St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-28
Will Have an Opportunity to
Make Their State
ments.
Westminster Church Troub-
les Referred to a Com-
mittee.
Park Commissioners Select
Prof. Cleveland as Super
intendent.
SANITY City Doings Con-
densed for the Informa-
ton Of Thousands.

The PreSbytery of st. Paul held a
meeting yesterday afternoon in the Cen
tral Presbyterian schoolroom, and
among other business which came be-
fore the members was an application by
George Sickling and thirty-three others
for the dissolution of Rev. William d.
Roberts pastorate of Westminster
Presbyterian church. There was a
large attendance of clerical and lay
members of the Presbytery, as well as
members attached to the Westminster
church. Rev. William ID. Roberts, ac-
companied by two members of his flock,
occupied a seat in the rear Of the school
room, and to the right, surrounded by
friends, were seated the principals IN
the recent West side horse-whipping
episode, j. M. Hawthorne and the Misses
Ferguson.
Moderator Anderson introduced the
subject to the Presbytery. stating that
he had received petition signed by
thirty-four members of Westminster
church, praying for the dissolution of
Brother Roberts pastorate of that
church. This document was handed by
him to Mr.. Donaldson, but unfortu-
nately that gentleman was at Minneap-
oils, and had not forwarded it to the
meeting. He, however, thought there
were other documents which he had re-
ceived, both from members of the
church and also the pastor, by which
the question could be
RAISED AND INVESTIGATED.
A Member-But can you swear to
the legality of the names Oh the petition
asking for this dissolution?
The Moderator-No; cannot do that.
j. M. .HawthOrne-There are several
members present who signed that petit
ton, and who are willing to back up
this application for adissolution of their
pastors relations with the church.
Several members suggested that it
would be better not to proceed with the
matter, but refer it to committee.
Pastor Roberts urged that this course
should be adopted. He did not wish the
matter to be too long deferred, but he
asked that the question should not be
gone into now, because he was entirely
unprepared with witnesses to support
come in force against him. If the COM
mittee was appointed and were to meet
within the next ten days, he could get
up his defense thoroughly. His charac-
ter as Christian minister Lad been at
tackled. He would have to bring for
ward as witnesses nearly the whole of
the members of the church.
Mr. Cochran nnyad that no,n m
be appointed at once to investigate the
charges against the pastor of the West
minister church, and report to meeting
OF the presbytely.
This was agreed to, and the following
gentlemen appointed to form the COM
mittee of investigations: MessrS. Coch-
ran, Burrill. Wells, Rice and r. P.
Lewis.
]. M. Hawthorne-Mr. Moderator,
suggest that the committee be instructed
not to hold their meeting on the West
side.
A Supporter of Rev. W. D. Roberts
Mr.. Moderator, propose that the COM
mittee shall meet in Westminster
church.
The Moderator-The committee will
meet where they themselves decide.
Subsequently the committee decided
to meet at the Central Presbyterian
school room and adopt methods for con-
Quoting the investigation.
Rev. D. Lowley received his call for
the Ninth Presbyterian church, and the
Installation service will take place Sun
day.