The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-06-07
PREsBYTERIANG GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Old school---Thirteenth Day.

4k4A%@&$A@A1tSA2 0@~@A~ ~ $780, y
on last Thursday, and which failed to
come to hand at the proper time. We
copy them now from the Louisville
Courier, that the history of the As
sefnbly may be completes ee
ST.. LOUIS, May 31.-An exciting
scene occurred this morning. After
recording some reports, Hon. ;. Cal
loWay rose to question Of privilege,
and read certain extracts from letter
written by Rev. Mr.. Ferguson, of
GAINESVILLE, Ohio, a member of this
Assembly. to the Ohio Statesman, Mr..
Galloway asserted that the article was
false and slanderOus in regard to his
character, and called on the Assem-
bly, to protect his character. The
Rev. Mr.. Ferguson was charged with
being the author of the article or
correspondence. Mr.. Ferguson at
tempted to speak, but was interrupted
by DIR. Krebs, who moved that if Mr.
Ferguson had written the article, that
ne be expelled from this Assembly.
Considerable excitement then en-
sued, and several members attempted
to speak. Amid the cries of Cues
ton, ? the Moderator put the Motion
of DR.. Krebs, and it was carried The
Moderator then declared Mr.. Fergu-
son expelled.
Mr.. Ferguson started for the door,
remarking that he had not been
allowed to explain or apologize.
On motion the question was recon
sidered, and MIR. Ferguson attempted
to explain, but the explanation was
not considered satisfactory.
Rev. Mr. West rose and read the
following:
WASHINGTON, o., April 26, 1866.
=" DEAR BROTHER KEITH think
/ know you personally. Did you not
once publish the ST. Louis PreSbyteri-
an? If SO, | saw you when on my
way to the General Assembly, in New
Orleans, some years ago. | also wrote
some articles for your paper against
ultraism Politically am the same
yet, and am sent by my Presbytery to
oppose the radical measures that may
come up at our meeting in your city
/ am to report for two or three pa
pers-the Ohio Statesman, Cincinnati
Enquirer, and Presbyterian, of Phila-
delphia. w. NJ. FERGUSON. y
eo After considerable excitement and
discussion, Mr.. Ferguson was ex-
PEELED from the Assembly and the re-
porter's table .-.
DIR. West took the floor in support
of the Committees report on the Lou
isville Presbytery. He declared there
was in the Church a countenance of
ALoaoAall11x1 r1Cf Tho ~ NJ
He quoted from sermon of DR.. Van
Dyke, in 1856, in which he said that
unless Northern legislation was con-
ceived in a more righteous spirit the
Union was not worth fighting for He
replied to other statements made yes
terday by DIR Van Dyke, and argued
that the constitutional power of the
Assembly over the Louisville Pres
bytery was complete. He claimed that
the application of this rule was
not partial or one-sided. He said
the deliyerances of the General Assem-
bly, in reference to slavery and the re-
bellion were plainly in conformity
with Gods Word, and were binding
as duties upon all Christians. Truth
and duty are inseparable, and if the
doctrines of the Church ON slavery are
true, the injunctions of the Assembly
are binding. Also, it is the duty of
the Church to enforce the doctrines of
the Church. These doctrines are not
political, though they have political
solution, and they should be obeyed
by the subordinate Judicatories of the
Church. They were entitled to ODE
dience; also, according to the form of
government of the Church He read
from the book to show that this sub
mission was required, and not a word
was said about submitting the question
to the Presbyteries.
The, duty of submission was com
manded in the whole history of the
Church, and the speaker dwelt at
length upon this point. He combat
ted DR.. Van Dykes statement, that
before any rule was obligatory in the
Church, it must be adopted by ma
jority of the Presbyteries. The prin-
ciples contended for by the majority
now were the same as contended for
in 1887 by the excluded synod, and
these men who condemn them now are
against the usage they commended
then He favored the proposition OF
DIR. Gurley, that we proceed regularly
even if we have to wait year. He
thought some good might begained by
pursuing this course, though he con,
tended that the question must be set
tied by the General Assembly, and The
signers of the Declaration and Test
mony must give way. The Church
should strike vigorously and efficient
ly; and if it does this, rebellion in tn,
Church will cease.
DIR. Van Dyke rose to question o
privilege, and charged Dr. West with
improperly in reading only part O
his speech in 1856. He charged tina
-. Il IN La 4 l.l,.orro,