The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-24
PRESBYTERS IN A TANGLE.
CHzReEs or BAD FAITH IN GETTING
Up a PETITION

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siwssturs- ssis 80 Hsvs Bees 0Stssre1 ~
False Representatives - The Trouhis ~
TIE Scotch Chursh RsPortes 60 Have Re
ssitss IN vIstsry fo- the Co-pisiss-t~
game Of parliamentary hide-snd-seek was
the term used By . member Of the Presbytery
in yesterdays session to describe the pro-
eeedings OF the meeting. The case under dis
cussion was that OF the Scotch Presbyterian
Church and from 10 o'clock in the morning
until o'clock At night with only an hours
intermission for dinner. the members dis
cussed parliamentary ussges. laws. and pro-
ceedirRs, and at intervals considered the case
Of the Scotch Church.
DR.. Howard Dufnsld. the Moderator. had
more than he could attend to at times keeping
order and II was no lnfrequsnt thing for halt
dozen presbyters to be on their feet At once
haranRuing the meeting. while the galleries
laughed and the Moderator hammered dents
into the table with his gsvsl
The trouble In the Scotch Presbyterian
Church IL that when It moved up town many
new members came in. and majority OF the
congregation wanted new elders elected. So
did the pastor. DIR. David @. Wylie. and one OF
the elders. @. II. HYDE But the other
four elders didn't and when. some days ago.
there was request made that they convene
the con greRstion to elect new elders. they did
not do IL When complaints were made. the
elders said that the time for action had not
arrived. Then y complaint was made to the
Presbytery against the action of the elders
Elder Hyde and Mr.. John Mcwilliams sp-
peared for the complainants. and Elders H. @.
Disbrow and Macksye for the respondents.
The complainants urged that the growth OF the
church dem ands the election OF new elders. The
respondents intim ated that the new members
we're sttem pting to get control OF the church
and said that no more elders were needed.
Then some one raised the question whether
the Presbytery was an appellate court or
court Of original jurisdiction. From time to
time this question cropped up and It was good
for from ten minutes to half an hour OF debate
every time.
Finally the Moderator decided that the Pres
bytery in this case was court OF original
jurisdiction. Both sides presented papers
which were subsequently withdrawn after .
long and rather tumultuous debate. One OF
these papers was the original mplaint
Another was a petition to the Presbytery
asking that the session be allowed to select
their own time for electing elders. and ex-
pressing confidence in the session. In regard
q sss who signed tina.
petition have since withdrawn their names;
having signed under TisSapprshhenson Il T ,b
petition and let her explain how Elder bisbrow
hastily. because a dozen mon were on their
feet shouting to the Moderator. Finally the
a few moments OF Simultaneous oratorical
Efforts By the TWO t6sir 5em nsImf. Pc he
Introduction OF witnesses There was long
and lively debate over this and various mem
books Of rules. The galleries yawned Finally
az. 49, .h.t ,r,,ron.r ,no,an,a.
have been brought to bear, at least In one
case; to get signatures to this testimonial OF
sisners are here and want them to tell about
the papers we're returned to the contest snts
Elder hyde sst gu. 70 Ell Oi isttssSs which he
.ss s Of {; sHia ss: tsJ sss
and in favor Of HAVING an net.a.. Of elder. since
,s.a vi ' .oaa
ike to have my name taken from the petition Tom
Mr. Hyde said that another person signed
the petition on the representation that It was
The PASTOR to resign, and did desire to see the
whole %s.ser GaistlE H:,sngsd The G hs1
got I work Tor her husband. She said that Mr..
for Mr.. Boney: now do this favor for me-.
Mr.. Hyde intimated that other still more
doubtful means had been used to get other
Elder plsbrow replied that he could answer
90 into personalities He made a brief gen.
eral response. Then Elder McWilliams arose
and said:
marks OF the other party that We deny"
Twenty people at once jumped up and
shouted for particulars.
Zone thing" continued the elder. is that
the defendants say that It was proposed to
eject as elders men who had not been six
months in the church; and who had been
Q SANDER. and deny 1t wholly. emphatically;'
At the conclusion OF Mr.; McWilliamss
speech. the Presbytery went into secret ses-
sion. which lasted two hours. The verdict was
not made public, hut il is understood that the
conplaint was disclosed. and that the ses:
later than May for tho election OF elders This
Is q practical victory for the com plai nants.
The dismissal prevents an appeal An I'm
portant factor which was hardly touched on
In the contest. Is that the S35O,OOO for which
the old church was sold Is under the control
OF the elders and the fight Is in a large degree
over that
Grace Prina ries on Juae 5.