, 1874-04-22

ordor is upon tho report Of tho Committee. I
o9or tho following resolution: =
Tho Moderator understand tho motion bo-
toro tho houao to 1,o tho amonlmont suggested
" prof. ratton,-,that lie moved tue adoption OF
MI. Ely-I supposed the whole subject mattor
VIA beforo tho llorHo- 49, 49,.
Tie Modorator- Ia true, but it must
III. Eiy--hnd am going to oftor tic follow
ing resolution, which lias rotation to tho amond
mont.
Tho Moderator wcll.
hlr. Ely then road tho following;
ae mieI 6; Ts % zs a ss S &C. asse s
that, III accordance with thta, tho stated Olcrk 10 in.
srncsd to faFn. eopy Of the cnrgos g md srscaca-
Mr.. Wolkor-Is that resolution In order?
The hfodorator-1: understand 1t to bo III
order.
TIE POINT OF ORDER,
Mr. Walker-I shnll have to appoai from tho
decision Of the Ohnir.
Tho Moiorator-Do so kind as to state your
point Of order.
N[r. Walkor-My point Of ordor is that the mo-
tion bofore tho house ie tho adoption OF tho ro-
port Of tho Judicial Committee. It BoemB to mo
tho resolution Is olearly out Of order.
The Molorator-Allow mo to state my yfows
Of tho condition Of tho business before tho
house. A motion waa madc bofore we adjourned
TT t. A toa sy l. a%t sr sS SsfsssS s
amendments as le had suggested
hIr. Walker-1He naoroly suspended notion un-
til this morning to give him an m opportunity to
mike tho omendmonta' @ ,t and1 that otg having been
Mr.. Ely inBiBtod tint his resolution wis In
order.
Much talk followed, tho Moderator finally de-
Gliding that Prof. Patton'a amended specifications
should DO actod upon first:
Mr. Ely appealed from tho decision, tho CHAIR
was sustained, md Mr. Ely excepted, and re-
quoatod that tho exception and tho resolution be
Rprcad upon tho minutes.
REFERRING THE CHARGES.
Mr.. Hurd moved that tho nmeuded specifca-
ttona DO referred to the judicial Committee, aud
that thoy be instructed to report at tho afternoon
aogbton.
Dr. Patterson thought It important that tho
Committee should consider tho amended specih-
cations. They had been extended, and there
were numbor Of points which 1t seomod difl-
cult to determine without carefully oanvassing
thom. Several OF them wero passed oyor, or
bers Of tho proabytory that moro specific action
should be taken than WAS proposed by Prof. Pat
ton. He (PatterHon) could not, just on tito mo-
mont, say what amendments le wished to intro
dnoo. but TaB satisfied that tlero were points
which ought to be- canvassod.
Mr. Noyes hoped tho specifications would not
be referred, unless 1t be o reference absolutely
necessary. The trial should be proceeded with
aa soon Ab pOb6lDle.
PROF. PATTON PROTESTS.
Prof. Pntton-1 simply wish to say that. In
fact, whatever It may bo technically, my report
.thlB morning Ia substitute for tho chargsa
which brought before tue Presbytory few
4ays ago: 4 is perfectly s competent for this
hands Of tho accused, and It will be competent
for him, through hls counsel, when the trial
oomes, to takc exception to any one or more Of
those specifications: Il is not competent for
tn
It is competent for this house to recommend
that make changes. l hayo complied with
their recommendations. have, done 80 to
tho bost of my. ability, T have :made
made. II Is impossible for mo to change them.
Tho charges aro preferred by myself. j am
responsible FOR their prosecution. The book dooa
not provide. aud It iseontrary oil precedent for
the form Of those specifications. The fact Is
that thia Is substitute for tho charges, and the
true course for the body to pursue would be to
lay TINT report ot tho Committee upon the tablo,
take up those charges do uovo, as q substitute,
aud put them Into tho hands OF committee.
Dn. PATTERSON.
disagree entirely with Brother Patton. It
seems to 1ne tlia body has the right to detor-
!nino wlether the charges arc anch az ought to
be entertained by body Of this kind. It Is not
charges ho plcasos before tue Presbytery, and
insist that they shall bo entertained. Tho Book
Of Discipline, Chap. !, Soc. 4, aays:
Nothing. therefore, ought to 30 considered by any
esa hie 10 10 u be such from
Scripture or from tho rcgnattons and Dracoo Of Tho
church, founded OH Scripture.
Now, suppose this body docs that. Many OF
these charges cannot be proved from tho Scrip
ture, on thg very faco Of them md it is not al
Logged that they eau be proved "from Scripture,
er from tho regulations and practice, Of tho
Church founded upon Scripture" Is this body
tn 1ta1
It certainly iB competent for this body to say
whether tloy will entertain clargoa preferred,
and 1t ia not competent for tile prosecutor to say
that We arc bound to examine his charges,
wliother We rogard thom within the Rcope Of our
book or not.
+ Prof. patton--1t is competent to soy whether
Al alleged offense IL an olfenae, hut it is not
competent for this body, ct tllia stage Of the
proceedings, to determine tho form III which Tho
specifications shall be put.
DR.. patterson-That is precisely tho point of
my remarks thattho form may be determined
whether it is m offense sufficiently specific un-
| der the otfenaes OF the book.
ANT1-HEEERENCE.
Mr.. Ely-I do hope that tllis reference will not
DO nsAdo, and one OF my rcasons, among others,
| for 10 hoping il this; It will not accomplish
| anything. Your Committee discussed the ques-
| tionH now il Issue ana tho specifications care
fully. So far as tho minority Of: tho Committee
III concerned he was porfoctly satisfied that the
specifications woro sufficiently definite, excopt
| where tho words - other sermons" were used.
lie was also satisfied tlat tho defendant, hav-
| when furnished him, could bost exercise
his right, aud that, therefore, noithor tho
| Committee nor tile prosbytery ought to place
themselves In the attitude q special pleadors to
was also satisfied, and believes now that the best
| interests Of the defendant, aB we'll az of the
| complainant and the Presbyterian Church OF
large. will he anbseryea By, simply trying this