The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-03
The A. R.. P. Church in AbbevilIe.

I notice your comments or my recent
In the Press and Banner In reply
to the Home Board, and your lessons to me
in domestic and journalistic etiquette; / can
believe that you would willingly be I'm.
Just or unkind to me. For this reason, I
respectfully ask that you give place In your
columns to this my answer:
In your issue Of February 18th instant, you
say:
"Churches, like households, professions,
newspapers, etc., have certain rules OF ell.
quette whicn are supposed 10 Keep members
from repeating the unpleasant Things that
In the privacy OF these institutions.
There Ia always 30 much that is beautiful 10
say about churches that 10 polo up inc
m%lsfortunes. especially the poverty OF q
church, IL something we cannot understand.
There are some things which I may be
presumed not to know. or household secrets
an old bachelor may plead ignorance. he
has invaded ION Of the professions. He does
claim, however, TO know something OF news
papers. After being In the business for hall
a century, he would be more or less than
man, II be lid not think that he knew a little
Of the etiquette among newspapers.
II my much respected critic would look
at the facts which provoked our expose Of the
condition of the A. Il. P. Church, 1 think
anybody could understand that l
was speaking Of the representation OF this
church by the Home Board. 1 always ad-
NIT, even III do not proclaim, the beauties
and the righteousness Of the church.
However much others may question my
friendship and loyalty to the Church al large
and however much they may doubt my love
for the local church I cannon be robbed OF an
inner consciousness OF the sense OF my ideli'
ty. heroic measures, though painful, are
sometimes necessary, even in dealing with
our nearest and best friends, and in seeking
to build up our most cherished institutions
we sometimes run counter TO the vanity OF
to the sentiment OF others most Interested.
Whether the Abbeville A. R. P. Church is OF
Is not ina healthy condition Ia a matter o.
opinion which opinion should be based upon
facts. If the humblest member believes Ina,
the Home Board has misrepresented condi'
tions here, and he can produce facts to sub.
stantiate that belief. and he does not do 30,
then he Is derelict in his duty, even as the
home Board has been careless In its state
ments.
Should the assessments be Increased as the
church grows weaker? Is 1t better to conceal
our weakness than to fathon and correct II?
That ia the question. Should there be ION
oealments in matters Of charch and con-
science?
In all kindness, l would ask II any mem.
Der of the Abbeviile church will say that,
despite the increase OF membership, 1t 10 as
able 10 pay now as 1t was q few years.ago?
No reflection Is meant upon those who are
unable to pay. but those who have come for
ward and shouldered heavier burdens be-
members, are worthy OF some considera-
ton. In tpe present status the member
ship Is PERHAPS larger than It was In any for
mer period, while the list OF those who are
able and willing to contribute has grown
pain fully smaller.
I will venture the assertion that q state
ment from the public records OF the unin-
numbered property hat is owned by mem.
bers OF the Abbeville church, and q state
ment Of their payments to church purposes
will show conclusively that they not only
pay more In proportion to their means b an
any church in the Associate Synod. but that
they pay more, according TO their ability,
than do the members OF any other evan gelical
church In America.
challenge the Home Board to produce
facts TO disprove this statement.
I challenge the Home Board and the Asso.
ciste Reformed Synod to produce evidence to
Justify them In the act Of increasing the as
sessment upon the Abbeville church even
as It grows weaker and less able to pay.
I challenge the Associate Reformed Synod,
yea I challenge all OF it, Boards together
with each and every other member Of the
Synod 70 show the pride, the wisdom, the
humanity or the authority OF the religion OF
our Saviour which would warrant an unmer.
ciful tax upon little churches like this OF
Abbeville, for no higher and no better pur-
pose than that OF spending our money where
unbiased intelligent mind can possibly see
hope of COMMENSURATE results.
challenge each and every member OF the
Associate Reformed church to show wherein
the people have been treated fairly or re-
spectfully in the evasive reports OF e1pendi-
lures Of the peoples money.
I challenge all mankind to furnish good
and sufficient reasons which would justify
the Board OF Foreign Missions In making
and non-informlng reports OF their
expenditure of our money In Mexico.
1 challenge the whole church TO show that
In the last ten years any missiona ~, or any
frank. clear, specific and definite accounting
either the work which has been done, or
the money which has been spent in Mexico.
/ challenge the world 10 furnish proof OF
AbbevilIe church out Of existence that money
may be raised with which to hire workers"
and assistants" to do the work In Mexico
which the Missionaries and our teachers
are presumed TO do.
In the matter OF levying taxes, whether In
Church or in State, equity should be the gov
erning principle.
II these are not facts then my sincerest
while cherishing q love for "all that Is
shut our eyes 10 an injustioe7 Is 1t not our
bounden duty to resent oppression from
source? Resistance TO tyranny 10
to God.
Aside: II the pastor of one Of the best pay
Ing congregations In the church may sup.
plement his salary by editing the P~resbyte-
II q professor In the Seminary may sup.
plement his salary by editing the Presbyte-
rian;
Wherein lies the objection TO The pastors OF
Mission churches earning a part Of their own
supplements By teaching or by going into
other gainful pursuits?
Speaking for myself, I am not able to see
or 10 understand the necessity for levying, for
the benefit of others, q crushing tag on poor
congregations which are admittedly unable
TO pay their own preacher.
And speaking further for myself, I can
readily understand how easy IL is for those
who live of OF the church and for those who
give little or nothing toward the support OF
the church, to hnd fault with the burden
bearers. =.
In conclusions: In my behalf. I would
say that I have striven throughout q long
and active life TO 80 act 90 to command the
respect and the FOOD will OF all menkInd.