Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-01
Tn. second Presbyterinn Church of Hem
Bhfs.

. s@uccinct and authentic narrative of it, for the
benefit Of your readers, and for the vindication
of the said church and the Presbytery with which
it Is connected. You will find that the statement
made by some one that DR.. Grundy was oustsd
from the Second Church for his so-called Union
sentiments, or procivities, is without foundation
and was made only for the effect upon certain
classes in Memphis and upon the officers Of the
army now in possession of the city.
It is true that Dr. Grundy said, did, and
wrote things that seem to be at hopeless vari-
snce to the idea that he was loyal to the South,
vet some men have such strange organization
of the moral sense, Induced by education), that
they connot or will not understand that a prOpo-
sition cannot be true and false at the same time
and so DR.. Grundy, in a very long speech on
the aoor of Presbytery last fall at Emmans
Church. asserted and made statements to prove
that he was more loyal to the South, had made
more sacrifices Of property for the South, and
had raised in his church more money for the
benefit of the volunteers in the army OF the
Soutb. than any other member Of the Presbyte-
~ We do not intend a discussion of DR.. G.s
actions and opinions, further than to say that they
ware so tortuous and inconsistent as to excite the
fear that something was at fault, either IA mind
or heart. But as he repeatedly asserted and
avowed that he was true and loyal to the South
and her cause, it is simply absurd to say that ne
was dismissed from the church because ne was
9 so.called "Union man 1 have eonversed
with several of the most intelligent friends OF
DIR. Grundy, in the Second church, and who
were his friends because they believed that be
was sincere and honest in his protestations OF
fidelity to the South. 1t would be grossly libel
Gus upon that congregation TO suppose that they
would have allowed DR.. GTundy to remain and
preach one Sabbath after a declaration, open and
honest, Of opposition to the South, and sympathy
for the North.
DR.. Grundy's political opinions were IN
no way involved in the proceedings Of the
case, though DR.. Grundy did make the effort
to produce the impression by statements
made from lis pulpit by himself, as he con
fessed on the floor of Presbytery, and by
notices and invitations inserted by him or on ms
authority in the Memphis papers, that he was to
be tried before PTesbytery for political heresy'
That was an adroit move to divert the minds OF
the community from the true issues before the
church and Presbyteryi but the calmness and
prudence of Presbytery enabled them firmly to
adhere to the one undisputed issue in the case
the difficulty that hsd sprung up between Dr.
Grundy and a large portion of his church The
existence of that difficulty, as a naked fact, IN
connected with the cause or origin OF the din
Guilty. was the first thing to which the attention
of Presbytery was called by the following
memorial, signed by ninety-six members OF the
Second church, viz:
MEMPHIS, March 81, 1862.
To the Presbytery of Memphis:
The undersigned members and pew-holders OF
the Second Presbyterian church of this city,
feeling profoundly aggrieved on account OF the
condition of the church in reference to our pas
for. desire the Presbytery will take speedy ac-
tion. that. if possible, the church may be saved
from dissolution, or very material injury, in that
so many will feel compelled to take their letters
and 90 elsewhere. Our representative Will pre-
sent to the Presbytery our difficulty in detail"
Ia response to the memorial Presbytery ap-
pointed a committee Of five Of the most promi-
neut and iudicious members, to confer with the
parties and report-and the following is their re-
port:
The committee to whom was referred the me
mortal from the Second church, Memphis, would
respectfully report: .
-,.,-Enn.a NTH vr0uF anDgrntmpnt We mex
in this city. and conferred first with the session
of the church, receiving from them, in solemn
prayerful conference, d full and candid statement
of their views, feelings and Judgment, IN refer
ence to the painful troubles among them. we
had then a similar protracted and cordial confer
ence with the pastor, in which he untolded his
views, Judgment and purposes freely. From all
the light thus shed upon our minds we are unsn-
imously agreed upon these polnts:-that the
difficulties existing are so grave and serious as
to leave no hope that the interests OF Chrsts
kingdom will be promoted by further efforts at
Cancellation. We believe God will be more Ell
GENTLY glorifed and peace and harmony promo
ted by a peaceful separation. Whether thatmay
be best accomplished by the division OF the
church. or the dissolution of the pastoral Ieia-
ton. we leave to the wisdom and prayeriul de-
cision Of the Presbytery.
The following is The action of the Presbytery
upon the report:
On motion 1t was resoiJed, That, in view Of
the irreconcilable difficulties in the Second
church, and IN earnest hope chat the PresbyterlaI
action may be blessed of God to heal the diyls-
ions in the church, the pastoral relation between
the Rev. Z. c.. Grundy, d. D., and the Third
church Of Memphis, be dissolved, and the pulpit
Of said church be declared vacant.
The motion was seconded and debated. Dr..
Grundy, the pastor, was heard. Mr.. B NJ. Is
ties, the representative of the church was also
heard, and the communication signed by ninety
six members of the Secoud church and sent to
the Presbytery at Portersville and was read.
A motion was then made and seconded to
amend the FIRST molten so as to make IL only a
declaration of the judgment of the Presbytery
that the pastoral relation ought to be dissolved
and the parties be advised to take the steps ne
cessary to have it dissolved. Pending the dis
cussion of the amendment, the mover, with the
consent of the second, obtained leave to with
draw said motion to amend.
The following substitute was offered:
BesoiUcd, That the disaffected members of this
church have leave to secede, and that they
hereby be recommended to do so pesceablY and
quietly, and, being seconded, was debated and
decided in the negative.
DR.. Grundy was heard in statement of what
he had done to resign his passionate psaceably,
and at the close he offered a paper puTporting to
ask leave to resign his pastoral relation under
certain circumstances, with certain restrictions
and reservations. Leave was not granted.
The question was then taken upon the origi-
nal motion to dissolve the pastoral relation and
declare the pulpit vacant and the motion was
decided in the affirmative.
DR.. Grundy offered for himself and Rev. A.
w. Young 8 protest and complaint to the Synod
of Memphis against the action of the Presbytery
of Memphis in dissolYing his pastoral relation
on motion the said protest and complaint was
entered on record, and q committee appointed
to answer it, and to carry all the necessary
papers up to Synod"
AS the case is thus to be carried up to Synod,