Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-08
Meeting. OF lIac Presbytcry Of Ghesa-
Dcaaa-T'hc Difficulties In fhc 2nA
Presbyterian Church Of AieXnndrIa.


Pursuant to Il call The Presbytcry OF Chcsa-
rcalc asst r,hled iii special session in III" Second
prcsbytciisn Church, il this ely, at eight
G clock last light to enquire into and consider:
First. Alleged personal difficulty between
;La nastor Of that clutch and Elder Ramsay.
Second. Alleged personal difficulty existing
between Elders Ramsay and Wilmer.
Third. Auy other matters affecting the pu-
riiv. peace aud prosperity Of said church, that
NAV be r,rorcrly brought 10 the attention OF the
prcsbytcry.
Rev. Mr.. Nichols, Moderator, presided, with
lev. MIR. plzrr, Stated Clerk.
4 itcr prayer he roll was called and twenty
two ministers md elders answered to their
names.
The Moderator ordered that the doors should
be opened 10 Che public upon representation
by DIR. Ialcvrc that only members OF the Tres
bvtcrv and mcmbcrs of The Second Church were
being admitted.
lInon g motion ;hat the call is in order, and
| tlat l'rcslytcry proceed with The inVrStl
| CATION, =,
MIR. i'itZar discussed the coDstluIlonalily Oh
| the arragamcnl aud the proposed method Of
! procedure, and deprecated the proceedings and
lie publicity that had been given tho ALTAR.
Dr. Nlurk!and wished TO know through what
source the circular CT l'rcsbytcry iii relation 10
this meeting became public.
Mr.. l'Ilzar lid moi know, aud no reply Was
made. -,
Dr. MurkEna explained his connection with
| the call and how he had heard OF tho dllhcul
| ties. lie expressed his surprise, when, upon
| reaching here, he found doorkCcpcrs prohibit,
inc persons from entering the church, anu
| heard that the session was TO be secret one.
DR.. l,elevrc spoke Of the order OF the call,
and The proper discharge of his duty, hY the
Moderator. -,
The call was decided to be in order, and The
first question was ordered TO be taken up ny
vote ol S 10 s, the Moderator making Tic de-
cisiou.
Tho question WAS, "AIlrEcd personal difficult
| " between the pastor OF the Church and H!dei
Ramsay"
MIR. Dabncy Gray, Of CuIpepcr, moved that
ia secret session.
Dr.. Bullock said he would oppose such a pro
ccc,ling unless at the request OF all parties. lie
denied that ho had any agency in bringing about
the controversy, but was clearly Of opinion that
the gentlemen who asked for the investigations
were entitled to hearing.
Mr.. Harrison, OF Baltimore, dsapprnrad OF
! secret sessions.
Mr.. IitZer desired to avoid the Investigation
| for the sake of peace, and the purity Of the
church; thought that the means laid down 10
| the Bible and 10 the Church Book should all
be exhausted first, aud then that II would bi
better TO have the investigation IN secret.
The motion TO 60 into secret session was lost.
Rev. Mr. Canon, OF lIrcshurr, objected to
proceeding until the Sav0ur's lhJunclonA had
been followed.
Mir. llser read from the Church law on
| the subject to sustain his views.
| DR.. LeIeVrc favored IN investigation as bcnn.
fetal To all parties, aud TO save rrrroach Lu the
Church.
Mr. Canon opposed proceedings unless tho
rules governing such eases were strictly com
| piled with.
Mr. Dnwiddin contcnlea that unless Tho
rules were adhered to the prcshytcry could moi
proceed, ami in this ease hn chntrndr,l that they
had hot been.
! Dr.. bullock c0ntrndcd that this rrrsbytery
VAS not 10 try, int 10 enquire into the alleged
difficulties and ad ust any conflict that l"iEli
| exist
Mr.. D.nwi,l,hc conlcl,lrd that as M com.
rlainl had been ni;iir the Prr.lltr7y had III
! rright 10 proceed.
|
| been nlalc TO settle personal difficulties nc did
10! sec, under the teachings of tho Church and
ih,, Bible, how The l'rcsbyicry could proceed
10 invrstirasr. All the means prescribed il
the Bible aud by the Church mllSi he rZ
| ha,lStrd,
! !r. I.rcvrc wondered at the obstacles at
tempted 90 hc thrown in the way OF III ln1esti-
| cation. He WAS in favor Of bringing 10 light
everything, and thought that any other course
would be doing both parties to the difficulty III
Justice. In his opinion both parties wanted al
vice, anu by 4 full investigation The difficulties
might all he harnonlzcd.
Mr. PiZcr denied any dllrc TO IMPEDE rrsu
lar and constitutional proceedings but did not
think this case was properly presented for con-
| sideraiOr, and in order that q better feeling
might prevail, and that the members oil Tres
| bytcry might have limo for reelection, he sue-
gcstcil III adjournment till This morning at nine
clock.
DIR. NIurkland said that he and others were
| here at great Inconvenience, aud that unless
good and sufficient reasons were presented, he
should oppose any adjournment. lie stated
that DR.. Hammer, st whose Instance s!rc Pres
bytcry had bccu called. was absent on account
! OF the death Of his son-iu-law.
Mr. DinwiGdic said he would not oppose
technical objections to The investigation, but as
tho rules and constitution did not warrant these
proceeding he should hold the Prcsbytcry TO
its Legitimate bounds.
Mr. Canon insisted upon the PrcsbyLcry full
filing all the prerequisites before entering upon
this Investigation.
Dr.. Bullock cxprcsscl his aStonisEimcnt at
The objections that were being thrown IN the
way, and by these who were making the OBJ
stacics.
NIr. Dinwillc called DR.. Bullock TO order.
| DR.. Bullock said he was in order, knew his
| rights, and did not mean to be called TO order.
Tho Moderator decided that Dr. Bullock WAS
! in order
Dr. Bullock continued and contclded that
the l'reshytcry was bound to take cognizancc OF
| this case and proceed with tho investigation.
Mr.. Canon rose TO 4 point Of order, that DR..
bullock was not discussing the question under
consideration.
The Moderator decided that DIR. Bullock was
in order.