The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-24
"a SACRED COURT"

The Brooklyn Presbytery was recently in
cess on for several weeks considering the case
Of the Rev. Mr. Staunton, minister Of that
faith, about whom slanderous stories were in
circulation. Mr.. Staunton was accused of
harboring in his household very pretty
female member of his congregation who had
been "having trouble with her husband"
There was nothing in this of itself that was
Objectionable, but rather the contrary. Accord
Ing to the stories, however, Mr.. Staunton in
stalled the lady as his own chief adviser, if
net CONSIDER, regardless of the protests OF
Mrs. Stanton. AS consequence much do
mestic infelicity resulted and the evidence
brought out during the investigation related
mainly to Mysteries and the throwing Of cups
d hot coffee across the table by the minis
bers wife, to bad language used by the minis
Ter, and to background in which the pretty
Intruder appeared clothed in Mother Hub
bard" One witness pleasantly remarked
Mat he believed Mr.. Staunton to
be a hypocrite To this person
member of the presbytery fercely addressed
himself thus. II wish you to understand, sir,
that Safeguarding in a sacred court is not al
lowed. Your animus is too palpable. Who
art thou that judgeth another mans"
The witness said he was a newspaper man,
and chad an instinct" that the accused was
hypocrite.
After vast deal of wrangling, and the adj
mission as evidence of great amount of ir-
relevant gossip and tattle, the "sacred court"
at last gathered itself together for final con-
s!deration of the case. A leaning to Brother
6taunton's side was plainly indicated by ma
jority of the ministers present but few
seemed disposed to believe the charges against
him. One proposed that the matter be settled
by the accused making a confession Of per-
fury, this to be followed by reinstatement in
The presbytery. Mr.. Staunton declined to &C.
knowledge himself liar, but, after much dis
Eussion and an understanding that he would
be taken back into the bosoms of his breth-
rem, he arose and made the following state
ment
'Wherein have offended against the in
Eerests of morality or religion, under specif-
cations or charges lodged against me before
EAis body, / am heartily sorry therefor. and
hali do my best to make amends in the fut-
are"
This, which, to the worldly mind, is equiv
llent to the admission that if he had done
anything he was sorry for he was ready to
be forgiven, was regarded as satisfactory by
the sacred court, and Dr. Spear, the moder-
ator, arose and uttered the following remark
able language:
II hope before God Almighty, hope be-
fore the angels, / hope before the archangels,
and. if there be any devils, hope before the
devils. and | hope before the total universe,
that this brothers statement may be deemed
satisfactory. If / lived to a thousand years I
would repeat the same. never believed in
this mans guilt before the trial, and cannot
believe in his guilt now" ~
On vote, Mr. Stauntons statement was &C
cepted by the presbytery, only one member
voting against him, and this one was apollo
Eized for on the ground of being bilious"
Altogether, it was a case which will GO on
record as one of the most remarkable of the
unique church trials for which Brooklyn is
famous.