Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-08
Rev. c. Ii. Ramsdell and his CathO-
lie Wife.


ACTION OF THE PRBsBYTERY YESTBRDAY-END
OF TIE CONTROVERSY FOR THE PRESENT.
The stated spring meeting OF the presbytery
OF Washington, In session at the North Presby.
terrain chuch, yesterday afternoon, received
the report OF the special committee to prepare
minute IN relation to the case Of Rev. G. B.
Ramsdell, the pastor OF the North Presbyterian
church, the dissolution Of whose PASTORAL re-
lations was petttioned for by a portion of the
CHURCH. There were two reports made.
THE MAJORITY REPORT
signed py Drs. Sunderland and Noble and Mr.
BlackIan- states that they have given the
une most earnest consideration to the subject
matter OF the memorial, which involves no less
Inan the question Of the expectancy OF the
GlsSoI0tlon OF the pastoral relations OF the Rev.
I. +. RamSoell TO the said church. AMI as the
result OF our deliberations and in view OF all
he facts OF the case and all the probabilities of
the future In connection with this church and
IT'S pastor, We recommend that. until God In
MS providence shall Indicate more clearly the
pose IFS authority In attempting to compose
the difficulties existing In said church. the
Whole subject be pOstI oned."
THE MINORITY REPORT
signed Oy DR.. Chester and Mr.. Bdilantyne saws:
"fne Pfesbytery, after having patiently
listened TO the statements OF the mamoraIlsts
and The c0unter-Sta5ementS of those who are
IN favor OF retaining Mr. Ramsdell do hereby
express IL as their opinion that the peace and
prosperity OF the North Presbyterian church
would be best promoted by dissolution OF the
PASTORAL relations.
THE DISCUSSION
DT. sunderland said that this was a delicate
matter and he was not prepared to Recommend
aoissolutlon. lie urged that 1t would be better
" avail tne Iurther developments OF Gods
pIoYloence In the history Of this church. lie
moved the adoption of the majority report.
Dr. chester said they might as well meet the
question now, and the sooner they did ft the
letter 1t would Oe for all.
Dr. sunderland said the question hal been
Virtually settled IN the morning.
os 81 uiaCussiUdi DIS ~ Cne tiea.llhg ol ine
adopt the minority report. He said 1t was con-
cedtd very generally that any cause would be a
sufficient one for the dissolution of pastoral re-
lati0ns which tended to the division of sentI-
ment or was disturbing element in the unity
CT the church.
DIT. Sunderland said the majority left the
matter to the ruling OF Providence aud the mi.
nOTlty report seemed TO Imply that they can do
better Than Providence
DR.. Chester remarked that 1t was to give
Dr. Sunderland.-"Iti is then TO boost Provi-
dence along little.r Continuing, he said: siIf
there can be Any direct effect upon this young
man In reference to his future ii is simply the
aCdltional erect OF annoyance that will come
10 him nom a hundred quarters the moment
you adopt this report. What Will the people
say? Il would not have stayed there an hour If
had been him., they Will say. You see what
the effect would be. He would be given nc
peace until he resigns 1t is accomplishing By
torture thing which you can do by your direct
torturing process to him. 1t is saying before
baLd that this man ought to be tortured. He
might just as well 60 out and say gOOi-by TO
me ministry; ft would be the end OF his minis
tsrlal career. He Will find, Ii he has had such
lndOrsement OF his PreSbytery. and such pub
ncdtiCn abroad, that he will not be able TO get
call 10 any church. When you vote on this
questioning minority repOrt-you must re
member that every vote that Is cast for his
resignation goes TO kill him hereafter In preach-
ing the Gospel.
The vote was taken on the minority report.
and the result was tie-14 to las follows:
A5eS-Revs. BittiIger, Farley, Chester French.
howe. Little, COBB Landau, Grimke, Paxton;
ELDERS Ballantyne, Davidson, Trimmer ana
Robinson. Nays-Revs. Van Doren. Sunder-
land. Mason Noble, Riddle, Kelly, Burgharit
Henry, Craighead, Chas. Noble; Elders BeadIe'
Blackfan, Slack, Lyman and Ker.
ne majority report was then voted upon. as
olloWs:-AyeS-RevS. Van DOren, Sunderland
Rldcle Kelly. BuTghardt, Mason Noble Cump.
ION, Henry, Chas. Noble; Elders BeaGe Black
IAN. Lyman, Rer-13. Nays-ReVs. Bittinger.
Farley, chester, French, Howe. Little COBB,
Landau, Grtinke, Paxton; Elders Ballantyae
Davidson, Trimmer, Robinson-14
Th1s result placed the whole matter where 1t
was at nrst. DR.. Sunderland then moved that
the committee be discharged and tie whole
matter De laid on the table. This was decided
In the affirmative by vote Of IA to II. In the
loppy MI. RamSden held quite a reception, and
received numerous congratulations.
IL Is understood that The d1sarected minority
tentton Of the Baltimore Synod, to which this
presoytery belongs, and that the case Will then
pe taken TO the general assembly.
AFTER rev routine matters, the preSbytery
ADJOURNED, TO meet again al the New York az.
ehue church On the go OF May next,