The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-27
aM,. Lat.ps.s Fal.s Position"


Yesterdays issue under this caption
has the afro very learned judicial
opinion. But q little examination OF
| il will satisfy any one that it is the
| Flea OF a skilful advocate rather than
the opinion Of an impartial judge,
We do not profess to be versed in
ecclesiastical law, but we take it for
granted that both Mr.. Currie and Mr..
Latane are, and i, seems that they quicks
| " came TO the came conclusion on th e
question of their respective rights in
the matter discussed in "Lsyman's
communications conclusion quite at
variance with that 80 speciously urged
by the learned writer referred to.
Mr.. Currie seems, at fret, without
due consideration, to have regarded
Mr. L. as having no rights whatever in
the premises and therefore, forgetful OF
his duty to his brother clergyman, had
arrangements made for his lecturing
aud preaching in st. Mat
thews chulch. Mr.. Latane's first
note however seems to have opened
his ewes, and then, having discovered
his mistake, he Immediately dropped
all claim to use the church without
Mr.. Is consent, and made formal,
written, request to Mr.. l., to be permit
ted to deliver his lecture in the church.
Although Mr.. Latane, by Mr.. Cur
rie's own admission, had a perfect can
onical right to object, he formally
withdrew all objection "canonlcai or
otherwise" and lett it entirely to Mr..
Currje's sense OF propriety to lecture or
not, as he chose. This second note
seems to have ehed upon Mr.. Currie's
mind flood OF light as to the proprtety
of his conduct, and he backed out OF
this second position as gracefully as be
hal backed out OF the first. Unlike
"Laymau," am willing to believe that
these gentlemen both knew what they
were about. This disposes OF the whole
charge OF Mr.. Lataue's resorting to
nicality and 10 subteriuge in order
to escape the heavy hand OF master
in the Church" To an outsider it looks
very much as if the "besvy hand" had
twice been raised and twice had fallen
powerless, and for some cause or other
the master in the church" did not
deem it prudent to raise the heavy
hand, again, even after all technically,
if that we're the difficulty, had been
taken out OF his way.
But what does "a. Layman' mean by
saving that Mr. l. knew that Mr.. Z.
could only give one night, &c" Mr.,
LIS note was sent to him early in the
afternoon of Thursday and he had al
ready announced and had published his
intention of preaching iu St. Matthew
Church on Sunday. Therefore he GER
taiply had, not only Thursday night,
but all day Friday aud all day Satur-
day, and perhaps Monday, Tuesday aad
ednesday OF this week at HE
disposal. If he had felt competent
to settle the matter by single lecture,
as "A Layman" believes be would have
dane, why did he not accept Mr.. Lis
invitation and enter into an open dis
cussion OF it? Looking at the facts as
they have come out, it seems to sn out
slider more aud more as if Mr.. c. in
this instance and not Mr.. L., to use the
elegant language Of "a Laymap,"
"smelt the danger and thought it beat
to leave at once" and that. too, as
quickly and az quietly as possible.
And when the Rev. Gentleman next
comes this way to ride roug hshod over
flhe Rector or 81. MattheWs Cnurcn,
aud to settle the affairs OF the parish
by q single wsg OF his magic tongue,
"may l be there to see."
There are thus these two conclusions
upon which Layman may ponder, and
, which he may submit to metaphysical
analysis: First, That his Master in the
Church" Mr.. Curris, fully and volun-
tsrily admitted Mr.. Latane's cam
; ouical right to either grant or
. withhold bis consent for the
use of St. Matthews Church; AID
Second By going away as he did aud
declining to fulfil his published appoint.
ment, Notwithstanding Mr.. Lstane had
, given his iull consent to the use OF thu
church and iuterposed no objection
"canonical or otherwise" Mr.. Currit
virtually conceded the improperly o.
, TIE course which he had, without prop
: er reflection, marked out.
1.-THE heavy hand of Master 10 the
. Church" thus batters down the soph is.
try OF A Layman instead of assailini
Mr.. Latane's coat of mail.
)I COKE.