The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-03
Presbyterian Schisnl.

The Brewerton Presbyterian church
in Laurens county is about to swing
loose from the church fold and become
an Independent congregation. The
people there have called as their pastor
the Rev. n. J. Holmes and he has ac-
cepted. The Presbyterian church au-
thorities say that such action is irregu-
lar, as Mr.. Holmes having retired from
the Presbyterian pulpit is no more
eligible to the pastorate than Baptist
or Methodist minister. 1t is said that
the church, however, intends to stand
by its choice regardless of the conse-
1uences and defy the presbytery.
The Brewerton church was organ
lied several years ago by the Rev. Mr..
Holmes and has a strong membership
roll. The Rev. Mr.. Holmes, it will be
remembered, withdrew from the pres
bytery last fall along with the Rev. Mr.
Todd when they were organizing the
Paris Mountain Bible institute to teach
divine healing. The views of the Rev.
Messrs. Holmes and Todd were inves-
tigated BY committee OF presbytery
and they withdrew from the denomina-
ton. AS Mr.. Holmes is man of great
popularity the action Of presbytery
created some feeling, which the action
Of the Brewerton church is tending to
revive. During his campaigns as evan
selisthe crganizeda a number Of church
es in that section and it is said that it
is not unlikely that some churches will
follow thelead of the Beaverton church
and cut loose from the presbytery, en-
dorse the Rev. Mr.. Holmes views and
become independent organizations.
Those opposed to Mr. Holmes say there
is no foundation for this report.
The Brewerton church has sent a Pc
tition to presbytery asking to be al
lowed to withdraw on account of the
holiness views Of the congregation and
committee has been sent to inyesti-
gate the case. The Rev. DR.. j. S.
Watkins, of Spartanburg, and the Rev.
DR.. B. G.. Clifford, of Union, are mem
bers Of the committee, which is in
structed to make report at the next
meeting ofpresbytery at Reidville next
September. tits said that the church
was unanimous in it's request, but,
though there was no minority report
the presbytery assumed that there
might he some who did not want to
withdraw, and appointed the commit
tee to look after the interest Of the
property. This condition Of affairs
presents the possibility Of lawsuit
over the property. Presbyterians here
say that if there are members OF the
church who do not want to withdraw,
the properly, if its title is not vested
in board of trustees, belongs to the
minority, and that if the majority in
sist on withdrawing they will have to
get out and build a new house of wor-
ship. The majority will naturally re-
sist this view, and the courts may be
called in to decide the very delicate
question involved.
Efforts are being made among mem-
bers of the presbytery to get the Rev.
Mr.. Holmes back into the church and
those at work along this line are hope,
full of success. They recognize that he
is splendid man and they are sorry
that he saw fit to leave them. Others,
however, say that with the views ho
now holds he can never become MEM
Der Of presbytery and that unless he
Ienounces these views he will never be
received back into the fold, and they
do not believe that he will ever re-
nounce any views he has expressed.
Whether Mr.. Holmes wishes to get
into the presbytery could not be as
certained yesterday. He had left the
city to be gone several days.
The situation the Brewerton church's
action presents has never been pre-
sented here before and it is causing
much talk in Presbyterian circles
Greenrillc Ners.