Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-05
MR., ,SPEER RESIGNED.
The CHARTERS PreSbytery Did
Not Transfer Him.
CAN0NSBURG ALL TORN UP.
AVictory Scored Over His Dissatisfied
ParishionerS.
THE TROUBLE is NOT SETTLED YET

on trial, and upon the result of the dellbera
tions of the body depended the future OF the
pastor.
The scene in the vicinity of the church
put one in mind of gathering to attend 8
county fair or some other testivity which
marks an epoch in the lives of country peo.
pie. Presbyterians from all over the county
came in via all the roads and In all manner
OF convevances. The majority of the minis.
ters were on horseback. The laymen, with
their families, came in buggies, wagons,
etc., and the mud on the vehicles indicated
the distance they had travelled. The trains
on the Panhandle road also brought in a
large number of people, and if one wanted
to find the church it was only necessary to
follow the crowd.
The Presbytery was called to order at IL
O'Clock by Rev. McLachlan, with Rev. J. S.
Speer as Secretary. The first business
transacted was the reading of the petition,
sskipg for the removal of Mr.. Speer. As
the latter is the Secretary of the Presbytery,
it was necessary to have this done by "a clerk.
The Commissioners, j. NJ. Borland, r. d.
Fulton and William Mcpherson, appointed
to present the petition, stated what they had
been instructed to do.
MoNoToNoUs AT FIRST.
Fer several hours the dull monotony OF
the initial proceedings were only broken by
the bang-bang of the blacksmith's hammer in
a shop across the street. The blacksmith, by
the way, was about the only person in the
vicinity of the church who did not drop his
business to attend the meeting.
Until late in the afternoon
the time was consumed discussing the legality
of the congregational meeting at which the
petition against MIR. Speer was drawn up. Rev.
Mcconnell. of Hickory, said he understood the
petition was the action OF certain members OF
the congregation and not the congregation as a
whole. Mr. R. d. Fulton, one of the commits
siOners, said the action was taken at regular
ly called meeting, and was therefore legal.
The moderator was of the opinion that the
minutes showed that the meeting was held by
certain members of the congregation only.
Under the circumstances, the Presbytery was
not concerned 20 any great extent IN the peti-
non for the removal of Mr.. Speer. Rev.
Proudfoot, of Buffalo, took exceptions to this
and said if only one name was attached to the
petition the Presbytery should take action on
The whole ground discussed at the congrega-
tional meetings was then gone over. Rev.
Lackey, of Center said the commissioners were
there as individuals only. They did not repre-
sent any congregation, and the Presbytery did
not admit them as commissioners. After con-
siderable cross firing Mr.. Proudfoot got the
PresbyUery down to business by making a
motion that the prayer Of the malcOntents be
granted, and Mr.. Speer removed. This was done
merely to get at the point and stop the wrang-
ling. At this juncture recess was taken tor
dinner.
Upon reassembling the first thing suggested
was the examination of witnesses. This was out
lined in such a way as to lead Mr.. Speer to re-
mark: This case is
WITHOUT A PARALLEL
in the history of United Presbyterianism." The
first witness called was Commissioner Fulton.
He was asked by Mr.. Speer to state what he
knew about the history of the case. He prompt
ly retorted:
What case?"
is it possible you have been here all this
time and do not know what we are talking
abnut?' sarcastically asked the pastor.
Upon direct interrogatoTies Mr.. Fulton gave
some information about the meetings held by
the discontented members and the method
they pursued to have the pastor .esign. When
asked how many people were at the alleged
congregational meeting on January IL, he said
he did not know as he had not counted them.
There were more than . people there, he said.
He did not say anything at the meeting about
closing the doors against ''the preacher, or his
salary would not go on"
Editor Fee, of the Canousburg Notes was
called. He refused to go into an explana
tion of the trouble but would answer any
direct questions. He said he helped carry the
petition atound for signatures. He stated he
had not been the best member in the church,
and might not have given it the support he
will against Mr.. Speer, and was only acting for
the best interests of the church. He
was present at one meeting when a motion
was passed that those present would not make
any more arrangements for Bible class meet
ing until they got more support from the pastor
and the congregation at large. The reason the
members of the congregation had taken no in
terest in it was on account Of the feeling
against Mr.. Speer.
Mr.. Fulton was then asked the question
fired at every witness What did you give to-
ward the building fund for the new church 2"
He said he and his three brothers had con-
tributed about $780, Robert Fulton, one of the
brothers, was then called. He said he thought
the pastor had acted strangely In the matter Of
buying the ground upon which the new church
stood. He said he thought the pastor had the
lot bought before the building committee went
70 look at it He also wanted a tin roof on the
buildings, as it would save considerable money.
IGNORED THE COMMITTEE.
The pastor he said, went ahead with his
views in regard TO a slate roof, and paid no at
tention TO the committee. One or two men,
bers of the committee objected but the pastor,
he claimed, overruied them. They also OBJ
jected to paying such high price for the
ground. The witness then turned TO Mr.. Speer
before we bought it"
The pastor then asked him how much of the
petition he had prepared. The witness could
not answer. He denied that he had any CON-
versation with anybody wherein he stated that
they would get rid of the pastor" To Mr.
Speer he said: There was meeting of the
congregation at which arrangements were made
TO get rid of you" He affirmed the statement
that some persons had left the meeting but did
not know that they were under the impression
that the meeting was packed" He was then
asked to relate the trouble about buying a seal
for the church. meeting was held at which
the pastor was present. Mr.. Speer wanted to
have the seal made ''the imprint Of his watch
IL to- = al
bind Mr.. Speer to the church. ANY time we
wanted any property we would have to get
Speer and his watch before it could be pur-
chased" Samples Of seals had been sent from
the city. The congregation voted against the
one the pastor wanted to adopt. They chose
one Of their own design. One Sunday the
pastor walked down from the pulpit and said
he would like to have the seal changed The
witness told him it could not be done The
pastor then sent for a seal of his own
without any orders from the Congregation.
The pastor asked the witness to qualify for the
seal, and Mr.. Fulton replied that he would not
do it. In spite of this the pastor called meet
ing to adopt the seal and the witness, being
unable to do otherwise, had to qualify for it,
ABOUT THE CHURCH SEAL.
John Moore was then called. He said the
pastor had purchased a seal for So 50, or SO
cents less than the amount agreed upon by the
congregation. he said that a few members
paid for the seal, and the money did not come
out of the church fund, w. J. Johnston was
called, but nothing new was obtained from
him.
The witness Of the day was then called-Mrs.
Mcpherson. She is a stout, motherly looking
woman and stood the "outs" on their heads, SO
TO speak She explained her presence at the
congregational meeting by saying that she went
there at the request OF another lady. As soon
as she e'fOund out what the meeting was for she
left She thought it was a meeting to raise
money to pay the pastors back salary. She
knew nothing Of the petition until Mrs
James Mcpherson told her about it
She said: We'll, they had better not
come here with their petition" She
said Mr.. Fulton had complained about the