The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-29
NOT HERETICAL.
Reformed Presbyterians Dismiss
Charges Against Ministers
ON TRIAL FOR URGING FRANCHISE

of His Attitude, and Says He Will
Not Be Muzzled-Rev. DIR. Foster
Says He Will Prefer Charges
Against the Ministers.
New York, Oct. 29.-The New York
Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyter-
ian church met in the Fourth Presbyter-
ian church on Forty-eighth street, near
Ninth avenue, for the purpose of hearing
the report of the committee appointed
at its last session to consider the charges
of heresy preferred against the Rev. j.
G. X. Milligan, of this city, and the Rev.
J. f. Carson, of Brooklyn. At the last
meeting of the synod of the church a
libel was prepared and offered against
DR.. Milligan, which was rejected on the
ground that it was not drawn up in
proper form. The charges of heresy
against both ministers are that they
urged members of their congregations
and published communications in The
News Letter, church periodical, urg-
ing members of their congregations to
vote at the election last year, a practice
which is antagonistic to the doctrines Of
the Reformed church.
Ahdctlou EtCDInInenueu.
The report, which is signed by three
members of the committee, says:
1t is a matter of history that all along from
the organization of the church there has been
adlyersity OF opinion on this natter there
fore, while not indorsing the writer's views,
yet we are persuaded that in the aforesaid
quotations he did not transcend the proper
limits of the freedom of the press.
We, therefore, recommend that the presby-
n
After warm debate the report was
adopted.
DIR. Milligan's Protest.
When the presbytery reassembled DR..
Milligan was invited to make state
ment. He acknowledged his connec-
tion with the East End convention in
Plttsburg, and said he had probably
more to do with it than anybody else.
That conference merely declared what
1t thought to be the principles of the
church. The famous second plank of
the platform, for which some young
clergymen have been suspended, was the
speakers idea. He wrote it and was
ready to stand by it. The church, he
added, has no right to make political dis
sent term Of communion until it was
said in black and white what it means.
The synod today cannot explain dissent
Miuhoub uShuTT6F IFOh large. con-
tingent. In conclusion the speaker said
he had never seen the day in the Re
formed Presbyterian church when he
wore muzzle, and said he never would
see it. DR.. Carson then addressed the
conference in similar vein.
AT the conclusion of the statements
Rev. J. r. Thompson, of Newburgh, N.
Y, offered the following:
Resolved, That after hearing the explana-
tions of Brothers AIilligan and Carson the
presbytery feels satisfied that there was no
violation of the law of church on their part,
and that no further action be taken In the
case.
A good deal of opposition developed,
and DIR. Thompson finally amended the
resolution SO as to read:
1.-THE presbytery feels satisfied there is
no grounds to base libel against these
brethren"
In this form the resolution was passed
by vote of II to 8.
Rev. DIR. Foster strenuous1y opposed
the acquittal of the accused, and gave
notice that he would prefer formal
charges against them.