Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-11-21
Election Trouble in the New York
Avenue Church.

THE ROTARY ELDBRsHIP QUEsTioN-AN RLEC-
TON AND PROTEST AND APPRAL-NEETING
OF THE PREsBYTERY LAST NIGHT.
Last evening q called meeting of the Wash
lBgton City Presbytery was held at the North
Church, on n street, between 9Th and 10th, to
take action on a protest and appeal of some of
the Members OF the New York Avenue Church
in regard to recent election; Rev. John Ches-
ter presided, with Rev. b. n. McFalIs stated
clerk. The
PROTEST AND APPEAL
was read. 1t sets forth that the signers appeal
from the action of the church on the evening of
the 18th instant, in electing elders for a term OF
years, LIST Because the church threw aside the
counsel and advice of the presbytery to which II
belongs; %. Because the majority in favor of
The Change from permanent to a rotary eldership
Was not such as was required by the action of a
previous meeting viz, three fifths all the votes
cast: Sd. Because the action of the general
bly, upon which il is based is not sufficiently
eXIhelt ~ warrant such change in such an
IMPORTANT Office: ith. Because such action is
contrary 10 the form OF government and book
OF discipline of the Presbyterian Church.
ana Ii not in accordance with the mode OF
eltcung elders Ia our church, and as the
action OF the general assembly is not man
datoIy, We decline TO act In opposition to the
standards Of the church; 9Th. Because there is
"a mode provided by our book o. discipline for
the removal from office of ruling elders. which
mode has been entirely ignored by said church
They ask that the action of the church referred
TO be declared null and void. The following are
the names signed TO the protest.. Mckenney
j. W. a. Shields, Jacob W. Ker, Noble d.
Larner, Mrs. p. ID. Gurley, n. Theaker Mrs
Martha Nice. Wilson, Kitty A. Theaker, V. L.
Young, Mary Moore, Lucy Stott, Mary Stott E.
Stott, j. Russell Barr, George j. Musser s. II.
WEIGH, Nj. Wales, Jane +. WEIGH, Walter Ker
Mary Pillings, Il. Elliott, G. q. McClelland O
VI. Muncaster William Hardness, NJ. j. Elliott,
Laura A. Gilman, John Wilson, u. G. Baldwin,
Mary X. Muncaster, A. NJ. LarDer, John Ran
dOlph, ). j. Thompson, ID. McClelland, Joseph
A. Decide, NJ. s. Lauck. 8. j. Lauck.
Rev; Mason Noble raised the point that the
appeal WAS irregular, As it did not appear to
have come through the church session. Rev,
DIR. Mitchell said he hal no disposition to post
pone the case, but there was no judicial casa
ending. After some further debate,
TnR COMPLAINT
OF Messrs. y. ID. Iarner, j. Mckinney, John
Wilson, \. Theaker, George y. Musser, and j.
A. Deible was read. They complain Of the action
OF the session IN calling a meeting for the cleo
ton of elders on the term principle, and OF the
various acts done at said meeting of the congr.-
CATION: LIST. Because ii was done in disregard OF
the advice of PIesbytery given to the session
ard church at IT'S last spring meeting; 2d. 1t is
proceeding in violation of the constitution OF the
Presby terrain church In the United States, and
OF the mode and usages heretofore existing in
the particular church and congregation afore
said; 3d. IL is calculated greatly TO disturb the
peace and harmony of said church.
THE PROTEST AND APPEAL DECIDED TO BE
IRREGULAR.
MIR. Nourse moved that the Presbytery having
met pursuant to the call of the moderator and
found the protest and appeal from certain elders
and part OF the congre CATION OF the New York
avenue church to be irregular in form, they
notify that congregation that they will be
pleased To listen to their complaint when il
comes 10 them in proper shape.
Rev. Mr.. McFall said that the Book of Prn-
passed generally from an inferior to a superio
court-that Is, first TO the session, then To the
Presoytery, then to the synod, and then to the
Rev. DIR. Chester thought there was still an
other side 20 the questf6n-that of preserving
their Presbyterian usages. He cited case from
the digest 10 prove that the asse mbly had taken
up appeals coming from congregation, and
called attention to the fact that this case was
not only an appeal, but q protest, and asked
how this congregation could do otherwise Their
session is divided, and how was it to be expected
that the complaint should be brought before
them. Therefore the call was made to the mod
orator to bring it before the presbytery and have
1t adjudicatsd. He maintained that the CON
gregation had the right to come to the presby
terry and ask q hearing In the manner in which
they had done, and for that reason he had 81 gned
Mr.. Henderson moved that the last pape,
tthe complaint) read be received; lost-yeas 10
nays IL.
The motion of MT. Nourse was then adopted
Prayer was offered by Rev. j. G. Smith, aftel
which the presbytery adjourned.
Tn. w..a..-.o O
REASONS Why The GENERAL eovERNMss7
SHOULD BRAR A SHARE OF THE EXPENSE OIL
ITS NAIRTAINANCE.
MI Charles Barker, representing the genera
government and county Of Washington, ID. U.
| the board OF tre commissioners has trans
mitted . letter TO the Secretary Of the Interior
asking his influence to obtain from Congress ar
APPROPRIATION for the support Of the fire depart.
ment Of this District. He says: "It lie we'll un-
| derstood that although the property Of the gen
| eral government and that of the citizens of tn.
\ District are alike protected by this department
from confagration, still the entire expense o.
! supporting the department, amounting annual
| ly to seventy-hve thousand dollars, has been TO
| years, and still is, borne by the District T,
say nothing of the value of public property 10
! Gated here, and the records of the general gov
| eminent, the lives and property of the thousand
| Of officers, high and low, who pay no tax de
mand and receive the same protection rs thos
| OF our own people, who are heavily taxed b