Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-04-23
CHURCH TRIAL.
Another Phase of the Tarentum
Trouble.
From Pittsburgh Com-Gazette.

another church trial on hand. 1t grows
out of the recent investigation of
charges against Rev. 0. H. Timmons,
and duplicates two of the prominent
citizens of the town. 1t appears that
the dissensions in the Tarentum Z. p
Church, of which Rev. Timmons was
pastor, were by no means healed by
the verdict of the Presbytery in the
trial of the preacher. On the other
hand the breach was widened, if any
thing, the lines between the two fac
tions of the church being more distinct
ly defined by the developments of the
investigation. A movement is now on
foot among the friends of Rev. Tim
mons to secede from the congregation
and organize a new church. They
claim to have q strength of 10 men,
bers. To illustrate how the congrega-
tion is divided ballot may be men,
toned which was taken at the meeting
of the members last week, when the
anti-Timmons faction were triumphant
in electing officers. The highest vote
was on John Dickson (Timmons) and
Geo. Watt, (anti-Timmons. The lat
ter received 6S votes and the former So
votes. The same proportion ran all the
way through the election. 1t is said
Rev. Timmons' friends are preparing q
petition to Presbytery to allow them
to form new church.
In the meantime charges were FORM
ally preferred against DR.. G. N. Gal
braith and VIM. V. Evans, They are
anti-Timmons men. 1t was to investi-
gate these charges that the Allegheny
Presbytery convened in the church
building at Tarentum yesterday. They
took up DR.. Galbraith's case first. The
charges against him are three in num-
ber, with almost dozen specifications,
viz: First, violation Of his ordination
vows as ruliug elder by failing to visit
the sick and afflicted, neglecting to pray
with them, not striving to instruct the
ignorant nor reclaim the erring; second,
derisive conduct, such as speaking dis
respectfully Of the pastor, endeavoring
to defeat Sabbath school election, and
actions at meeting of sessions; third,
falsehood, in saying that Rev. Tim
mons had driven several families out of
the church, and that he had induced
persons to sign petition for the adop-
tion of the new version of the Psalms.
The charges against Mr.. Evans are of
the same nature.
THE EVIDENCE.
The Presbytery met at III O'Clock A.
NJ. and organized by electing Rev. Mr..
Reed, Moderator, and Rev. Dr. With
erspoon Clerk. Adjournment was
then had for dinner. In the afternoon
the trial of DR.. Galbraith was COM
menced. Something of tilt occurred
at the outstart. Rev. Mr.. Calvert, of
Sharpsburg, who acted as counsel for
the prosecution opened the case by
reading the bill of charges and propos-
ing his line OF action. His idea was
to save all the time possible by allow
ing the witnesses to tell their own
stories without being bothered by
cross-examination. Rev. Mr.. Gal
braith, brother of the defendant, OBJ
jected emphatically to such haste
where the reputation of gentleman
is at stake. He wanted the privilege
as counsel for his brother to cross-ex-
anime witnesses. At this juncture DR..
Findley got the floor and declared that
the charges were foundationless, and
would not stand. He was going on
at length to forestall the case when
the Moderator called him to order.
Things were somewhat confused, but
finally the Moderator decided that the
gentleman was out of order and that
cross-examination should be allowed.
The audience of lay members, both
men and women, who had gathered in
anticipation of something lively, were
disappointed. Testimony was given
quietly and the case proceeded smooth
ly for the most part. Mr.. Evans was
the first witness sworn. He knew
little or nothing against DR.. Galbraith |
although he admitted that he had
never lead in prayer when visiting bis |
family. He said DIR. Galbraith had
invited him into his Office to sign o Pc
tition for the new version of the |
Psalms which he said would be adopt |
ed. John Mcdowell never knew him |
to refuse to visit the sick where he |
was asked to, and he would pray if
asked to do 80.
DUTY OF ELDERS
Rev. Timmons read from the book |
of rules to show that elders should Wis
1t and pray with the sick at oil times
without waiting to be asked.
Mr.. Galbraith asked the witness if
he did not consider it imprudent for
one physician to visit q sick patient
who was in the charge of another ply.
sician.
The witness further testified that he
had heard DIR. Galbraith say that Rev.
Timmons was injuring the church by
and that he had driven fami-
lies out of it.
Robert Little testified that as far as
he knew DIR. Galbraith bad done no more |
to defeat the Sunday School election
than question its authority for actions
at the meeting in point. He had only
said it was doing what was the duty
Of the sessions
Robert Baily stated that In four
families Of his connection there had
been four deaths within four years and
that in all that affection DIR. Galbraith
never visited them as an elder of the
church
Samuel Black, Mr.. Houston, Joseph
Aten and Mr. Gibson testified subse-
quently, but their evidence was simply
a repetition of the above with DR.. Gal
braith slightly leading in favor. A
short session was held In the evening
again, and the case will be continued
to-day.
If there is anything that convinces
q young husband that it would be