Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-09-26
DOMESTIC NEWS.
PRESBYTERY OF NEW CASTLE.
PROCEEDINGS AT NEWARK, YESTERDAY.
The Mathews Case Referred to a
Committee.


Monday evening. The Moderator, Rev. DIR.
Spotswood, being detained at home on account
Of sickness the opening sermon was preached by
Rev. Austin O. Heaton, of Princess Anne. after
which Presbytery went into business session and
Rev. Lafayette Maiks, of Wilmington, was elect
ed Moderator for the present term.
The sessions of the Presbytery thus far have
all been remarkably well attended-more largely
in fact than was ever before known it ia said by
some. Nearly all the members OF Presbytery
have been present, and the congregations have
been unusually full. This large attendance has
been stimulated by the expectancy that the case
Of Rev. DR. Matthews, charged with the sednc-
tion OF bis servant, would be Investigated Little
else IL spoken OF in Newark, for Mr.. Matthews
WAS well known there and the story of his case
Affects the people Of that town quite al much Al
those of Elkton, whore he resided for 80 many
years.
Contrary to public expectation, and before the
people were aware Of it, Mr.. Matthews case was
quietly disposed of the frat thing yesterday
morning Few persons outside the Presbytery
knew that the case had been called, AMI many
persons in the congregation Were impatienty
waiting its beginning, aDxOusly looking forward
to the disposition of each item of business in the
hope that this case would come next.
letter was read from Rev. Mr. Matthews
in which it was stated that whereas certain
- falre" accusations had been made against his
character by the colored girl, Maria Saulsbnry,
he asked that an investigation might be had at
once. committee was, therefore, appointed
for that purpose, consisting of Kevs. John Pat
ton, ID. D., of Middletown, who il chairman
j. l.. Vallandigham OF Newark j Henry Johns,
of Zion and Elders john Foulk Of Milford
and Hugh Steele, OF Port DepOsit. This com
mittee ls regarded AZ a very able one and fully
competent to make thorough aud effectual in
vestgation into Mr.. Matthews case. The COM
mittee is invested with plenary powers and
will begin its labors at once. 1t will
go first to the town Of flktOn aud re-
ceive the testimony OF the colored girl thence
to North East to obtain the documentary evil
dence in the possession of the Justice of the
Peace who committed her to jsil; ; thence to
Baltimore to inquire into the circumstances
connected with tile birth Of the child and finally
to Randallstown, Baltimore Co., Md, the present
home of Mr.. Matthews, to receive whatever tes-
timOny he may have to dsprove the guilt which
the colored girl has attached to him. The com
mittee will then make up its report preparatory
to submttal to the Baltimore Synod, which
meets in Wilmington Oh the 18th of October.
Final disposition of the care will then be made.
Public opinion IL at variance with reference
to the guilt or innocence OF the accused. When
the story of his crime first became
known, everyone was 10th to believe it
true for his life had to all outward appear
ances, been 70 pure that he was regarded AZ al
most Immaculate. The positive asseverations
OF the girl aud the seeming studied persistence
with which MIR. Matthews evades oppOrtuni-
ties to give emphatic contradiction to her oharg-
es have, however, had an effect upon public
sentiment, and his most ultimate friends shake
their heads in doubt as the story Of their inter-
views with him are related to each other.
A few days after tae disclosure by the poor
girl, Parson Mclutre, as lie is famarly
called, Collector o. Lntsrnal Rsvenne for the
Mr. Matthews at his office in Baltimore. Every
opportunity was thon offered the accused to deny
the charge, but he only sealed his lips or gave
evasiye answers to the Parsons questions. MIR.
McIntre told him that II he would only give pos
tive contradiction to the girls statement, that
his sympathies and his efforts should bo united
in an attempt to blot out the stain which was
now resting upon Ills character. The Parsons
importunitius were Hnavaiilhg, ana NJ DENIAL
was made 30 We are assured
When Mr. Matthews visited Elkton for the
purpose of having ali interview with the girl, his
friends again attempted to extort from nm
denial even assuring him that If he wonld make
oath to his innocence they would beheVe MIN
guitless, the assertions OF the girl to the
contrary notwithstanding He however, main
| tanned his usual reticence.
In cbmpany with couple OF elders OF the
| Church, one of whom was j. I. Mccullough.
| Mr. Matthews visited the girl while In jail and
| when he asked her Uhy she had told the terrible
/ story about him and was answered that she was
/ compelled to. aud at the same time declared the
| story to be correct, he only wrung his hands III
/ anguish and was otherwise moved with deep
| emotion While there Mr.. Mccullough removed
| the covering from the child while 1t was sleeping
| in it's cradle but Mr. Matthews refused to look
upon it and turned away He has mover yet
| seen the child
| Almost every one expected Mr.. Mathews
| to attend tile meeting of PIesbytery but
| he failed tS appear. and merely sent the let
| ter asking an investigation into the oharges A.
legged against him. Even in this letter there Is
| said to be eqnivocaton, and the denial IL only
made bv implication. He says that GER ain 'false
charges" have been made against him, which
may mean that tho main one is correct and mt
| nor ones false or may be construed into he-
nial Of the whole story he letter IS Vel 3 car
fully and guardedly written. IL he ls guilty ht
is certainly acting in most cOnsoientio Is inau'
| ner refusing to add purjury to his other crime
Another singular fact in connection with tnl'
| case is the political antecedsnts OF the Il 9V MT
Mathews. A Vrginiau by birth, he Inherited
all the antipathies OF his people towards th'
colored men, and brought with him his politlca
predictions to his new home in Elkton. IL
| was most ultra in his views and strong IN hi
: | preiudices-eo much 80, in fact, that churcl
, separation could barely be prevented amonl
his people. In view Of this fact, his presen
situation liz somewhat anomalous but not NOR
40 from this reason than by his departure from
the lessons of purity and truth which he ha
been inculclting these many years.
} After the disposition of this case in the man
4 | ner stated Preshytery took up the regular rou
/ | tine of business incident to the session, an
prosecuted it az far possible. Three session
3 we're held yesterday. Letters Of dismissal wer
| granted to Rev. George IL. Smyth, OF the Wes
T Church, in this CITY, and to Rev. Robert White
Z of the church at Bridgeville Application wa
) also made by a colored graduate of Lincoln Uni
yersity, to be transferred from the Presbytery q
o Chester to this Presbytery, but as he had com
away from home leaving his letter OF dsmissI
behipd him, action on the application was d.
ferred
n At the afternoon session a free convorsatio
~ on the state of the church within the limits {
- Pressytery obtained, from which il Appeare
= that the church was in a pro erous cll dltioI
- both spiritually and financially. The toti
- number of churches is fifty.
:, Presbytery will conclude it's present sesso
to-day and adjourn.