The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-08-30
MARK TWAIN'S"
ELDER BROTHER
Continued from Page 81

!
tree to the purpose OF afterward be
ing converted into an idol by cutting
symbols upon the stem?"
Answer understood that the
tree was ultimately to be an idol"
w. j. Fulton then testified as fol
lows: II was at the lecture and
heard 1t delivered. did not under
stand Mr.. Clemens to state anything
generally in regard to inspiration OF
the Old Testament scriptures. He inn
plicitly stated that the Old Testament
was not supernatural save that he
seemed to recognize that Moses on
Sinai was in communication with
God In regard to Abraham's faith
and worship, he argued that he was
an idolator, as other Phoenicians
were, from profane and sacred his
tory"
Mr.. Clemens admitted before the
session that the proofs under the
specifications were of his own hand
writing, and were furnished the COM
mittee, and he was willing that they
should be submitted as evidence un-
der said specifications.
As to the sanctity of the Sabbath
day he thought the Sabbath ought to
be observed but that it was not sac
red in the view that 1t is deriveo
| from heaven. It Is not binding to the
extent that it would be IL given Of
| God; and yet 1t is day which ought
to be observed as day Of rest and
for decency's sake, and for customs
sake.
Question by Mr.. Craig, the modera-
tor:-"Did you feel impelled by b
sense of duty and privilege to give
public utterance to these views?"
Answer by Mr.. Clemens, the accus-
ed:"Yes, / consider it the duty of
every man to think soberly upon
these subjects to make UP his views
satisfactorily to himself ami then ex-
!, press them to others, in order that II
he be in error he may be corrected
and the truth reached through free,
full and open discussion
Question by Mr.. Craig: Were you
earnestly counseled and repeatedly
kesought by the session not to give
utterance to these views"
!. Answer was"
4 Question by Mr.. Craig: DO you
) understand the views enunciated in
! your lecture and freely expressed
t here to be directly contrary to the
fundamental teachings of the Presby-
: terrain church.
! Answer do"
! Question by Mr.. Craig: Have we,
/ the session, according to our best
ability sought to resolve your
I doubts?"
4 Answer-"You have sought to re-
J, solve my doubts. You will have to
Judge as to your ability"
q BY Mr. Craig"That is a correct
answer
! The following is the notice Of the
s accommodation advising Mr.. Glenn
ems Of the action of the session:
9 'Keokuk, Iowa, May 9, 1879.
: "Mr. Orion Clemens:
: aDear Sir have to inform YOU
{
7 ing last, unanimously found yor
: guilty under the charges tabled
: against you, and their sentence was
: that you should therefore be excom
= :, municated from the church, and SAID
:. excommunication be pronounced a
= the morning service on Sabbath next
Every respectfully,
up. T. IONIAX,
CLERK Of Session"
There was a large attendance a
$ the First Westminster Presbyterian
8 church at the Sunday morning ser
l. vice, May IL, 1879, many attending t.
$ witness the unusual excommunicatioI
II incident / was in the sanctuary OF
q that notable day and witnessed th'
novel exercises, the details of which
seem SO far away that they appea
like dream that was not pleasant
- Rev Mr. Craig preached sermon
= adapted to the occasion. after which
= he gave a short narration of tn
: steps that had been taken with tn
- accused. showed the authority Of tn
= church to cast out unworthy mem
g bers from Matthew XVIII, Is. 16, II
:, - is: Corinthians, v, /, 2, 3, 4, 5; ez
- plained the nature, use and conse
= quences of the censure; warned tn
people to avoid all unnecessary inter
y course with the person about to b
f. cast out, as they might be contain
y mated with his opinions, and the
es said:
n "Whereas, Orion Clemens hat
v been by sufficient proof, convicted
m heresy, and after much admonitio
If and prayer, obstinately refuseth
hear the church, and hath manifesto
"a no evidence of repentance; therefor
he in the name and by the authority
he the Lord Jesus Christ. ! pronoune
he him to be excluded from the cor
re, munion of the church.