SESSION PIEDMOP
TERY HI
Trial of Hov. I>. W. Dodge Occupied
Greater Part ol' Session-Convict
ed of Teaching Itoctrlnes Not in
Accord With Teachings of Church,
itoposcd from Ministerial Labors
in < 'linn li.
Tho Piedmont Presbytery met in
Walhalla last Tuesday night. The
session was opened with a sermon by
the retiring moderator, Rev. W. H.
Mills, of Clemson College.
Officers elected were as follows:
Prof. Hale Houston, Clemson Col
lege, moderntor; Rev. W. H. Mills,
Clemson College, stated clerk; C. T.
Martin, Gasley, 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
toachings 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: lt has
como to my knowledge, from various
sources, that Rev. D. Witherspoon
Dodge has for some time past been
holding and teaching views of God's
decrees and the punishment of the
wicked in conflict with the Scriptures,
as interpreted within the standard of
the church. I, therefore, deem it 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 G. paragraph 3.
"I had hoped that Brother Dodge
would relieve me from this duty by
making a voluntary statement to the
Presbytery, but he has Informed me
he will not do so.
"Fraternally yours,
"Robert Adams."
Minister Pleads Not Guilty.
Rev. Mr. "Dodge plead "not guilty"
to the Indictment, and was placed on
trial at 10.30 o'clock Wednesday by
Piedmont Presbytery.
Tho first session, given over to the
trial proper, .was taken up willi ex
amination of witnesses for tho prose
cution, the following testifying: G.
N. C. Bolcman, Dr. R. IC. Thompson,
Dr. M. A. Thompson, W. S. Ramsey,
of Anderson; W. C. Hughs, Walhal
la; Rev. 1. E. Wallace, Seneca; Rev.
W. H. Frazer, Anderson.
At the conclusion of the session,
the prosecution rested its case so far
as the examination of witnesses was
concerned, and at 2.30 o'clock the
defendant began the presentation of
! ia v is< Rev. Robert Adams con
ducted tho prosecution, the defendant
conducting his own caso.
rive subi moe of tho testimony was
to tho offed thal the defendatil had
>een lioard i . res* ii the view und
teach the doctrine of probation, br
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 Ged, he would have an opportunity
to be saved.
Dr. Frazer testified that the de
fendant had confessed to him that he
held views at 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 tho 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
amination, frequently injecting into
the questioning a full measure of sar
casm.
Mr. Dodge Addressed l*resbyteiy
at the close of the hearing of his
case (Thursday night), explaining
bl? plea of "not guilty,'? which had
heretofore carried with lt a degree of
mystery. Opening his remarks,
(which we cannot reproduce hore in
full ), he said :
"I 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 350,000 per
sons In the Presbyterian Church of
the Sohth, and that he trembles at
tho thought of the weight of the re
sponsibility upon him. How much
moro do I feel the weight of the re
sponsibility of standing here as the
representative of tho 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
wore against the peace, unity and
purity of the church as interpreted
by the Presbyterian church." (The
Inferenco was that while his .views
were at variance with the peace, uni
ty and purity of thc church, us Inter
preted by the Presbyterian church,
his views'and teachings wore not at
variance with the peace, unity and
purity of the great church of Jesus
Christ. At this juncture the prosecu
tor reminded Mr. Dodge that that
paragraph of the indictment was
merely a matter of form, ns. in tho
civil courts, indictments concluded
with tho phrase "against the peace
and dignity of tho State.")
The speak or then announced that
his views and his toachings were tho
"Liberty of Conscience," and follow
ed this with a statement, of his views
on tho punishment of sin, ibo dura
tion of the punishment, tho opportu
nity for snlvation beyond the grave.
At various times tho speaker quoted
passages from tho Presbyterian Con
fession of Faith, and followed thom
with quotations from the Bible,
which, ho stated, rovealed tho falla
cies in tho Confession of Faith.
After the speaker had progressed a
considerable way into the exposition
of his views of the Confession of
Faith and certain Scriptural passages,
a vigorous protest came from Dr. W.
H. Frazer, to tho effect that he did
not proposo to sit and listen to tho
?M?--?-?^-111 . .I ll? Uti lill Ul
PRESBY
3JD LAST WEEK
Confession of Faith put on trial. The
prosecuting minister asked the
speaker if his exegesis of the Scrip
tures were at variance with tho Con
fession of Faith in any particular,
and when Mr. Dodge informed him
that lt was, ho objected to tho speak
er being permitted to continue his
remarks along that line. Mr. Dodge
spoke further, giving bis conception
of what tho church is or was intended
to be; his conception of God, and of
various teachings of tho Bible.
DeiK>sed from Ministry.
There being no comments on tho
question from members of the Pres
bytery, the mattor of passing upon
tho guilt or innocence of the accused
was taken up, resulting In a unani
mous vote that he stood guilty as In
dicted.
Dr. Frazer moved that a commit
tee be appointed to confer with Mr.
Dodge to seo If he would not recon
sider, tho committee reporting later
as stated.
Considerable time was consumed
In tlio discussion of the nature of the
punishment that should be Indicted.
The Book of Church Order proscribes
four forms of punishment in such
cases, one being admonition, another
definite suspension, the fourth and
extreme penalty being deposition.
When it was reported that Mr. Dodge
was not amenable to a reconsidera
tion of the stand he hod taken, Rev.
Mr. Waller, who had previously pro
posed deposition, called for a vote
on his resolution, the measure being
adopted ?with hut two dissenting
votes, these being cast by Rev. W.
H. Mills and Rev. D. P. Junkin.
Will Be Heard Again.
lt ls understood that Rev. Mr.
Dodge contemplates taking his case
through all the channels prescribed
by the rules of the Presbyterian
church in such enses, thus availing
himself of tho opportunity to air his
views ill the highest of the Presbyte
rian tribunals.
The trial here was conducted along
lines that gave evidence of a stern
adherence to church discipline and
law, yet bringing to the surface a
marked degree of Christian and bro
therly personal Interest and forbear
ance. The earnest hope of the prose
cution was that Rev. Mr. Dodge
would "see the error of his way," for
sake his present teachings, which are
felt in many quarters to border upon
and really embrace not a little of the
teachings of Romanism; hut he re
mained firm lu his adherence to his
views and lils refusal to conform to
the teachings of the Presbyterian
church. In view of *hese facts he
was deposed from the ministry of the
Presbyterian church, tho extreme
penalty prescribed by his departure
from Its teachings.
Presbytery Adjourned
late Thursday night. The meeting
was ono of the most momentous in
the history of Piedmont Presbytery.
Much business of a routine nature
vas transacted, though tho Dodge
'tearing occupied the major portion
itt the session.
Missionary Evangelist Oh "?sen.
Rev. T. C. Croker, of Newberry
county, pastor of Old Smyrna church,
was chosen to serve Piedmont Pres
bytery In the capacity of missionary
evangelist. Rev. Croker's present
work ls within the bounds of the
South Carolina Presbytery, but it Is
felt that there ls no doubt as to his
release and transfer to Piedmont
Presbytery for the taking up of this
new and Important work. The mis
sionary evangelist will look after the
interests of the churches in the coun
try and -will have an important part
In the Sunday school work of the
Presbytery, lt ls thought that his
transfer will be consummated within
a month, lt ls probable that the mis
sionary evangelist will be located at
Seneca as the most central point from
which to conduct his labors.
Rev. J. E. Wallace and T. P. An
derson, of Westminster, and Dr. W.
A. Sheldon, of Liberty, were elected
to the board of trustees of Clinton
College.
Dr. W. II. Frazer, of Anderson, and
Bider M. A. Bogga, of Liberty, were
elected as Commissioners to the Gen
eral Assembly of tho Presbyterian
church, which will convene In *Bir
mingham, Ala., In May.
Adjourned Meeting May ?th.
An adjourned meeting of Presby
tery was fixed for Tuesday, May 8th
This meeting will be held nt Seneca
Tho next regular meeting of Pres
hy tory will he. held -with the West
minster church on the third Tuesdaj
In September, the 18th.
Mr. Dodge at Home.
(Anderson Mail, 1 7th.)
Facing a large congregation of peo
pie that for its general complexitj
was unlike anything over seen in An
derson, and under circumstances cor
talnlv the most unique attending an;
meeting of the kind the city has eve
witnessed, an unfrocked minister o
the Presbyterian church-a man ye
in his youth - representing no organ
?zed church, no creed, no sect, no
any Institution of belief formulate!
by man. but representing, as ito said
only tho great church of the lovinj
God. yesterday afternoon uttered
plea for liberty of conscience am
freedom of thought in serving th
Father of all mankind that was pro
nounced by unbiased minds tba
hoard it as a masterpiece.
"Then Peter and tho other apostle
answered nnd said, We ought to oho
God rather than men." Tho 29t
verse, 5th chapter of the Ads. is th
text from which D. Wltherspoo
Dodgo, until lastThrusdny night pas
tor of the Central Presbyterta
church of this city, deposed hy actio
of his Presbytery following lils cor
vlction on charges of heresy, delivei
od his message to a congregatio
that? filled tho auditorium of th
Christian church. Among those Hi
toning to tho discourse wore peopl
from all Protestant denominator
represented In tho city, some who ai
member*, of no church at all nor a<
h eren ts of any church creed, Gontl
and Jew. Thoro is no gainsaying tl
fact that some few carno out of
Corn for
I Food
"There are in the eleven Cotton States 6,500,
OOO horses and mules If each of these were fed
two pounds of cotton seed meal per day, as part of
the daily ration, it would release four pounds of
corn each day, and 200 days of such feeding to all
horses and mules would release 100,000,000
bushels of corn for human food and the mules
would be benefited by the change.
"Four pounds of corn at $1.56 per bushel costs
ll cents. Two pound- f cotton seed meal at $40
per ton costs 4 cents.
"The feeder would thus save 7 cents per day
on each head of stock, or a saving of $14 per mule
in a period of $200 day?.
"We suggest that such feeding now, and the*
planting of soy or vol* et beans or peas in all corn,
as an economic and patriotic duty.
DR. TAIT BUTLER, (^Memphis)
Editor Progressive Farmer, ano Associate
Agriculturist, B. M. C. Farm Bureau.
DR. E. R. LLOYD,
Director Mississippi Experiment Station.
OR. H. A. MORGAN,
Director Tennessee Experiment Station.
W. C. LASEITER,
Director Arkansas Extension Forces.
E. M. COTTRELL,
Agriculturist, B. M. C. Farm Bureau,
Memphis, Tenn."
Signed ;
Signed :
Signed :
Signe
Signed :
What WOulu t a
$2.00 per f
te answer be on
shel for Corn ?
You will notice the alfove is endorsed by the best
authorities in the country, and we hope Oconee
County will take tb t y in now.
Westminster
Oil and Fertilizer Co.,
WESTMINSTER, S. C.
K. W. MARETT, Hanager.
sense of curiosity, a truth which was
realized and admitted hy the speaker,
but it is also a truth that a very great
many came through the promptings
ol' their own hearts.
Contrary to what a great many ex
pected, no douht, thor? was nothing
pertaining to the spectacular ahout
tile speaker's deliverance. There was
no suggestion of resentment nor the
faintest evidence of bitterness to
ward any one or anything for his con
dition of a minister deposed from his
high and holy calling. Rather his
attitude was that of ono who had
gone through his Gethsemane, and,
having the courage of his convictions,
had drunk to the dregs lils cup, the
experience leaving him with a feeling
which ho characterized as indescrib
able.
"I appear before you this after
noon, " he said, "feeling as 1 have
never felt before. I cannot tell you
how I feel. I am no longer a 'Hover
end,' and I nover shall be again. I
am here just as a plain, ordinary,
evory-day sort of man. I will not
characterize myself as a 'man of
Clod,' for that phrase carries with lt
the suggestion of a higher and holler
condition than 1 would lay claim to
-but rather lot. me speak of myself
as a 'man for God.' I stand here as
the representative of no denomina
tion, the champion of no man-made
creed, the follower of no sect-but
just as a Christian, as I see lt."
Continuing briefly in this strain,
the speaker declared that he was
more convinced now than ever that
denomlnntlonallsm had run its
course; that ls, denomlnatlonallsm
that means sectarianism of the kind
which proclaims "I am right and you
are wrong."
"'We are living in a world that ls
too 1>ig. too complex, too cosmopoli
tan and too Intellectual." he 3ald,
"for any man or set of men to lay
claim that they know all of tho truth.
We hnvo got to preach less denoml
natlonallsm and more Christianity If
tho church romains. We have got to
get away (rom narrowness. The fault
with many of our creeds ls not that
they are old-fashioned, hut they are
not old-fashioned enough. Instead of
doting.our creeds back to the years
of John Calvin, John Knox, Martin
Luther, Wesley and the others, we
have got ?to date thom hack to the
year one, and found our Ideals In
Jesus Christ. We ought to obey God
rather than men. The religion of
to-day and the religion of the future
has got to permit every soul to go to
its God for its beliefs, rather than to
our man-made creeds for which our
chu relics stand."
In his introductory remarks Mr.
Dodge stated that ho would make
reference to the recent experience
through which he had passed at Wal
halla because he realized that many
of those sitting before him were in
terested. He stated that he had no
plans at that time, but perhaps would
have some the next day. Ile stated
that tho use of tho Christian church
had been vory kindly tendered for
this service, with the understanding,
of course, that in so doing tho
church was maintaining a position of
strict neutrality In the incident
through which he had just passed.
Mr. Dodge stated that ho would con
tinue to preach hereafter, perhaps in
tho Christian church, at timo? when
tho building -was not in uso, If the
congregation extended him the cour
tesy.
. In tho congregation that filled the
Christian church to Its capacity wore
a largo number of members of tho
Central Presbyterian church, among
them being both officers and lay
men. The speaker was given the
closest attention throughout the dis
course, and at the conclusion of tho
service sobres of his hearers pressed
forward to groot him.
BOO Men Daily for Navy.
Washington, April 14.-The navy
is gaining men at the rate of more
than 600 fy day, lt was announcod by
the Navy-,Department to-day. The
County Fanners' Union.
The Oconee County Farmers' Union
will meet with Coneross Local, at
Coneross, on April 28th, at 1 1 o'clock
a. m. All locals are requested not
only to send full delegations, but all
members are urged to come, as busi
ness of importance will be up for dis
cussion. G. M. Barnett, county dem
onstration agent, and other popular
speakers will address tho meeting.
T. Y. Chalmers, President.
J. H. Garrison, Secretary.
Play at Ebeneser School.
There will be a play, "Mrs. Briggs
of the Poultry Yard," gi von by the
teachers and pupils of Ebenezer
school next Friday night. April 20th,
at S.30 o'clock.
The cast of characters will be as
follows:
Mrs. Briggs, a woman of business
- Miss Addie L. Davis.
Ralph, Jimmy, Olivia and Melissa,
her family-Arthur Tollison, Paul
Hunt, Pearl Vaughn, Hazel Tollison.
Silas Green, "a near relation"
Pnul Elkin.
Mr. Leo, a wealthy neighbor -Os
car Tollison.
Virginia Lee. his daughter-Miss
Sallie Hunt.
Daisy Thornton, her fi lend--Miss
Della Tollison
Mrs. O'Connor, with no liking for
goats-Annie IO. Gason.
Mandy Batos, whose tongue will
stumble-Margaret S. Hill.
Tho public is invited to attend.
Admission 10 and 15 eents. Pro
ceeds to be used for tho benefit of the
achoo!. Addle L. Davis, Principal.
net gain stneo April 1 has been 4,
871. For the last two days it was
635 and 556, respectively.
To mako the increase even more
rapid, officials are considering enlist
ing men for the period of the war,
the policy already adopted by the
army.
CUT FLOWERS.
Tor Doz.
Carnations .$1.00
Daffodils.25
Hyacinths.75
Tulips, extra.75
Tulips, ser?n(l.s.HO
Lilies.8.00
ADI) (IC. FOR POSTAGE.
An?erson Floral Co.,
5113 MARSHALL AVENUE,
ANDERSON, S. C.
FLOWERS
'PELECHA RH ED EVERY W HERE
CITATION NOTICE.
Tho Stato of South Carolina,
County of Oconeo.-(lu Court of
Probatoi)-Ry V. F. Martin, Judge
of Probate.-Whereas, John F. Craig,
C. C. C. P., has made suit to mo to
Kraut har Letters of Administration
of the Estate of and Effocts of Mrs.
Vllena Rogers, deceased
Those arc, thoreforo, to cito and ad??
monish all and singular the kindred
and creditors of tho said Mrs. Vllena
Rogers, docoasod, that they bo and
appear bofore mo, in tho Court of
Probate to be hold at Walhalla Court
House, South Carolina, on Tuesday,
the 15 th day of MAY. 1917,
afto/ publication hereof, at ll o'clock
in tho forenoon, to show cause, if any
they have, why tho said administra
tion should not bo granted.
Given under my hand and seal this
:Ust day or March, A. D. 1915.
(Seal.) V. F. MARTIN,
Judge of Probato for Oconeo County,
South Carolina.
Published on tho 4th. 11th, 18th.
2.">th April and 2d, 9th days of May,
11117, in Tho Keowee Courlor and on
the Court Houso door for tho Hmo
prescribed by law.
April 4, 1017. 14-19
TAR E
NO ALCOHOL
PREVENTS i
('(dds, Lat ?ri pp?-, Kl icu mat ism.
A pleasant but offoctivo emul
sion, which rebuilds tho tissues,
revlvos the system, adds strength
and stimulates the nervous sys
tem. lt has absolutely no alco
hol, and te In every sense a tonic.
#1.00 Per Bottle
Ask Your Druggist.
Manufactured Solely Ry
THE FERROL COMPANY
COLUMBIA. 8. C.
To the Stock Raisers
of Oconee County :
I offer the services of Regis
tered Jersey Bull and Regis
tered Duroc Jersey Boar* Come
and see these animals?
W. Pat Dickson,
Route 4, - - Seneca. S. C.
Rainfall for Week.
Rainfall for week ending April
15th, at 7 p. m., Is furnished ns by
H. W. Brandt, co-operative observer.
The record follows:
Date- Inches rainfall.
April 9-Clear.09
April 10-Clear.
April 1 I-Clear.
April 12-Clear.
April 13-Cloudy.44
April 14-Clear .
April 15-Clear .
Total for week.53
Closing Day at Earle's Grove.
The patrons and friends of Earle's
Grove Graded School are requested
and most cordially invited to ho pres
ent at the closing day exercises to ho
held at tho school building next Fri
day evening ai 8 o'clock.
J. Tl, Compton, Principal.
YES! LIFT A CORN
OFF WITHOUT PA IN I
Cincinnati Authority Tells- How to
Dry Up a Com or Callus So it
Lifts Off With Fingers.
You corn-postered mon and wo
men need suffer no longer. Wear tho
shoes that nearly killed you before,
says this Cincinnati authority, be
cause a few drops of freezone applied
directly on a tondor, aching corn or
callus, stops soreness at once and
soon tho corn or hardened callus
loosens so it. can bo lifted out, root
and all, without pain.
A small bottle of freezone costs
very little at any drug store, but will
positively take off every hard or soft
corn or callus. This should be tried,
as it ls Inexpensive and ls said not to
irritate tho surrounding akin.
If your druggist hasn't any froe
zonc tell him to got a small bottle
for you from his wholesalo drug
house. It is fine stuff and acts Uko
a charm every time.-Adv.