The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-24

Presbytery was held last night at the First
Pres 5yteran church.
The meeting was called to order by Rev.
J. J. Anderson, moderator, and was opened
with prayer by Rev. NJ. D. Hoge, D. d.
Mr.. R. #. Brooke was elected temporary
clerk.
Present: Rev. Messrs. Brown, Hoge.
Preston, Read, Witherspoon, Staples, Camp
bell, Petrie, Anderson, and Scott; Elders
Brooke, Tappey, and Howard.
The reading OF letter from Rev. Dr.
Baird, addressed to the Moderator, was de-
ferred until after the reading OF the report
OF the committee. ...-.t. .r
William Writ Henry, Esq, from the COM
nittec appointed at the meeting OF the
Synod of Virginia held in Alexandria No.
vember 10, 1877, to proceed regularly and
to make Il thorough investigation Of a.
THE CHARGES AGAINST REV. E. T. BAIRD. d. D.,
read report. The report states that on the
ground Of common fame the Presbytery
orders the trial Of the said Rev. Z. T. Baird
upon charges OF the violation OF the Eighth
and Ninth commandments.
The first charge is that the said Rev. +. T.
Baird, D. d., acting as secretary Of puhli-
cation, by transactions running through
several years and ending with the month of
March, 1877, did appropriate the funds Of
the Church under the charge OF the Com
mittec OF Publication to his private use,
and that he did this to the extent or in one
or more OF the sums iollowing-to wit,
Here follow the various amounts due or
represented to have been paid to various
parties, agSregating S14, 4,55949
The second charge is that the said +. L.
Baird, ID. D., while so acting as secretary OF
publication, did employ and use the name
Of the Committee OF Publication for the
borrowing and raising Of money for his
private purposes, by giving notes signed or
endorsed ''E. L. Baird, secretary" and
that he did this to the extent, or in one or
more of the sums following-to wit, [I1ere
follows list OF notes given to the amount
Of S1,S4S.SS.
The second clause of the second charge
states that he, while acting as secretary OF
publication, in an official report to the
General Assembly dated May 13, 1876, pro-
Tossing to give an accurate account OF the
assets and liabilities of the Committee OF
Publication, the said Rev. 4. II. Baird, d.
D., did not include
HIS OWN INDEBTEDNESS TO THE COMMITTEE.
He failed to state, and concealed the fact,
that he was largely indebted to the said
committee, and that by improperly using
the credit of the said committee for the pur-
pose of raising money for his own private
use he had brought a much larger liability
on the said committee than the liabilities he
reported.
The following resolution was offered by
Rev. DR.. Brown:
Resolved. That SHOULD the Presbytery
Judge it suitable to institute process against
Rev. f. r. Baird, D. D., it does here ap-
prove the above report as proper form in
which it may be prosecuted.
A substitute offered by Rev. DR.. Preston
approving the report was lost, and the origl-
nal motion was adopted.
On motion the following
LETTER FROM REV. DIR. BAIRD
was read:
"R1cuNoSD. VA, November %, 1877.
:" 10 the Reverend Moderator of the Pres
|; bvterg Of East Hanover:
"Reverend and Dear Sir, Il desire here
by to inform you, and through you the
reverend Presbytery over which you pre-
side that | have taken an appeal from the
Judgment OF the Synod of Virginia in the
judicial case from the Presbytery in which
I was appellant to the General Assembly OF
the PRESBYTERIAN Church, to meet ut Knox
vile. Tenn, on the third Thursday of May
next. biy notice OF appeal and reasons
therefor we're forwarded to the Rev. William
II. Richardson, moderator of the Synod,
on the 18th instant, and were received and
acknowledged by him November 10Th, 10y
whom am also informed that the Synod
appointed these persons to defend its action
in case this appeal should be taken. Though
| have fully complied with the requirement
OF the constitution by fling my notice and
reasons of appeal with the moderator of the
SYNOD, l deem it respectful to the venerable
Presbvtery of East Hanover to give you
formal notice OF these facts.
II am, very respectfully, &c,
"E. II. BAIRD"
After this letter was read, Rev. DR.. With
crspoon moved that in view of this notice
of appeal further proceedings be suspended
DIR. HoGE's SUBSTITUTE.
The following substitute was offered by
Rev. DR.. Hoge:
Resolred, That while the Presbytcry does
not feel it necessary TO decide the question
(about which there is some difference of
opinionj whether an appeal can properly be
taken to the General Assembly from
the action Of the Synod in the case
of L. 7. Baird, D. D., yet, under
all the circumstances, and especially
as the Presbytery might be somewhat
embarrassed by the significance OF the fact
that the Synod has appointed committee
to defend its action before the General AS
sembly, in the event Of an appeal to that
body by Dr. Baird, and having received Off
cial information that such an appeal has
been made, it is therefore deemed wise and
eXpedientto deter further proceedings until
after the matter is determined by the As
Sembly aforesaid.
nit,
with the consent OF his second, Rev. Mr..
Campbell.
The motion was renewed by Rev. DR..
Preston, seconded by Rev. Mr.. Petrie.
A discussion ensued, which was partici-
pated in by Rev. Drs. Brown, Read, and
Witherspoon.
Dr. Brown was in favor Of the Presby-
tcry taking action in the case, but was will
ing to oblige all brethren.
PROCEEDINGS SUSPENDED FOR THE PRESENT.
The motion OF DR.. Preston suspending
proceedings until the case is acted on by the
General Assembly was adopted.
Rev. DR.. Brown read lengthy dissent,
or protest, on the action of the Presbytery.
On motion Of Rev. DR.. Hoge the dissent
was received and ordered to be spread upon
the records.
Rev. DR.. Preston offered a motion that
committee be appointed to prepare an an
swer to the dissent, or protest, OF Rev. Or.
BrowE.
Before vote was taken on this last mo-
tion Rev, DR.. Brown asked and obtained
leave to withdraw his protest
Rev. Mr.. Petrie announced the death OF
Garter X. Bishop, OF his church, and trea-
surer OF the Presbytery.
Rev. William A. Campbell was elected