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

t TWO BRoTHERs.IN-LAw OF THE PASTOR o.
THIS CHURCH WORK BUT AN UNPRo-
> TEcTED WOMAN IS NOT ALLOWED
TO REMAIN IN THE
, COMMUNION.
Before this, however, six men had been re
/ ceived In the church who worked on Sunday
Since the change OF Views on the matter. th
session could not suspend these men becaus,
them, 80 they are allowed 10 remain in tn.
I church still working on Sunday. He said
that the case Of Miss Means was the fourth
case OF the kind. but failed to state the dispo
, sition OF the first three. 49,.
! DR.. Finn asked If these men had been al
) lowed TO live thus In open violation OF the
Sabbath law while this young lady was taker
r up for receiving an affirmitive reply, DR.
Finn asked: "Can this Presbytery sanction
such state OF things as is set forth In Rev
Mr.. Blackburn's explanation, namely, thai
six members Of the church are living by GOV
. enant in known sin. which IL openly de
{ nounced and punished In other members?"
THEY ADJOURN RATHER THAN DISCUSS THE
FACT THAT MEN WORK ON SUNDAY.
A motion to adjourn was made, evidently
to prevent this very pertinent question being
bytery b in nj something OF a dilemma, and an
answer to it would be interesting.
The decision caused much comment among
all who heard 1t last night. Several church.
men of note say they cannot understand how
in q church there could be made such rule
which the officers apply only to those Joining
the church subsequent to Its passa ge, and do
not enforce In the similar cases Of members
who became members before the rule was put
In force. Viewed In any light, the case Is de-
stined to attract much attention, and. as II
Is understood that an appeal to the Synod
| ItuIll ho oil 4 10 70 frnp pnHp6
The State, Saturday.
The publication Of the full story Of the re-
markable case Of Miss Means OF this city.
brought up III Charleston Presbytery, was the
sensation OF the dey yesterday, and every.
where 1t was talked Of by Presbyterians and
persons Of other DENOMINATIONS. Many per
sons throughout the city were loud In their
and OF the Presbytery In sustaining It's action.
The sympathies OF the community appear to
be with the young lady.
THE PREACHER WORKED ON SUNDAY AND
RESTED THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK.
Leading Presbyterians OF the city de-
nounced the course Of the session and the
Presbytery In unmeasured terms, and one
gentlemen said that II Miss Means was guilty.
you might carry the thing still further and
equally guilty, as he did about the same
amount OF work on Sunday, after practically
resting all the rest or the week, for which he
received his salary: He only cited this as an
extreme case, and does not mean to say that
the work Of spreading the Gospel should be
classed as work.
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.
The majority OF those persons talked TO on
matter ma % as the Outcome 81 religious intoer-
ance OF most antiQuated shape.
The young lady has the great satisfaction Of
umbia approve Of her course and do not be-
lieve what has been done reflects on her as a
Christian lady In the least.
The case bobbed up again yesterday morn.
ing Developments, showing that the trouble
| thus begun Is destined TO cause great deal OF
discussion In the higher bodiesof the Presby-
terian Church and attract the attention Of the
entire country as q modern sample OF roll
gious Intolerance.
oMINoUs RESOLUTIONS.
Quite sensation was caused during the af-
terDoon session. 1t might be termed the most
sensational event OF the entire hearing OF the
case. 1t came in the shape Of certain resolu.
tions which, II they are passed by the Presby-
terry at Its fall session, will overturn all the
present conditions OF church membership.
PROTEST IN BEHALF OF MISS MEANS.
At the morning session DR.. Finn filed with
the clerk the following protest on behalf OF
the complainants, which goes on The record
and will come before the synod or the general
assembly:
the Presbytery's action refusing to sustain the
com plant OF A. H. and e. M. Monteith against
the Second Presbyterian Church OF Columbia
in the case of Miss Sadie M. Means, for the
| following reasons:
| /. Miss Means was avowedly disciplined
and suspended Indefinitely from the COM
munich Of the Church by said session with.
mi nj
Discipline, on the ground that she appeared
before the session and confessed that she had
habituslly violated the Sabbath by working
In the central Office OF the telephone company
| In Columbia, whereas, the fact was brought
out In hearing the complaint that Miss Means
was In formed by the pastor that the work iD
| the telephone office was an ofense under our
law. for which session would be compelled TO
discipline her, either according to due process
| Of law or without process, on her confession.
AS the factof her work in the telephone office
was not denied, and as she was Informed that
session had already decided that 1t was an Of
er she should be tried formally or whether she
should admit patent fact which the court
had already decided, made her guilty before
the law.
2 The only action ever taken by session In
Miss Means case was on the 23d OF March.
when she was present before session by pre-
and on the alleged confession above described
she was Indefinitely suspended from Church
communion. The penalty was unduly severe
and should have been preceded by the milder
| form nf disc pline, even II sessions view OF
the offense WAS correct.
| 8, The fact was brought out In hearing the
complaint that several members OF the same
Church were allowed without censure to en-
gage In various kinds Of work on Sunday,
such as woi in conn lection with railroads.
express offices, postofbce, newspapers, etc.
Not only is session thus partial In It's dealings
| IN Tn is matter. but according to the statement
made to the Presbytery by the pastor OF the
church, the persons above referred TO are by
open agreement allowed to continue doing
what session regards as heinous sin and
Furnishes as grave offence In Others.
| 4. II WAS brought out In hearing the com.
plaint that while Miss Means w1s in good
standing, she requested OF the pastor letter
| OF dIsmission to another church. SO far as the
records show there was neither any reason
why this letter should not be given nor any
trial OF the presentation Of the request to the
Presbytery. AS Miss Means had made law
| full reauest which was refused, her retention
In the Church against her will, and contrary
| to covenant and legal provisions granting her
a transfer when desired, the whole proceed
jpgs were null and void. as there was In CO.
uity under sessions jurisdiction at the time
S. It was not proved In court that the work
done by MIS- Means was disclplinabe Of
tense under our law.
| 6. Your protestant therefore believes that
the action OF session, sustained by the PresDy-
terry, wss not for the edification OF the church
or promotive OF truth and Righteousness. Re
spectfully submitted, J. VIM. Finn.
|