Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-04

found tracks that looked more like those O
practical politicians than good theologians
and said that in the call for the Elders Con
vention some of the names found purportinl
| to be signers were forgeries. The Siipperl
| Rock Church, of New Castle, memoriafizec
and asked that the accused be given letter
| of standing to other churches in the denomin
| alton. but instead of this they were asked t.
leave their church Rev. Mr.. Reed at
tackled the Judicial Committee, and said ht
had been deceived into supposing it was
commission.
Charged With Changing the Minutes.
A sensation was raised when Rev. Mr.
! Temple charged that there was circum
! stantial evidence that the Chairman of the
Committee on Discipline changed the WORD
Commission" to committee" The CLERK
left before the Presbytery adjourned, and in
his absence the change seemed to have been
| made.
DR.. George arose and suggested that the
matter should be further investigated On
November accused felt that everything
had been sandpapered down and would rest
until the meeting in April
In conclusion Mr.. Reed complained that
his accusers had made no effort looking
toward a compromise, according to the law
of Christ in Matthew xviii, 14-15.
The trouble with regard to the record
complained of was that the draft Of the
minutes was not given to the clerk, but re-
taiAed by DR.. George, and in the draft Of
the judicial commission or committee, the
original had judicial CON-" originally, and
later was found that ''com" had been CON-
pleted with lead pencil by adding ''mis-
sion.''
The remainder of Rev. Mr. Reeds defense
was similar to his argument before the Pres
bytery, but much more concentrated and
eliminated. People who heard his argu-
ment of half day or more before the Pres
bytery were astonished to hear him conclude
in 81 minutes.
Rev. E NJ. Milligan began by stating
that he believed the majority of the Pitts
burg Presbytery honest, but inspired by a
few leaders to do him an injustice. One
particularly he wished to specify, viz: Dr..
J. w. Sproull, who Mr.. Milligan said had
constantly shown desire to settle the con-
tention by christianlike and honorable
means Rev. Mr.. Milligan went on to say
that the trial was the result of prejudice
and several of the prosecutors had not
shown any desire to settle on the line laid
down by the Church's head. He held that
the East End meeting and platform were
simply protest against the ISLANDERS that
had been promulgated against those as
sembled, and though it may have been an
error, those present never dreamed that
they were SHINING against either the Church
or her head. AS Rev. Mr.. Milligan went
on he warmed up and said that if the writer
of the call for an Elders Convention,
instead of standing on the basis of a
sensational newspaper report Of the East
End movement there would have been none
cal, = lae
ten up in Beaver Falls, and its statements
are as false as false can be, and how any
man protesting Christianity could make it
in full view of the declaration that call liars
shall have their part in the lake that burn
eth with fire and birthstone" passed Rev.
Mr.. Milligan's comprehension.
He Calls the Minutes Burlesque.
Criticising the method of trial, the speak
er reiterated that the East End platform
still represented his honest conviction
Speaking of the trial at Presbytery. Rev.
Mr.. Milligan said the Moderator arranged
so as to have things his own way, and, in
effect, characterized the trial as farce and
the minutes as burlesque on the term
fair play. His peroration on this head was
a combination of sarcasm and diplomacy.
He said that although it was common talk
that the majority of the Synod was con-
yet he believed that among these
were some men who feared
God and he had faith that they would be fair
er than the majority of the Presbytery,
and stopping for a moment to rub little
salt into DR.. McAllister's lacerated cuticle.
Even DIR. H. II. George and Prot. Wilson
seemed to get some grim fun out of the mat
ter, the latter especially apparently relish
ing the shindv. The time to shut off steam
came in the midst of Rev. Mr.. Milligan's s
but his time was extended, but
two voting against it. Rev. Mr.. Milligan
referred to a member of the Presbytery as a
Poo Bah, who held one opinion as men,
Der of the Judicial Committee and another as
a member of Presbytery. He made point
by asking if when the vote is taken in this
trial, the minority will be considered as
having committed heinous sin and scandal
and following divisive courses? He held
that though the whole of the East End plat
form be wrong, yet the mere belief that it is
right does not make the believers action
divisive 1t is in action alone that he can
be held in this matter.
On account of extending Rev. Mr.. Milli-
gan's time, Synod shortened the noon re-
cess half an hour. Some elders are farmers,
and this goodweather for agricultural opera
tions tends to make them uneasy, especially
as there is no prospect of adjournment be-
fore the end of this week. A member asked
to be excused, but DIR. r. j. George held
that the business in hand was of more i'm
portance than farming, and it was decided
that leave to go should only be granted in
extreme cases.
Rev. Mr.. Milligan, on resumption, made
the points that as to the doctrine of political
dissent a minister might be en- rapport with
for nd ro+x
another, and that in matters of philosophy
the Bible could not be taught literally, and
no intelligent minister would attempt it,
He would bind himself in his teaching to
to the gospel plan of salvation,
ETC. He held that every man on trial was
loyal in his teaching on the matters of tes-
timony and terms of communion. This
Synod may place other terms, but it has not
50 far, and it cannot hold any one subject,
rs there being no law on these poinnts there |
can be no tranSgression.
MiIligan Scores Elder Steel.
Toward the end the speaker grew rather
personal toward the Pittsburg Presbytery,
stating that while he was making his argu-
ment some of the members read newspapers,
some slept and one laid himself down on a |
sofa and yet without hearing voted non
to sustain the libel He also took |
occasion to score Elder Steel for voting to |
sustain the libel because he had read in |
newspaper that some people had formed
secret society. Now, said the speaker, the |
iather was sincere and honest, but he voted |
70 sustain on charge that was not brought |
against the accused. Rev. Mr.. Milligan |
IN the subject of appeal, supposed the case
If man who had been convicted of murder |
md sentenced to be hung. He appeals to
he Supreme Court, but the sentence is
,arried out and the man hanged. Two |
weeks later the Supreme Court reverses the
decision of the lower court, but at this stage |