Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-04-29
REV. Mr.. LONG
Required by PrssbytsrY to Cease
Preaching at the Strangers
Church.
The Vote % to She VIII Ap.
peal to the synod.

atrlal, tn0ugn the form was avoided.
and the action Of the Presbytery, it is
claimed technically, was in the nature
of rebuke. Mr.. Long preached
Thursday night to an overAowiDg
house in his usual fervent and elo-
quent style.
At eleven o'clock Friday morning
the Memorial Committee submitted
the following report:
SoMERyILLE, TENN, April q, 1882.
To the Presbytery of Memphis;
The undersigned Committee; to
whom was referred the memorial Of
certain ministers and ruling elders Of
the several Presbyterian churches in
the City of Memphis in regard to the
Rev. N. NJ. Long, a member of and
minister in the Presbytery of Mem
phis, would respectfully report as fol-
lows:
We invited both the memorialists
and Brother Long to appear before
the Committee, and permitted and re-
quested both parties to produce any
evidence they might see proper. We
have given both sides full and pa
tient hearing, and, after careful
deliberation and consideration of the
memorial and of Brother Longs
answer in writing thereto, and all the
evidence adduced pro and con, would
recommend for your adoption the fol-
lowing paper:
Resolved, That the Presbytery
recognizes the right of all persons to
associate together for religious pur-
poses upon any creed they may frame
for themselves, CT upon no creed at
all.
Resolved, That the Presbytery, while
lamenting the dissentions that rend
the body of Christ, has the right, and
it is her hOunden duty to inquire into
the conduct and direct the labors Of
all her ministers. and to take action
in all things pertaining to the useful
ness of her churches according to the
following provisions of our Book Of
Church Order, chap. v, SEQ. 4, art. vi;
Presbytery has authority to receive
and issue appeals, complaints and
references brought before it in an
orderly way. y 4 y To
require ministers to devote them.
selves diligently to their sacred call.
ing and in general to order
whatsoever pertains to the spiritual
welfare of the churches under its care.
Chap. vi, Sec. 6, Art. l. No minister
or probationer shall receive a call
from church but by permission ol
| his Presbytery.
Resolved, That all ministers are
bound to submitIto the judgment and
action Of the Presbytery to which
they belong, by the following VOWS
which they voluntarily take at their
ordination:
Ques. Do you approve the govern
mentand discipline the Presbyterian
Church in the United States?
Ans. | do.
Ques. Do you promise subjection
to your brethren in the Lord2
| Ans. l do.
Cues. Do you promise to be jealous
and faithful in maintaining the truth
of the Gospel and the unity and peace
Of the Church, whatever persecution
or opposition may arise unto you on
that accountP
| Ans. l do.
| Resolved, That from the manual Of
the Strangers Church of Memphis,
| it is evident that said Church
is not in accord with the Presbyterian
church in the United States, either in
doctrine or pOlity and from the evil
dence, both pArol and documentary
before the committee, that Brother
Longs connection with the said
church has been and still is detri-
mental to the peace and unity Of the
Presbyterian church. and is suDver
sive Of her interests and authority and
not conducive to true and undeGled
religion;
That in view of all these facts the
Presbytery does hereby interpose it.
authority and requires Brother Ions
to cease to preach to and act as pastor
of said Strangers Church.
Your Committee have endeavored
to deal in all gentleness and kindnes.
with Brother Long in their investiga.
tion Of the grievances sci
forth in the memorial; and they
trust he may return to q full aud
hearty compliance with his ordination
VOWS, and acquiescence in the author.
ity OF our beloved church, and in
obedience to the Presbytery Of which
he is a member.
All Of which is respectfully sub.
mitted.
8. s. GILL, Chairman,
]. B. OARN,
5, BIO. WILSON,
j. r. HALL.