The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-08-31

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T.. IL EIwelI-Mr. EIweIl Sustained by
HIS Church.
| COLUMBIA, $. c., Aug. 20.-Mr.
Jackson Cartledge who is in charge of
the Gcrvais street DispensaLy, and the
Rev. ). =. ii. Elwell pastor of the Mar
ion Street Methodist Church are dscu u.s.
sing the question as to whether it is
right in the sight of God and man TO be
connected with the State Dispensary
business. Mr.. Cartledgc le a member
OF tho Marion Street Methodist Church,
and IN a letter dated the 1th INST, the
Rev 5. p. ii. EIwell lectures the Dis.
penscr on the sinful life he is leading
ard aGmOnishcs him to seek "a more
honorable and less sintu! business"
Mr.. Cartledge says that during his
and his wlte's membership with the M ,r-
ion Street Methodist Church the Rev.
Mr.. T. iwell has not only not treated him
as Christian pastor ought to treat ono
OF his flock, but did not even treat him
civlly, lie claims also that Pastor FL
well did not visit his family oltener than
once month during the entire six
months Illness OF his wife proceeding
her death. The communication between
the two gentlemen, however, arc the
best portraya! Of the positions Of the
two.
DR.. Elwell wrote the first letter and
the text OF it is as follows:
"CoLUMvlA, >. G., August !.
"Mr. j. CarllcdTe.
| "DEAR BROTHER: 1t becomes my
painful duty to inform you that charges
have been preferred against you for sell
ling liquor as beverage. This is a vi
olation of the laws of the chnrch and Is
wrong IN the sight Of God. hope you
Will feel free to give up the Dispensary
and engage in more honorable and less
sinful business. Please inform me at
your earliest convenience what you will
| do.
81 will hold tho charges in abeyancc
Tor your answer, as | do not wish to
press the matter II you can be saved for
the church. | consider your soul worth
more than all tho mOuev that ever has
or ever will be coined. write this in a
spirit OF brotherlv love, but must as
-urc you that your present course Of life
is lnc"nslstcni with CERTAINTY ard the
teachings OF the Bible. Consider we'll
and answer soon. Yours truly,
I IS. L. II. ELwELI,"
MIR. CartlcdGc's reply was rs follows
"COLUMEIA, 5. G., Aug lG, 1898.
"DEAK SIR AND BROTHER: Yours
OF August came duly to hand, and
have crciully considered contents o.
same.
The State Of South Carolina at ITS
last session of the Legislature passed an
act prohibiting the sale of liquors by any
one except lis own agent. This was
done In response TO demand from the
people for prohibition. | was elected
one OF the agents and one Of my duties
ls to sell liquor IN unbroken packages to
those citizens who are Of age and who
arc known not TO be habituai drunksrds.
| consider this solemn responsibility,
and III doing it have the benefit of
clear conscience, for am carrying ont
a law which certainly is a step in the
r!|ht dn cctlon, from temperance stand.
point, and one which can be easily
amended so as TO meet the views OF the
strlctcst prohibicionst. only sell to
those who will have liquor. |! is not a
part OF my duty to solicit patronage but
on The contrary can aud do refuse 20
sell to those who are not able to use it
in moderation.
"Now, | have given YOU my answer
and 1t is left for you and the church to
say what your sense of duty requires
you to do.
81 am, vc"y respectfully, yours,
81. CARTIRDGE.
"Rov. S. u. III. Elwcll, Columbia, :. c."
DIR. Ewcl's reply was as follows:
"COLUMBIA, :. c., Aug. Is, IS92.
"Mr. Jackson Cartledyc.
"DEAK BROTHER: Yours lust re-
rplVnI ti1l nIu Of 4, l,,
under which you cOnducL your business,
| regard il iavorabIy az an cXpcdicnt,
but 1t does not meet those moral cOndi
tons which The Church and the laws Of
God require.
THE Church and the state have
always been at variance on this subject.
Under the Old forms the Church forbade
hcr members TO engage IN the business,
though they held Il license from the
State. Now that the State has entire
con .rOl OF the business does not lessen
It's moral turpitudc.
"The Legislature could Just as easily
have passed law permitting it TO be
Sold only for n2ssary purposes as the
iaW they did pass, but they refused to
grant the wish OF a majority Of the
voters OF the %."tc, and imposed upon
IiLCll inc present law, WliCn lS uCSlSnCu
TO make money out of the business for
the State and not to improve the moral
condition OF her people.
"II you sold liquors only for mcdici.
nal and mechanical purposes then the
church would be satisfied, as 1t would
not conflict with her law, which says:
If any OF our preachers or members
Shnl! engage in the manufacture or sale
OF spirtuOus liquors as a beverage let
them be dealt with as in immOraity.'
81 assure you have no personal feel
ing in the matter but am compelled to
DO my duty under the laws OF the
church, which | regard as more sacred
and binding than The laws OF the State.
'This position, # am correctly in
formed, with all of it's solemn respOnsi.
hlliucs,' was not forced upon you, or
there might have been some excuse for
IL, but you sOugh: it yourself.
eff now you find it involves 'solcmr
responsibilities the proper and manly
thing for you to do is to give 1t ur, as
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