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


d, There Is nothing In the record OF the case
TO show that the request for letter was evel
presented to the session. but subsequent
events have proved that Miss Means was moi
In good and regular standing at the time the
pastor said that II would be useless tor her to
apply for letter. No church can grant a Ger.
ttficate Of dlsmission TO person TO avoid a
judicial process -. -
was habiiually violating the fourth com.
mandment. That the work In which she was
engaged was not itself o work OF necessity,
and that there was no necessity compelling
her to do It.
MR.. BLACKBURN MORE sTIC1lLER FOR REC.
oRDs THAN BELIEVER IN JUSTICE.
DIR. Smith offered some exceptions to the
records or the Second Churcb's session In this
case as presented to the Presby terry. One was
tutional; another that the case was not strict
~ case OF process another that the penalty
Imposed was too severe.
In reply to DR.. Smiths motion, Rev. Mr..
Blackburn said that afler judicial action
had been taken the minutes could not be
changed or reversed. The sentence imposed
In the case was the lightest allowed, and he
this.
DR.. Smith, have had considerable expert
ence in church courts and II your construc-
tion Is correct, have been wrong In several
instances. / haye suspended members for q
OF this period repeated the sentence. until the
disability was removed. and In case IL was not
removed, then suspended them for an indefi-
mite period. My opinion Is that the law al
lows this and contemplates this mode OF pro-
cedure.
. : MIR. BLACKBURN AGAIN.
Mr.. Blackburn explained his construction
OF definite and indefinite suspension and the
offenses 10 which they spply, differing mate
rally from DR.. Smith. He said that the court
had officially sustained the sentence and thus
any argument against the severity OF the sem
tence would amount to nothing.
Inc question OF adopting the exceptions to
the record was brought to vote. DR. FliLn
attempted to say something in behalf Of the
amendments, but was cut short by Mr.. Black
burn, who moved to table 1t. This motion
was carried, only three voting against 1t. The
minutes were then adopted as they stood.
DOESN'T THIS EXCITE YOUR SYMPATHY FOR
THE AcCUsED7
Mr.. Blackbu furnishes the following copy
OF the official record Of the case handed up by
the session. - ' .f|
"The session met at the call of the Modera-
tor In the pastors study. Present: Rev. G. A.
Blackburn and Elders McCreery and Suber.
Session opened with prayer by the moderator.
Miss Sadie NJ. Means being present stated that
she habitually violated the Sabbath by work
ing In the central Office OF the telephone COM
pany in this city. She was then exhorted TO
give up that employment. This she refused
salary she was getting, asked her II she Would
not rather have place In the store. This ehe
declined. The pastor then stated that he had
requested her TO give up her place and study
stenography and typewriting at his expense.
Thus was she solemnly warned OF the danger
she was incurripg in making her choice. She
still. however, adhered 10 her purpose There
upon the session suspended her from the COM
10 Section 5,224, Of the book OF Church Order.
&c. W. Suber, Clerk"
WHICH WAS A SUMNER.
\ DR.. Atkinson offered the following resolu.
tion, VI hlch created quite a stir among the
members OF the Presbytery:
Whereas, II has transpired In the Presbytery
that the Second Church Of Columbia has
among its communicants certain persons con.
fessedly, both by themselves aud the session,
the Sabbath. ior which the session OF said
Church has recently suspended q member;
and
Whereas, the Presbytery has sustained said
sessions action therefore
Resolved, That the Presbytery epjoins said
session OF the Second Church OF Columbia to
take immediate steps to compel said mem
bers to cease their known and confessed sins
within less than" time or to proceed TO
discipline them likewise.
Mr.. Morrison. one OF the elder delegates, Of
fered the following amendment, which DIR.
Atkinson accepted:
es under Its care to take immediate steps to
compel any Of their members who may be
violating the Sabbath to cease such violation
RATHER THAN FACE THE MUSIC, PRESBY-
Terry ADJoURNs INsTANTER.
The introduction Of these resolutions caused
q commotIon about the hall. The delegates
seemed to realize what their action meant.
In view OF the fact that great many OF those
who had voted to sustain the session had LEFT
the city, and the matter could notbe submit; submit;
merely 10 docke II. This was done. The ef-
feet OF this Ia TO leave the resolutions over to
be considered by the fall session Of the Pres
bytery.
THE CASE WILL GO TO SYNOD.
The case is going to the higher Presbyterian
courts beyond doubt. There are three ways
py which the synod can come to consider the
matter. In the first place whether an appeal
or complaint is filed or rot the S fnil RECORDS as
The Synod. It Is customary for the Synod to
Investigate, upon the motion, all such cases
appearing In such a record. Then an appeal
But this has to be made by the party con-
cerned directly. Inasmuch as the complain
ants herein are the relatives Of the young
lady, this method will not DO. II VII be
through the last method, no doubt, that the
Il is In the nature OF complaint which
Miss Means relatives can ile for her. 1t has
the same effect as an appeal.
Miss Means representative has ten days to
decide what course he will pursue In the fur
ther prosecution OF the matter and has not
yet decided upon It.
tn Cvoaa at Six O,cIOck