Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-10-30
MRs. A. N. CHAMBERLIN,
For the Committee.
THE PRESBYTERIAN MATTER.

OF tllt AOillinl lllCb.
THE PRESBYTERIAN MATTER.
Rev. Mr.. Thompson Explains the
Case Fully and it is Settled.
Mr.. EDIToR;-I see in your last
issue a well written letter from
Tahlequah in reference to the no.
tice given by me by order of the
Presbytery of the Cherokee nation
to DR.. A. w. Foreman.
am sorry to acknowledge that
by a blunder of my own for which
| can give no excuse only that |
did not know did it, the notice
reads, baptized by Immersion"
instead of being as it is on the re-
cord, baptized by INNER
sion, +" which changes the whole
aspect of the case. For this no
blame is to be attached to any one
but myself, except that this one
was for DR.. Foreman, and the no.
tice to Mr.. Chamberlin was for
publication to the church. The
action OF the Presbytery was the
enforcement of legal decision,
and had no reference whatever TO
the personal, moral or religious
character of DR.. Foreman. Never
having seen the Doctor till yester-
day, | could only know him by re-
putation, and | cheerfully certify
that without exception the brethren
of the Presbytery speak in the
highest terms of praise of his per-
sonal worth and christian work.
1t was purely question of le-
gal qualification; every constitu-
tional organization designates the
qualifications for membership, or
for the different officers of that or
ganization. The question-the
abstract legal question came be-
fore the Presbytery, That the an
swer might have more force and be
diyested of all personality in the
decision, it was referred to the
general assembly of the Presby-
terian church. The decision came
in these words, "In the case of an
elder the form of government,
(Chap. XIII, Secs. 6, y makes it
clear that in certain circumstance
he should at least cease to be an
acting elder, and the session
should take order on the subj ject. "
(See minutes of 1890, page 49,
The Presbytery being court su-
perior to the session, having the
power and authority and thinking
it impracticable for the session to
act and the duty of the Presbytery
to act, ordered the fact to be de-
clared.
1t comes simply to this, that the
rebaptism OF an elder so disquali-
fes him that in certain cases he
must cease to act. The act was
being re-baptzied. There lis no
law or order OF our church against
immersion which disqualifies a
ma nfrom being an elder for
being immersed, but the ac-
tion does declare that a re-bap-
tism does disqualify. The action
does not affect the Doctors men,
bership in the church; it does not
effect his moral character in refer
ence to any particular in the COM
munication of "Church or no
Church" F"
If a decision of the highest
court of the Cherokee nation or
any other nation should declare
that any officer, however good in
every other particular, were in
one thing constitutionally dis
qualified, it seems TO me such a
decision would vaeate the office
when declared by the proper au-
thority.
If an elder or minister Of any
regularly organized sister church
should come to me and be re-bap-
tised, l should feel bound to say
10 him that the probability was
that he must cease to act in his
office.
However, as some parties felt
aggrieved, the members Of the
Cherokee Presbytery for the sake
of peace consented that the synod,
a court superior to the Presbytery,
should refer the whole matter to
the session. It is now hoped that
all who do not hate the cause Of
Christ, as represented by the
Presbyterian church, will abstain