The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-06-03
Rev. S. A. Nettles Viudicated.

The Rev. S. A. Nettles will to-mor-
row resume the editorship OF the
Southern Christian Advocate. Tonight
his son, Jos. L. Nettles, gave out the
following copy Of q statement which
the Rev. Dr.. Nettles will print in the
Southern Christian Advocate tomorrow
over his own signature:
The statement follows: "The Court
of Appeals of our church has reversed
the trial committees verdict on every
specification on which they adjudged
me guilty. Ny friends will rejoice
with We in this complete yindication,
and assume that even my accusers
will be glad, for will not assume that
any Christian, whether preacher or
layman, prefers to believe a minister
of God is guilty of gross immortality
rather than to know that he is inno-
cent, and that he can continue to serve
that Master whsse servant he is with
out reproach upon his name.
The highest Court OF our church
has unanimously declared that | have
not been proven guilty of any immor-
ality, and If 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 enough or offensive
enough for the committee to have jur-
isdiction even to place me on trial for
them.
CARRIED OUT SENTENCE.
"But was placed on trial, was
convicted and sentenced, and I baVe
fully carried out the sentence imposed
suspension from the ministry for
three long months of humiliation OF
same and of anguish. That I should
have been convicted and degraded
from the ministry for wilful lying-I
who have loved the truth and hated
lie from my youth up. pray the
merciful Father that none, of my ac-
cusers, or judges, or any other brother
OF the Conference may ever know the
agony OF my Gethsemane. II I have
wounded the feelings of my brother,
and be has sought compensation or re-
venge against me. surely have made
ample asonement.
':As to thu charges which was
brought against me and the man ner in
which they were prosecuted shall say
nothing. The Jew Zacchaeus said to
the Master; If I have wronged ary
man by false accusation, restore him
fourfold.' I believe that the religion
OF Christ is no less exacting in such
matters than the religion OF the Jews.
But neither ask nor demand anything
of my accusers or prosecutors. That
matter is between them and their God.
BECAUSE OF CHARGES.
"Our Conference, at its session in
November, 1912, gave me and my msn-
agement of the Advocate full and ov-
erwhelming endorsement. At its ses.
sion in 1918 majority of the same
Conference requested the Bishop 10 re-
appoint me as editor of the Advocate.
This action was taken expressly be-
calse of the charges against me, which
were then pending. Had the Confer
ence known that I was not guilty of
my offence against our Church either
in law or in fact, as found by our high
est Court, it is inconceivable that they
would have taken such action on such
grounds. I had previously been elect
ed editor and publisher of the Advo-
cate 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 verdict,
and with the concurrence of the pub
fishing committee, l employed another
editor, tho whose efficient labors ] am
deeply grateful. Since the decision OF
the court of Appeals stand exactly
where l was before the Conf erence.
There is no longer any reason or ex-
cuse why I should not proceed to carry
out nv contract with the publishing
committee.
TAKE REIGNs AGAIN
with this issue 1, therefore. again
assume the editorship OF the Advocate.
But wish to lay down this work as
soon as possible. I have published and
edited the Advocate for eight years.
In that time l have more than doubled
its circulation, sending it into thous-
ands of homes where it never went
before, carrying the news of Methodism
and the teachings Of our religion and
the words of wisdom of those Cody
men who have contributed to its COL
umns. reduced the price 70 one-half
it's former cost, and am giving more
reading matter than ever. before.
There is no other Conference paper