Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-07
HE WANTS TO GET BACK.
REV. ELLIS AND THE MATTER OF
HIS PREACHING.
The San Francisco Presbytery Still Occu-
pied With the Erratic Minister-Both
Sides Appeal to the Synod,

The conviction of Rev. DIR. Ellis has
evidently not ended the troubles of the
presbytery concerning him, and very
much of the session of that body yester-
day, says the San Francisco Chronicle
of Tuesday, was consumed in an ami
mated argument bearing upon his case.
The discussion began with the reading
of communication from the session of
the Central church. 1t was submitted
to the presbytery by the committee on
bills and overtures without recommen-
dation. 1t recited the efforts OF the
presbytery to form syndicate in aid of
the church and the resolution OF DR..
Ellis at that time to retire from the pull
pit. The session now wants DR.. Ellis to
resume his relations with the church as
pastor, and wishes the presbytery to ac-
cept him as such.
Rev. DR.. Woodwork thought that the
session of the Central church should be
recommended TO purchase copy of the
Confession of Faith, which contains
much valuable information.
DR.. Chapman moved, however, that
the session should be authorized to fill
the pulpit of the tabernacle until the
next meeting of the presbytery.
1T undoubtedly has the right so to
do" declared DR.. Chapman, "and the
action Of the presbytery regarding DIR.
Ellis permits him still to preach. Ii the
congregation OF the Central tabernacle
shall wreck the church. or do what is
unwise, that is its business the respon-
sibility rests upon it,"
Rev. A. j. Kerr hoped that the motion
would not prevail. 1t meant simply that
DR.. Ellis would be invited to the pulpit.
Ellis had preached Sunday against the
earnest protest of the chairman of the
home mission committee, he Is under
censure, he has been found guilty and
the execution of judgment has simply
been forestalled by an appeal.
Rev. EDr. Mackenzie interrupted by
suggesting that the communication of
the session of the Central church should
be returned; it asked too much. This
was adopted.
Rev. H. H. Rice in few words CEN
sured the session of the church for vio- |
lating the provisions of the plan by |
which Rev. Mr.. Faris was to supply the |
pulpit.
S. Grubb, a member of the session. |
that there had been no VIC !
alton whatever. The actions of the /
Central church made it perfectly evident I
hat DIR. Faris was not wanted if DR.. |
ellis could be obtained. DIR. Adams had |
protested against DR.. Ellis entering the |
pulpit on Sunday, not because it was
legal but because it would not be good
policy.
"We are the best judges of what is
,ood policy for the Central church,
continued Mr.. Grubb, "and we see no
'eason why DIR. Ellis should not occupy
our pulpit. The congregation on Sun
lay was larger than since he left u.s."
DR.. Chapman again put his motion to |
allow the session of the Tabernacle to |
supply its own pulpit until the next |
meeting of the presbytery. This was
done to obviate any danger of creating
4 precedent by which the autonomy of
l church might in future be destroyed.
Still another petition of the taberna-
in the name of God and His holy Son"
hat the verdict OF condemnation against
Or. Ellis should be reconsidered. The
hurch prays for immediate action to
emove the dark cloud that has thus
'cCu CdoI upOl1 lIo POdCC anu HdI HlOus
The petition was signed by fftv-fve
OF the church. Upon motion,
he petition was referred back to the
hurch, the presbytery deeming action
at this stage.
Another paper read adds still another
to the affair. 1t was a
protest against the sentence pronounced
lpon DR.. Ellis by the ecclesiastical
:ourt. Il was signed by Rev. A. ]. Kerr,
he prosecutor, who declared that the
entence, in view of the facts of the case,
vas absurdly inadequate. The synod
viii thus have two appeals, one from
Zach side, one protesting against the
INJUSTICE of conviction, the other against
he inadequacy of punishment. Both
will be heard in October.