National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-08
RAMSDELL REMAINS.
PERPLExEp pREsBYTERy
Lays the Whole Subject On the Table-A Discussion
OF the Casa Committee Recommends
That 1t Be Left with the Lord
for Settlement.

The North Presbyterian Church. on N
street. was packed with spectators yesterday morn
ing when the moderator called the third days
session of the Washington Presbytery to order.
That portion of the church not occupied by the
members of the Presbytery was given up to ladies
of the different Presbyterian congregations, who
betrayed the greatest interest in the proceedings
connected with the trial of Rev C. B. Ramsdell
pastor OF the North Church, charged with marry
ing member ofthe Roman Catholic Church.
SMOOTHING IT OVER.
The first speaker was Rev. ]. t. Kelly, of the
Ninth Street Church. who offered the following
resolution substitute for those submitted by
Justice C. D. Drake at previous session:
Resolved, That this Presbytery hereby expresses
its firm conviction that marriages should not De
contracted between Presbyterian ministers ana
members of the Roman Catholic Churcn, YET, IN
the present instance in view of the past self de-
denying and successful labors of the pastor OF the
North Presbyterian Church, and the expressed de-
sire of majority of its congregation for the con-
tinuance of the present pastoral relations, and in
view of the fact that il appears that ms vile does
not oppose him in his office Work, we recommend
that the petitioners seeking the promolon OF peace
and harmony in the church, and endeavoring TO
advance the spiritual interests of all parties con-
cerned i'll this matter, do, under existing eircum
stances, perform their duties in and yield their
support TO the church.
FORMER CASE MENTIONED.
The moderator then invited discussion of the
subject and Mr.. l. B. Linton, member of the
North Church, stated that majority of the con-
gregation desired to retain Mr. Ramsdell. The
case now under discussion was not the first of the
kind in the history of the church. former
pastor had been prosecuted by portion of the
congregation for his Tifes sake and forced to re-
sign. Mr.. Salmon, one of the memorialists. denied
that any persecution had been carried on against
A., s.,fa,
of persecution in this case. The speakerwas asked
by Dr.. Sunderland if it was held that the pastor
had committed sin by his marriage In reply he
said that it was not considered either sinful or
immoral, but detrimental to the interests of the
church. An effort was made to take q vote on the
substitute. but a majority of the Presbytery de-
cided against it, and the discussion continued
Judge Jones, another member of the church, said
that he did not consider the marriage of the pastor
to a Roman Catholic lady sufficient cause for
dissolution of the pastoral relations. He further
stated that if the memorialiss saw tit to leave the
church those who remained could and would
support it.
MR. RANsDELLs FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Mr.. Ramsdell took the floor to correct state
ment that there had been great falling off in the
revenues of the church, and showed the receipts
for 1880 to have been sSI46 and for 1881 S. l06-a
DSN-@ -
this slight deficiency and it was caused by pay
ment to the building fund in lien of his salary.
Rev. Mr. Van Doren claimed that the Church had
nothing to do with this case. The act might be re-
garded as unwise but it could not be put on record
as such. A minister might marry "giddy girl"
or one addicted to drink, but the Church did not
put declaration of such cases on record. 1t was
for the community to judge these matters
and the question was one for Mr.. Rams
dell to consider, and not the Church.
If he found that his marriage untitled him to
perform his ministerial duties he should make it
known, and then the Church could take cogni-
zance of the matter He was in favor of laying the
original proposition and substitute on the table
Rev. F. J. Grimke thought that the resolutions had
nothing to do with the case. The question was
not who was the ministers wife, but what would
be the effect of his remaining in charge of the
church, He suggested that meeting Of the con-
be called to ascertain the status of the
and that the first clause of both propo-
sitiOns be laid the table The latter proposition
was agreed 10. He then moved that the second
clause of Judge Brakes resolution declaring such
an alliance an obstacle, be laid on the table.
Agreed to.
THE MINISTER WINS.
A vote was then called for on the remaining
clause in Judge brakes resolutions recommending
Mr.. Kelys substitute advising the memoriaIists to
perform their duties and support the church. The
vote the substitute was u yeas and q nays, and
on the original proposition Is yeas and 10 nays So
both motions were lost
DR.. Sunderland moved the appointment of a
10 prepare report on the subjec- and
submit it at the afternoon session, which was
agreed TO. Revs. Sunderland, Noble, and Chester,
and Elders Ballantyne and Blackfan were selected
as the committee, and recess was taken until
half past two clock in the afternoon.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Upon reassembling the moderator declared The
frst business in order to be the ordination of
Messrs. Herr and Miller. These gentlemen then
came forward and, after answering the usual ques-
TONS preached brief sermons, and were admitted
10 seats in the Presbytery. An approximation of
s79O was authorized for educational purposes The
appointed at the morning session stated
that they had two reports to submit, majority
and minority, and they were ordered to be read.
THE MAJORITY REPORT
was signed by MeSsrs. Sunderland, Noble, and
Blackfan, and was as follows:
The special committee appointed to draft min
ute in the case of the memorial from members of
the North Church congregation have respectfully
to report that they have given the most earnest
to the subject matter of the memo
rial, which involves no less than the question of
Z u
relations of the Rev. c. B. Ragsdell to said church.
and as the result of our deliberations, and in view
of all the facts of the and all the probabilities
Of the future in connection with this church and
the pastor. we recommend that until God in His
Providence shall indicate clearly the duty of
the Presbytery in this to inerpose its authority
in attempting TO compose the difficulties in said
church the whole subject be postponed.
WANT HIN REMOVED.
The minority report was signed by Messrs. Ches-
ter and Ballantype, and was as follows:
The Presbytery, after having patiently listened
TO the memoralsts and to those in favor of retain
ing Mr.. Ramsdell, do hereby express it as their
opinion that the peace and prosperity of the North
Presbyterian Church would be best promoted by a
Of the pastoral relation.
A free discussion ensued, in which it was evil
dent that the Presbytery was about evenly divided
On the subject, and when vote was called for on
The minority report the ayes were Il and
the noes Il. The moderator declared the
motion lost, and the majority report was then
taken up, resulting in it being lost by vote of
IA to Is. Dr. Sunderland then moved that the COM
mittee be discharged and the subject laid upon
the table. Agreed to. by q vote of II ayes to IL
noes
CONTEMPLATING MP. RAMsDELL
The friends Of Mr.. Ramsdell were very much
elated over the result and when he retired to his
study an impromptu reception was rendered him,
lasting nearly half an hour, in which he was con-
graduated without stint. The remaining business
of the Presbytery occupied but few minutes, and,
after a short prayer by the moderator, motion to
adjourn was adopted.
Young Texan Abroad.
Harry Mack, a young man from Texas,
now running shooting gallery in this city, was
lined SO in the Police Court yesterday for an as
;ault on Officer Jones. The alleged assault oc.
cured at the corner of Eighth and streets We'd
aesday night. Mack, having had some words with
he officer, who was in citizens clothes, put MS
hand behind him and. in Texas style, commanded
he officer to draw" The officer did draw
and got "a drop" on the bold young man.
;cufie ensued, and the Texan was finally taken TO
The station house, with the assistance of another
officer. Mack, when searched, had on a pistol