The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-12
Tempest IN The TEA POT
Presbytery Votes Down Resolutions
Censuring DIR. Parkhurst.
DIR. MULLALY VERY INDIGNANT
Other Members of the Association, How.
ever, Arc Disposed 20 Make Light OF
the Rcformer's Criticisms and Vote
for Peace and Harmony.

New York, March 1l.-According to
programme the resolutions rejecting
upon the conduct of DR.. Charles Park
hurst in the matter of his criticism of
the New York Presbyterys action with
regard to the sale of the church Sea
and Land" We're offered this afternoon
at the monthly meeting of that body
in the lecture room of the First Pres
byterian church. DR.. Parkhurst was
absent, having left the city for Il two
weeks rest, but his friends were there
in force.
DR.. Chambers, having the resolutions
in charge, secured the floor at the open
ing of the session. He read long
statement based upon the records of the
Presbytery. and giving in detail the
facts in regard to the proposed sale
of the property and the terms Of the
occupancy, pending the sale, by the
Madison Square church. of which DR..
Parkhurst is pastor. Dr. John Hall
opposed the resolution in the interest of
peace and harmony. He objected to
the references in the preamble 10 DR..
Parkhurst and the Madison Square
church. He asked to have the names
stricken out.
Authorize the officers of the preShy-
terry" he said ito print and circulate
the statement as far as you wish, but
omit all personal reference to a brother
whom we love and respect. Let the
statement rest on the facts, and let the
newspaper interviews attributed to this
brother alone. The public will be able
to compare these statements Of facts
authorized by us with the newspaper
references and adjUdicate upon them as
they see fit"
Dr. Mulaly Wants Ncng eaucc.
DR.. Mutually, whose objections to the
recent vote of approval of DR.. Park
hursts reform methods created such
a stir in the presbytery several weeks
ago, was on his feet in an instant.
ITO my mind" he cried the preamble
is the most important. 1t is a ques-
tion of a member Of the presbytery
arraigning his presbytery before the
public instead of before the session,
and charging it with crime, with
misappropriation of funds. with vio-
lation of contract, with being not wor-
thy of confidence. An hOnored pastor
OF a church rises to object because the
member who does this is named. Are
:e to be the prey of man who makes
-Ynis living by sensational writing? An
individual has arraigned the QresbY-
cry, and an Individual shall be named.
II I had my way 1 would bring him
before the bar of this court and make
him answer"
DR.. Francis Brown, DR.. Duftield, DR..
Buchanan and other pastors opposed
the resolution which had been altered
by DR.. Chambers to meet DR.. Halls
suggestion. DR.. Buchanan thought 1t
unnecessary and undignified for
the presbytery to exonerate itself from
alleged criticisms spoken to an un-
known reporter on a mere rumor of
publishing a statement. Dr. After
bury agreed with DIR. Buchanan, and
his motion to lay the resolution as
amended on the table was carried by
a vote of 81 to SO. Many of the con-
servative members OF the presbytery
voted with the liberals on this motion.
The presbytery voted against the
proposed overture from Cincinnati to
reduce the assessment for general as
sembly expenses, which now amounts
to about s5O,OO0 per annum.
DR.. Parkhurst Talks.
Rev. DIR. Parkhurst was seen at his
home tonight by a reporter who noti-
fed him OF the proceedings of the pres
bytery. DR.. Parkhurst said:
1T Is passing strange that the pres
bytery should have taken this action in
regard to the Church Of the Sea and
Land, after last week deciding to sell
the property If the church is to be
sold and disrupted, of what use is 1t
to investigate It. I regard the whole
matter as inexpressably sad. Our sole
object has been to extend the Evangeli-
cal work we carried on in the East
Side to the South Side. Our aim has
been to preach the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to the people in that section of
the city as well as on the East Side.
We went to the presbytery and told
of our aims and purposes. They met
the approval and sanction Of that body.
II our occupancy of the church Of the
Sea and Land was to be for only one
year. was 1t probable that we should
have built a foundation for a 10-story
building, where one for a half story
would suffice? No. We relied on the
promise given by the presbytery that
we should have renewal of five years
at the expiration of the present year,
and we worked accordingly. We be-
lieve we were accomplishing good re-
suits. We had recently canvassed
eight men to secure a pastor. but. of
course, no pastor will come now The
church hitherto has been unable to Sc
cure q pastor on account of the vacil-
lating policy of the presbytery.