The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-02-11
DlsPENSARY CHURCH
RRpUDIaTED BY PRESIDING FL
DER CHAs. B. SMITH
as a Methodist Institution, Who
Says the Building VIII Not Be
Accented by the Church.

Says the Building VIII Not be
Accepted by the Church.
The story which was printed first
by the Evening News and copied by
other papers last week in regard to
the church at Livingston being
erected with money donated by the
town of Livingston out Of profits
OF the dispensary has caused good
deal of comment. Many have been
talking of the story, and in this
weeks issue of the Southern Chris
tian Advocate there appears denial
that such was the case. and calls
upon the Methodist preachers in this
section to explain. AS a result OF
this editorial in the Advocate, Rev.
C. B. Smith, presiding elder of the
Orangeburg District, has formulated
a reply, setting forth the matter as
far as he is concerned, and says
that the story is in the main part
true. The reply of Rev. Smith is
as follows:
What Mr.. Smith Says.
Your editorial in last weeks is
sue of the Advocate on this matter
makes necessary a reply from me.
am loath to appear in any such
role but justice. both to the church
and myself, calls for this. That
this leaven of unrighteousness should
reach into the church is not to be
wondered at. 1t is an easy step from
the sordid iniquity cf educating our
children with funds gotten from the
debauchery of our fellow men to
that of doing church work with the
same.
The reports as set forth in the
newspapers are largely true. But
J the onus of the affair is not properly
placed. The church. as l understand
it. was built in the town of Living
ston with the proceeds of the dis
pensary money, with the understand
ing and consent of majority o. the
members of Hebron church, which
church the one at Livingston was
to replace, that it would be accepted
as Methodist church. Steps were
taken for the building in 1907, and
it is now about completed.
Brother j. A. Graham, the then
pastor, told me on Sunday, July 12,
1908, that he had brought the mat
ter to the attention Of his presid-
ing elder the year before, and that
his elder told him to accept the
money for the church. He did so,
and proceeded with the work on
that authority.
At the quarterly conference held
at Hebron, Saturday, July IL, 1908,
on request of the pastor, Bro. Gra-
ham, a building committee was ap-
pointed l was then in ignorance of
the state of the case. The next
day. Sunday, Brother Graham gave
me the facts as stated above and
asked my opinion. l replied that 1
was opposed to the whole thing,
and that it would work incalculable
injury to the church Of Christ. Bro.
l.. E. Virgins, the present pastor,
stands with me in my opposition to
the scheme.
The town authorities of Living
ingston cannot donate the funds &C
cruing from the dispensary or any
other source 20 any church or church
enterprise The constitution Of the
State is very explicit On this point.
Art. II, Sec. 9, reads:
THE property or credit Of the
State of South Carolina, or of any
county, or of any city, town. town
ship, school district, or any town
ship, school district or other subdi-
vision of said State or any public
money from whatever source dariv-
ed, shall not by gift, donation, loan,
contract, appropriation, or otherwise,
be used directly or indirectly in aid
or maintenance of any college. school,
uOSpitdl, VI puoh LOuoS, VI oeuSi Al
stitution, or society or organization
of whatever kind, which is wholly
or in part under the direction or
control OF any church or of any re-
iigious or sectarian denomination,
society or organization.
This phase of the question g left
to the town authorities Of Living
ston to settle.
We cannot accept this church for
two reasons: First. because it is
illegal, contrary to the constitution
of the State; and even if We had
taken any steps to this end that
part Of the constitution referred to
above would render such steps null
and void. At least that is my con-
struction of it. Next, it is contrary
to the spirit and Judgment of the
Methodist church. BY no act of
mine could ! consent that it should
be accepted formally as the property
of the Methodist church.
So far no services have been held
in it by Methodist preacher. That
no Methodist preacher shall ever
preach in it while am on the dis
trict is rot for NE to say.
C. 3. SMITH.