The morning call., 1893-10-14
THE SYNOD MEETS
Annual Conference of the
Presbyterians.
The Meeting to Convene in Oakland
Next Thursday-Anothe Appeal
in the Famous Ellis Case.

The Synod OF the Pacific. embracing
within its jurisdiction all the Presbyterian
churches in this State, will convene in
annual session at the First PRESBYTERIAN
Church, Oakland. next Thursday evening.
A minister and an elder from every con-
gregation within the bounds of the synod
are supposed to attend this gathering.
The body is a church court intermediate
for the presbyteries and the general as
sembly. 1t is unification of seven pres
byteries and has appellate jurisdiction
therefrom.
The proceedings at the opening sederunt
will commence with a sermon by the re-
firing moderator, Rev. John Quincy Adams
of Westminster Presbyterian Church in
this city. Then the synod will be consti-
tuted, the roll called and new moderator
elected 10 preside over the forthcoming
deliberations.
The presbytery of Oakland has been or
ganlZed only about year, its members
having formerly been attached to the
presbytery Of San Francisco. Each of the
other six presbyteries has had the honor
Of claiming the moderator in succession.
There is disposition 10 accord the dis
tinctIon this year to clergyman from the
new organization. This action would be
doub bly, suitable from the fact that prece-
dent in such matters favors the selection
of moderator from the place in which the
synod is held.
For all these reasons an Oakland man is
almost certain to be chosen, and indica-
tiOns point 10 the election of Rev. X. T.
CoyIe, D. D., pastor OF the church in which
the synod will meet. His church is one of
the largest and weaIthieSt of the deuomi-
III fba Do ri fio
bent has gained considerable reputation
since his arrival from Chicago three years
ago.
When the question OF presiding officer
is settled The synod will take a recess
until Friday morning. Then the official
business will be considered and will not
likely be disposed of in less than a week.
One of the most notable appeals to 5e
considered will be that of Rev. j. w.
Ellis, DID,, from the decision of the pres
bytery of San Franc cisco made eight months
ago.
DIR. Ellis was an appellant at the last
synod from the action of the presbytery in
reprimanding him for certain actions in con-
nectIOn with the financial management Of
Golden Gate Tabernacle. of which he had
been pastor. 1t was charged that he had
got the bonds OF the tabernacle mixed up
with his own private purse. In reply DR..
! Ellis main tained that he had not received
! his salary. and that even with the church
! funds in his possession he was the cOngre-
cations creditor for con siderable amount.
After long ecclesiastical trial, marked
by much acrimOny, DIR. Ellis was repri-
manded by his brethren. 1t was from
this reprimand that he appealed To the last
! synod, which appointed a commission TO
investigate and report. Upon recommend
alton of the commission, the entire case
was referred back 10 the presbytery
hnn hnr rin
it was concluded DR.. Ellis created cleri-
cal sensation by commencing suit in the
! Superior Court against the presbyery
and certain individual members. In his
/ complaint be alleges SANDER and con-
! spiracy against The defendants. from
whom he demanded 100000 damages
! The case terminated abruptly by Judge
Wallace granting the presbytery a non
suit.
| The next stage in this now famous case
was third trial by the presbytery. In
this instance DR.. Ellis was accused of hay-
ing violated his ordination vows by refus-
ing To submit himself to his brethren in
the Lord In other words. the civil
action was construed as an act of in
subordination, in detyiag the presbytery,
TO which he owed obedience and submis-
! sion. Iu this case Dir. Ellis showed great
| astuteness as an ecclesiastical lawyer BE
argued every point and quoted fluently
| from the rules and forms prescribed by
the church, keeping the entire presbytery
at bay. After a prolonged trial he was
suspended from the ministry until he
! showed signs of repentance. 1t was init
mated that if he would acknowledge that
he had been in fault the sentence of sus-
pension would be raised. This he has
since declined to do.
Il shall appeal to the synod from the
sentence on two grounds" said Dr. Ellis.
IN fire MI ha hr
terry had no jurisdiction over my case II
had been opened in the last synod and
mantsln that it is still there. The synod
having commenced the trial must finish it.
All the subsequent proceedings In the
lower court were consequently irregular.
My second ground of appeal is that
was not given fair or regular trial. i was
not allowed to Introduce witnesses in my
own defense; neither were witnesses ex-
amlned Tor the prosecution. The verdict
was reached solely upon Judge Wallace's
opinion in nonsuiting me. The opinion,
given ID civil court, was entirely irree.
want and had no bearing before the pres.
bytery.
The prosecution insisted that | had
injured the presbvtery and the church by
my suit. l maintain that whatever injury
was done was the result of the presby
tery's own act. SO far as my violation OF
my ordination vows is concerned in not
SuUu1ilLlUS 10 my DT6lUTtn III the L0r0.'
say that they did not act in the Lord bu
IN distinctly different manner.
Il shall never let this case drop until
get justice. If the SYNOD refuses to con
sider my appeal [ shall carry the case Il
the General Assembly. | have observed
the presbyterial injunction not TO preach
but after the synod acts shall no longe
consider the suspension obligatory, bul
will resume my ministerial work"
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The bread fruit tree seen in the Dutcf
East Indies, grows forty to fifty feet high
The frnit is round or slightly oval II
shape, first green, then brown. then turn