The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-25
Rev T. j. Calls Writ08.
He Replies to That Portion of Dr. NgOs Speech Reflect
ing Upon His Character.

10 the EDITOR. lnere are some IuluSS
in the Xilgo investigation, with which,
have been connected, and about which
my name has been extensively used
that ought to be more fully explained to
the church and public and it is also due
my friends, my family and myself that
this be done. This is my reason for
writing. Judge Clark requested me to
appear as a witness. declined to do so.
He then had me subpoenaed to appear.
| declined to accept service. He then
wrote that he feared | was intimidated
like others. and that if / still refused he
would announce my refusal at the in
vestigation. / sought the advice of II
number of friends in regard to this mat
ter. among others the president of the
hoard of trustees of Trinity College, and
he said to me, ut is one of the unpleaS-
ant duties of life. but there is only one
thing for you to do. Go forward and
testify" There were several reasons
why I did not wish to do so. Quite Il
number of others had refused to testify,
some in both North and South Carolina.
Some Of my friends had said to me, IF
you go there and tell the truth, they
will cut your head off" Again, / be-
tate to ruin, if possible, by SANDER, false
hood or in any other way, the reputation
of any man in Southern MethOdism or
in the world if he thought that by so do
ing he could carry his point. and for the
time being clear himself. l leave 1t to
the unprecedented reader Of his speech,
delivered in connection with the investi-
CATION. to say if the SANDERS, thinly veil
,flfT nrlcs
inneudoes, which he perpetrated and at
tempted to heap upon me, have not fully
justified my belief.
But notwithstanding all these reasons
for not doing so, / finally decided that
though all others should refuse / would
appear at the investigation and testify
and leave the result with God and the
Church. If | had testified to what ]
knew to be q falsehood, namely that
John G.. Kilgo did not have the reputa-
ton Of a wire-puller and manipulation in
South Carolina. it would no doubt have
been satisfactory to him, and the ques-
tiOns which he asked me in the cross ex-
animation showed beyond question to my
mind that he thought I ought to have
so testified, or not to have testified Mt
all. But my testimony was to Il fact,
tation in South Carolina was that Of n
wire-puller and manipulation. / could
do nothing less. / did nothing more and
here stand, so help me God. He did
not ask me how I got my information. |
am persuaded. however. that he knew
full well, but did not wish me to tell on
that occasion. l have been present Mt
nearly all the District Conferences and
all the Annual Conferences held in South
Carolina during the last three years, aud
have spent about three months of each
one of these years in the bounds of that
conference, and there is nothing concern
ing DR.. Kilgo that seems to be better
known among a very large number of
preachers and laymen than his unenvia-
bic reputation of wire-pulling and ma
nipulating. But what other proofs were
offered as to his reputation in South
Carolina? First, the positive testimony
of Mr.. r. B. Boone that he had been in
SpartanDurg for a number of days,
where Dr. Kilgo lived several years
prior to his coming to NTH Carlina,
and that his reputation there was GER
tainly that of a wire-puller and manipu-
lator. and he was told by two reliable
parties. high in authority in the church,
that DR.. Kilgo had tried by intrigue with
two or three others displace Dr. Car
Isle as President Wofford College and
get the place for himself.
Thir, the testimony of Mr. Beckwith,
of Raleigh, who was sent to South Caro-
lima by the board Of trustees of Trinity
College. and visited Rock Hill, Green
wood. AbbevilIe Columbia, Leasville
College and other places, who testified
that he talked freely with from fifty to
sixty of the leading men in South Caro-
lima about DIR. Kilgo, and his reputation.
and that from what these men said to
him he knows Kilgo's reputation in
South Carolina is that Of wirepuller
and manipulation, and he stands ready
to give the names of these gentlemen
and what they said to him, for he has
it written down.
Fourth, the deposition of Rev. IT, G.
Llgon, of Rock Hill, s. c.. preacher
of fine ability and unblemished reputa-
ton, in which he says that DR.. Kilgo's
reputation in that conference is that of a
wire-puller and manipulation.
Fifth, the statement of Rev. II. G.. Her
bert in which he says, Il know Rev. DR..
Kilgo and have known him from his boy
hood. He is man Of ability. | low
ed John, but it is true that for several
years before he went to North Carolina
he was Il STORM CENTRE. He fell
under DR.. Kirkland's influence and there
is no doubt that his reputation in South
Carolina is that of a wire-puller and
manipulation. 1t is impossible for man
with his disposition to stay long any
where without trouble, and | am not
surprised to know that he is in trouble
in North Carolina. A large majority of
the older and middle-aged members Of
the conference know this is true Of him.. :"
Rev. r. G. Herbert, who made this
statement to Mr. Beckwith. has been in
the South Carolina Conference about
forty years and is one of its most honor
ed members.
Sixth. The statement of Prof. l.. B.
Haynes, President of Leasville College,
and lay delegate to the late General
Conference in Baltimore, and one of
the best men of the many noble laymen
of that conference, said. 81 refused to
vote for KilgO at the General Confer
ence for anything because of his wire
pulling and tricky methods. Kilgo came
to me and asked me why the South Car
Dina delegation refused to vote for
him. | told him because of his tricky