New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
,.E REFoBusr PRESBYTERIAN QUARREL.
ro DECIDE AT THE COMING SYNOD WHETHER
OR NOT CHURCH MEMBER MAY
VOTE AS CITIZEN.

70 DECIDE AT THE COMING SYNOD WHETHER
OR NOT CHURCH MEMBER NAY
VOTE As CITIZEN.
P,tsburg. May IA CSpeciai-The National synod OF
A. Heformed Presbyterian Church Covenanters). which
.sins 10 this city on May 81 will take final acton in
~ sssss Of the young cergymcn who were sus
ended oy the Pttsburg Presbytery for advocating the
ngtt 10 vote at popular elections The seven are
". L. sampson, McKeesport. Penn; II. W. Temple,
Irookland, Penn: II. W. Reed. Youngstown. Ohio
A w. McCfurken Ncw-Alexsndria, Penn. E. NJ Mill
s,n Parnassus. Penn; o. b. Mllgan, Pittsburg.
penn; J. r. J. Milligan, Allegheny City, Penn. The
,sst three are brothers. The Reformed Presbyterian
Church forbhs voting at popular elections because the
unised States Consultation is held to be goddess pro
tuction, containing no mention Of the Deity.
The present Liberal movement originated in efforts
for a union Of the psalm-Sngng denomirations--the
Rcformed Presbyterian and the United Presbyterian
thcre being nothing to prevent consolidation except
the pverity Of In adherng to the traditions OF
thdr tathers.
The dispute in the Reformed Presbyterian Church
first made itself noticeable at the synod in Brooklyn
one year ago this month when, by vote OF 100 10 IL
II decided to refrain from exercising the right of
suffrage. The seventeen dIssenters were led by the
Rev John F. Carson. OF the w1loughby Avenue, Brook
yp Church. Several weeks later they met at the
church of the Rev o. B. Mlllgan, in the East End,
Rttsburg and Issued formal statement In defence OF
their views which has since been known rs the
snnst End Platform The meeting was presided over
~ the Rev Mr. Seven of those attending, all
members of tho Pittshurg Presbytery, were Immediately
hbcIled, and on December III five were found guilty OF
the scandal and sin of advocating the admission 10
membership of voting citizens Of the United States
fne ave were Messrs. Temple, Sampson, Reed and
T. n. and o. B. Milligan. The vote was 25 TO 4.
Five days later the issue cropped ont prominently
IN the East when the Brooklyn congregation of the
Rev. Mr.. Carson, by a vote Of IFS 10 10, requested
him TO withdraw his resignation. On Deem
bcr 81 the Rev. Mr.. Carson At a congega-
uona meeting, announced that he had with
tmwn his resignation, and said me Western
Pennsylvania clergymen had not been suspended OF
socouus Of heresy but because they had refused to
prcss regret for having attended the meeting at which
the East End platform was formulated.
About this time o layman, Joseph o. Draher was
expelled from the Eighth Street. Pittsburg Church, In
which the coming synod Is 10 be held. He is deal
mute and his o1enos consisted in having voted at the
last election for Governor m Pennsylvania. In the
meantime the Rev Mr. Reed, Of Youngstown Ohio, waS
salicd TO the Third United Presbyterian Church Of
xenia, Ohio, and the Rev. o. B. Mllngan received q
eatterng offer from the Second Presbyterian Congrega
ton Of OIL City, Penn. Neither offer accepted
the suspended ministers preerrng 10 await the action
Of the synod The Rev. Mr. Reed received consoling
letter from Andrew d. White, expresident of Cornell
University, which said:
any sympsties strongly with you in this cotest
for what seems to not only Christianity but plain
common sense"
The synod will be held in the Eighth Street Church.
tms city, Of which the Rev. Dr. David McAlster is
pastor. He is one Of the two prosecuting attorneys
Appointed by the Pittsburg PreSbytery 10 defend its
conviction Of the seven young preachers.