Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-09
Burden of the Defense of the Seven
Suspended R. ?. Ministers.
THEIR NAMES PUT ON THE ROLLS
Speakers Called Down by the Moderator
for Their mputatiOnS.
ALL THE REMARKS MADE IN REBUTTAL

Rev. r. B. Connor moved that their names
be restored to the rolls, and though the
motion was opposed by Prof ID. p. Wilson
and DIR. r. J. George, DR.. McAllister as
tonished the majority by speaking in favor,
and the motion prevailed. Before getting
down to the trial Elder J. r. Dill offered a
resolution expressing the belief of the
Synod that it is the duty of all members of
the II. P Church to testify against the sin of
other churches III permitting persons to
take the communion who have identified
themselves with political parties that favor
the licensing of the liquor traffic, as being an
agreement with death and covenant with
hell. Referred to the Committee on Tenn
perance.
Rev. \. W. McClurkin then began his de-
fense,and it was a peppery one. He charged
1alsehood in the minutes of the Presbytery,
and claimed that if he were to be condemned
for what he had said, a record should hav e
been made of it, and that record in court.
He also said there was no evidence sub
mitted that he had attended the East End
meeting or taken any part in the adoption
or PRONUNCIATION of the East End platform.
Another Right Peppery Defense.
Rev. E. NJ Milligan followed, and he too
was quite pertinent in his remarks. He re-
ferred to DR.. Georges history of the pro-
ceedings of the Pittsburg Presbytery, and
said that it could never be said truly again
tnat its side had not been heard from by the
synod. The doctor had said there was no
charge against their moral character, and
asked if the speaker were speaking in
Pickwicklan sense. Mr.. Milligan said their
moral character was on trial, If, as specified,
they were charged with u heinous and scan
dalOuS sin and crime.
The Moderator called Mr.. Milligan to
order, on the ground that he was intro
ducing new matter and after some sparring
Mr.. Milligan said he would pass the point
for the present.
Mr.. Milligan told how it came about that
Rev. Mr.. Temple had had q conversation
with DIR. McAllister and told him of an or
ganlzation being formed at the East End
meeting. Mr.. Milligan thought that a
little sandpapering of the third item
offered Tor compromise would save great
deal of trouble. No honest man could so far
stultify himself as to argue to withdraw
from an organization to which he did not
then nor ever had belonged to. He also de-
MED that there was any secrecy about its
proceedings. When Rev. Mr.. Milligan spoke
of charge of attempting to destroy the
church DIR. McAllister rose and observed
that the accused were not charged with in
tent to destroy. Mr. Milligan held that the
holding of the meeting could not be an Of
tense against the church except by the use
of its platform. but those who called the
elders meeting were the ones who had made
evil use of the platform. He denied that the
callers of that meeting could show that those
who met there had any intent to I'M ure the
church or use their platform except as an
Dodds-Copeland-Crozier snarl, there was a
series OF explanations, and Rev. Mr. Milligan
said he would not push his posi-
fully that he had witnesses to sustain
his statement regarding the writer
of the call for the elders meeting Mr.. Milli-
gan said he was either one who had disre-
gard for truth or else one Who wrote a good
deal without considering what he wrote He
said that in criminal court the defend
ants might show a motive for the laying of
the accused. q
could let it pass
DIR. George Has Another Objection.
Rev. E. NJ Milligan then began to tear |
those already tattered ministers into still |
smaller pieces, when DR.. George got up and |
said that if the speaker wanted to go over
that matter again he supposed that he (Dr.
George) must be put on trial again.
Mr.. Milligan insisted that he only referred
to the effect the matter had had on their
mlnds-a suspicion that some one was
back of the plan or scheme who did not hesi-
tate TO change the minutes to make that
scheme win.
DR.. George wouldn't have it this way. in
sisting the language used by Rev. MI. MilIigan
reflected upon him and demanded that facts
be given to support it. So Mr.. Milligan said
he would give some: First, that commits
sion was at first recommended to settle the |
matter; second, that the Pittsburg Presby-
tery minutes did not record the motion to |
change the commission to a committee; |
third, that many of the members were ig- |
norant when they met that a change had been |
made: fourth, that the report OF the Com
mitUee on Discipline had never gone into the |
hands of the clerk; fifth, that the word COM
mittee had been written partly in ink and |
concluded in lead pencil mark, looking as
though the work had beer done to make |
diverse actions appear to harmoniZe, and, |
siKthly, tEey supposed and were allowed to |
entertain the Supposition that the commits |
sion had been empowered to settle, and these |
points were never cleared up until DIR. |
George made his statement before the |
present court. These Observation-Disclosures
Mr.. Milligan said, led them to make admis- |
sions that trapped them One man making |
admissions should not limit all
This had reference to what Mr.. Reed had |
said, and Rev. J. Z. J. Milligan and Rev. Mr. |
Samson arose and denied Mr.. Reeds power |
TO bind them Rev. j. S. T. Milligan, during /
controversy that followed, insisted that |
the youngsters be given full swing in their |
defense.
Milligan gave notice that hereafter when he |
was talking 1--WE" must be construed to |
mean 81" He again said that while he was |
sorry the East End business had made |
trouble. he could not say he sorry for |
what he mad done, nor could any other hon |
est man.
Mr.. Milligan made statement rejecting |
high honor on the fairness of DIR. w. j. |
Sproull, and the latter replied. As they |
were somewhat courteous, Mr.. Ferris |
seemed to fear they would fall on each |
others neck, and called attention OF Synod |
that they were not talking on the question. |
Didn't Call DIR. McAIIister a Liar.
Mr.. Milligan did not call DR.. McAllister a |
liar, but he did deny in toto his strictness |
regarding the alleged levity OF the accused |
at the Presbyterial trial, thus tending to l
keep reporters in the lower strata on the 1
score of piety and decorum.
Mr.. Milligan evidently had full hand but |
he discarded many cards and did not draw,
dropping many of his points to save time |
He, however, made the point that if a man
belonged to political club and subse-
Quently changed his opinions and became a |
member OF an opposition party, il was his
duty to leave the club; but he held that as a
member of Christs Church it was different. |
He might hold opinions different from his
brethren, but he could not leave the ark OF |
safety. This was in answer to the query why
they did not go into the U. P. Church
HDr. r. b. Cannon arose at the conclusion of
Rev. L. N. Milligaus argument ana pro-
tested against the traversing of the entire
field in the argument, as he seemed to think
there was danger that before the contro-
versy reached a final vote they all will have
ceased to be members of the church militant
and will be twanging their harps in the
choirs of the church triumphant
Rev. j. 5. T. Milligan contended that, no
matter how long it required the accused to
cover their case, they should have it. on ac-
orator was inclined toward abbreviation,
but no ruling was made, though the next
speaker, Rev. H. w. Reed, got it between
the lug and the horn at every attempt to |
ampllfy. Rev. Mr.. Milligan dropped some
dozen OF heads without touching upon them
at all.
Mr.. Reed hadn't reached his first point
until Mr.. Ferris objected that he was travel
ing over his previous route
Kew. j. ). L. Milligan again came to the de-
fense, but Rev. Mr.. Ferris raised the point
that he was out OF order.
Mr., MlllIgan-I rise to the point that you
are always in order.
Not Allowed to Reach Second.