, 1877-06-23
Trial of Rev. Mr.. Dunning.

The Presbytery OF Puget Sound
has for the last seven days been in
session in Seattle, engaged in trying
Rev. II. P. Dunning. Rev. G.. F.
Whitworth was appointed by the
court to assist the prosecutor, Mr..
Reuben l.. Doyle, and Rev. DR..
Geary. of Eugene City, Oregon, as
counsel of Mr.. Dunning. The evil
dence was all in on Monday night,
and the Presbytery made its final
Judgment yesterday afternoon. We
have been furnished with the fol-
lowing official copy of the findings
and judgment of the Court:
In the case of Reuben L. Doyle
against Rey. H. P. Dunning, prose-
cuted before the Presbytery Of Pu-
get Sound under two charges: First,
of paying attentions to lady other
than his wife, and the matters cog
nate thereto in amended speclfica-
tions I, III and V. Second, by abu-
sive, illtreatment of his wife and
wilful neglect of family worship,
&C., under amended specifications
II and w. The Court, after pa
tiently listening to the testimony,
and the arguments of counsels on
both sides, for six days, and after
pfayerful consideration of the whole
case and careful examination of the
testimony, find the first charge ad-
mitted to the extent expressed in
the following paper, which was laid
before the Presbytery by the accused
and adopted. as meeting all the re-
quirements of the case, and presen-
ting just grounds for staying all pro-
ceedings under charge first, to wit:
To the Presbye,y Of Puget Sound:
DEAR BRETHREN.-In regard to
the charge of paving attentions to a
lady other than my wife, now pre-
ferred against me before the Pres
bytery, Ibeg to state that inasmuch
as the prosecution has disayowed
any intention to attempt to prove
any criminal intent in said atten
tions or give sanction to any reports
of actual criminality that may be in
circulation, 1 do frankly and sor
rowfully admit that I now fully
realize that 1 did not exercise due
caution in my actions and proper
regard for the results of such indis-
cretions. And no man can regret
more than 1 do every act that has
had tendency to injure the cause
of Christ. H. p. DUNNING.
The Court unanimously find the
second charged sustained in part,
and adopted the following paper as
expressive of said findings:
The Court find the charge against
the accused of "abusive, ill-treat-
ment of his wife" not sustained to
the extent of personal violence; but
sustained to the extent of harsh
words while under the excitement OF
temper, aroused by accusations in
jnrious to his character as a hns-
band and Christian minister. The
Court find the charge against the
accused of "neglecting family wor-
ship" not sustained to the extent of
its being constant or hebitual, but
that family worship was sometimes
omitted on account Of matters over
which he had no control. The
Court also find that OH single oc-
casion the accused did not ask a
blessing, or give thanks, in connec-
ton with the taking of regular meal.
In consequence of the above find
ing Presbytery decided upon the
following as their judgement: The
judgement of the Presbytery is that
Rev. H. 2. Dunning shall be reprov-
ed in open Presbytery by the Mod
orator for the conduct which has
led to the foregoing findings of the
Court; and admonished to set a
guard upon himself that he trans
gress no omore in appearance or word; ;
ever remembering that the honor OF
our Lord is solemnly committed to
his care, that the eyes of the world
are upon him, that the welfare Of
imm ortal souls may be jeapordized
by his conduct, that the minister Of
Jesus Christ should ever be a shin
ming light rejecting the blameless
life of his Divine Lord and Master,
and that the domestic circle of the
under-shepard of Christ's flock
should never be aught less than a
model Christian home.
JNo. r. THOMPSON, Moderator.
NJ. G. MANN, Clerk pro tenn.
The judgement of Presbytery be-
ing read to the defendant, he pre-
sents the following submission
thereto, which he read in open
Court:
Mr.. Moderator and Brethren of the
P,es5yte'y.
lido, with deep sense of regret,
and I trust with that Cody sorrow
which worketh repentance into life,
thank you for your kind and frater-
nal course in treating the .dif1icul-
ties which have rested so heavily
upon me for many months past,
and which have led to the indul-
gence of severe and improper Ian
guage by me. I especially regret
and deplore the wounds thus given
to the cause of my Redeemer, and
the impediment it has placed in the
way of my usefulness as minister
of the Gospel, and I further declare
that being taught my infirmity and
in reliance on the grace of God, my
Saviour, 1 hope never SO to offend