Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-03

The ayes and noes were insisted upon the
final disposition, but one member thougnSS ny
| the matter hadn't been sufficiently debated
and in the melee the noon recess was taken
Delegates Must Not Leave,
First in order in the afternoon DR.. r. j.
George offered resolution that delegates
whose expenses were paid to do the work OF
| Synod by the people had no right to go
home without consent of Synod or to neglect
the duty imposed upon them. The resolu-
tion passed
Dr. H. H. George now moved the previous
question to cut OFF debate on preliminary
| work, as he said some delegates were getting
| restive, and intimated that Pittsburg Pres
bytery was not in much of hurry. The
motion passed without dissent.
Dr. McAllister's resolutions in arrest OF
business and issue of process to hurry the
suspended men before the Court as In con-
tempt, and give them Ia chance ban Si19e to Puir1g9e
called for the ayes and noes.
Rev. j. R. Wylie thought division neces-
sary, as one of the accused had filed an inter
locutory, but his view failed, and the vote
| was taken.
For the resolutions, IA; against, 20. Some
voted for the resolution, but they speclhed
| that they did not vote for the preamble.
Rev. A. W. McClurkin arose and said:
| Concerning the matter of contempt OF the
authority and INSTRUMENTATION, desire to
| say that have not knowingly shown con-
tempt for any court of Gods house. have
preached in other churches than the Re-
| formed Presbyterian since theeIneeting of
have not preached In any Reformed Presby-
| terian Church since that time. have not
preached in other churches as an net of
! insubordination to the authority OF any
court oil the Lords house."
Revs. H W. Reed, W. L. C. Sampson, E. M
Milligan, o. B. Milligan and J. r. j.. Milligan
followed, and admitted that they had
| them, buried the dead, etc, but without
| thought of contempt of church authorities
| or of the Pittsburg Presbytery or of being IN
subordinate. Rev. j. r. J. Mflligan stated 1t
was understood by the suspended that Prof.
Wilson had stated that they might supply
their pulpits by exchange, but Prof. Wilson
said he could not recollect having made such
Rev. ]. C. Smith was not disposed to stand
up for the strict enforcement of the law.
DIR. w. j. Sproull offered resolution that
whereas all had disclaimed contempt the
present proceedings rest where they stood.
Excused for Their Youth.
Rev. Smith said this did not altogether
satisfy him, but he would allow it to pass
considering the age of the men. He proposed
to amend Dr. Sproulps resolution as to allow
the explanation to be sufficiently satisfactory
for all practical purposes, or words to That
effect
Prof Wilson didn't want the Synod to
be precipitate, as one suspended brother had
denied the power claimed by Presbytery.
Dr. McAllister moved to strike out all of
DR.. Sprouts resolution that the Synod hav-
ing heard the statements now proceed to
trial The motion prevailed.
Elder X. NJ. Downey wanted to know in
what position this action placed the accused.
The reply was that 1t had no effect on them
Rev. McClurkin said he understood it to be
bar to appeals, but the Moderator said 1t
was only bar to complaints.
What purported to be Rev. E. NJ. Milligan's
complaint was then read, but the accused
did not exactly term it a complaint
The Moderator said the present action was
not on the suspension, but on the complaints
1t was explained that an appeal was from
the decision of the eourt and complaint as
to injustice and wrong.
A motion was made to consider the ap-
peals and complaints together and it carried,
and a long discussion followed as to the
method to be pursued in trial, whether the
matters of injustice and wrong and the ap-
peals should be considered separately or
together. 1t seemed to be finally decided
that the business would first be Jumped and
the various phases finally voted upon
separately, such as whether the conVlctlon
was correct and as to whether the sentence
was too severe, etc.
After the complaint and appeal of Rev.
Reed had been read, Rev. McClurkin arose
and said that as his complaint was the only
one not mixed with an appeal he should
come first, and so he barred his neck and
began his defense.
Claimed Illegal Action.
He stated, in the first place, that the
action of the Pittsburg Presbytery was
illegal, as there were no witnesses to the
charges preferred against him. 1t was un-
just, as such procedure was dangerous. 1t
was founded on false testimony, as he
had not in 1890 used the language
imputed to him. He appealed because 1t
had been reported that the Pittsburg Pres
bytery had offered to dismiss the convicted
by letter so that they could minister in
other denominations and such offer had not
been made to him. He also held the acts Of
the Presbytery to be illegal as contrary to
the Book of Discipline He argued that If
statements said to have been made at the
meeting of Presbytery in October are to be
used as evidence they should have been
committed to writing and held in the alb
sence of proof of their truth that his un-
supported denial upset them. ..
Rev. McClurkin asked that the libel be re-
framed, so as to conform to the order laid
down in the Book of Discipline and wit
nesses be summoned to substantiate the
charges made. He argued this phase at
length, illustrating by hypothetical cases.
He had offered to prove that statements
made on the floor of Presbytery were false
and was not allowed to do so. If he were to
be condemned for his own statements, so be
it, but not for the statements of others, and
on false statements, and he held that he
stood condemned on an inadmiSSible libel.
A little humor cropped out now and then
even at the gravest times. While Rev. Nc
Clurkin was making his defense Rev. D. C.
Ferris, a stalwart conservative, arose and
of sickness and asking at the same time
leave for his elder to retire with him to the
wild West. A liberal remarked sotto voce
that it looked as though the Lord was put
ting in some work. 1t was one of the straws
showing the width of the sympathy for the
accused
In conclusion Rev. McClurkin remarked on
the peculiar state of affairs which at this
date would allow of such prosecution for
opinions sake.
Got Into Another TangIe.
A motion being made to try all together it
was opposed by Rev. Mr.. McClurkinis father
and big tangle ensued. As to the evidence
on which Rev. Mr.. McClurkin was indicted,
Dr. McAllister said the prosecution had
based the indictment on minutes of the Oc-
tober Presbytery, and Rev. Mr.. McClurkin
was remiss in not objecting sooner and that
the minutes of the October Presbytery
should have been challenged sooner.
Rev. H. p. McClurkin called for the read
on October Is, and they were, after some dis
cussion, read.
DR.. r. J. George insisted that Pittsburg
Presbytery should be heard in full as well
as the accused, and that the order arranged
should be adhered to, but after discussion it
was decided that all should be tried to-
gether, but that the vote In Rev. McClurkin's
case should be separate, and the clock show
ing the hour of P. NJ, the Synod took re-
cess until p NJ.
DR.. McAllister called a meeting of the
PlttSburg Presbytery, to be held immedi- |
ately after adjournment in the northeast
corner of the church. 1t was a close COM
munion gathering DR.. McAllister said there
was nothing of public interest in it.
An Evening Session for Reports.
The evening session was called to order at |
z O'Clock for the transaction of the regular |
business of the Synod. After the opening |
prayer the report of the Board of Sustenta- |
ton and Church Extension was read. 1t de-
tailed the churches assisted. As to church |