The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-12-10
STATEMENT FROM NETTLES.
Personal Statement From Editor OF
Southern Christian Advocate.

Rev. S. 4. Nettles, who was locat-
ed bv the Methodist conference
makes the following statement III
the last issue Of the Southern Chr!s-
tian Advocate:
Last Monday the South Carollna
Conference, by vote OF 10 10 o.
located me on the alleged ground OF
'unacceptability. One year oeiore
Tho same faction sought to drive me
out of the editorship OF the Advocate
bv charging me with falsehooo ana
other offenses. Their efforts falled'
as has failed their every attempt 10
fasten a dishonorable act upon me.
NV unacceptability was SAID 10
consist largely in the fact that hau
accused several of my brethren of the
ministry of falsehood. Every SIN
ole one of those accusations can be
sustained, and no one OF them can
he refuted. l am not the only Meth
odist minister who has felt compell-
ed TO brand as false, statements VI
some of these very men. Truth and
iustice and the protection OF my
own reputation have compelled nfe
sometimes to that course. If my ac-
ceptability as minister depends up
on my ability to despise the truth
and to allow some of my orolhef
ministers to disregard it IN thelr
dealings with me and my reputatlon'
then l prefer to be unaccaptaole.
did not know there was such a bene-
fit of clergy.
II do not claim perfection for my
self-far from it. My mistakes nave
been many, and l am painfully con-
scious of them. Nevertheless, II mas
been my supreme purpose all these
wears to walk in mine integrity pc
fore God and men. Had | asked the
conference for forgiveness and be-
sought it for mercy l would tooa!
ne in the pastorate. But my tongue
would, have cleaved to the ROOT Oh
nv mouth and my head have bowed
in shame had | so abased myse1. 1
do not owe the conference nor any
man in it an apology; my conouct
toward them has been sucn that 40
not have to seek their forgiveness
cv What l have said and done III
the course of my ministry has neen
cold and done in the fear OF God ana
in the fulness of day. l have STRUCK
no man in the back; nor borne 1alse
witness against any man; and envleo
the position of none. My conscience
is clear. would have been craven
and a hypocrite to have crawleo IN
the dust before a body of men Whon
7 had not wronged, whose moral anu
religious standards had not lower
ed.
..J entered the conference because
nv sense of duty to God would not
GLOW me to resist the call to preach.
For twenty years I have strlven 10
do nv duty as minister Oh uoo.
eleven of these years as pastor ana
tho remainder as editor of the Ad-
vocate After l had been cleared u
the cruel and outrageous charges
n,.do AGAINST me without warrant OF
law or fact l was urged by some 10
withdraw from the conference. But
NV dntv to God would not permit
mo thus voluntarily to abandon the
bieb calling to which His voice had
impelled me. By a small majority
Of eleven, hardly one-half Of the con-
feronce voting on either side, my
brethren have refused to give me a
field in which to labor. The response
bility must be theirs.
81 thank God that lay down the
or,, with as clear a conscience as
whom 7 took it up. 1 came in SELL
rosnecting and respected Christian
and | 90 out the same way. My
faith is in God, who has always suS-
tanned me, and who will keep me
AGAINST that great day when shall
see Him face to face.
IS. A. NETTLES.'