The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-12
MIR. RAMsDELL,s CATHOLIC WIFE.

Decision OF the Washington PFesbytery
-Ehs CASE 10 he Farther Contested.
From tina Washington Post
The effort to depose the Rev, Charles B.
Ramsdell from tho pulpit OF the North
Presbyterian Church OF this city is the alb
sorbing topic of the day. The "trial," go
far as the Washington Presbytery are
concerned, has come to az end, with q
victory by bare msiority for that portion
OF the congregation which stood by the
Pastor and insisted that his relation with
the church SHOULD not be disturbed. But
the end Is not yet, The largo party Of church
members who urged the Pastors with
drAwal or expulsion are not willing to rest
under defeat; they maintain that they are
right in their position; that the Pastor, by
his marriage with lady Of the Roman
Catholic faith, has so impaired his useful.
ness and so disturbed the peace and har.
mony OF the church that severance Of
the pastoral relation Ia essential to Its pros
perily. They will take the case, by peli.
ton, to the Baltimore Synod, to meet In
October next, and thence 1t will 20 10 the
General Assembly, the highest Presbyte.
riRn court in the land. No case, involving
the question at issue, has ever been con.
sidsred by this high Church tribunal, and
the marTisge oil the Rev, Mr., Ransdell Is
destined 10 create al ecclesiastical stir that
will be felt from ocean 10 ocean.
The history oil the case is an interesting
one. Tbs Rev. Mr.. Rsmsdsll, the prinCi.
pal actor, is a man oil great ability, 4 zeal
Gus Christian worker, and q straight
forward, honest, VRrm.hearled man. He
graduated with high honors at Yale Col
Iege in 1872, and then prepared for the
ministry at the Union Theological Semi
nary Of New York, graduating at that in.
stitution in 1875. His first and only
charge was the North Presbyterian Church
OF this city. His wife, whose name has
unfortunately, but necessarily, been
brought into the controversy, Is q Wash
ington lady OF high standing, Her maiden
name was Miss May Brooks. She is q
graduate Of Notre Dame College, Mary
land. She is devout Christian lady, bu
very liberal In her religious views. The
marriage OF these two persons was sol
emnized by Protestant minister
Rev. DR.. Patton-some 10 months ago
In Chicago. Mr.. Ramsdell's acquaintance
with his wife began several years prior to
their marriage. The young Clergyman
was at that time a clerk in the Treasury
Department, and boarded Of the house Of
the young lady's mother. The lady was
by the way, scholar 10 the class conduct
ed at that time by Mr.. Ramsdell In the
Sunday School OF the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church. The acquaintance
ripsned into love, and the young pastor,
when no welded his bride, had been In
charge OF the North church fol
about three years. Up 10 thai
he was exceedingly popular with
all the members Of the church. His
marriage at once created dissension, as bis
lair and gifted bride was at the time oil
her wedding devout member OF the Ko.
man Catholic Church. After her marriage
she remained faithful to her VOWS to the
Church Of Rome, attending mass and the
confessional. She always, however, at.
tended the Sabbath morning service al
her husbands church. The dlssent over
the PASTORS marriage continued day by
day TO grow in strength and In May last
the dissenters took formal action 10 secure
a dissolution CT the pastoral relation. Al
a church meeting, held May 4, 1880, the
initial step was taken which eliminated
In the exciting trial which has just been
concluded before the Washington Pres
IbYteTy,