The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-02-17
GUSHING A PREACHER.
Proper Result Brought About by an Inn
proper Method.

The A. r. p. Presbytery has removed
the Rev. VIM. Duncan from the First A. h.
T. Church in Charlotte, n. c. In OR opinion
the Presbytery. acting for the good OF First
Church and for the good OF the whole Church
could scarcely have done less In reference to
Mr.. Duncan and the church 10 which he
ministers.
Here Is all that we finc in the minutes, as
published over the official signatures OF the
Moderator, the Clerk, and The Assistant
Clerk.
"A motion was made to reconsider the &C
ton of the adjourned meeting OF PresoyterJ
November I'm last, In reference 10 Inc pas-
lorate OF The First Church, Charlotte. Thls
motion was amended and after considerable
discussion the following paper was adopted
as q substitute by a vote OF q to IL:
Whereas, since the adjourned meeting Of
Presbylery on the 18th. OF November, lSUo, 8
large number or the mosL influential meIn-
bers OF the First A. K. 7. Church In Char
Iotte, including q majority OF the omcers,
both elders and deacons, have Withdrawn
from said church because they are conscien'
Jiousiy opposed TO the pastor. Some OF THESE
have not Joined any other church. ana are
longing Tor a church home, and, whareas the
sehlsm Is mo-e decided, and The feeling IL
more intense and spreading even 10 olnei
congregation.
"Kesolved, That the pastoral relation. ex.
IHllDR D6LW66u NcN.s DuhNoA II
FlrsI Church be and is hereby dissolved, to
lake elect immediately"
One or two statements in the preamble
make the action Of the Presbytery odious 10
the better sentiment Of mankind. The word
ing OF that preamble Is about as objectionable
as 1t was possible to make II. This editor be-
lieves that in church matters the soul OF ONE
man Is theoretically about as valuable as the
soul OF any other man.
We dc not believe that the church
should be moved by Influential mem.
bers," neither do We believe that the
rights and feelings ofthe non.irduential class
should be disregarded. 1t was not the bust
ness OF the Presbytery to recognize one class
as more influential than another. The ques-
tion OF influence was not properly before the
Presbytery, and the Presbytery had no right
to inject that matter into the issue.
On the other hand, the Presbytery needed
not TO have hidden behind the officers Of the
church in doing its duty. 1t needed no ex-
cuse for discharglng It's W obligation.
The Presbytery should not seek to organize
the influential and the other sort into
different classes. In yielding to the just and
proper demands OF the "ipt1uential" faction
1t had nc justcause 10 speak, by inference al
least, of the Other faction as OF less import.
ance to the church. AS q, whole, the pream'
BILE has too much the appearance Of making
an excuse.
- IL was emincntly proper for the Synod to
dissolve the pastoral relations, and the reso-
luton to thai effect was unotJectionable, but
the preamble in so far as 1t seemed to recog-
q oo.ta -. nJooo ~ tho ENrcf Chnrnh UQE
needlessly offensive and may create a doubt
as to whether the Presbytery had the back
bone to do its duty without casting dow
one faction and elevating the other. The
mere fact that there was a schism In The
church and dissatisfaction with the preacher,
was all the ground that the Presbytery need
ed for its action. 1t is not recorded II the
Presbytery would have discharged Mr.. Dun
can If plain, everyday members had object
ed TO his presence. The falling back on the
"infuential'' leads to belief that poor folk
and non-ipf1uen tial members are Of little
worth in the eyes Of the Presby tery.
When the disturbance first arose we
tn ought that there was no question as to
Mr.. Duncan's duty to resign. The pastor
ought TO be a man in whom the hearts Of all
members, including the non .infuential
should meet and confde. When that conf
dence and goodwill has BEEN shaken In any
Of the membership, the pastor influence j.
weakened. Even If he be Jealous In the
Masters cause his efforts are crippled by
lukewarm support or by opposition-even Il
hat opposition be from members Of the nom
Influential class, or caste, in the church. II
is the office OF the preacher to serve all and to
be able to exercise those kindly Offices to all
tina would encourage loyalty to the church
and cement the love and friendship of the
members to whom he breaches. Failing in
this, he shoul resign and seek q field where
he may have the undivided support of every
member OF a congregation. q