Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-29
FOrthe Seven Young MinisterssWho- We're
Suspended for Expressing Their
Views at thef Polls.
RET.-MR.-MILLIGAN MINCEStNO MATTER
WhenDefending the New -YOrk kPresbytery on Grounds
Of Privilege.

,,aared in the minutes and O motion that q,
full statement of his case should be entered
upon the record passed. A letter OF greet
ing from the Covenanter Church of Scot
land wasTead. 1t called on the Churcn 10
stand fast to its principles and pleaded with
the dissenting ministers TO turn back ere it
is too late The writer's state that the
trouble is causing the-CmIrch of Sotlcand'
much pain and sorrow.
The General Assembly,ofthe Presbyterian
Church of North America sent a letter Of
greeting, and one of many recommenda-
tions, asking for evangelical union in.
order to avoid~clashing of denominations
1t was-referredsto specialcomnnttee.
whenthe DanceCame On.
The dance was on when, a petition and
memorial from the Second Reformed con-
gregation of New York came, deploring the
action of the Pittsburg Presbytery, in sus-
pending the seven ministers, and asking for
their reinstatement ON confession of error.
DR. McAfee, of New York, objected to the
petition going to the Committee on Discip.
line, on the ground that 1t might be deferred
until the last minute andsthen shut out en-.
tirely.
Rev. DR.. Stephenson. of New York, cried:
tsLet us have fair play. Wewant peace and
fair treatment; that is, if you are fair and
honorable body"
This remark causedsa sensation.
DIR. McAIister hotly objected to reflections
cast on the integrity of the committees, espe-
cially that on discipline.
Prof Wilson objected to the use of the,
word "fair'' in the connection.
The matter was referred and thecommittee
instructed to report notlater than this after
noon.
Church of New York, of the same tenor as
that of the Second, raised another tempest
which was settled in the same way as the
first The same action was taken on a petit
fion from the Reformed Presbyterian
Church of Brooklyn, andone from the First
Reformed Presbyterian Church of New
Rev. H. W. Reed, one of the suspended
ministers, asked for correction of the min
utes of the Pittsburg Presbytery with re-
gard to the reading of the resolution OF sus-
pension, but the request was refused.
1t was ordered that 600 copies of the SER
mon OF the retiring moderator be printed.
The following committees were announced |
bv Moderator Wylie: Finance, Revs. A. Kill |
patrick, J. c. Smith, ID. II. Coulter, and |
Elders R. NJ. Downie ana L. h. Mitchell.
D. Mckee and Elders Walter L. Miller and |
Richard Elliott.
Business of the Afternoon<Session.
The afternoon session opened with thes
transaction of routine business, not the least |
important Of which was the furnishing of 4
cuspidors at the reporters table. Evidently |
tobacco users in the r. P. Church mortify |
the flesh while at Synodyas nospitting was |
observable among them 1t Is due the PEN
Gil pushers to say that with the exception of |
one, who was suffering from an attack Of |
secondary grip there was 'butlfttle use for |
the cuSpldOrS.
Rev. Dr. Holland, Chancellor of the West +
ern University, who came in early, extended |
the Synod an Invitation to, visit the Univer- |
sity. DR.. J. W. Sproun asked that DR.. Hol- |
land be invited to talk, and he did so, asking /
the delegates to visit and especially inspect /
the observa tory and the new industrial or /
hand education. The invitation was ac- L
cepted, with thanks.
Dr.. SprouIl, stated clerk, wanted to know
what his powers were in regard to Synod L
documents in his possession, and whether he L
had discretion to lend documents or give |.
copies of them. 1t being suggested that he I
would be held responsible for the safe |
keeping of the documents, he gave notice to
members of the Synod that they need not
apply at the Synod trunk. Hereafter those
who want to see noted autographs or pers, |
or the covenant, or the gold pen with whichfl
it was signed must get synodical permission1 +
to take peep into the ark of the covenant.
Rev. W. r. Laird, Clerk of the Pittsburg
Presbyterv, arose to read an overture of
peace to the suspended ministers. Prof. |
Wilson objected unless the court were to l
give permission as everything on this sub
iect had been referred to committees. This,
he said, would be a virtual reconsideration
OF their action.
The Proposition Toward Peace.
The Synod, by nearly unanimous vote, |
decided to hear the paper, and in prefacing /
it Rev Mr. Laird said that he felt that he |
could enjoy the coming communion better
If this troublous cloud were lifted. He sug-
gested that the matter be considered after
an hour spent in prayer. The proposition
was framed by Rev. j. S. 7. Milligan, and was
the basis of settlement proposed by the /
Judicial Committee of the Pittsburg Presby-
tery last December. 1t read as follows:
First-We disavow the East End platform as a |
bond of union within the Reformed Presbyterian |
Church and as other than an explanation of indi-
Second-We engage to obey the existing laws of
this church as 20 voting at civil elections and hold
ing Office, and agree to carry them out in the exer
else Of our Office.
Third-we engage not, to propagate contrary
ministers of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Drs. McAllister and George agreed with |
Prof Wilson in opposing the consideration |
of the paper.
Prof Wilson said it was stealing march
on the Pittsburg PreSbytery, as il proposed /
that the action of that body should not be |
sustained.
The matter was finally sent to the Com
mittee on Discipline.
The next thing served smoking hot was a /
protest of the Bell Center and Miami United
Congregations of Ohio, against the action |
of the Pittsburg Presbytery on the East End /
platform heresy. 1t was sent to Join the
other protest in the NAV of the Committee
OF Discipline, and it was in turn followed by |
all OF Its kidney. One from portion of the
First ReforRled Presbyterian Church
of Philadelphia, thought the sentence of
their fault as a heinous sin, unnecessarily Sc
we're. 1t had over so names appended. They
fear that such heroic surgery Will disrupt
their beloved Zion. The same view is taken by |
over 60 members of the Second r. p. Church /
OF Philadelphia. The memorialists urge
that if such sentence is carried into effect /
that fish be not made of one and flesh of the
other, but that all members holding similar
views be similarly treated, but they hold
that the right of private opinion, so long as
it infracts not the law of the church, should
be allowed. The majority in the Seconds
Church sent counter petition.
Others Wanted on the List.
The memorial of the Pittsburg Presbytery
set forth in full the East End platform, and
added that three others, including Rev. j. C.
II. Milligan, Rev. Mr.. Carson and Prof Nc
Clurkim, we're involved, and asked that they
be included among the prescribed.
Dr.. McAlHster opposed including Prof.
McClurl1im, as his name had been stricken
from the roll of the church.
The matter was extensively discussed. |
Rev. j. r. Thompson, of Newburg Presby-
tery, n. Y, opposed the reception of the
paper, as he said the cases had come under
the adjudication of the New York Presby-
terry and Synod had no right to entertain it. |
Others held that the New York trouble was
another matter, and among them were Prof.
Wilson and DR.. McAllister, the latter hold |
ing that remissness of any kind in any Pres |
bytery is a subject that comes within the do
main Of synodical Jurisdiction. Some dele |
gates grew hot under the collar over DR. |
McAllister's charge of remissness
DR.. X. j. George held that the number of
protesting papers received by the Synod on |
the subject from Presbyteries who claimed
that they were not serious, as they had not