The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-22
THE pREsBYTERY's ACTION
Discussion Concerningthe Proposed Re-
vision of the Confession of Faith.
Severance Of DR.. McLeOdis Relations with the
Presbytery, and Expressions of Good Wishes
and Brotherly Love from Pastors.

At the meeting of the p~resbytery, yester-
day morning, in the parlors of the Second
Presbyterian Church, there were present
Revs- NJ. l.. Haines. D.. D., moderator; James
Nc Leod, d. d., II. A. Edison, ID. d.. John
w. Pugh, ID. D., J.. A. RondthaIer, ID. d.. f.
p. Whallon. w. A. Hendrickson, S. r Fra
zier, Columbus; j. N. Todd, S. Sawyer, g.
S. Mitchell, r. v. Hunter and Messrs. W.. S.
Hubbard, John s. Spann and E. H. Eldridge,
representing the congregation of the
church. Rev. ID. ID. Frazier, of
Columbus, opened the proceedings
with prayer. The order of business being
taken up. the Rev. Z. p. Whallon moved a
reconsideration of the action of a meeting
held at Richmond. Oct. 0. which considered
the revision of the Confession of Faith and
appointed a committee to ascertain the feel
ings of the different churches upon the sub
ject.
DIR. Edison, in supporting the motion. said
there is danger in having such important
business taken in hand by a small umbe
of the presbytery. At the meeting spoken
of there were only five ministers and two
ruling elders present, with thirty-ive
churches, which would nave the right TO
t~hirty-hve ruling elders instead of two and
twenty-six ministers instead of five. file
desired to strongly represent the injustice
of such a step being taken by a small com
pany when it could have been deferred just
as well until the present meeting. He said
general Importance should be left
to a meeting which shall fully
represent the sentiment OF the con-
stituencies and the churches. 1T is a tre-
mendous question" he said. land in dealing
with 1t we need not only the wisdom of the
tive best ministers and the two best ruling
: elders, but the wisdom and the careful con-
r. n4n prnaIu rIo
body"
Dr. Pugh defended the action of the
Richmond meeting. as to which full
notice was gwen every member Inc
matter was carried over from the regular
meeting at Columbus. IF there were only
five ministers and two elders present" said
he. 1T vas certainly not the fault of any
brethren think is best / will cordially and
readily adopt as my own action. Itl is not
right for a brother to complain of small
% session after ss s SESSION prss of the w syn,
cd has gone by without his
presence to %enlighten us by his wisdom and
his counsel" Revs. w. A. Hendrickson
and Hunter also spoke in defense of the ac-
ton of the meeting. the latter stating that
tie purpose of the committee appointed by
the meeting was to ascertain the feelings of
the various congregations, and report to
the regular meeting Of the p~resbytery.
DIR. Edison, speaking again. said. that the
five ministers and two elders had touched
upon the most important question
that bad been before , the Presbyterian
said to contradict or weaken the position
he took in the first place. 1T has been
suggested" he continued. that the action
T tbat VERY It ya @f foolish a and ineo 1n %hs at m0q If
was to say. what is IN my heart, l should
say that it was an outrage-that it is
a wrong. Now, do not mean
brethren. but 1 do mean in its effect upon
public and church business. and in its rela-
ton to the rights ofthe church and the min
listers in general" DR.. Pugh protested
against the construction placed upon the
action of the meeting by Dr.. Edison, and
after some further discussion. the subject
was deferred until a future meeting.
Resigning "a Passionate.
Thus disposing of the question concern
ing the Richmond meeting for the time be-
ing. the presbytery began a consideration
of that IN which the ministers and laymen
were, for the moment. more directly inter-
ested, the discussion of Dr.. James McLeod's
pastoral relations with the Second
Church. DR.. Mcleod. stepping forward. said
to the presbytery. and addressing the mod
orator: Il desire now. sir, as some of you
know, to give back into the hands of this
presbytery the charge imposed upon me
six SD years earsor angg tb;s when oSnrc It installed as al ed
AAo ao 80 VI hhAo ~ ~ ~
order that / might accept a call to another
field OF labor; / do SO with feelings of very
great tenderness In parting from
you. my brethren, and from the church
which / nave tried to serve. The
congregation was called together on last
Thursday evening TO take action in re-
gard to this matter, aud the question was
laid before them and they very. kindly
granted my request. i think the brethren
are here who were appointed by the meet
ing TO state that fact so that the presbytery
may have it officially before them."
w. ;. Hubbard. one of the commissioners
for the congregation, did not suppose it was
necessary to have a speech. Here" said
he, handing the moderator a paper. lis the
record of the action of the meeting" The
document was as follows:
At the special meeting of the Second Presby-
terrain Church and congregation. duly convened
Leod, d. d., pastor of said church. rendered his
: resignation as pastor. with q request that the
congregation assembled unite with him In q re-
quest to the presbytery to dissolve the relation
existing between them as pastor and people. On
the motion of Deacon David f. Swain. duly sec
Onded, the said request was unanimously con-
to go in quest Of g suitable successor.
(. Spann and Deacon K. II. Eldridge
were chosen a. commissioners to make known
this action and present the above Joint request.
utes of proceedings had on above day, and sub
ject matter. WV. j. RICHARDS,
Clerk of Congregation.
III. lCICOu tuCu ctlQ tudt tnC hlIuiS GA
pressions and feelings of the congregation
given to him as pastor, and their wishes for
his happy future, had for some reason been
omitted from the paper presented by the
delegates. He would very much like to
have them inserted.
will you put that in the shape of a mo-
tion?" said DIR. Haines.
mo, sir; ] should be very sorry to do
that"
There was a set of resolutions." said DR..
Haines, who had acted as chairman OF the
congregation meeting, "and unanimously
adopted by the congregation, testifyiug to
their appreciation of DIR. Mcleod as a man.
and of his services to their church. / think
this should be added to the minutes"
John s. Spann suggested that the resolu-
tons referred to- could be furnished the
clerk of the synod, to be inserted following
the above record on the minutes.
1T is barely possible" said DR.. Mcleod,
that / shall only be another Sabbath here.
MY six years will end the last Sabbath in
November. and it was not my purpose to
stay heIe any longer than that, and yet |
feel that it might be well to leave a little
earlier. So, if il be agreeable to the pres
bytery, i would like for the relations to be
,H1aSoIvad say for the first Sahhatb i'm No