Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1900-06-14

had at the last meeting OF the old
board, been selected to hll vacancies,
subject to the ratification OF the Quart
erly Conference. One OF these gentle
men, namely Mr.. Anderson, had un-
derstood was in the Quarterly Confer
ence, but he was not Trustee of Pryor
Institute aud there was no pretense
that ho was, and yet these gentlemen
say there was Trustee present, If
they are not careful they VIII admit too
much, for Mr.. Anderson is the trustee
thoy alludr IT,
The old beard had high regard for
all these gpntlemen--they were select
cd for their peculiar fitness for tho posi-
tion, and because they had been friends
and conspicuous helpers OF the school.
1t is true Mr.. Havron is Cumberland
PRESBYTERIAN, bus | undertake to say
that he has perhaps, done more in
building up tho school than any other
member Of the community. Ilo has
been favorably situated to do this hav-
ing been the ed tor and proprietor of
leading and influential jpurnal, and he
has a all times been kind and compli-
mentary IN speaking Of tho school
through his pap r. Rev. j. w. Robert
son, in season and out of season, has
been the friend and champion of the
school A leading and scholarly min
lister of the NJ. e. Church, South, it
would seem to be an honor to any
board of trustees to have his name asso-
ciated with it.
These two gentlemen were persona
non grata to this Quarterly Conference.
Mr.. Anderson was acceptable, and
was elected. But my critics say, "The
old board itself recognized It's unconsti-
tutiOnal attitude, and was expecting
the Conference to take some action"
beg the gentlemens' pardon: they are
mistaken.
The old board recognized no such
thing. o. the contrary, the old board
foel that tho proceeding by which
they were deposed, was without
law, reason, or justification. They feel
that they had cOnsc.entously done their
duty as trustees, that they were duly
and legally olecbpd, and that they were
in all respects acceptable to the com
| munity, and TO the founders and pat
/ rons of the school, In court of law
where incumbeRts of an office are exer-
Cising its functions, any question as to
the legality of their tenure throws the
onus Of proof upon the party complain
ing. The presumption of validity and
regularity are all with the incum beiit.
This is in u secular court: but in spir-
itual court, according to the logic ol
these gentlemen, all that is necessary
ia to prefer charge, and then the party
charged must prove innocence.
Now the gentlemen say they exam
ned Tor somo of them) the records o.
the Quarterly Conferences for sever
years back and find but Two members o
the old board elected by the Quarterly
Conference. They fail to give US th,
3 record of the five years preceding, bu
proceed to assume that no other mem
Der OF the board had been elected, ant
therefore all besides thestwo mentioned
were holding position they had no 10
gal right to hold.
But they fail to answer very peril
nent question propoundcd in my forme
communication, namely: What hav
the old board done that they have be
: come so Objectionable to this Quarterl,
4 Conference?
, If they were acceptable tc the com
= munity and to those TO whom tn
| school was nearest and dearest, VIII
? cut of their heads? Why not let you
0 proceedings be in sympathy with tn
. people who are locally interested?
: violate no confidence, utter moth
= ing that is not we'll known, when / sa
d that your conduct was and is condemn
# cd by nine-tenths Of the people Of ia
: per and the patrons of Pryor Institute
l Have care, gentlemen, lest 70
!, prove yourselves enemies instead {
# friends to this school, But you say tn;
= you acted consciennously and that yo
S had tho warrant of church law fl
o what you did. will not enter the
main of conscience but beg to 81
% that you didn't have this warrant of lay
z, maintain that there only two cas-
e when Quarterly Conferences have a
e thUrity to appoint trustees for chur,
{, property. The frstis where no truste'
1t have ever been appointed: in that eve
st it is thoir duty TO create board
1t three, five, seven or nino.
le OF course il they do not elect fu
il board, at the outset, they have Il
at right to do 50 at any future time. II
y second case is where vacancies occu
Mt then the Presiding Elder, when
he reaches question t2, says: "Who a
lip elected to fill vacancies in board
II trustess?"
Vacancies, bear in mind, are t
at places to be filled, not original boar
r. TO be reorganized. Now this is
ca plain to admit OF discussion, and ma
lie tain that no whore else can be found {
e. authority to create or add to any boa
ly Of trustees of church property
Id the lass or the Methodist Churs