Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-12
LAID THEN ALL OFF.
The Five Young Libelcd Pastors OF
Z. P. Churches Suspended.
THEY GET WHAT THEY EXPECTED.
No ContritiOn Expressed, but the Moderator
Weeps Over Them.
TWO MORE CASES ARE YET TO BE TRIED

ference with orthodoxy this week, cannot be
covered by ali the ecclesiastical court
plaster in the world, and while to outsiders,
especially worldhngs, the difference may
not seem much more important than that
between tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee, yet
there is grandeur of conviction about the
struggle that commands respect, if not ad-
miration.
When strong men lose themselves so far
as to shed tears over the dissolution of re-
ligIous relations, it argues an intensity of
belief that must carry with it con-
viction, unless base motives are imputed,
and any one who has made a few hours
study of the Williamsburg gathering will
not lmpute them to all of either party.
AS &n evidence of this feeling and its in
tensity, member of Rev. o. B. Milligan's
congregation said to a reporter: REV. h.
II. George, d. D., said that these young
men had not shown themselves TO be guilty
of any criminal act of any kind, and then
voted to sustain the libel and suspend them
from the ministry" He also said: ''They
may send US pastor, but they had better
send with him a congregation and his
salary, also, for we will furnish neither"
Now Rev. H. H. George stands as firmly
as rock, and says that if the R. P. Church
has not a mission, and that to force the rec
ognition OF Jesus Christ as the head OF the
nation, it is only schism, and had better
dissolve and lose its identity.
The interest yesterday was more than at
any previous stage of the proceedings, not
withstanding the result had been discounted
by the friends of the accused.
NO EFFORT TO MINCE WORDS.
AS soon as DR.. McAlister, the moderator,
had concluded his prayer for divine guild
ance, Rev. W. H. Temple resumed his re-
buttal argument for the defence. 1t was a
powerful effort, and ELECTED encomiums
from the prosecution.
Revs. Samson, Reed and E. NJ. MilIigan
also made 20 effort to mince words, and the
latter said the difference between him and
the Synod was that ne believed the Bible should
be not only the supreme law of the nation. but
of the church also. He held that ministers
we're only bound by synodical opinions SO far
as they were backed by a thus saith the
Lord"
AT the conclusion of his address the court
took a recess. On reassembling Moderator
McAllster stated that the first thing in order
the vote to sustain or not to sustain the
libel, and told the members that they must rise
and vote and were allowed minutes each in
which to give reasons for The same, and with
tie parting statement of Rev. Z. NJ. Milligan
that his faith and that of his fellow-defendan;S
was built on the foundation of apostles.
prophets and martyrs. Jesus Christ. the chief
CORNER stone," the voting began and resulted as
follows:
To sustain: Messrs. r. A Bole, D. r. Brown,
:. 9. Connor, ]. F. Crczier, John a. Dodds,
r. c. Dodds. John Elliott, John Galbreath, H.
II. George, Il. J. George, Robert Glasgow, w.
R Laird w. NJ. Leslie, ID. c. Martin, John
MaCee D. McAlster j. e. McE-lroy David Nc
Elroy, i, Morton. John Reed. ]. h. Reed, ]. W.
Srroull, Matthias Steel Joseph Wallace and
Robert Wylie-25
To not sustain: r. a. Armstrong, William
Blair. A. W. McClurkin and J. R. ]. MillIgan.
Absent, l6 not voting. 4. Prof Coleman
fused to vote on account of having been absent
part of the time, and not hearing the whole
case.
THREE OF THE VOTERS CHALLENGER.
During the voting Rev. E NJ. Milligan asked
if he be allowed the right to challenge He oh.
iected 70 the votes of Messrs. w. r. Laird,
J. !, Dodds and r. ]. George, the first being
charged with having said there would be no
peace so long as Z NJ. Milligan was member,
and the last that the accused should have
avnwed their opinions when ordained. and that
they were subYersve of the fundamental law
OF the church. Mr.. Laird made an explanation
that satisfied Mr.. Milligan.
Rev. o. b. Milligan expressed astoniShment
at the gall Tor term synonymous) of MIR.
Leslie. in voting, after declaration made, but
tne Moderator decided that he couldn't so be-
hind the returns.
Messrs. Fitzpatrick aid Wilson asked to be
excused from voting, account of having
been the prosecuting attorneys, and their re-
quest was granted.
Nj. Matthew Steel excited some merriment
in some people, in his recital OF the crawling.
Up-the-baCk feeling he had experienced when
he read il the newspapers that The accused
were members of a secret society.
When the Moderator announced the vote
and its consequences, the libel being sustained,
Rev. Mr.. Reed demanded statement of reas-
OnS, but Dr. McAliSter said they were under
stood, and refused TO 90 into the matter.
ali the defendants now arose and gave notice
of an appeal, Mr. Temple stating that he
wanted decision on the subject of what con-
sti ated GIvIsve causes.
The question of the effect of the sentence
discussed at some length. Rev. Mr.
CrozIer feelingly asked that it be SO framed as
to give the defendants chance to recount
Rev. Mr.. Reed wanted 10 know If it suspended
their relationship as prirates. and the
Moderator SAID it cid not destroy the pastoral
relation; merely suspended it.
Or. SprUull moved that expulsion should not
take effect until after Synod had decided the
matter, and on this got the support of Rev. H.
II. George, when Prof. Wilson demanded the
ayes and uoes. A motion to table was lost, and
tie original motion passed
When the accused were called up for SEN
tence DR.. r. O. George moved that they be
given an opportunity 10 express contrition, but
none was shown.
SENTENCED BY THE MODERATOR.
Moderator McAlister next called the young
men up for sentence, first Offering a fervent
prayer for guidance, which brought tears to.
many eyes. He then pronounced the sentence
of suspension on account of the heinous sin of
following divisive courses.
Rev. Il. H. George paid high tribute to the
ability OF the suspended ministers and urged
that the olive branch still be held out to them.
The next question discussed was. who should
prosecute the case before the Synod? Rev.
Mr. Fitzpatrick suggested DR.. McAlister and
DR.. Il. J. George. both he and Prof Wilson re-
fusnC 10 longer endure the strain. After some
debate. In which d.. Sproull took prominent
part, Rev MIR. kilpaJrick's motion prevailed
TIE report of she committee in reference to
the case OF Revs. J. R. J. Millgan and A w
NcClurkiu next came up. and the supplement-
ary report of DIR. SpIoull and r. ]. George was
received and approved and the accused called
up TO get their quinine. Rev. Mr.. Mil
liGan 2Traigned MesSrs. Sprouil and George
rather bitterly. and said he thought the
matter had been settled. He said he did not
allude to the business that called him away to
attract sympathy Laughter, he going off on
wedding trip.
Messrs. Wilson, R. ]. George and Sproull and
Milligan had several sharp passages at arms
and DR.. Sproull frankly admitted that he had
been laborng under mistake, thinking he was
part OF a commission. and not OF a committee,
and therefore empowered to make q settle
nent, and tEat he had given the right hand of
fellowship on supposed settlement, in good
faith.
Prof. Wilson denied that he had acted in a
manner to give Mr.. Miligan the impression
that the committee was commission en-
powered t. settle the mattel.
Rev. II. II. George finally made the point
that this was only matter OF explanation
among members of the committee, with which
the Presbytery had nothing To do, and the
Moderator agreed with him.