The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-02-13
For the Grand Haven News.
Messrs. Parks VS.. Grand River Asso-
citation.

Mr.. EDITon: / have read in the
News, of the 9th inst, communication
from Messrs. George and John B. Parks,
in regard to the action of the Grand Riv-
or Association, in tho case Of Rev. j. An
derson, which seems to demand of me
some correction as to matters Of fact.
The preface to tho preamble and reso-
lulions of the Association, which appear
ed in your paper of the 3oth ult., gives
true statement of facts, so far rs was nee
essary to the introduction of the action of
the Association without going into detail.
Rev. 8. s. N. Greeley and Mr. Weller
delegate from the church at Cannon, were
both members of the investigating COM
mittee, although not present when the
letter was sent TO Mrs. Parks.
Messrs. Hinsdale, of Lamont, and
Wood, of Newaygo, were the deputation
to wait ON Mrs. Parks, with the request
that she would appear at the house of
Deacon Barns to give testimony before
tho committeeman second time, to
permit the committee, accompanied by
Mr.. Anderson, to appear at her house for
the same purpose, and, in both cases, the
answer brought back by the deputation
was declinature on the part of Mrs.
Parks. We further instructed the depu-
tation to say that the committee would
sit at Deacon Barns until twelve o'clock,
that she might duly consider either of
these proposals; but instead of twelve
we actually sat until near five o'clock P.
NJ, up to which time we would have
been prepared 10 have met her. But no
such opportunity was presented to us.
AS regards any particular conversation
between Mrs. Parks and the deputation,
at her own house, they alone are compe-
tent to speak. If any communication
had been received by the committee,
showing willingness on the part OF Mrs.
Parks to comply with their request,
doubtless it would have been attended to,
but no such intimation was received until,
as was stated about 7 o'clock, when our
report was made up.
When, therefore, it is considered that
the committee had spent the whole day
upon the subject of the report, that the
Association were kept waiting for it, that
Mrs. Parks had the fullest opportunity to
present her testimony had she so chosen,
and, above all, that, in point Of fact, we
already had her testimony, as delivered
by herself to q committee of the Congre.
gational Church and Society, who had
waited upon her for the very same pur
pose and upon whose report that Church
and Society had published to the world
that the charge against brother Anderson
was Improbable in its nature, malicious
in lis character, and unfounded in fact
To every candid mind these reasons will
be sufficient to justify the investigating
; committee, at that late hour, and unde
the pressure of other important business
for not complying with a message indi
rectly and informally received.
But besides the consideration of the re
. port of the committee, a large amount G
deferred business had to be disposed c
= that night, because most Of the brethre
i were compelled to leave for home by tn
j. next mornings train; hence the Associa
ton continued in uninterrupted sessio
: the whole evening, until after eleven o
clock. About nine o'clock an invitatio
" was extended TO the Association, by tn
ladies of the Congregational Society,
attend a social supper party, but such wa
- the pressing nature of their duties tbs
they were compelled to decline; the Re
&c quest, however, was urgently repeated
and, lest we might appear to them insel
sibe of their kindness, we sent deput'
ton of two Of our number to apologize ft
ye us. How, then, Messrs. George and job
lr B. Parks could assert, in the columns
O. newspaper, that we attended an oyst
st supper and "passed the evening in joke
TX and song, and jest" must be left 10 &c
st and their own consciences.
re The committee endeavored, TO the be
ly of their ability, to obtain all the eviden'
SIS they could in relation TO the charges mat
O. against Mr., Anderson. Hence the acc
re sation of "a determined erparte exar
I'd nation and report" and of "No show