Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-04-18

Greater Part OF Session-Conyict-
ed Of Teaching Doctrines Not i'm
Accord With Teachings Of Church.
Deposed from Ministerial Iabors
In Church.
The Piedmont Presbytery met in
Walhalla last Tuesday night. The
session was opened with a sermon by
the retiring moderator, Rev. W. II.
Mills, Of Clemson College.
Officers elected were as follows:
Prof. Hale Houston, Clemson Col
lege, moderator; Rev. w, Fl. Mills,
Clemson College, stated clerk; C. T.
Martin, Easley, temporary clerk.
Main Business of the Session.
The main business of the session
was the hearing of the case Of Rev.
D. w. Dodge, Of Anderson, under
charge Of teaching doctrines not in
accord and at variance with the
teachings Of the Presbyterian church.
Charges were brought against Rev.
Dodge by Rev. Robert Adams. pas
tor Of the church at Pendleton,
charging him with holding and teach
Ing views Of Scriptures not conform
ing with the standards OF the Presby-
terian church. These charges were
delivered In a communication to the
moderator as follows:
"Presbytery OF Piedmont, Wal
halla, S. C.-Dear Brothers: 1t has
come to my knowledge, from various
sources, that Rev. D. Witherspoon
Dodge has for some time past been
holding and teaching views Of Gods
DEGREES and the punishment Of the
wicked in conflict with the Scriptures,
as interpreted within the standard Of
the church l, therefore, deem 1t my
duty as a member of this Presbytery
to bring this matter before your at
tention and to ask that steps be
taken for his prosecution. as pre-
scribed in the Rules Of Discipline,
chapter 6, paragraph 3.
81 had hoped that Brother Dodge
would relieve me from this duty by
making voluntary statement to the
Presbytery, but he has informed me
"Fraternally yours,
"Robert Adams"
Minister Pleads Not Guilty.
Rev. Mr.. Dodge plead mot guilty"
to the indictment, and was placed on
trial at 1890 o'clock "Wednesday by
Piedmont Presbytery.
The first session, given over to the
trial proper, was taken up with eX-
animation Of witnesses for the prose-
cution, the following testifying: G.
N. C. Boleman, Dr.. r. e. Thompson,
Dr.. M. A. Thompson, w. S. Ramsey,
of Anderson: w. G. Hughs, Walhal-
la; Rev. l. e. Wallace, Seneca; Rev.
W. II. Frazer, Anderson.
At the conclusion Of the session,
the prosecution rested it's case so far
as the examination Of witnesses was
concerned, and at 2.30 o'clock the
defendant began the presentation of
hia case. Rcv. Robert Adams con-
Quoted the prosccu tiOH, the defendant
conducting his own case.
NE substance Of the testimony was
70 the effect that the defendant had
oeen hoard to present the view and
teach the doctrine of probation, or
that there is no eternal condemnation
of man at death, but that after each
sin had received its just punishment
and the sinner had become reconciled
to God, he would have an opportunity
to be saved.
DR.. Frazer testified that the de-
fendant had confessed to him that he
held views Mt variance with the Con-
fession Of Faith, particularly with
reference to the doctrine Of election
and probation after death. To the
same effect also was the testimony
given by the others who had heard
him preach.
Those who testified were question:
ed direct by DR.. Adams, while Rev.
Dodge conducted his own cross-ex-
animation, frequently injecting into
the questioning a full measure Of sar-
casm.
Mr.. Dodge Addressed Presbytely
at the close of the hearing Of his
case Thursday night, explaining
his plea Of mot guilty.. which had
heretofore carried with II a degree of
mystery. Opening his remarks,
(Which we cannot reproduce here in
fulD he said:
II am here to represent the God
of the great Universe-not meerly
the God Of the Presbyterian Church
OF the South. My prosecutor tells
you that he represents $4,000 per-
sons in the Presbyterian Church of
the South, and that he trembles at
the thought Of the weight Of the re-
sponsibility upon him. How much
more do feel the weight Of the re-
sponsibility of standing here as the
representative Of the Great God Of
the Universe and Of all mankind in
this great church Of the living God?
''In prosecuting me, my accusers
neglected to state that my teachings