The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-12
PARKHURST IS CRITICISED
Proposition to Recognize His Work
for Reform Is Treated COldly.
DIR. MULLALY'S PLAIN TALK
'IIe Thinks the Savior Would Not Have
Aursued the Detective Methods Of
the New York Preacher-Prob,
lem for the Presbytery.
BY the United Press.

By the United Press.
New York, Dec. 11.-Most of the men,
bers of the New York Presbytery had
left the meeting in the First Presbyte-
rian church yesterday when Thomas S.
Strong, a lawyer, who is an elder in
Rev. DIR. Charles l.. ThompsOn's church,
remarked innocently that at lunch he
had been talking with friends about the
fact that DR.. Parkhurst's work for re-
form had been recognized by other
bodies, religious and secular, but that
the Presbyterian church had hitherto
taken no action. He, therefore, pro-
posed that Rev. Dr. Thomas S. Hast
ings, president of Union Theological
seminary, who preached the Thanks
giving sermon in Dr. ParkhurSt's pull
pit; Rev. DIR. George Alexander, vice
moderator of the Presbytery, and Rev.
DIR. James G.. Patterson should be ap-
pointed a committee to draw up suit
able resolutions. There was a chilly
silence for a minute. The reverend
brethren and elders looked at each
other obviously.
Whats this?" asked Rev. Francis p.
Mullaly. ''Is it recognition of DR..
Parkhurst's work as a pastor?"
Christ Not u Social Rcformer.
ut is a recognition of his work in the
reform of the city," was Mr.. Strong's
reply.
WELL" said Mr. Mullaly, 81 oppose
1t, inasmuch as Christ did not enter into
social reform movements, and the
whole business of Christ's ministry is
preaching the Gospel. 1 would feel
that l had not discharged my duty if
/ did not say that you have no more
right to take notice of what Dr. Park
hurst is doing than you have to take
notice of what any other benevolent
citizen is doing. / hold, sir, that you
have no more right to enter upon those
questions of social reform through the
aid of Legislation than you have to send
out instructions to the shoemakers and
the decorators and the dry goods
dealers or anybody else in this country
In regard to their business.
My kingdom says Jesus Christ, is
not of this world. To this end was
born, and for this end have l come
that | might bear witness to the truth
and the truth that is in the Bible, the
truth of the gospel, is the only weapon
which belongs to us as an ecclesiastical
body.
Criticized DIR. ParkhuTst'S Methods.
"If you want us as citizens to help Dr.
Parkhurst or any other man, adjourn
the Presbytery, meet as citizens in your
individual capacity as such and pass
the resolutions you wish. / protest
against the Court of Jesus Christ TAX
ing such action as is proposed. 1t is
going beyond your commission. have
not word to say as to what DR.. Park
hurst has done AS a man, he has a
. right to do it; but l do say that when
he has gone and visited those places
which he wished to suppress he was not
acting as "a"
There We're frowns and murmurings
and Mr.. Mutually stopped short. Then
he exclaimed:
You know what l mean. He was
not acting by any authority from the
commission which Jesus Christ has
given to His apostles, which is simply
to go and preach the gospel to every
creature"
There was an uneasy pause. Then
Mr. Strong said he would not introduce
his resolution under any consideration
except that of unanimity. He wanted tC
withdraw his motion. Rev. DR.. Shearel
said the motion should not be with,
drawn.
presbytery Must Face the Question.
IF it is understood" said the moder-
ator, Rev. Robert r. Booth, that Mr.
Strong's motion is withdrawn without
prejudice, in view of the fact that only
q few of the members We're present
when it was brought up, the with.
drawal might, perhaps do no harm"
Rev. DR.. Wylie moved that further
consideration of the matter be post
poned for the present, owing to the late.
ness of the hour and the very small
attendance of members. This was
agreed to, but when the draft of the
minutes were read Rev. DR.. Birch, the
prosecutor of DR.. Briggs, tried to have
all reference to the subject expungeC
from the minutes. 1T ought to bt
dropped entirely" he said The Pres
bytery would not consent to this anC
the January meeting will have to face
the situation.
Mr.. Mutually repeated in private what
he had said in public, adding that Jesu:
Christ would not have acted as DIR
Parkhurst did on his visits to disorderly
houses at the beginning of his crusade
You observed what an attentive
hearing 1 got" he continued. II an
sure that some of the members of thu
Presbytery are with me-"
Mr.. Mutually was born in the south O.
ireland, and most of his ministerial
work was done in the south. He has
been in New York for few years, and
although a member of the Presbytery
is not attached to any church in thi
city.