The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-16
PRESBYTERIAN POLEMICS

Editor Herald-I desire to endorse the
cecdings of the Los Angeles presbytery
criticised by Mr.. Jonn Shirley Ward in a
commu nication which appeared in your
columns this morning. lou have sim ply
stated the facts in the case, hut no state
ment can make apparent the unfairness
OF the proceedings as they app cared to
disinterestei spectators who have ex-
pressed them selves TO that effect in very
emphatic language to me-.
The refusal 60 allow one of Mr.. How
ards elders to appear for him was quail
fed only by fagrant demonstration
of the book OF discipline. and the pre-
tense that the presbytery could not by
unanimous consent permit Mr.. Gordon
to defend his pastor, was so ABSURD as TO
90 amusing il it had not been outrageous.
The presbyterv evaded the law of the
church as construc d by itself and secured
the servicesof Mr.. Galbraith, lawyer, as
IA mem Der of the prosecuting committee, by
reversing unanimous decision by which
it had excluded other elders, whose cases
were exactly parallel, from taking part in
the proceedings of the judcatory.
Mr.. Ward ought not to complain of the
Herald for intimsting that the Judgment
was cut and dried, as we are creditably
informed that q week before the trial he
warne! gentleman who was about to
make contract to sing in the choir OF
the First Presbyterian church. that he had
better not do 50, because the presbytery
was going to depose Mr.. Howard and the
church would go to pieces. Mr.. Ward.
however. only followed in prejudging
the case the example of the leader of the
presbytery, to whom he is deovted. who
pure ,ased 40O copies of a paper cop.ain-
ing the report of the committee recon-
mending the bringing OF charges against
Mr.. Howard. presumably for the purpose
of sending them to the bers OF synod
in order to prejudice them upon the
hearing of the appeal.
Mr.. Ward says: mo man ever called
forth more sympathy from bis brethren
than Mr.. Howard, ard they rendered
the verdict against him in sorrow and
tears
Considering the treatment Mr.. Howard
received. and that they would not even
give him few days stay OF proceedings,
privilege awarded by the civil courts to
the most contemplate criminal that ever
walked. showed they should have added
sackcloth and ashes to their mourning if
the tears and sorrow were not, as we
suspect. like the treacherous ones OF the
crocodile as it devours the innocent VIC
tim.
feel chat ought to resent the ref1ec-
llon upon my colleague. Judge Shaw,
contained in the omparison made be-
tween his court and the presbytery. but
his reputation is such that | think the
libel will not injure him.
The fact is. that these proceedings are
being taken for the purpose of com pell-
ing the payment by the First Presbyter-
ian church of a la-ge sum of money to
peopls who have no legal right to it, as
Judge Van Dyke has decided.
Mr.. Howard had nothino tn dn with
tho financial affairs of the corporation,
and he sought in every way to secure an
adjustment Of the difficulties and is be
ing prosecuted in order to lay the foun-
dation for another suit against the First
Presbyterian church. He has remained
loyal to his church. instead of obsying
orders of the presbytery which were made
in excess of the jurisdiction and are ut
terly void.
The orders of both civil and ecclesias-
tical courts made without jurisdiction
are void, and not to be respected, rs the
higher courts of the church will undoubt-
edly hold when these cases reach them.
We look for our redress to those impair
tial tribunals where persons interested in
the UNFOLDING of ono church at the ex-
pense OF another will have no voice, and
there will be less metaphorical tears and
sorrow and disposition to give fair
and honest hearing. Respectfully,
J. W. MCKINLEY.