The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-19
aPresbyieraan hurch Trouble.

fortnight the older and younger cape May
will be Connected by rail.
A Presbyf er1an isurch Trouble.
REV. DR. WILSON, OF LOUISVILLE, RETIREs FROM
The soUrHRRs BODY AND IS REcErvED BY THE
NORTHERN PREsBYTsRY : A SKETCH OF TIE
DIFFICULTIES AND THEIR SETTLEMENT.
Rev. DR.. S. R. Wilson and the First Pres
b1teriau church (Soutb), Of Louisville, have
been admitted into the Northern Prtsbytc-
rian Church, The First church was one o.
the oldest members of the Louisville Pres.
bytery OF the southern Presbyterian Church.
A few years ago di>sensions arose among its
members, and there was some dissatisfaction
with the pastor, owing, as charged by his
opponeuts. TO his want Of sympathy with
the Southern Church, his arbitrary treatment
of the session and his pecuiarities Of dis
position amounting, under excitement,
to partial arrangement" The troubles
became so serious that seven elders and
their families withdrew, and some OF those
who remained mcmorialiZod the PreSbytery.
asking visitation 10 settle the difficulties.
The Presbytery appointed committee for
this purpose, but the pastor and the session
objected to the moderator and committee
coming to the church or having interVle"
with any of the members. The committee,
however, saw such persons as would meet
them at another place, and reported 10 the
Presbytery, advising that formal visitation
10 the church be made; aud that the session
ne instructed 10 receive back fourteen men,
bers who bad taken letters of dismissal, but
who desired 10 return.
Last July the pastor read paper from his
pulpit concerning the affiirs OF the churcn,
charging falsehood on some Of the members
and otherwise rejecting upon them. In
CONSEQUENCE, several OF the a>sailed demand
ell letlers OF dismissal. In September Or.
Wilson delivered an address in his lecture
room concerning the suhjoct OF their WIN
dra1al, charging them with Islander, With
having tltd 10 destroy the usefulness OF
their pastor, and with h,viEg broken up
revival. They then returned their letters
to the session, which declined to receive
them. The next step was an appear 10
the Presbytery for council. 10 November Dr:
Wilson published a card, which was regarded
as rejecting unfIvorably upon the fre,Oy-
terry. He was accordingly adjuoged suiny
of contempt of court, AID was notified That
he could not sit in the PreSbytery untli ne
apoIouized This be refused TO do, ana on
his failure to appear the Presbyttry dissoiVen
his pastoral relations with the First church
On the petition OF slXty-tWo OF lis meinoelS'
rbe friends o. the pastor TOOK an appear W
the General ASSEMBLY, which devoted nearly
a week to the consideration OF tue case ~ It's
recent session. The complaint alleged that
the Louisville Presbytery had not proceeded
according to the constitution, and asked lnat
II he directed to retry the whole case under
the rules. The As emily, in voting not 10
sustain the complaint, stated that IT passed
iuapment only upon The constitutional ISSUES
lIoyolyed. aud that there were IN It's
opjnjon some irregularities in the proceed
ms of the Presby terry. After the close OF
the Assembly the Presbytery met ana al
rer,ed a letter TO be sent 10 DR.. Wilson, ask
i'm, him whether he recognized the JurlsdIc-
lion of the Presbytery and would submit 10
us decisions concerning himself. lie wrote
4 long reply. in which he SAID lnas'
much. therefore, as tue Assembly bave sus-
t1ined and ratified the unconstitutional ann
unjust acts Of the Presbytery, by whcn my
rights and privileges were ana are taken
aWay. | regard my ecclesiastical connec'loh
with that body as thereby sundered
fulIv and fioally, and all obligation 10 opey
or submit to is decisions, or TO the DECISIONS
or any of the lower courts acting under II, as
,bsoIyed.n The PreSbytery then passed. Il
resolution DIT Caring that DR.. Wilson " mas
no further authorl'y from this church 10
nrc,cn and administer ordinances, ana or
dc, inc '.that his name be stricken from Tie
roIlD THIS action excluded DR.. wilson from
MI the $ ,uthern Presbl terrain chuIcoe>.
Dr, vii on and his cbu!cl then mi"e ap'
nlicalion 10 the Presbylery OF the Northefn
Church for admission. Ia his letters he re
fprs 70 the controversy which arose concern
,ny slavery and the war, and says: III au!
one should recall any W0rd uSeo III tno>I
discussions which WAS esteemed ua' si' =.
desire to change it, and would rather II
had never been uttered. Adapting 10 THIS
nre.cnt purpose tie language OF The COM
mite of Conference of your Assembly,
world saw that these things we're sala I'D
neculiar times and under strange anu eA-
citinu circumstances, aud it is my desire tnat
they be considered by you IN the same
shirt of charity and Christina forgiveness
uhirh 7 most heartily extend toward those
by whom anything may have been uttered
Of which l myself have thought hau
reason to complain. ~ ,o
In his examination by the Presbytcry he
declared his adhesion to all the doctrines OF
The PRESBYTERIAN Caurcb. 1t was then Votca
TO receive him, aud the moderator eNtehaeu
TO him the rgut.hand of fellowship.
The church property is now in litigation.
A resolution ia tue Presbytery proposing an
equitable division of the property was 3o:eu
down. DR.. Wilson's personal character mas
not been lmpugned in any of he proceedings
against him, nor has be been charged win
nere.y. The contest has been carried on
with bitterness, and its settlement "a.
brought = mucn.desired peace.--Neo fo'"
Times.
n,oo :, q oon,;n,I >torv told of two Ame-