Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-29

BYTERY IN THE MATTER OF F. W. CoLCLAZIER
ACT. THE AssEMBLY's CHURCH WAS AN IN
PROPER EXERCISE OF POWER.
The following paper, which explains itself,
has been sent to DIR. Childs. the moderator of
the Presbytery of Washington city, for trans
initial to the synod:
I'VE, the undersigned members of the pres
bytery Of Washington city and representatives
OF the Assembly church, complain to synod of
an improper exercise of the seventh power of
presbytery in the action of said presbytery in
the matter Of F. W. Colclazier' VS.. the Assem-
bly's church.
Il. That presbytery after nearly twenty
seven years of tacit assent to and acquiescence
in the views taken by the church, the witnessed
to the transaction being dead or so enfeebled
mentally as to be incompetent to testify, pre-
sumed to enter upon a consideration of the
matter as though it were of recent occurrence
SO. That having done so, it did not confine
tself to the mere abstract question of the re-
sponsibility of the church for the acts of its
trustees, whether right or wrong; but presumed,
from the very defective records Of the church,
to reach conclusions and express opinions
directly contrary to those reached and expressed
by the minority Of the committee Of presbytery
appointed to inquire into tho matter, and con-
trary and antagOnistic to the views and opin-
ions unanimously entertained, and expressed
without dissenting voice in 1862, by the church
then acquainted with the facts, and advised by
Its pastor Rex. I. ID. McFalls and late co-pas-
tor, Rev. J. c. Smith, D. d.
Is. That presbytery entirely ignored its own
responsibility in the matter of spiritual over
sight in not having inquired into the matter
when the witnesses were living when the facts
could easily have been ascertained and when
the church membership was the same or SUBJ
stantially the same as when the transactions
occurred.
by the delay of the inquiry until the church
membership had changed over and over again,
the new members coming in being without the
knowledge of the circumstances, which the
presbytery as a continuous body must be as
sumed to have had. said presbytery is equit-
ably estopped from charging any obligation,
| either legal or moral, upon the present member.
ship Of the Assembly's church.
"A. That presbytery did not proceed in an
orderly manner. (a) 1t did not proceed through
the session, which is the next lower judicatory
and the body charged with the responsibility
for the conduct of church members; (b) nor did
| it, as a body or by committee, visit the church.
and in friendly and fraternal way conduct an
| inquiry, but appointed o committee to inquire
into the matter, which committee held meet
ings without notice to the church and with nc
evidence prejudicial to the church was received
| and used, which was only disclosed to the
church upon the receipt Of printed copies OF
| the committees report. (c) The consideration
OF the case occupied two days, and members OF
presbytery were permitted to come and go al
| will and to vote on the question Of the adoption
| OF the committees report notwithstanding they
| had not heard the churchs defense Especially
was this true Of one member, Elder Fish, who
was not enrolled until the second day Of the
hearing, and who was allowed to vote notwith-
standing the church's objection. CD The whole
proceeding in presbytery was characterized by
an apparent disregard for the views, feelings
and wishes of the church, which was united
and harmonious, and unanimously opposed to
recognizing the Colclazier claim as an obliga-
| ton, moral or legal.
That the action of presbytery in entering
upon proceedings Of the character complained
OF, the church being united, harmonious, pros
porous and at peace, instead Of redressing
evils, fomented evils, which not only disturbed
the peace and impaired the usefulness, but
| threatened the life Of the church"
| In behalf Of the church.
lSignedl GEO. o. LITTLE, pastor.
i CHAs. LYMAN, elder.
Washington, d. c., March %, 1889.