St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-31
SUSTAIN THEIR PASTOR.
Discussing the Troubles of West
minister Church.

Discussing the Troubles of West
minister Church.
Thirty ladies and gentlemen trooped
into Central Presbyterian church yes
terday morning. They were all re-
specially dressed, land by their laughter
and chatter exhibited the best possible
spirits. An inquiry as to who and what
their business was at the sacred edifice
CLEANED the fact they were members of
the Westminster Presbyterian church,
and were attending the committee of
investigation as to whether the pastor
ate of the Rev. w. d. Roberts, at
Westminster church, should be dis
solved or not. Their object was
tWo-fold-t to sustain their pas
tor against slanderings or untrue
charges that might be made against him
by any opponents, and protest against
the dissolution of his pastOrate of West
minister church. This was the second
days session of the committee of inves-
tlgatlon, and there was again full at
tendance-MessrS. r.. Cochran, Jr.,
(chairman), Burrill. Rice, Wells and r.
L. Lewis. Representatives of the press
were rlgidly excluded from participat-
ing in the proceedings, but the follow
ing was CLEANED from members of the
church. They were also supporters of
Pastor Roberts.
There have been no charges against
Pastor Roberts as Christian minister"
substantially spoke the members in one
voice. ''Ihe Hawthorne party had much
to say prior to the holding of the investi-
CATION, but the sum and substance of
their charges against our pastor is this:
That unless his pastorate of WeStmin-
ster church is dissolved its financial con-
dltiOn will be ruined" mark yOu,"
put in one gentleman, ''their reason
why the church will be financially
ruined is because the hackers of this ap-
plicatiOn have withdrawn their patron
age so long as Pastor Roberts
REMAINS IN CHARGE"
''But it won't carry water, even that
CHARGE" was the remark of James n.
Wilgus, who, though not a member of
the church, is member of the congre-
CATION. Il have documentary evidence
here that in two weeks after the seces-
sion of the Hawthorne party from West
minister church, the subscriptions to-
ward it have been more than in any six
months during its existence as relig-
1Ous organization"
There were numerous opinions of
this kind expressed, and one member
was heard to remark: ssWhere are the
accusers. of the pastor? They have
dwindled and skunk away, one by one,
until there is not now one present"
Whatever may be the opinion of the
committee upon the evidence adj
duced by the applicants for
Roberts removal, it is signif-
cant fact that three-fourths of the
thirty ladies and gentlemen met at the
Central Presbyterian church yesterday
morning without being called before
the committee. Pastor Roberts and the
clerk of the church were, practically,
the only witnesses for the defense ex-
amined. The committee concluded their
work of taking evidence pro and con
about o'clock, and according to the re-
iterated statement of members of the
church Pastor Roberts will be eXoner-
ated from all assertions made respect
ing him. ''The whole thing has its orr
gin in the personal animus of a few
members of the church against the pas
tor. They wanted to rule the roOst-
hence the plfhculty,'' was the parting
remark OF an enthusiastic RobertSite.