Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-16
A LIVELY SESSION.
Reformed Presbyterians Discuss
Whether They Should Vote.
THEMATTER REMAINS UNSETTLED.
A Committee Appointed to Decide About
Charges of Heresy.
NAMES OF THE YOUNG MEN IN TROUBLE

|
The liveliness that was expected at the
meeting of the Presbytery of the Reformed
Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg came
yesterday.
The church was crowded at the opening of
the morning session, the most intense inter-
est being felt in the matters to be discussed
and all being anxious to see how the liberal
members of the church would stand the fire.
| AS THE DISPATCH stated yesterday, the
memorials presented on Tuesday in relation
| to the free ideas put forth by certain minis
| ters in Rev. o. B. Milligan's church, in the
East End, on July %, were to be referred to
| the Committee on Discipline. who were ex-
pected to report last night, and decidedly
adversely to the men accused of schismatic
leaning.
After a little routine business Prof D. B.
Wilson, of the Allegheny Theological Sem
mary, arose aud stepped up to the clerks
desk with two papers in his hand. As he
| gave the papers to the clerk:
Prof Wilson-Mr. Moderator, I should
like these papers to be read to the Presby-
| terry.
The Moderator-The clerk will read them.
The clerk opened one of the papers and
read to the effect that Rev. II. w. Reed,
pastor of the r. P. Church at Youngstown
! O., had warmly commendedsa certain plat
form adopted at meeting of ministers in
Rev. o. B. Milligan's church on July %
last. Since everyone in the church had
heard that Mr.. Reed was to be
CALLED TO ACCOUNT
for his action on that occasion, the paper
was no SURPRISE although significant re-
marks were made that that perhaps ac-
counted for Mr.. Reed being deposed from the
position Of assistant clerk of the Presbytery
which office he had held at the last meeting
The second paper set forth that Rev. H. w.
| Temple, pastor of the Brooklyn, Indiana
county, Church. had subscribed to the same
platform and had in addition published ii, in
own signature, the proceedings of the meeting
at Rev. o. b. Millgan's church.
The platform adopted on that occasion was
| subscribed to by IL of those members of the
| church who believed that reform IN its princi-
pies was necessary. They represented five
States and Territories and one-half of the Pres
| teries of the United States. The platform Is
| as follows:
First-That while we hold it to be the duty of
| the church to maintain the most advanced testi-
mony in behalf of truth and against yet the
terms Of the communion ought to be limited to
| the plain requirements of the Scriptures, namely
faith in Christ and obedience to His revealed
| WILL
| SecOnu-1naI persons VINO make q creulDle pro-
fessiOn of Christ should be received into church
| membership on their acceptance of our testimony
and the testimony of communion without binding
them to any explanation in the matter of political
| dissent or any other questions.
Third That restricted communion and not close
| communion open communion is the teaching
of the Bible and of our standards.
| FOurth-That Interchange of pulpits shouldibe
allowed among those who preach the evangelical
doctrine of the gospel.
| Fifth-That there should be organic union of
the whole Christian church upon the basis Of the
| plain teaching OF the Scriptures.
| our subordinate standards and Of deIiverance of
| Synod. testing them by the Bible, which is the
After remarks by Prof. Wilson and Rev. o.
| B. Milligan. the leaders of the opposing faction,
the papers were unanimously referred to the
| them to report in the afternoon.
ASKING FOR EXPLANATIONS.
When Presbytery met in the afternoon the
Committee Discipline presented their re-
| port which was TO the effect that the accused
| pafties be allowed to explain their position and
| defend it. if they could. All the afternoon was
! taken up in accordance with this suggestion.
| Mr.. o. b. Milligan started the ball. and made
vigorous speech. He was followed by others
/ of the II who had drawn up the platform to
| which the conservatives objected.
| Prof. Wilson made several earnest speeches,
| that were listened to with the respectful at
| tention they demanded, and when an adjourn
ment was taken for supper it was evident that
| In the evening an attempt was made to come
| to some decision. Speeches were made by the
score, but they were mainly repetitlons of the
| same idea. The liberals stuck to their guns
| manfully, and as one of the conservatives said,
| pathetically.
| After a great deal of talk. the Moderator
| Rev. David McAiister. offered as compromise
| paper that it was desired the recaltitrant
| members of the church who had favored the
| platform promulgated in Rev. o. B. Milligan's
| church. should sign. The paper was read and
discussed from all points of view, but 1t did not
| seem to bring the presbytery any nearer
| determination TO what should be done on the
case of the two persons that were on trial, as it
| were.
| WILL TRY THE HERETICS.
AS this paper was not accepted by the liberal
party, Prof. Wilson presented another, to the
effect that the liberals should promise not to
preach or put forth their ideas upon the voting
question until the next meeting of Synod, what
| ever they may think: that Synods attention
should be called to this matter, and that it
should finally decide what was to be done in
| connection with II.
Finally part of the report of the Committee
| on Discipline was agreed to. which provided
| that the Committee on Supplies should nomi-
| nate, and Presbytery appoint, a committee to
| act as judiciary in the case of the young men
| accused of heIetical tendency, who should de-
eide whether charges should be brought against
| them and to report TO a special meeting of
Presbytery to be called for that purpose This
seemed to be coming as near to a final arrange
ment as was possible, and there the matter
| rests.
Following are the names of the II gentlemen
| who promulgated the platform that has caused
all the trouble: J. t. Carson. A. Ernisse
(elders). n. NJ. Johnston, S. D. Johnston, A. W.,
II. P. and J. X. McClurkin, ]. Mccullough, ].
c. K, R. j., j. S. r. and o. b. Milligan, A. r.
| Mitchell. H. w. Reed, s. j. Shaw, II. w. Tem-
Pile and J. r. Thompson.
After deciding to hold the next meeting at
| Rpavpr Falls the second TQeSday in AOril