New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-29
CHURCH MEMBERS MAY VOTE.
so SAY THE REFORMED PREsBYTERIANs
CHARGES OF HERnsY, BASED on THE QUESTION

CHARGES OF HERnsY, BASED or THE QUESTION
OF POLITICS, PUT ASIDE AFTER STRUGGLE.
The morning and afternoon sessions of the second
day Of the fall meeting Of the New-York Prcsbytery
Of the Reformed Presbyterian Church yesterday which
held in the Fourth Reformed Presby terrain Church.
In Forty-cghthst. near Nntai-ave were devoted en-
tirely to the consideration Of the charges of herey
against the Rev. J. C. X. Milgan pastor Of the First
Reformed Presbyterian Church OF this city, and the Rev
j. F. Carson Of The Reformed Presbyterian Church IN
willoughby ave. brooklyn. The committee appointed
TO investigate the charges reported that neither OF the
ministers had made any remarks against the teachings
contained In the written professions Of tile Church
The committee William Graham. Of Boston; James
Kennedy, Of New-York, and David florence, Of New
Brunswick. y. !.
The charges against the ministers were that they
urged their mcr1Jsr to vote at the political elections
last year This Is against the Doctrines Of the Church
The committee reported that the libel having been pro-
nOunced informal by the synod the Presbytery as
lower court Ind power to consider it. As to the
second charge that the defendants had written and
published article IN the News Letter" the organ Of
the Reformed Presbyterian Church, in which this
| argument: If the Church has not made the duty
Of political dissent from the Constitution Of the United
states An explicit term Of commission by inviting II In
the bond to be accepted by applicants. she cannot
censnre ministers or members for not believing and
| obeyng it, Tho committees report said: when
the constitutional and statutory law Of the Church
II is matter Of history that all along from the or
ganization Of the Church in this land there has been
more or less diversity Of opinion this matter. There
fore. while not indorng the writer's %. c. X. Mill
gans) views persuaded that in the aforesaid
quotations he did not transcend the proper limits Of
the freedom Of the press, ana VIC recommend that
further action be taken in the natter
This report adopted but not without heated
debate, in which charges Of political trickery" and
whips at the synod were mutually passed.
The court then took up the forms Of libel handed
down TO the Presbytery by the synod upon complaint
OF heresy made last spring. The Rev. ]. s. William,
Of White Lake. said that sentiments such as the de-
PENDANTS accused Of publishing had appeared in
The Christian Nation" Of New-York and The Chris
tian Statesman OF Philadelphia, the signatures
OF members Of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and
no trial had resulted from them. Elder A. L. Gil
christ. Of Bovlna. y. Y, here made sensation by
accusing Mr.. william Of having advocated slavery and
having been brought to the bar Of the NewYor Pres
| bytsry that charge. DIR. William promptly denied
| the charge.
The Rev. J. r. Thompson of Newburg said he
knew Of members in his congregation who not
only voted in political elections, but held Office.
! From the general testimony it shown that the
Political Dissent clause in a large measure a dead
! letter.
large part Of the afternoon taken up in listen
| ing to the explanation made BY Mr.. Carson and Mr..
! Milligan. Their defence that nowhere in the
Testimony or Terms OF the Church the members Of
the Church prohibited from taking part in elections In
| the United States. They were prohibited from voting
under the British and immoral constitutions but no
where was tie Constitution OF the United states men-
toned and the defendants did not consider the Con
| stitutiOn immoral.
At the close Of the long debate the Presbytery, on
OF II to g. decided that there were no grounds on
which to base libel AID III It no further action should
be taken I'm the case The Rev +. VI. Foster then gave
notice that he would make complaint to the Synod
against the New-I0rk Presbytery for sancUOnnE the
! course taken II the two defendants.