The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-06-04
NETTLES RESUMES EDITORSHIP.
Methodist Minister, INDICATED, Again
Edits The Advocate.

Rev. S. A. Nettles last week re-
sumed the editorial management OF
the Southern Christian Advocate. In
last weeks issue the following was
printed over Mr.. Nettles' signature:
The Court of Appeals Of our
Church has reversed the trial COM
mittee's verdict on every charge and
on every specification on which they
adjudged me guilty. My friends will
rejoice with me in this complete vim
dication, and l assume that even my
accusers will be glad, for will not
assume that any Christian, whether
preacher or layman, prefers to be-
lieve a minister of God is guilty of
gross immortality rather than to know
that he is innocent, and that he can
continue to serve that Master whose
servant he is without reproach upon
his name.
"The highest Court of our church
has unanimously declared that have
not been proven guilty of any i'm
morality, and if I have sometimes
acted impulsively, this Court has
held, also unanimously, and with the
full facts before them, that my acts
in no case have been grave CROUCH
or offensive enough for the commit
tee to have jurisdiction even to place
me on trial for them.
Carried Out Sentence.
But 1 was placed on trial, I was
convicted and sentenced, and | have
fully carried out the sentence I'M
posed suspension from the ministry
for three long months of humiliation,
of shame and of anguish. That |
should have been convicted and de-
graded from the ministry for wilful
lying-I who have loved the truth
and hated lie from my youth up.
prav the merciful Father that none
of my accusers. or judges, or any
other brother of the Conference may
ever know the agony of my Gethsem-
ane. If I have wounded the feelings
of any brother, and he has sought
compensation or revenge against me,
surely l have made ample atonement.
"As to the charges which were
brought against me and the manner
in which they were prosecuted shall
say nothing. The Jew Zacchareus
said to the Master: If I have wrong
ed any man by false accusation, re-
store him fourfold.' l believe that
the religion of Christ is no less ex-
acting in such matters than the re-
ligion of the Jews. But l neither ask
nor demand anything of my accusers
or prosecutors The matter is be-
tween them and their God. :.
Because of Charges.
"Our Conference, at it's session in
November, 1912, gave me and my
management of the Advocate full
and overwhelming endorsement. At
it's session in 1913 a majority Of the
same Conference requested the Bish-
op not to reappoint me as editor of
the Advocate. This action was taken
expressly because Of the charges
against me, which were then pend
ing. Had the Conference known that
II was not guilty of any offence against
our Church, either in law or in fact,
as found by our highest Court, it is
inconceivable that they would have
taken such action on such grounds.
l had previously been elected editor
and publisher of the Advocate by the
publishing committee, who had full
power from the Conference to do So.
l am under contract with them to do
that work. After the judgment of
the trial committee, in Difference to
the sentiment caused by their ver-
dict, and with the concurrence Of the
publishing committee, employed
another editor, for whose efficient
labors l am deeply grateful. Since
the decision of the Court of Appeals
l stand exactly where l was before
the Conference. There is no longer
any reason or excuse why l should
not proceed to carry out my contract
with the publishing committee.
Take Reins Again.
with this issue, 1, therefore, again
assume the editorship of the Advo-
cate.
But 1 wish to lay, down this work
as soon as possible. have published
and edited the Advocate for eight
years. In that time have more than
doubled it's circulation, sending it into
thousands of homes where it never
went before, carrying the news of
Methodism and the teachings Of our