Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-13
BAUSMAN IS BOUNCED
From the Pastorate of the Beaver
Church by His PreSbytery.
HE FILES A VIGOROUS OBJECTION
Both in Heated Speech and in Formal
Protest in Writing.
NEVER PREACHED HIS BROAD VIEWS


BEAVER April 1.-THE Bausman heresy
case was again dragged into public notice
to-day BY the proceedings of the Allegheny
Presbytery, which met in this place this
morning. Just before noon the matter was
taken up.
The committee, upon the condition of the
Rochester church, through its Chairman,
DR.. W. o. Campbell, presented volum-
mons report in which it was declared that,
according to the Rev. DR. Bausman's own
statement, his convictions upon certain
mooted points of doctrine had undergone no
change. The report declares, also, that
the financial condition of the church
is bad, it having an Indebtedness
of $500, of which S400 is due
the pastor. 1t alleges. further, a
very much disturbed and divided condition
of the church, also that while the confidence
of the people generally in Mr.. Bausmsn's
Christian character does not appear to have
been impaired, his influence with those
who hold strongly to evangelical doctrines
is to a considerable extent weakened. The
report concludes as follows:
Your committee believe that the useful
ness of both pastor and people will be best
served by the dissolution of the pastoral
relation, and do so recommend.
Only One of the Committee Dissents.
This was concurred in by all but one men,
Der of the committee, the Rev. Mr. Nc
Cormick. The latter said that Mr.. Baus-
mans views are doctrinally unsound, but
that this should be iudicially ascertained.
A motion to adjourn was met by a counter
motion to fix the time of taking up the case
again at late hour IN the afternoon. To
this Mr.. Bausman strenuously objected, and
asked as a favor that consideration of his
case be taken up upon reassembling at / 80
o'clock. A motion to this effect prevailed,
the report having been previously received
and adopted.
When Presbytery assembled, at / 80 P. NJ,
consideration of the Bausman case was re-
sumed. Rev. Mr.. Mccormick, who had
been elected Moderator to succeed Rev. Mr..
Donaldson, had the latter act for him during
the consideration of the Bausman case be-
ing member of the committee appointed
to inquire into the condition of the
Rochester Church.
Bausman Makes a Heated Speech.
After the history of the case had been
read and the various meetings and reports
for the rereading of the report presented at
the forenoon session, and this was done by
Rev. DR.. Campbell, Chairman of the COM
mittee.
At its conclusion Rev. Mr.. Bausman ad-
dressed the Presbytery upon the motion to
adopt the report He spoke calmly and
with deliberation at the outset, but as he
proceeded his voice became sharp and clear,
and he gave evidence of much excitement
He said among other things:
The history of the case is before you. Our
little church in Rochester was two years ago
going on in peaceful, happy spirit, doing
the work of Christ. That peace was broken.
the fact that hold diverging views. How
did Presbytery learn this? The first time 1
remember having said 1'held a belief in a
larger hope, WIS in my room to a man who
has done more than any other to force my
views upon the Presbytery. 1t became
known, not so much by the PRONUNCIATION of
my own views by me, as by those in opposi-
tion to me.
They Had Made Trouble Before.
In addition to this, some who urged my
divergence are persons who are known in
the church of Rochester as having been in
unpleasant relations with other pastors. In
the case of three of them an alienation had
existed extending back to the time when
the doctrine of complete sanctification was
preached by Philadelphia evangelist. They
went to the NJ L. Church (where the evan
Eelist held fort) instead of doing work in
their own church. When they found
wouldn't go after their vagary they became
opposed to me.
There are family feuds also, such as will
operate against others who follow me. Un-
der the cloak OF purity of doctrine, ETC.,
There is but a handful of them-l3-and
some OF these are little children. Some of
them have not paid anything, and not be-
cause they were not able.
favor, except this little handful The others
helped me. They didn't burrow into my
mind to see whether therA was any diverg-
ence from the five points of Calvanism.
What was the result? l sent my letter of
resignation home last summer. i had re-
ceived letters from my elders urging me to
resign for the good of the church. The con-
gregation refused to accept 1t. They said it
was not so, and adopted resolutions vindi-
eating me.
At a later period when summoned before
Presbytery, these came and testified for me.
A petition has been sent here signed by 100
members and supporters of the church, ask
ing that the pastoral relations be not dis
solved.
The MaJority's Testimony Is of Weight.
Is the testimony of l6o members to go for
nothing as to my usefulness? Is the testi-
mony OF leading business men in their
churches, who have written in my behalf, to
60 for nothing? / call upon those in the
church, except the few members opposed, to
say whether it is not true that if it were not
for the lash held over my head theirs would
be the happiest little church in that COM
munity. Does Is received in the confession
of faith indicate that my usefulness is at an
end?
1fthe pastoral relations are dissolved it will
be done against my protest and in the face
of nine-tenths of the paying, praying men,
bers. If you take this action You will prac-
tically smash the church. Friends OF mine
are in great doubt what to do. tell you, as
q simple matter OF fact. that there will be
very considerable number of these people
who will never darken the church door
again. Why? They will say that the peace
of the church has not Deen disturbed by the
pastor, but those who have opposed the
pastor. 1t not only seriously affects that
church, it simply means the paralyzing of
the usefulness of that church through a gen.
sration to come.
If you want to uphold Presbyterial au-
thority you must take note of the attitude
Of the two factions in my church. The large
majority have been respectfully hearing
the Presbytery and obeying citations in an
orderly and respectful way. How about the
other? With the exception of two the others
dfsobesed Presbytery by absenting them
selves from the church meetings
A Very Animated Colioquy Follows.
Rev. Mr. Shaffer here interrupted with
an inquiry as to whether these two were on
trial. DR.. Campbell expressed the opinion
that Brother Bausman was out of work.
Rev. Mr. Milligan, Stated Clerk, was asked
to read a petition from the Rochester