Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-12-03

IL.
and ONLY casually heard of it. feel tie
Importance and gravity OF this matter,
and think we are not proceeding according
To orders. and cannot take the cOgniZance
of this matter now Parties must appear
before Pr, sbytery, and if not, written CT
tations must be given both parties and be
read from the pulpit of the church i'm
mediately after service, at least two Sun
DAYS before the meeting of Presbytery
Did the Presbytery OF Mcdowell do this?
The Brother left the matter to the Pres
bytery at Mcdowell, which was not ready
to the issue. Has the citation been read
from the pulpit of Loeb Willow? If not,
any action would be unconstitutional.
Rev. Mr.. Walker referred to the action
at Mcdowell, and although the citation
had not been read to Loeb Willow, yet he
thought it regular. Had not Loeb Will
low acted? Had she not sent her CON-
missioner to Mcdowell?
Rev. Mr.. Murray-Was the brother
ready to decide the matter?
WHAT MR.. SIMPSON WOULD DO.
Rev. Mr.. Walker-Brother Simpson left
it to Presbytery-if they said go, he would
go-if they said stay, he would stay.
Whatever we thought was right and so de-
cided, he would abide by. The End Pres
byterian Church sent a petition Quoting
from it,. This step was taken when Or
ganization was just asked for. He felt
like Ills respected Brother Campbell, but
also felt the whole subject should be con-
sidered in all its phases from the beginning.
Had the Brothers had the two calls side
by side, he would have felt it his duty to
accept the call from Stanton. But the
circumstanc S were changed. Loeb Will
low had been kind to him-had received
him to her homes and hearts, and it was a
serious question to him to dissolve his re-
lations with them. Mr.. Simpson felt the
difficulty, and asked Presbytery to decide
it. and from the circumstances, he MIR.
WI, as stated clerk. with all the facts be-
fore him, reluctantly voted TO allow him
to accept the call of the second Presby-
terian church.
Rev. MIR. Murray-Was it distinctly
known to Loeb Willow that Brother Simp-
sons answer would be what he has just
given us? This is an important point. II
Loeb Willow knew, then their action
might have been different.
Rev. MI. Cdmpbell-I am now prepared
to make the motion to defer the whole
matter for future consideration. giving
sufficient time and notifying them in a
regular way, in order that there may be a
full meeting.
THE MoDERAToRs DECISION.
In answer to question, the Moderator
said there was no motion before the house.
He thought the proper course was to move
to dissolve the pastoral relation with Iaocf
Willow, which would make the way clear.
But he felt called on to call attention to
the fact that Locn Willow was not repre-
sented.
Mr.. Grattan--I don't know. and desire
to ask the Moderator as to the legality and
constitutionality of any action now. Ii
ii isnot illegal or unconstitutional, am
opposed to the motion to defer.
Moderator-As you desire me to decide
the question of corstitutionality of action
now. I decide that we have no right to
proceed without Loeb Willow can be
heard from.
Mr.. Grs.ttan-How long will it take to
carry out the rule +?
Noderator-The books show that: A
pro .re-nata meeting can be held. but that
will require a citation of all the churches
J,n fpl
Mr.. Grattan-What is the objection to
having an adjourned meeting as now, and
have Loeb viii wv cited?
Rev. Mr.. Can,pbell-I object to an adj
journed meeting.
Rev. Mr.. WaEer-LeXIngton PresbyteTy
adjourned in 1857 to meet at Church Union
to install the speaker. There were not as
many members present as now. Bro. Wi
son. pastor at Stanton, was called to Sa-
yannal or Augusta, and said he felt'lt his
duty to go; that he had notified his church
and they then and there dissolved his con-
nection with Staunton, that he might go.
All knew that the meeting at Mcdowell
was a regular meeting, and they ought to
have been ii ere. He had notified some
who are not here now. You may notify
and you will not get them. | think it is
perfectly legal to adjourn.
REV. W. T. RICHARDSON.
Rev. Mr.. Richardson-Id don't think there
is much difference between adj turning and
a pro. re-nata meeting. | sympathlze with
wou. Mr.. Moderator. I think it is safest
and best for this church, for Loeb Willow,
for the Lexington Presbytery and for the
BROTHER to postpone the matter. We have
proceeded with too much haste. Nobody
can complain of anybody for being too
Glow. I feel that something is due to Loeb
W;1low. It is solemn thing to be Or
da;ued as pastor of church. 1t don t
,ool, the handsonsest thing for tile very same
body in very few weeks to dissolve this
pastoral relation. When in very few
weeks. the circumstances ought to be very
strong-I don't say circumstances on'tjns-
tifv. but that the church ought to be fully
and fairly heard before the relation should
he dissolved They might now say, "Well,
if he wants to 60 why let him go.' don t
say they will say this, but they might say
II There are other conditions. We are a
PRESBYTERIAN people: not congi egations--
not independent. Presbytery has voice
"a notent voice in the matter. Loeb VIII
low had the right. to the bitter end, tG Oh
loot no matter what the Brother might
say. but there was no need of bitterness
presbytery has the right to decide, no mat.
ter what Brother Simpson may say. When
,he said leave it to Presbytery they were sc
sstaau they felt, and justly, that they ought
wos, TO decide it, but leave it for larger
prea,,ytery at Staunton at future day