Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-23
THE PREsBYrERIA~ ~vSon
feressiug Di-cusstr p 0uessscn.ao
Vote sustaining .he New York Ave

4 W'slCti the case OF
! APPEAL BY THE WASHINGTON PRRsRYTERY
to the synod was called for, and Rev. Mr.. Will
| liams moved that it be postponed until the next
! meeting of the synod; withdrawn on motion of
| Dr. Chester. The case was made the special
| order for to morrow (this1 morning. This case
| is reported from the judicial committee, and
| relates to the New York avenue church-the
| election of elders by the chursh instead of the
| presby tery-which, Il is alleged, is contrary to
the rules of the synod. The motion to postpone
Rev. Dr. Noble, from the special committee,
| reported back
The CASE OF CROSS AND RAMSEY
! with a statement that the papers were found 10
| he in order, and recommended that the case be
taken NJ; adopted.
Rev. STR. Cross then came forward and stated
his case, which was one of appeal from the
| PTcsbyteTy of Baltimore TO the Synod, and
related TO The building OF a church IN that luris-
| GictiOn. and which he stated, forced him out OF
! a missionary field where he had long been
! fully employed, and stranger put in his place,
| against The interests OF the congregation. Nc.
| lie asserted that the action of the Presbytsrv
| VAS a cO-de mnation II a large portion OF the
! lalors ri an active life in the service.
! During his statements point Of order was
| rai.ed a 20 wheth MIR Gross was reading from
| Mr.. Cross stated that he was reading from a
/ copy Of paper sent by the Pre>hytcry OF Balti-
! more ~ The Synod that the committee who's
/ dgty is vas to present the Original papers had
I failed 70 do 50.
| The point OF order was sustained, and MIR.
| More. who raised the point remarked that ne
| wished to proceed &C cOrding TO the rules.
| Mir. Cros-.-''You shall have it, and hope
| you will live NJ to the hook"
| MembeT.-'I will, fodder or no fodder"
The chair ruled that Mr. Gross must be more
| explicit, and state the particular decisions OF
| the presbytery of which he complained and
| from which the appeal was taken.
Rev. Or. Patton, from the special committee
/ to whom was referred the report OF
THE SYNODICAL EVANGELIST
| made a report co mplimentng the fidelity of
that officer in the prosecution of that work, and
| the able report he had made that the synod feel
I Rs
bOrs without adequate compensation, as the la
| bOrer Is worthy OF his hire.
| MISSIONARY MATTERS.
At4 O'Clock the Synod took a recess and re-
assembled at 80 O'Clock. After devotional ex-
| ercises Rev. DIR. Irving, of New York. secretary
| to the Board Of Foreign Missions, addressed the
meeting.
A brief report OF the standing committee on
foreign passions was made by Rev. A. b. Cross
wherein he called upon the churches to tina nix
/ God for the success that had attended their ef-
forts, remembering that in 1886 they had no
board of missions, nor single missionary IN
any foreign field representing their church.
Rev. Charles Brown, OF Philadelphia, then
addressed the Synod on the subject Of
MINISTERIAL RELIEF,
during which he stated that about four hundred
I families OF those who have labOred IN thls work
/ and OF those who have gone TO their rest are
1 now dependent on this fund, which IL now
| S2OCOG in arrears. About twenty cents from
I each OF the church members would support this
fund.
! DR. Patton. of Middleton, Pa. submitted a
Z resolution. when adopted. - / HtE we com
mend this case OF beueyOlence to the attention
Z of our churches, and earnestly desire that they
will be liberal in their contribution TO 1t, cSpec
tally to relieve the treasury OF It's preseutseyere
Prof. Joseph I. Nourse, from the staining
| committee on
CBCECa EXTENSION,
| reported that there had been drawn from the
hoard, tor the aid of twenty-five churches
I during tie past year, S5.9il, while there had
been contributed TO the cause, IS ,23G, showing
a frlf IA pf all a l.
some surplus. The direct use Of this money l.
I 10 cvHuEtiiZe the masses OF humanity by in
CTeasiHg the number of churches in sections
, where they are most in demand. Ten are now
/ in course Of erection within the bounds OF the
synod. He submitted a resolution calling on
the church Tor large contributions to the objects
of the church erection and home mtsslO rs
4 which was adopted.
Rev. John Sduier, of Port Deposit, Nj, made
statement in relation TO the freedmen'S work,
giving much statistical information about the
churches and schools among them.
The report of the special committee to whom
was referred the annual report of
THE sYGoDICAL EVANGELIST,
was then taken and the rest OF the evening
consumed i'll discussing the question as u
whether or not the synod would continue to
employ the services OF that officer.
Reys. A. r. Cross, and Smith and Paxton, OF
Baltimore. spoke against continuing such ser
vice. and Revs. Geo. Morrison, j. L. Smith, A.
!. DiEsmOTe, ID. e. Marquis. and DR.. BackuS
IN favor OF it. Finally, resolution was adopted
that a. as so many of the churches have failed
u
paying the salary and travelling expenses OF the
Evangelist, the synod cannot ask continuance
OF his iaiOTs.
The portion Of the report urging the churche.
10 pay their Observation-Disclosures about
- .COO-due the evangelist, was next discus sed,
and resolution referring it to committee
adopted. Adjourned.
PROCEEDINGS TODAY.
The synod commenced its session this morning
by devotional exercises, and after the reading
Of tie minutes, the special order being the hear
APPEAL OF THE NEW YORK AVENUE CHURCH
from the action of the presbytery Of Washing
ton was called Tor. and motion was made TO
POSTPONE, which was laid on the table
This church, on October l9ths 1871, elected its
elders for the term OF three years, whioh action,
il was alleged by some, was contrary TO the es-
tablished rules of the synod and of the custom
of the Presbyterian churches throughout the
United States-the tenure OF this Office being
permanent, or for life.
the records of the Presbytery of Washington,
showing the action taken, which vas, that the
elders so elected should be declared as private
members.
The appellants ask that the action Of the
presbytery be declared null and void.
Judge Strong, of the Supreme Court, an eld
CT in the New York avenue church, then took
up the case for the appellants, stating that
there was 10 grounds, as appears in the cOnsti-
tuition, against the action taken by the church
in making the term of service of the elders lin
tied. He cOntended that the presbytery at their
meeting in 1872 did not condemn this action,
I but ordered that fuItner acJOn De ulscOnIlnucu
until further orders. be did not propose to
criticise the action OF the presbytery which was
regarded as a censure. This was mandamus
issued by the presbytery, and was summary in
the manner 1t was Isl Jed TO the church, and he
commended arbitrary. He cited the action Of
other Vresbyteries, when similar cases hal been
decided, which was that the term Of office Of
elders may be either permanent or limited, as
suited the churches. cae in Philadelphia
was cited when il was decided that the limited
term for elders was held to he constitutional
That the question might be lett to every church
for settlement. He cOntended that it was very
clear that synOds sitting as judicial courts had
over and over again decided that limited
tenure of ONCE was constitutional. The Gene
raj Assembly were similar In their functions to
the supreme courts OF the United States, and
could pass upon constitutional questions. The
General Assembly is the supreme court OF the
church, and when called upon 20 pass upon
judicial question, their decision was final, and
could not be reversed by an inferior court; in
other words, a synod cannot reverse the decision
made bv the General Assembly. The Presby-
terry of Washing tOn had no right or authority 70
/ declare that a limited term of service of their
elders unconstitutional. The best interests