opportunity was given u
laymen 10 discuss 1t: sixth, thai 1t was fas
Church TO that Of Catholic Bishop; seventh
because nine-tenths Of all Christians say 1t II
harsh judgment; eighth. because II wa!
not being touched for the same offense.
Elder w. Thompson said that the Church
must preserve the sanctiiy OF the Sabbath
but that It must refrain from doing any one {
wrong, and he thought poor woman wa
being deeply wronged In this case. n
thought the statement reported to be made
by Miss Means in her confession. very re
markable for young lady. lie could no
conceal his doubt tuat she made such state
ment He could not agree with the session
Elder Fraser could not agree with the ses
sion and was dissatisfied with It's action.
| ]. A. Enslow thought that the session shoulc
be sustained II they wished the courts OF tht
Church 10 be OF force in such cases hereafter
Elder James Allan thought it question
whether II was q sinful occupation In which
the young lady was engaged. lie thought J
no more sinful than the work of q domestic
servant
| DIR, Atkinson came In late and expressed
his views. being the same In substance a.
those of DIR. Smith.
/ THE VOTE.
The matter then came to q vote, and the
action of the session was sustained by the