The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1906-05-04
MUST BE TRIIEn.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE I'M
The OREiaHTON OssE.

VA t"O nNObtAfhGtt4Oo
Of the Matter by the
Committee.
The Rev. O. W. Creighton, editor
OF the Christian Appeal, published at
Greenwood, has issued in his paper
the following statement In regard to
the investigation of the complaints
against him:
we cannot ut this time publish
the full details Of the investigation Of
the complaints made by tho presiding
elders against the editor Of this paper.
We shall, however, publish enough to
give the public an insight into the
methods employed In that proceed
ing:
met In the Methodist Church at this
place. w. II. Duncan, by virtue Of
his Off 80, acted as chairman; M. B.
Kelly served as secretary. In add
tion w. II. Duncan had retained the
services OF o steDographer-a very
competent one.
we were accom- panied by our
counsel, the Rev. j. w. Daniel and
tho Rev. A. j. Cauthen, and Miss
Myrtle Davis, u stenographer."
THE committee was composed Of
Peter Stokes, o cousin Of one Of the
presiding elders; w. A. Masseaheau,
o nephew OF another presiding elder,
whose term OF Office ia embraced in
the period covered by the criticisms Of
the editor Of the Christian Appeal,
and who Is also under ]. w. Kilgo,
n OF the complainants, and pastor
Of Kt'go's family, aud also that of
Bishop Duncan, who has heen active
In this matter; Il. @. O'Dell, who
served on the committee at Confer
ence.
When the committee met w. T.
Duncan, by an arbitrary ruling, which
Is contrary to the law and practice of
the Methodist Church, excluded DR..
Daniel, the counsel of tho accused;
the Rev. A. j. Cauthen, his brother.
in-law, and then also tried to exclude
Miss Davis, his stenographer.
THE presiding elders made two
complaints.
II. Falsehood and SANDER. To
substantiate that charge they produo
ed copies Of the Christian Appeal con-
tanning an editorial on Rings and
Results,' How the Scheme Works.
Clerical USurpation,' etc.
q. immortality. To substantiate
that charge they produced copies OF
the paper containing communications
signed by "A Pastor John S. Moore
A Layman,' AN Old Layman' and
'Chas. p. Hodges The alleged Inn
morality consisted in publishing In
the Christian Appeal the communica.
tions named.
We demanded the right to CROSS.
examine the accusers. Finally four
OF them were put up. During the
cross-examinations the presiding cid
ers repeatedly refused to answer and
they were told by w. Il. Duncan that
IL they Thought the questions I'm.
eliminated" them they need not an.
swer, and they did not. On other
Important matters they answered,
don't remember" and other similar
replies. We were only allowed to
cross. examine four. That concluded
the testimony. We were engaged
until April IL In this matter, not In
Guiding the period Of adjournment.
When the testimony Of the witnesses,
j. w. Kilgo and w. p. Meadors, as
taken by the stenographer was read,
they denied 1t; they were offered the
privilege to correct it in any particu.
lar way they pleased; they declined to
make any corrections and then refus.
ed to sign their testimony. The wit
nesses had been kept in the room over
the protest Of the accused and
prompted each other during the ex-
animation. And yet they refused to
approve and sign the testimony
We demanded of w. II. Duncan
that he present their testimony to
them for their signatures, but he re.
fused and, OH his own motion, ruled
their Testimony out. Chat left the
committee without q word OF testi-
mony before them. And yet they re
ported o trial necessary.
There Is q great deal more that
we would like to publish, but 1t is
thought advisable not to do so at pre-.
sent. That a man should be charged
with immortality for publishing noml.
nations Of such men as John s. Moore
and Charles p. Hodges over their own
signatures and similar communica-
lions OF "A PASTOR "A Layman,' etc.
will be astounding to intelligent men;
that he should be charged with false
hood and SANDER In critioislng meth.
dds and practices which have given rise
to dissatisfaction and complaints in
the Church for years will bear but
one construction and admit OF only
one conclusion by q liberty. loving
people; that q trial should be reported
necessary without o word of testi.
mony by q committee, the majority
OF whom are blood kin to presidIng
elders and their predecessors In Office,
will open the eyes Of the blind and In.
spire the ignorant.
we are not destitute OF feeling,
but we infinitely prefer to be In the
place Of the editor OF the Christian
Appeal, with that report against him,
than In the place Of the men who
made It,"
w hito Fiond This Time
Oficers Of Hamilton county, Texas,