Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-06-14
MT. JOY NEWS.
Special Meeting of tho Westminster Pres
bytery.

MT. JOY NEWS.
Special Meeting of tho Westminster rres-
bytery.
Our Regular NJ. JOY Correspondence.
On Monday evening as Mrs. Abraham
Hiestand and son, of Rapho township, not
far from Mt. Joy borough, were driving
across the railroad at the passenger station
just as the Harrisburg express was ap.
preaching, 4 front wheel of the buggy
broke down. The horse started to run
and the other wheel Of the same side was
forced of, throwing tho young man out.
The horse went at rapid rate, but Mrs.
Hiestand, who managed to stay in the
buggy, succeeded in stopping the horse ut
the ecOvered bridge, nearly mile from where.
the horse started to run. Fortunately the
lady escaped injury and did not seem to
be frightened. The young man was Sc
verely bruised.
The Westminster Prosbyuery.
Reverends C. w. Stewart, ID. d.,
Union church. Lancaster county II. f.
Niles, D. d., York; d. NJ. Davenport,
Statewide, York county j. Mccoy, Col
umbia j. NJ. Galbreath. Chestnut Level
W. G. Cairnes, Octorara w. l.. Led
with, Gap; G.. 8. Bell, Wrlghtsville j.
MacElmOyle, Marietta; ii. B. Scott,
Stewartstown E. w. Gaylor. Leacock
J. G. Hume, Lancaster C. B. WhitcOmb,
Mount Joy Elisha Wilson, Wrishtsville
William Travis, York; j. B. Turner,
Little Britain w. c. Alexander, Mid
dletown, Del, and Elders Ward Paxton,
Union church w. J. Cox, Chestnut Level;
Milton Heidlebaush. s. p. Sterrct,
of Marietta; Adam Shelter and James
Patterson Of Mount Joy, were in attend
ance at the presbytery which mot at Mt.
| Joy to consider the Presbyterian church
trouble which has been agitated for the
last three or four months. The body
sat in the church for thirteen
hours, including recess at noon
and another at supper time. Rev.
J. MacElmOyle acted as moderator and
committees were appointed to map out tho
line of investigation. During the pro-
ceedings frisnds of the church and Others
we've admitted, but ut II o'clock p. M.
! when tie investigation was begun. al,
bu. members of the presbytery were ex-
cIudsd.
| il detailed account of the proceedings
| would be inter esting reading, if not btne-
fetal to the welfare of the church, but
half page supplement OF the INTELII-
GENCER would be necessary to contain
them. Like all troubles relative to church
affairs Of this kind it is difficult to de-
termine the causes, for on very few points
were the adversaries able to agree Take
for instance the subject of arrangemeAts
providing for tho accommodation of visiH
ing members Of the presbytery. Hereto
| fore it has been customary for the visitors
| to be entertained by members of the church.
This rule was departed from yesterday and
the visitors had quarters at one OF the
hotels, furnished by one of the factiOns.
This action had tendency to intensity the
illfeeling, and just such proceedings arc
widening the breach which should have
been healed long ago.
| Among tho objections to Rev. T.. u.
| Whitcomb, who is pastor of the Presbyter-
ian church at Mount joy and also OF the
old Donegal church, whose installation
was fully reported in the 1NTELIlGENcER,
is the displeasure arising from the nature
Of his sermons. His opponents urged that
the sermons are too historical and rhetOri-
cal, and too lengthy !; that in prayer
meetings he at various times designated
different members to conduct such meet
ings. Against the minister's personal
character there were not any accusations
substantiated The objections appear to
be trivial, but to his opponents they have
been sufficient to ALLEVIATE their respect for
him as minister.
Petitions were presented to the body
asking that pastoral relations bs severed,
| and others asking that he DO retained.
The one from the Mount Joy church,
which was first considered, contained the
names of thirtysi communicates and
contributing members. The petition ask
ing for the retention Of tho minister had
sixty names of persons who were members
Of the same kind. A number Of names
attached to each paper we're challenged,
bat Notwithstanding this the minister's
are in the majority. At the Donegal
church the minister's supporters who arc
members, are in the minority, being to
81. It was charged in a speech before the
body by Simon CamerOn's nephew,
who is i Sunday school worker there,
that he was unable to rent pew. Sew
eral years ago when Rev. Brown was pas
tor Simon Cameron tried to rent % pews.
This was refused ON the grounds OF covet-
ousness ON the part of Cameron. Hek had
an eye on the big spring on the church
prOpt rty and this was the only way by
which he could get controlling interest.
| Young Cameron stated that number of
residents of Donegal are anxious to become
| pew renters.
The management is cautious in dealing
with anything savoring of Cameronism !;
no pews are rented but the seats arc free.
In connection with this it may be mention
ed that in the anonymous communication
offering sufficient support to Rev. Whit
comb il he bo retained Simon Cameron is
supposed to be the one Offering the sup
port. This church has fund OF about
$1,000 and some land, and these interests
are controlled by the church authorities
after the manner of . close corporation.
The attitude of the members toward all
that may apply for contributing member
ships is such as will retard the numerical
growth of the church.
In his defense in the afternoon Rev.
Whitcomb spoke one and a-half hours, and
did it we'll too. lie took up about ONE
half hour in reply to DIR. j. l.. Ziegler and
James Patterson, who presented the
charges against him in the evening. They
placed particular stress upon tho manner
in which the preacher conducted the sacra
mental services there when he first came
among them. Rev. WhitcOmb is Con.
nect:cut man, and in that state the services
differ from the custom observed in Lam
| caster county churches They accused
him of saying some parts of the scripture
(new revision) arc nothing more than
sentimental gush )" that on a certain oc-
cas;on, in conversation with another minis
| ter on the street, the disputants became SO
enthusiastic that Mr.. Whitcomb gave him
the lie direct, ETC., etc. The MINISTRY had
his say and apparently gave satisfaction to
his supporters, il not to his opponents