Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-09-26
HICKSON WON'T bulge
Cherokee County Preacher VIII Not
Resign His Pulpit.
May HAVE TO PREACH TO EMPTY PEWS

Taken an Active interest IN Foht'Ss
and Has No Apologies to Make
Has Pity for His Prosecutors.
Gaffney, September 22.-The Ledger
says:
IL DIR. F. C. Hickson, moderator OF
the Broad River Baptist association,
persists in his announced determine
ton to keep on preaching at Skull
Shoals Baptist church, instead OF ac-
ccpting the invitation of the board or
deacons to resign, he may expound the
Gospel to empty pews, it was intimat-
ed ye. .erday by ]. G. Kendrick, a
member of the Skull Shoals board Of
deacons, who was a visitor in Carney.
While no definite announcement has
been made, it is understood that the
deacons have already started negotia-
tions to secure the services of another
minister, and arrangements have been
made to change the regular preaching
day from the fourth to the third Sun
day in each month";
Mr.. Kendrick expressed regret that
the present situation should have de-
veloped, especially in view Of the fact
that he has been q personal friend OF
DR.. Hickson.
A short time ago the board Of dea-
cons of the Skull Shoals church unan-
imously decided to request the resig-
nation of DR.. Hickson as the pastor
because of his alleged political activi-
ties. 1t was only a few days before
the second primary that DR.. Hickson
published a statement advocating the
election of Cole L. Blease for govern
Or, and he himself had been a candi-
date for a county office in the first pri-
mary.
Mr.. Kendrick yesterday recalled the
fact that several years ago DR.. Hick-
son quit conducting a revival meeting
in the Rehoboth church when the Lit
tleiohn's box returned n majority in
favor Of Blease. In the last primary,
the Sarratt's box, where most of the
Skull Shoals people vote, the vote was
more than two to one against Blease.
DR.. F. C. Hickson, Gaffney minister,
who is moderator of the Broad River
association, Tuesday issued the follow
ing statement concerning the action of
the deacons of the Skull Shoals Bap-
tist church in asking him to resign.
please announce that shall fill my
regular appointment to preach at Skull
Shoals Baptist church on the 4th Sun
day and ask everybody to be present
at II o'clock.
"At my last appointment, 4th Sum
day in August, we had a most delight
full service, baptismal, communion and
preaching.
"The pastor conducted the revival
services this year. first of August, him
SELF SO far as 1 could see from the
size of the congregation and hearty
cooperation Of the membership the
church was never so united and hope
full, nor so cordial in their support of
me as their pastor.
Il shall make no reply at present to
statements attributed to Mr.. Wilkins in
today's Ledger until 1 see the church.
"The public ought to know that the
Bapist church government is purely
democratic, and that the deacons have
no authority to call or dismiss a pas
tor.
There was not q member in the
church. certainly not n one of those
named who did not know from my
own lips that 1 was in favor of Hon.
Cole L. Blease for governor before the
first primary.
an 1912 l was pastor at Skull Shoals
and 1 opposed Mr.. Blease in the Led
ger and otherwise. Those who were
frinds of Mr.. Blease at that time made
no objection to me as their pastor.
"The fact that those who oppose
Mr.. Blease now object to me being
pastor because I now support him.
only shows that Mr.. Blease's friends
have more of the Christian spirit than
his enemies.
81 have always taken an active part
in politics wherever 1 have lived or
preached and this is the first time that
any church, or part of church, has
taken exception to it.
my reasons for supporting Mr..
Blease this time were my honest con-
victions and will stand the test of time
as to their wisdom.
"My motive in this and in all my ac-
tons was purely unselfish. There was
nothing for me to gain and everything
for me to lose.
81 took my stand with Mr.. Tillman
in the eighties when I was popular
town pastor and I took my stand
against Mr. Wilson on the war from
the same motive, viz: that as hu-
man and especially q Christian, my
sympathies are with the weak against
;he strong. The question of Germany
and England did not influence me at
all in my stand on the war. I saw
clearly that in my own country the
poor and weak would suffer- and that
the rich and strong would profit. If ]