The herald., 1895-10-10
HAS NOT BEEN LOG ROLLING
Rev. Burt Estes Howard Talks
About His Trial
IT IS A VERY PRETTY SHINDY
Tie Accused Divine Outlines the Posi-
ton He Takes
He Accuses His Opponents of Circulate
ing Stories Without a Basis
of Truth

Rev. Burt Estes Howard Will be placed
on trial today. together with the elders
of the Westminster Presby terrain church,
before the Los Angeles presby terry, which
will be convened in the East Los An
seles Prespy terrain church at 10 am.
1.-The reverend gentleman and the elders
of his church are accused OF breach of
discipline, and Pastor Howard is further
more called upon TO answer to the aliega-
ton that he has violated his ordination
VOWS in not submitting to his brethren
In the Lord. -
Should the presbytery find that the
charges as made against these defendants
for that is what they are in the ecclesi-
astical court-are sustained, the sitting
body will also fix the penalty attaching to
the alleged Misconduct
The singular position occupied by the
prssbytery in this whole affair is TO be
commented upon. 1t is this. The
charges are preferred by the presby terry
the witnesses for the prosecution are OF
the presbytery; the prosecutors are like
wise; the presbytery. including all the
parties occupying the above mentioned
relations to the case, hears the evidence
as jury and affixes the penalty in case
the verdict rendered is guilty as
charged"
No matter what the verdict of the pres
bytery is rs regards Rev. Howard and
his brethren, it will be appealed to the
Presbyterian synod of Calfo mia and Ne
vada, which will be convened in San
Francisco on the 1stn of this month.
The synod OF California and Nevada
comprises every Prespy terrain clergyman
in the states named, and lay delegates
from each church. 1t Is the court of ap-
peal from any decision or railing OF pres
bytery. In this synod there are 267 min
listers and 22s churches.
The decision of the synod in the mat.
ter OF the appeal in the case of the Los
Angeles presbytery VS.. Rev. Howard ct
al. will be an important one. A great
deal will depend upon it in an ecclesiasti-
cal way.
1t is a well-known fact that the differ.
ences which have existed in the First
Presbyterian church of this city have re-
suited in bitter and acrimonious contest
between the two factions, and this dissen-
sion has eliminated in the trial of Rev.
Howard and the elders of his half of the
church on the charges referred to.
A great many stories have been circu-
lated by the anti Howard members of the
church about what the adherents of
Rev. Howard were doing to counteract
the effect of the trial he is now about to
enter on as defendant. 1t was also al
legged by some of the leading members of
the Central church not IN sympathy with
Pastor Howard that "they (meanIng
Rev. Howard's friends) know that the
verdict of the presbytery will be against
them. Therefore. anticipating this fact,
they have commenced to log-roll the
synod. They are preparing for the ap-
peal and are already at work on the
clergy delegates. They have done some
very clever political Iog-rolling already.
A prominent member of Rev. Howard 8
congregation returned from San Francisco
only few days ago. He had been there
fixing matters in the synod for the APP
peal.
This was the statement made by one
who is very active in prosecuting the
charges against Rev. Howard. 1t was a
rather strong talk to make, and to ascer-
tam what truth there was IN IL repre-
sentative of The Herald called upon Rev.
Howard at his residence at Twenty-ninth
street and Orchard avenue last evening
Mr.. Howard received the newspaper IAN
in his study and he was not at all loath
to respond to inquiries.
REV. HOWARD'S STATEMENT
1T has been alleged, Mr.. Howard, that
you and your friends, anticipating an
unfavorable verdict from the Presbyte
on your case, have had lieutenants in
he north doing some political log rolling
with the members of the synod, to pre-
pare that body for the appeal of the case
and to give those who are later lo pass
judgment information IN a nom judicial
way. How about it?'
There is not one word of truth in that
statement said Mr.. Howard with a
smile. why it is the most ridiculous
thing for human being possessed of
common sense to conceive. l have heard
the rumor,. though. before, but L passed
it off as a joke"
How could such story possibly have
any foundation, Mr.. Howard?"
The only way that | know of was
through the fact that j. S. Slauson re-
Gently was compelled to make a trip to
the northern part of the state, owing to
the serious illness of his son-in- law. He
returned at once to Los Angeles with
the gentleman, having found his condi-
tion such as to admit of his making the
journey. Mr.. Slauson did not stop six
hours in San Francisco. That was ALL
Then someone started the story that he
was in San Francisco log rolling the
synod In my behalf There was no truth
in the story whatever"
''This struggle in the local flock has
been growing rather bitter, has it not,
Mr.. howard?
eyes. The other side have started or
caused GO lie started numbe of stories
that are without a basis of truth.
Now, the statement has gone forth
that / am about to be tried for heresy.
It has been told me that the Rev. DR..
Mckenzie of San Francisco has been here
under another name and has taken notes
OF a number of my sermons on which to
found charges of heresy. In this there is
certainly not a word of truth.
''Then again, it has been said that
when / preached sermon in Oakland for
the Rev. DR.. Coyle upon my return from
my vacation one-half the people who
were in the church edifice arose and left
and the other half protested that the due
trine l advocated at that time was that
of hertic. Now the truth of the matter
was that the sermon in question was re.
ouested by number of those who heard
Il for publication. 1 say this. not from
egotism, but tell it to you as a sim pie
relation of fact.
''There are other stories that have beer
told about me, but it is useless to re-
hearse them tor they are all just about al
true as those l have talked to you about
''What will your defense to the charges
be, Mr.. HowardP
, III am not prepared to make that pub
lie as vet. We will let our defense reach
the readers of your paper through your
report of the presbytery.
ITO tell the truth, we have just agreed
on line of defense this afternoon at O
meeting held in the office of J. c. Sails