Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-11
WHAT THEY SAY.
MINISTER'S OF TEE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH ON TRIAL
In Pennsylvania Por Alleged Hsresy-Rys Of lhe
Accused Defend the Views They Advanced
From the Palpii-SOms Dramatic
Scenes Enacted in tie Action.

PIrTsBURG. December l0.-The trial
OF the Reformed Presbyterian ministers
is still in session. The church at VII
klnsburg was crowded this morning.
Rev. DR.. McAllister, Of the Eighth
Street Church, opened with prayer
The defense opened in long speech
by Rev. o. Il. Milligan, OF the East End
Reformed Presbyterian Church, who Is
one OF those on trial. His speech was
the most forcible made since the OPEN
ing OF the investigation. He dcfed the
Reformed Presbyterian Church to find
anything wrong in the East End declar-
alton. lie denied that it had ever been
the intention OF the young ministers un-
der charges TO cause a split in the
church. or To secede from its doctrines.
"Can you" he asked, las members Of
this Presbytery, say that we shall be
driven from the house of God? Has the
Covenanter Church nothing TO do with
the reformation Of national politics?
Don't accuse me OF abusing the fathers
Of our church, for | am not: honor
them. think If every American-bOrn
citizen should vote on amendments some
OF the members Of this synod would find
themselves awfully lonesome, for they
would be slim minority"
He concluded his address with dra-
matte peroration, holding the big pulpit
Bible above his head as a guide and
support.
Rev. ii. w. Temple followed Mr. Nil
ligan's strong argument. in defense OF
his own action and that of his associate
ministers. He said that il was a part
OF the Scotch blood to stand for thot
which they believe TO be right He re-
ferred TO the fact that the Pittsburgh
Presbytery once invaded the provinces
OF another Presbytery 10 prosecute Rev.
DIR. j. X. Wilson, for certain doctrines
he was then preaching and teaching,
and which the entire church has since
accepted.
Mr.. Temple took up the discipline
and book of government OF the church,
in connection with foot notes and com
ments on the same by eminent author
tiles, and in his argument he drove his
prosecutors into very inconsistent quar-
ters. He said they had decided to al
vocate changes in the doctrines OF the
church. The fact that during the war
members Of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church were authorized 10 make oath
to support the Constitution of the
United States, was cited by Mr.. Tenn
pie as one OF its many Inconsistencies.
The right TO labor for change, was
strongly supported by Mr.. Temple. He
inquired If all the great men OF the
church, who from time TO time had ad-
vocated changes and reforms within the
church and its doctrines. were heretics
He closed his argument with strong
advocacy Of ''the right to labor. in an
orderly manner" for reforms and
changes.
Rev. w. l.. Sampson, OF Mckecsport.
next defended himself, opening with the
statement that he was charged with
heinous ofrense. In his opening he
made mention OF the martyrs of past
ages who had suffered on account Of the
advocacy Of advanced views. Mr.. Sam
son quoted freely from Scriptures to
show that the charges OF ''deyisiy"
charges" against him were not viola
ton OF either the rules of the church or
OF divine teaching. He admitted that
the matter Of political dissent had been
made term OF communion by practice,
but he denied that the practice was
right.
"If the government Of the United
States would adhere 10 the proposals
which you teach" he said, "it would
send the United States Marshal and
shut up the Office of the Christian States
man. 1t would stop the publication Of
the organs OF the Prohibition party.
and all other publications which adyO-
cate changes in the constitution. What
the fathers of the church had contended
for in relation OF the black man was
the same thing that their prodigal sons
were now contcndng for The right of
free speech was one OF the fundamental
principles Of this country"
Rev. II. w. Reed, Of Youngstown,
o., followed, scoring a number of points
for himself and his fellow ministers.
His speech was interrupted with an adj
journment until 1880 o'clock.
Upon reasscmbling after dinner Mr..
Reed closed his address. and the last
speech for the defense was made by
Rev. +. VI. Miligan, Of ParnaSsus.
The evening session was devoted 10
speeches by the prosecutors.