Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-02

said they had never thought of you in con-
nection with the chair until their converse.
tion, and both expressed the positive belief
that they had at last found the right man.
They Immediately hunted up DIR. W. E.
Moore and told him of their Conversation
and he expressed himself as entirely in ac-
cord with them. 1t was then agreed upon
to call a meeting for consultation with
trustees, s,alumniand friends of Lane Seminary
in attendance upon the assembly. At this
conference there was cordial agreement
then determined to call a meeting of the
full board. The meeting of the board was
called to meet in the First Presbyterian
Church, of Cincinnati
were related by Mr.. Smith, DR.. Monfort and
DR.. Moore, who further stated that there
was need of immediate action if DR.. Roberts
was to be secured, for the reason that he
held call from the Fourth Presbyt erian
Church at Albany, n. Y, which he promised
to answer within few days of the meeting,
and If we wished to secure him it must be
done at once. All three spoke in the strong
est terms of their belief from personal
knowledge and acquaintance of your schol-
arship, pulpit ability and special quail
cial fitness for the place. I am quite
positive that all said that your name had
not been suggested or thought of except as
above stated, and that no reason was urged
for your election except your own fitness,
and the honor and influence you would
bring to the seminary. The immediate ac-
tion was urged solely upon the ground of the
call to Albany. The members of the Faculty
were present except DIR. Dewitt and Dr.
Morris stated that he thought he could an
swer for DR.. Dewitt that he would cheer
fully concur In the action of the board. The
to your fitness, Dr. Smith speaking very
warmly in favor of your election, and there
was not a word that can now recall said
sgtnst ySS by from ao
ton. Some of them for want of information
submitted the matter to their brethren
without expression eff their opinions. Hop
that have fully answered your inquiry,
q. R. MoNFoRr."
No Records OF the Action.
Many of the members of the Board of Di
rectors of the Western Theological Seminary
were absent from the city. However, Rev.
Edward P. Cowan, D: D., the Secretary of the
board, was seen last evening. He was con-
fident that neither the board or
of of the Robertses He said that as
Secretary he would know and that there
were no records upon his books of any such
that as the action purported only. to be that
of the boards committee it would scarcely
be of necessity made matter of record.
He admitted that, and said that while he
such, in respect to calling or writing
Prof. William C. Roberts, yet that
it was quite possible that some single mem
Der of the board may have individually
written him. He was certain that NO indig-
nation, such as the Gazette account alluded
to, had been expressed to the board.
Major William B. Negley was seen still
later, after his return from the installation
of DR.. McClelland at the Bellefield Presby-
terian Church. He stated that he
was probably the elder in the
Shadyside Presbyterian Church, to which
the Gazette stated that DIR. William II. Rob-
erts wrote asking for "a Days Preach"
and that no reply was made. Maj jor Negley
said that injustice was done DR.. William II.
Roberts in that matter. The doctor had
simply written him a friendly personal let
ter, congratulating him upon the upbuild-
ing of the Shadyside church and his rela-
tions thereto, and saying that sometime
when he was passing through this way it
would give him pleasure to stop off and
preach for them.
Major Negley's recollection differed some
what from that of DR.. Cowan's. The Major
said that he remembered that the COM
mittee, of which he believed he was men,
Der, considered calling DR.. William c.
Roberts, and wrote q letter to that gentle
man about the matter. On failing to get a
reply it was his recollection that another
letter was sent, and that it came out that it
had been delivered to DR.. William H.
Roberts instead of DIR. William c. Roberts.
The latter gentleman. however, never &C.
cepted the call.