Papers of John Skinner, Accession #4818-a, Special Collections, University of
Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
The collection was purchased by the Library from Jerry N. Showalter, 2007 November 19.
This collection contains appeals, complaints, correspondence, and other papers,
1847-1848, 23 items, in the case of the Reverend John Skinner, put on trial
by Presbytery of Lexington on the charge of libel and defamation against the
President and Professors of Washington College, three of whom are in the ministry
with him, in a pamphlet written by Dr. Skinner.
In the pamphlet (not present), he accused the President and Professors of
participating in producing dissatisfaction with his ministry (pages 76-77); treating
the students publicly with contempt; acting as police and "spying through key
holes"; professors being very jealous of their authority; said the professors feared
Dr. Skinner coming to examine their classes; states that the college dignitaries
have a disposition to inflict their wrath on students who wrote a letter of sympathy
for Skinner (page 80); accused the President and professors of Washington College of
acting to prevent the address of the Rev. Dr. Alexander, who had come by
appointment, to the student body (pages 83-84); wrote very specific accusations
against his fellow ministers, Rev. Ruffner, Rev. Calhoun, and Rev. Armstrong (pages
81-90), which included the approval of dancing, statements that Washington College
was not a Presbyterian College, interfering with his ministry, and communing with
Episcopalians, latitudinarianism, among other complaints; and accusing Major J.T.L.
Preston (page 65), an elder in the church of Lexington, of unsound doctrine.
The Reverend John Skinner, according to the charges, wrote about himself, "I am a
Presbyterian minister of Scottish caliber & I have been set & appointed as
sentinel at the gates of the Presbyterian Church here; & since you & your
other Presbyterian Professors have playing such 'fantastic tricks before high
heaven' in my absence - I am determined just to keep a more vigilant watch in
future." For more details see the manuscript Copy of Charges & Specifications
exhibited against Dr. John Skinner, February 4-March 22, [1848], and the printed
items in Rare Books, including: Case of the Rev. John Skinner, D.D., and the Presbyterian Church of Lexington [BX9193.S45S45 1847], Record of the Presbytery of Lexington, convened for the Trial of the Rev. John Skinner, D.D. [BX9193.S45 P7 1848]; and Sundry Papers in the Lexington Church Case [BX9193.S45 S5 1848].
1847 August 12 Copy of a Letter from John B. Style
and others to the Rev. John Skinner, suggesting that "a large proportion of
the congregation over which you are placed, have not enjoyed or been profited in their attendance upon your ministrations
as their Pastor." With a note stating it is the "letter referred to in his Memorial of Resignation."
Box-folder 1:2
1847 August 18 Draft of Minutes taken by the Rev.
Henry Brown, at the convening of the Presbytery of Lexington at Bethesda
Church, where a sermon from Job 9:2 was preached by the moderator the Rev.
W.W. Trimble
Box-folder 1:3
1847 September 9 Protest and Appeal from a decision of
the Presbytery of Lexington, of the Rev. John Skinner, D.D. Pastor of the
Presbyterian Church of Lexington, to the Synod of Virginia
Box-folder 1:4
1847 October 23 "Appeal of the Rev. John Skinner
against a Decision of the Synod of Virginia, to the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States, to meet in Baltimore in the month
of May, 1848," received October 30
th by Peyton
Harrison Mod[erator?] Synod of Virginia
Box-folder 1:5
1847 October 26 "Synodical conclusions desired" by
the Rev. John Skinner
Box-folder 1:6
1847 October 26 Inventory of Documentary
Evidence
Box-folder 1:7
1847 October Notes on Dr. Skinner's
Appeal
Box-folder 1:8
1848 January 18 Copy of a letter from John Skinner
to Mr. Brawford, asking him to put the enclosed citation letters in the post
office at Greenville or deliver to the parties respectively at least ten
days before February 2nd"
Box-folder 1:9
[1848] February 4-March 22 Copy of Charges &
Specifications exhibited against Dr. John Skinner, "Began to take testimony
on these Charges February 4th at 3o'clock p.m. continued till 6 o'clock. Resumed
the examination on Monday 7th in the
afternoon. A.B. Stuart witness. The Pby. was called to hear & issue the
case March 22nd"
Box-folder 1:10
1848 February 9 Copy of Dr. Skinner's Answer to
2nd Citation addressed to the Mod[erator]
of Lexington Presbytery
Box-folder 1:11
1848 April 3 Final Protest of the Rev. John
Skinner, D.D.
Box-folder 1:12
1848 April "Appeal and Complaint to the General
Assembly, Rev. John Skinner, D.D. versus Presbytery of
Lexington"
Box-folder 1:13
1848 April Complaint to the General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church of the United States, of the Rev. William Calhoun
and others, members in the minority of the Presbytery of Lexington, Synod of
Virginia, in the Case of the Rev. John Skinner, D.D.
Box-folder 1:14
1848 May 4 Extract from the Minutes of Lexington
Presbytery, signed by R.N. Davis
Box-folder 1:15
1848 May 26 "Brief Notes for a speech in the
case of Rev. John Skinner D.D. Baltimore"
Box-folder 1:16
n.d. Complaint "Notes on the complaint of Rev.
William Calhoun and Mr. Thomas P. Edmondson"
Box-folder 1:17
n.d. Note about "the unwarrantable abuse of this
Presbytery of Lexington"
Box-folder 1:18
n.d. "Notes for my speech on Dr. Skinner's
Appeal from the Decision of Presbytery suspending him from all the functions
of the gospel ministry"
Box-folder 1:19
n.d. Letter from Francis McFarland and Benjamin
M. Smith, [as representatives of the Lexington Presbytery?] to the Judicial
Committee concerning the appeal of Dr. Skinner
Box-folder 1:20
n.d. Note beginning "The Assembly regards a
Commission of a Judicatory, authorized to take up & issue business
specially assigned to it"
Box-folder 1:21
n.d. Note beginning "Resolved, that all the
Protests of Dr. S. which have not been disposed of by a action of Pres- be
referred to a Committee" consisting of Dr. McFarland, Rev. William Brown,
Mr. Charles Patrick
Box-folder 1:22
n.d. Note concerning actions that will be taken
against those who continue to act disorderly at places of public worship
after other kindly and earnest moral means have failed to correct the
problem
Box-folder 1:23
n.d. "Notes on Dr. Skinner's Appeal from the
decision of the Synod of V. that his appeal would not lie"
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