Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-23

money according to agreement; Dut ne
did not come, and Rev. Gilmer was ap'
pointed by the presiding elder to preach
last night. What took place then, o.
course, you already know"
Asked as to the grievance against Tur-
ner, the church member mentioned sew
eral alleged objections, and went on te
say that 1--WE don't like him anyway
He's one of these northern Negroes who
does not suit our ideas. For instance, in
sermon, not long ago, he said that dur
ing all the time he had been down south
he had never raised his hat to white lady
yet. The white men, he said, did not
raise their hats to colored ladies, and until
they did he was not going to raise his to
white ladies. Now what kind of preach
ing is that?" The member went on to
say that, so far, none of the various char
ges against the preacher had been reduced
to writing; but he was sure that they
could be proven.
After hearing one side of the case, the
reporter, on yesterday. took trip over in
Liberia to get Rev. Turner's version OF
the matter. The preacher was found at
the home of one of the members OF his
congregation. He had his books with
him at the time, and was evidently en-
gagged in explaining matters. Upon be-
ing told the object Of the reporters visit,
he seemed glad of the opportunity to
make statement, and gave in his story
as follows:
"You want me to 60 hack to the first OF
it? Well, one Sunday, about four months
ago, Thomas Johnson came to pay me
money. Then he wrote a card to the
presiding elder to come up not stating
what he wanted. At the meeting, they
spoke against me saying that was not
fit person to be pastor of the church, and
that the church could do no more good.
They did not specify any charges. de-
MED that the church was going down, and
said that, if upon examination of the
books it was not found that there was
more money in the treasury than there
had been in 10 years, and that more men,
bers had not been received than during
the first year of Rev. Ingraham's admins
tration, would resign as soon as they
paid me what they owed me. They held
that as a resignation and took vote on it.
But, understand, did not mean it as a
resignation except conditionally, and they
could not take it that way, because, see
here" and opening his book, at page IS,
paragraph lOl, the preacher read as fol-
lows:
The appointment of a preacher by the
bishop in, charge shall be regarded as a
settlement of his claim to and control OF
the pulpit of such church and the entire
direction of it's spiritual affairs, with the
exercise of all rights and prerogatives OF
his office for one conference year, COM
mencing on the date of said appointment,
and ending with the appointment OF his
successor, unless sooner changed by
bishop, or forfeited by the decision of a
competent committee.
Now" continued Rev. Mr.. Turner,
producing another paper signed by the
trustees of the church and notifying him
that his pulpit had been declared vacant,
"they sent me this; but don't you see it
amt signed by the presiding elder? But
that don't make any difference, no way.
The presiding elder has nothing to do
with it-nobody but the bishop or COM
petent committee, and the trustees are
not competent committee.
"Well, I continued to hold on to the
pulpit until last Sunday morning, and
when went to the church found that
Nelson Davies had done took the Bible off
the pulpit and had it under his arm.
They were all around the pulpit to keep
me from getting in. This same book
says that if pastor gives up his congre-
CATION without authority from the bishop,
he will be excluded from the exercise of
his office. So I determined not to give
up my pulpit. They stood in my way,
and then 1 commenced the service any
how, and Nelson Davies waved his hand
for the people to 60 out of the church.
They all went out, and while l was
preaching Nelson Davies stood out there
and Knocked me-"
Rev. Turner denied that the congrega-
tion had rendered him his past due salary
of some fifty odd dollars. He also went
on to say that when the rules for church
government failed, there was no other
recourse except to the law, and for this
reason he had entered prosecution against
Davies and others for disturbing rell-
gious meeting.
Turner is a rather heavy-set black Ne
gro, apparently about so years of age.
He uses fairly good English, and although
it is easy to see that his feelings against
his enemies are quite strong, during his
talk with the reporter, at the expense OF
some effort, he was able to exercise very
good control of his tongue.
The understanding is that when the
case comes up before the magistrate, Rev.
Turner will be represented by Major
Hart, and the congregation by Mr.. Finley.