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


there are Others In the church who likewise
woik Oh Sunday.
When the Presby terry reconvened yesterday
morning the case Was at once resumed. The
Judicial ommil toe reported that 1t hud found
The "records' correct and the cierk began 70
reau the papers In the case. The origina
complaint Was read without any comment
und Is as follows:
THE COMPLAINT,
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
Guar ,eston Presbytery.
Ainsley H. Monteith apdl
Emma NJ. Monteith,
Complainants.
U.s. COmptIfnt.
The Session Of the Sec
ind Pres yte an
Churcn or Columbia,
5. g., Respondents.
The Comp!ainapts above named, complain.
Ing OF the Respondents, herein allege:
l. That the said Ainsley II. Monteith and
Emma M. Montelth, his wife, are coinmuning
members OF the Second Presbyterian Church
or Columbia, s. g., and that at the time here
inafter mentioned, Sadie NJ. Means. sister
communing member Of said church.
2. That on or about the q day of March.
lSyS, the said Sadie NJ. Means was orally sum-
moned by the Rev. G. A. Blackburn, the pas
tor OF said church. " appear before The ses-
sion OF said churt b at meeting thereof, 70 be
held on said 23d day Of NJ Arch, 1873.
3. That In response TO said summons the
said Saddle NJ. Means appeared before the ses-
sion OF the Second Presbyterian Church and
In response 70 certain questions from the
pastor, touching her occupation and especial.
Iy AZ It required her TO work ON this Sabbath
day. she stated to said session that she was
then employed as all operator In the Tele-
phone Exchange In the city OF Coum bia and
that as such employee worked tn the office on
sundays from the hour of o'clock to the
hour Of ! O'Clock.
4. That said session. through Its moderator.
urged the said Saddle Nj, Means to relinquish
raid employment, but that said Sadie M.
for her llviny-deciined TO do 30, whereupon
The said SESSION suspended her from the com.
nIunion OF the said church.
5. Further your complBinants show that
no formal charges Of any offense were ever
tabIed. or. otherwise preferred against the
said Sadie NJ. Means; nor was process" OF
any kind ever Issued against her. That the
action or the session in the premises was lit
formal and based solely upon the admission
OF said Sadie M. Means, that in the discharge
or her duties as an employe OF the Telephone
Exchange, she was required, and did attend
at The office Of the said Telephone Exchange
from three to four hours on Sunday as here
6. That the said Sadie M. Means lives with
these complaiDants, and 10 large measure
looks 10 them tor protection, comfort, counsel
and ad Ice.
7. That shortly afler the said action of ses.
SION, to 9it: On the 3lst day OF March, 1893,
these colDplaluan;s, adopted letter TO The
Rev. G. A. Blackburn, moderator OF said ses.
sion. asking for d copy Of the proceedings
had against the said Sadie NJ. Means: and at
the same time gave notice 10 the session oil
terry on account OF their aid action, stating
in the said notice OF complaint the reasons
therefor; copy OF which said notice and
yeasons are hereto attached, as exhibit A.
That on or about the 5th day OF April, 1893
yonr comp!aiuants received from Mr.. =. w.
Suber. ellen X Of said sson, copy OF said
proceeding. and, upon inspecting the same,
learned that said session did not record ~
iull statement oi the facts and the judgment
rendered" but only their conclusions from
the facts stated, thereby presenting case un.
just 10 the accused and preJudicial 70 her
cause.
=. And your complainants further show
that many other members Of the said Second
Presbyterian church, OF longer standing than
the said Sadie NJ. Mea MS, are In similar EN-
ployment, of public nature, whereby they
nre required 10 work ON the sabbath day, and
yet no notice thereof has been taken by the
knid session. Whereby an invidious exception
las been made in her case, and unwarranted
by any precedrnts In said church.
9. That your complainants have served
upon the said session additiDnal reasons fol
This complaint and have hereto attached 4
copy thereof marked "exhinit b"
10. And your c"mpluinsnts further show
that the action OF said session Is contrary tC
Ihe Constitution and laws OF our church and
tinds no warrnnt or authority In the word Of
tiud as Interpreted by our standards.
Wherefore, your comp plainants ask that tht
uctlon OF said session suspending the saiC
church be anhuiled. and that the said sadi,
NJ. Means he restored to full communion anc
fellowship In the said church.
The clerk took up exhibit A, which was {
notire OF the compiainants that an appea
would be taken In the cave. 1t was upon ex
hibit b, which was In the shape OF an amend
ed complaint, that the chief discussion aros
and the Quibbing over the technicality O
M ana q N n "a kpn
the hour OF adjournment for dinner.
OF COURSE Mr.. BLACKBURN OBJECTS T,
EVERYTHING.
In each OF the cases Of the amended com
pIaint the Rev. Mr. Blackburn entered an oh
as amended. There seemed TO be no troubl
on this score Until some one asked what el
feet the objections would have upon the ad
missibility OF that part OF the record. MI
Beattie, the moderator, explained, and MI
Blackburn insisted that each OF his objection
be recorded as part OF the minutes.
The moderator ruled, after some discussion
that the record before the court was made u
OF all the papers that came up through
proper channel from the Second Presbyter
an Church. Mr.! Blackburn wanted TO hav
his objection overruled SO that he conld hav
some action taken that would be definite.
Col. McMaster thought that the discussio
was useless as the whole question was whetf
er the Church has the right TO dismiss men
bers who fnd 1t necessary to do this class {
work.
DR.. Smith, OF Columbia, said that the en-
tire question was upon what made up tn
proper records and If the ruling Of the cha
was not satisfactory to appeal from It..
Dr. Finn wanted to know whether til
amended complaint was admissible.
Mr.. Blackburn said that IL had never com
up before the church authorities.
DR.. Finn stated that the amended com
plant was filled as soon as the records upo
which IL was based could be secured.
Mr mi SQId
plaiut was not made up till the day befoi
Preshytery met and 1t could not have bee
considered by the church authorities.
Then some one suggested that the Judici'