The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1894-04-28
Say Some Of the Cumberland
PreSbyterianS,
Regarding the Sermons Of Their Pastor,
J. Wood Stone DiSSenSiOn in
the Congregation.

SION oil the Cumberland DreSDyler-
ian church of this city there is dis.
sension growing out of the manner
of the pastor, Rev. j. Wood Stone,
in preaching. The objection to the
reverend gentleman is that he is too
caustic in his sermons. This is the
rock upon which the split seems to
nave taken place, at least it is all
that The News reporter can hear
charged against the pastor
"To give you All idea, said one
of the congregation this morning,
~ will repeat one sentence.
Brother Stone said in closing one
Of his sermons, We'll, you can !
come back next Sunday and hear
me preach. | will leave my vene.
gar AT home You see he acknowi.
edges that his words are barbed, and
this has caused the discussion"
The time of Mr.. Stones pastorate
over this flock expired Oh April
and the session Of the church, com
posed of six elders, met to re elect
him or choose successor. At
meetings of the session it is Gus.
tomary for the pastor to preside as
moderator, and in his absence an
elder occupies the chair. Mr. Stone,
being under consideration, of course
did not preside, and Rev. Sammo ns,
the pastor of the McGregor flock,
being present, the session invited him
10 act as moderator When the
question of reeieoting Mr.. Stone
came up the vote was tie, Massrs.
Powers, Stephenson and Strain op-
posing the election aud Messrs.
Prendergast, Buchanan and Gouldy
voting for it. The moderator at
the time, Rev. Summons, of the
MEG regor church, cast vote in ia.
vor Of the election of Mr.. Stone, 80
the pastor was reelected
Mr.. Strain h1s since resigned as
member Of the session, or rather
his resignation at that time had been
rendered and has since been &C.
oepted.
The members of the session op.
posing MIR. Stone will appeal to the
presbytery, which meets in Hamil.
ton county within sixty days from
this time, holding the position on
appeal that Brother Summons had
no legal right to vote either for or
against the election of a pastor for
the Waco church, and in occupying
the chair as moderator only did so
through courtesy of the session, as
ne was visiting pastor.
The matter is exciting consider
aole discussion in the church, and
the opposition to the pastor is so
strong that the organz alton of
second church il not Improbable,
should he continue pastor of the
First church. While the denuncia.
lions of the pastor do not state
that he has been guilty of any
wrong but "plain talk" and inject
ing vinegar in his language" as
one gentleman expressed il, still
member of the congregation WAS
overheard to say that it would be
better for the pastor to
resign, az the present dessension
would weaken the influence he
might have over the lock. 1t is
very probable meeting of the con-
2regation will be held soon, and the
session will make their report to
chat body and some decision will be-
reached.
In February last Mr.. Stone de-
cjded to leave Waco, where his
term had expired, and en- a meeting
81 the session at that time he was
requested by vote Of TO in the
session to remain in charge of the
clarch for third year - March 81
ending two years that he had
been pastor in Waco He
declined the call When the session
met on April . petition sigoed by
80 membsrs of the church was pre-.
nted asking the session to en-.
deavor to prevail upon Mr.. Stone to
reconsider his declination of the
call: The church membership is
ll5 resident members. 1t was at
&hls time that Raw. Sanmoas cast
tho vote that re elected Mr.. Stone.