The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-07-02
PREACHER SUSTAINED.
Congregation Stands by Pastor Ell
wood in What He Said in His Ser
mon About Lynching and For Which
He Has Been Criticised.

He Has Been Criticised.
Wilmington, Delaware, June %,
19O3.-Rev. Robert A. Elwood, the
PRESBYTERIAN minister who has come
in for much criticism on account OF
his sermon on Sunday night of last
week, which, it was alleged, helped to
bring on the Ivnching, did not refer
to the lynching or the criticisms in
his sermon today. The criticisms.
however, were answered by his con-
creratiOn when the following resOlu-
tions were read during the services:
I'VE, the officers and members OF Olivet
Presbyterian church, realizing the unjust
criticism being made upon our beloved
pastor Rev Robert A. ElwoOd, by
large proportion of the public press, do
place ourselves on record in the follow
ing resolutions:
"Eirst-We express our firm belief in
our pastors honesty, integrity and Chris
tan character; our appreciation OF his
ministerial labOrs in our congregation,
and our admiration for his manly Chris
tian courage as expressed by his pulpit
messages and his life in our midst
'Second-We record our belief that his
HItSSdpf vi ltlSb bcuiiidN tNthihS "ee'
both timely and true. sensible and Scrip
tural, and in no wise can the actions of
the citizens on Monday night be charge
able to that sermon.
''Third-We order copy of these reso-
Iutions placed upon the seasonal records,
read in the church services Of the coming
Lords Day and given to the press for
publication
ADVICE THAT HE GAVE.
In the sermon referred to Mr.. Ell
wood pleaded for speedy trial and
continued:
And honorable Judges, if you do not
| hear and heed these appeals, and that
| prisoner should be taken out and lynched,
| then let me say to you, with awful reali-
cation of the responsibility of my words,
| even as Nathan said to King David OF
| old, after his soldiers had killed Uriah,
| Thou art the mani The responsibility
for lynching would be yours for delaying
| the execution Of the law. Should the
| murderer of Miss Bishop be lynched? Yes,
| but only under one condition, and that
| is this: If his trial shall be delayed until
| September and then, though he be
| proved guilty, through some technicality
| OF the law or any undue influence upon
| either Judges or jury he be not given cap
| ital punishment, the citizens of the State
should arise in their might and execute
| the criminal, and thus uphold the majesty
| of the law
| The lyncIIing was the text of a
number of ministers today. With
out exception they condemned it,
Notwithstanding the fact that public
sentiment was overwhelmingly on
the side OF the lynchers.
The first issue Of Everything, Col.
| Al Fairbrother' publication, to APP
pear from Greensboro, is Just from
the press. 1t is Il twelve-page, three
column paper, shapely and we'll
printed, and everything iii it except
ing the advertisements was written
| by Fairbrother 1t deals with every
variety OF subjects and from first
page to last is as interesting as a
novel. But to give the name of the
editor is to say all there is to say
about it, AS a thinker and a writer
he is sui gene1is-absolutely unique
! and everything in the number OF
| Everything is i'll his best vein 1t is
to be published every month, the
price is ten cents, and its interest is
such that is is bound to go.-Char
| lOtte Observer
| No man or woman in the State will hest