St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-04

That he should have continued in it
even after the violent assault had been
made upon one of his own elders, APP
pears doubly inexcusable. He has
seemed to prize independence of action
above his usefulness in the church of
which he is the minister" The report
then dropped the personal element and
proceeded to dilate upon the irregular
manner in which the affairs of the
church had been governed. 1t said that
at two congregational sessions of the
church disorder to some extent"
| reigned, land one was at least
BoISTERoUs AND DIsGRACEFUL;
clapping of hands, kissing and other
sounds of approval or disapproval were
freely INDUCED in by both cOntending
parties" The church finances show
an indebtedness of 1868, of which $500
is due Pastor Roberts. The report
closed with several recommendations,
which, briefly, are first, the session of
Westminster church be requested to eX-
erciSe more care in the admission and
dismissal of members and to conform
its rules with the practices of the Pres
byterian church; second, that the pas
toral relation existing between Rev.
William ID. Roberts and the Westmin-
ster church be dissolved, believing that
its continuance is inexpedient, and that
its dissolution will give justice to both
the cOntending parties and best pro-
mote the interests of religion and the
future welfare of this individual
church; third, that the
DISSOLUTION TAKE PLACE
upon Sept. 16; fourth, that the trustees
of the church be requested to provide at
once for the payment of the indebted
ness to the pastor and also for the pay
ment of his salary up to Nov. next.
The report was signed by Thomas
Cochran, Jr., w. L. Wilson, ID. E. Wells,
Daniel Rice and Robert p. Lewis. Its
recommendation seemed great sur
prise, particularly in reference to grant
ing the application for a dissolution.
The report was first accepted, and then
the recommendations were put before
the presbytery and adopted seriatim.
The first recommendation, that the
session of Westminster church put their
house in order, was adopted without
murmur.
There was a lull when the recon-
mendation that Pastor ROBERTS pastor
ate should be dissolved came up for
adoption. The members of the preSby
terry looked at each other and the silence
was depressing. One reverend brother
moved its adoption, and then followed
painful discussion, occupying fully an
hour and half. First, it was thought
that the wording of the recommended
ton was inadequate, and the presbytery
therefore agreed to add: I'm adopting
the recommendation, the presbytery
formally records its concurrence in the
finding of the committee completely vim
dicating the pastor from the charges,
based upon the rumOrs Investigated by
the committee. and fully remarked upon
in the foregoing report" But the
friends of Pastor Roberts were not go
ing to allow the dissolution to take
place without a final effort. One, two
and three members of the preSbytery
spoke in his favor. He was young
man, they urged, and the sad
LIGHT OF BITTER EXPERIENCE
would henceforth be better able to
guard against Irregularities in church
government. He should, at all events,
be given another chance.
Pastor Roberts also urged his own
case. His reputation would be hurt if
sent away from the Westminster
church, and he desired to stay to re-es-
tabhSh it. 1t was only. fair sthat he
should be allowed to do so, especially
when three-fourths of the members of
the church desired him to do so. The
financial position of the church would
soon be all right, as they had subscrip-
tons promised amounting to $1,000.
The reverend gentleman spoke while
laboring under great emotion, and when
he ceased the features of several of the
lady members Of Westminster church
were suffuscd with tears, and the young
LADIES WERE CRYING BITTERLY.
Brother Donaldson said in the interest
of harmony the dissolution should be
made. Pastor Roberts would serve his
own interests best if he were to resign.
His influence and abilities would be
more felt if he took charge of another
church. DR.. Rice concurred, but the
supporters of Mr.. Roberts urged his
claims with considerable force. All this
while the supporters for the dissolution
never uttered word.
Pastor Roberls spoke twice, and said
if it could be proved to be better for
the church and his reputation he
would resign the passionate. But up to
the present it had not.
Two reverend gentlemen stated that
it was no uncommon thing for young
minister being called upon to undergo
the experience and trials falling upon
Mr.. Roberts. Many of the ministers
present had at one time found it reQui-
site to resign their pastorate in the inter-
est of harmony. They had found after
wards that it was advantageous to them
selves and their work that they did so.
Eventually vote was taken and the
recommendation adopted by a large ma
joritY of the presbytery. The other
recommendations were adopted, and
Rev. NJ. d. Edwards, of Dayton Avenue
church, was requested to fill the pulpit
of Westminster church Sept. 16. The
presbytery was in session close upon
three hours.
MANUAL TRAINING.