Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-11-21
PRESBTT ERIANS.
NEW YORK AVENUE CHURCH TROUBLES

The Protest and Appenl oftho CouHreGa-
tIon-what the DiHorcHt Clergy Thought
ofIt-Ths Matter not yet Settled.
The Washington City Presbytsry held a called
moetinE last evening, at the North PTosby terlan
church, on N street, between Ninth and Tenth,
Rev. John Chester moderator, and Rev. VIM.
Metals stated clerk.
The call for tho meeting was then road, which
was to take action on the protest and appeal
from some Of the elders and members OF the
New York.avenue church against recent cleo
tlOn held In that church.
Rev. Mason Noble thought that there could
be no action until the appeal was hoard.
II was then read as follows;
THE APPEAL.
W sHnaTos, November 8, ls7A
Tho undsrsiEned, members Of New York Ave.
nue. Presbyterian church Of this city respectfully
appeal % the preshytery from the actlon taken
ls77, WIS., eleoting elders for term Of years, for
the following, among other reasons;
l. Because II has thrown aside the counsel
and advice Of the presbytory Of Washington
city, 70 which II belongs, and which has the
oversight Of US In the Lord,
2. because the majority In favor Of the change
from permanent TO . rotary eldershlp was not
such as Was required by the action Of previous
meeting, Wis, three hlths Of all the votes cast
. Because the action Of the General Assem-
bly, upon whioh II 10 based Is not sufficiently ex-
plicit 10 warrant such change In such an im.
portant Otiieo. tSoo action Of synod Of Balu'
more
Of government and book Of discipline Of the
| Presbyterian church, and IL not 10 accordance
with the mode Of electing elders In our church,
and aIthS action Of the General Assembly e not
mandatory, We decline 70 act IN opposition u
| the standards Of the church.
8. Because there 10 n mode provided by ouI
book VI discipline for the removal from office Of
ruling elders, which mode has been entirely iE
Tor tie above and other reasons which may b
assigned, We respectfully request the ptesbytery
TO declare the action O. New York avenue church
/ above referred 10 null and void.
| For ourselves and others whom We represent
Signed by J. McKenney, J. W. A; shields
Jacob W. Rer, Noble ID. LArner Mrl. z. ID
| Gurley, N, Thoaker, Mrs Martha McC. Wilson
Kitty A. Theakor, V. T. Young, Mary Moore
BaTT, aeo. j. MusSeT, 5. Z. MusIsf,. Jos. W
gs SsG /. Y wsich' Walter KSr, Mary PiiiIns;, 7
Elliott, u. q. McClelland, o. nj. MuncAster
WIN. Hardness, NJ. J. Elliott, Laura A. Gilman
John Wilson, .: @ Baldwin, Mary II M ISss
son, ID. MoUlsllAnd, Jos. A. Decide, NJ. 5. Lauek
=. ]. Lauek.
Rev. Mason NOBLE did not see how they ooult
receive the paper At all, From the nature OF !
il would Seom that the moderator was eHtirel!
unauthorized To call them together, because
there was nothing before them. The appaa
saws nothing Of the action Of the session, bu
that Of the congregation, which they could no
touch. As no understood Presbyterianlsm the!
could only act on the action Of the session. II
saW nothing for them 10 do but adjourn, and h
| made that motion. He said that those maxim
the appeal seemed to forget they we're Presby
tsrians, and they could not touch the action Q
the congregation unless through tho session.
Mr.. Henderson thought that the call gu While
the Presbytery was brought together grew ou
OF this action Of the congregation. He Woul
like TO have that call read.
Rev. DR.. Mitchell had no disposition to pos
pone the case, but there was no judicial cas-
pending, no parties and no trial He Woul
n6S "a n Sos SSS else could b GOu
but 10 adjourn. With regard 10 the lrreEula
order IN which the appeal comes up he would
;, gIad II the prosbytery would indicate In som
) motion the true way TO bring up the appeal. n
| would At any time be prepared 10 moet II.
Mr.. Henderson thought the matter could
acted on without much
aTRnrCH or AUTHORITY.
Some Of them had come twenty nTo miles
attend to the matter, and would like TO do It I
rev Mason Noble said tho presbytory did n,
object to taxing action, but il must come ia u
proper form, aud he was surprised that U
brother should ask for tho reading Of . papS
7 which was prepared after the call Tor the NEE
Mr.. Barrett asked for the reading OfthS sc
[ ond paper.
Dr.. Noble said the motion was sntire's,out
| order, As II was o different paper from the OF
| on which they were called 70 act, and had boz
l prepared after the call was Issued.
: Ths preGbytery decided TO have the pap
| read for Information; which was as follows
THH BoHH or CONTENTION.
70 Ne no israfor Of he fTssbytsTg n HashHgOa, a.
D hs Iiai.d sl.rL Of u. slns!
. | The undersigned members OF New IOrk.aV
4 | nue. Presbyterian church, OF this city, rospec
1 fully complain Of the action Of the session Of "a
church IN calling q meeting OF said church &
, o. ths ~sTIoas sets done at said InsatIng OF Il
4 | congregation, which meeting was held purs
!. ant TO the call Of the session on the evening
/ nd F,rf ha fnllaNinaT nm
4 l. II was done In disregard OF the advice
. | Presbytery given to the session and church
its last spring meeting.
. q 1t IL proceeding In violation OF the cons
4 tuition Of the Presbyterian Church IN the Unit
|. states, and Of the mode and usages heretofo
/ existing In the particular church and oonEreE
4 ton Aforesaid.
!, i. Il l. calculated greatly to disturb the pea
0 and harmony Of said church.
a For these and other reasons your eomplai
a ants desire the presbyterJ 70 review the Actit
; complained Of Aforesaid, and give such Teli
J. from It TO the church as 10 the Judgment Of u
4 presbytery II may deem Wise and eKpOdleut.
5 [SIgned by Noble ID. Larner, J. MoKinne
h John Wilson, N. Theeker' Geo j. Mus'er, il
a wAsHIEOToS. Eoysmesr u, lga
Mr.. NOurSe moved, that the presbyteTy hAvif
met pursuant TO the call Of the moderator Al
I found the protest and appeal from certain eide
and part Of the congregation - the New YO
b avenue church TO DO Irregular In form, tn
notify that congregation that they will
4 pleased 70 listen TO their complaint when
= | comes 70 them In proper shape.
a Rev. Mr.. MoFalls said that the Book OF Prl
' oiples stated, In the cases Of appeals, that
passed generally from an inferior 10 q superb
= oOuTt-thAt 10, hrst 10 the session, then 10 u
q presbytsry, then to the synod, aud then TO Il
n | general assembly.
. Rev. Or. Chester thought there was stu a
. other side 10 the questlon-that Of preserVlI
Z their Presbyterian uBAgoa The oongregau
!. was under the care Of pTosbytory In proPOrti'
q TO the number Of congregations 10 that presb
4 tory. He then cited q case from tho digest
|. prove that the Assembly had taken up appea
q coming from . congregation. He called attic
r ton 70 the fact that this case was not only
Il appeal, but protest. and asked how this GO
gregAtlon could do otherwise. Their session
divided, and how was II TO bo expected that 4
complaint should be brought before thel
Therefore the call was made 70 the moderator
bring II before the presbytery and have It
ADJuDIoATHD.
i He maintAined that the congregation had I
right 10 come 10 the pTesbytery and ask he's
n | Ing In the manner In which they had done, A
!. | for that reason be had signed the call.
n Mr.. Henderson moved that the last paper re
1. DO received. LOst-yeAs 10, nays IL.
!, Tbs motion Of Mr.. NOurHo was then adopted
4 Prayer was then offered by Rev. J. y. Smit
% Aitsr which the presbyteTy adjourned.
4 A number OF the members Of the New IoI
= avenue church we're present, who signed the
= psa, and declare II 10 be their Intention TO o.
3 tlnuS the case, and carry II up until II reach
l. the presbyteTy in proper form, and there obta
4 | q hearing and decision.