The herald., 1895-07-01
Between Spring and Main.
without any attempt to cast disrespect on

without any attempt to cast disrespect on
the presbytery.
The third question asked was in re.
lation to our position in the future, and
as to whether we would submit to the
name Westminster and use it in our fu-
ture proceedings and letters. We an
swered unanimously that while Offering
no disrespect to the presbytery, We could
not submit.
Then the question was put as to
whether we as session would take action
requesting the trustees to pay to the Cen
tral church the $23, 791 awarded by the
committee. We replied that we would
not, because we considered the demand
| exorbitant and not Just or equitable.
| 1t was then asked whether We would
| present the call to our people for meet
| ing tomorrow night to vote on the ques-
tion OF instructing the trustees OF the
| First Presby byterian church TO pay to the
! Central churcn the sum Of S23 79l, award
| ed by the committee. We told them that
| we had no objection to the people voting
on the question. provided there was OPP
portunity for free and frank discussion
of the matter before the vote was taken.
They replied that the meeting would be
in their hands and, to use the words of
the chairman, they would not allow us
to speak at all, for "wby should you, lie
said ''be allowed to bulldoze the people
into voting as you want them to.
The call of the meeting by request of
the presbytcry was finally allowed to
be read. with the understanding that an
explanation would be made of the exact
nature of the vote, and that no members
of other churches would be permitted to
be present, and that no business would be
transacted other than the securing OF
the vote on the specific award made by
that committee. The committee then pro-
ceeded in accordance with the instruc-
tions of the presbytery to demand the
resignation of every elder in our session.
With the exception of DR.. j. D. Moody,
this was refused. The matter of the fur
ther relation of the session and the pastor
to the church and presbytery will be de-
cided at the adjourned meeting of the
presbytery, which is called for Tuesday
afternool in the Second church.
I mention all these prelminaries, not
for the purpose of argument or reproach.
You will notice that l have RETAINED
from entering into discussion OF reasons
that have prompted the action of your ses-
sion. But l have desired only that yo-
might be allowed to vote intelligently.
The motive of the presbytery in asking
this vote is pot to attempt to secure legal
advantage over the church, but to get
definite information as to the attitude of
the church as well as the ses sion in re-
gard to the authority of presbytery. 1t
seeks an expression on the part OF the
session, as to whether the church will SUD-
nit to the name Westminster and to the
award of $23, 79l as decided by the pres
bytery or whether the church will stand
with its session in refusing the demand.
1t must be borne in mind in all this mat
ter that the question is not whether the
Central people should have some money,
but whether we as q church and congre-
cation will submit to the amount that
they have already specified. A mistake
here may be serious. There is only one
question really before the meeting and
that is submission to the demands of
presbytery or sustaining the position OF
the session. Presbytery must have this
information in order to take further
action intelligently. What that action
will be can only be surmised. On that
have nothing TO say. The presbytery
wishes to ascertain whether the position
of the session represents the sentiment
of the whole church.
This is critical time in the history
of this church and of your pastor. We
must not misunderstood each other or
our position. Let me repeat just what the
point is that we are to decide tomorrow
night. The meeting is not called by
the officers of this church, but by the
presbyteIy. The action to be taken has
10 bearing whatever on the legal stand
ing of the church. Whatever the vote of
the church it will have no mandatory
force. The presbytery have called the
pastor and session before th m to find out
whether these men will submit to what
we deem an unworthy and unwarranted
refused to submit. The congregation is
now summoned before the same COM
mittee of presbytery to see whether they
as people will submit to the action of
presbyteIy taking away the name they
have borne so long and which was theirs
H.. lgEo 1.,,tr ,,f
Los Angeles in existence, or whether
they will stand by their pastor and
officers. 1t must be clearly understood that
the vote is not to determine whether we as
q congregation are willing to give the Cen
ira, al,church share of the proceeds rom the
sale OF the property, but whether we
are willing to submit to the award of pres
pytery giving them what the session and
the pastor deem an unfair amount.
The session has been asked to resign.
The committee had no authority to ask
the pastor to resign. Logically this will
be "a part of the proceedings of pres
bytery Tuesday. So far as the action OF
without pastor and without a session
on tuesday next. The real question
which you must decide by your vote to-
morrow night is whether you will stand
by the presbytery which removed first
your name and with it your honorable
place IN the history OF PresDyterlanlsm
in California. then removes your session
and will remove your pastor. or whether
you will stand by the pastor and the ses-
sion and share the ecclesiastical fate
which awaits them.
| have no desire nor intention to inhu-
ence your decision. want your vote to be
your own, sbut | want it to he intelligent
ly made. | request as all especial favor tc
Inc at YOU will make it point to be
pre- sent promptly at the meeting tomorrow
night though the hour be inconvenient.