The herald., 1895-05-08
The Adjourned Meeting Of the
Presbytery
SEPARATION AND DIVISION
The One Is Done and the Other Will Be
Attended to
The Expected Friction Did Not Appear, but
Motives Were Questioned-AIIs Well
That Ends Well

WOTk yesterday morning at tHe oeoohu
Presbyterian church. On Downey street.
The hour to which Mondays session had
adjourned was 8 o'clock, but it was nearly
All hour later before the meetn was called
to order by the Rev. 7. M. Gardner OF the
Third Presbyterian church of Los Ange-
ies. After prayer and singing the Rev.
j. II. Stewart of Redlands took his seat
as moderator.
p. y. Young moved that the meeting
resolve itself into committee OF the
whole, which, after some discussion, was
adopted. The Rev. DR.. Anthony G.
.Junkip of Westminster acted as chair
man during the continuance of the COM
uittee's action. The Rev. DR.. Hender-
son then, for the petitioners of the First
PRESBYTERIAN church who are seeking
separation and a division OF the church
property, resumed his argument OF the
day previous. Armed with many docu-
ments and law books, the gentleman took
his stand near the rostIum, and by
language. gesticulation and legal knowl
edge proved himself most able advocate.
He called attention to the fact that the
property in question, and which had
been recently sold had been years ago
decided TO the First Presbyterian church.
That church organization, however. was
property and on such an occasion as
this, the property. or the moneys derived
from the sale OF such property, should be
divided equitablv between the memb bers
who remain with that church and those
who were asking for a separation.
A principle of equity was involved and
he urged for the good of the kingdom of
God that no obstruction to separation
and division be further made. The rev.
erend gentleman quoted number of in
stances from the law books at his side
showing that the position and claims of
the minority in other such cases had been
allowed by the courts. Rev. Hartley of
Riverside. with an unmistakable tremor
IN his voice, thought that matters had
gone far enough on that line. He feared
that those present were forgetting the
teaching OF the gospel and urged, in lieu
of further discussion, positive action.
With that end in view, he suggested that
the committee recommend the adoption
of the following: las indicated by a
rs just and right that the funds realized
from the sale of the property OF the First
Presbyterian church of Los Angeles, To-
Gated at Second street and Broadway, be
equitably divided between the First Pres
byterian church and the church to be Or
ganized according to the above action.
And the presbytery orders that this
basis determined by commission con-
stituted as follows:
Three men to be chosen by the First
Presbyterian church; three men to be
chosen by the new church six men of the
presbytery, two If whom shall be nam l
by the First Presbyterian church. two by
the new church and two by the presby-
terry. None OF the last six shall be mem-
bers of either of the churches party to the
action"
The Rev. J. II. Stewart then read a
series Of resolutions. which. after long
discussion participated in by eight or ten
of the gentlemen present was substituted
for the paper read by 1ev. Hartley. A
motion to have the substitute referred to
IL committee was lost. 1t was then moved
and seconded that the substitute be lec-
ommenoed for adoption. This carried
unanimously. whereupon the committee
arose and reported the recommendation
to the presbyteIy.
Upon motion the resolutions were
adopted by section and as amended from
time to time are as follows:
Whereas. petition has been received
from members of the First Presbyterian
church of Los Angeles praying for the
division Of the First Presbyterian church.
For such action as may be necessary to
divide the funds of the First Presbytel-
ian church CT Los Angeles.
For any action that may be necessary
growing oLt OF the circumstances. as
they May be developed by the matters in
hand. Therefore be it
Resolved, First--That the First Presby-
terian church of Los Angeles b and
hereby is divided into two church organ
cations.
Second-That so many of the First
Presbyterian church whose names are
upon said petition who may desire it,
and that SO many others as may hereaf-
ter sign said petition within this time
together with all others who may hereaf-
ter desire to unite with them by letter or
upon confession Of faith in Christ shall
constitute church to be known by the
name Of the Central Presbyterian church
of Los Angeles, or by any other name
which they may adopt and the Presby-
terry approve.
Third-That said central church is
hereby ordered to meet at the Temper
ance temple Los Angeles city, May 10th.
at 80 r. M. for the purpose tf electing
elders and five trustees, for transactlng
any other business necessary for complet-
ing their organization. and that Rev. DR..
Henderson be appointed to preside at the
above meeting.
Fourth-That the residue of member
ship of the First church shall constitute
also chur;h to be known as the West
minister church OF Los AngeIes. or by any
other name which they determine to
adopt. and the presbytery approve
Fifth-That the pastor of said church.
the Rev. Burt Estes Howard, be and now
s the PASTOR and that the elders whose
names do not appear on the pnetition b.
the session of the said Westminster
church, provided the church may not see
fit to elect otherwise.
Sixth-That the members of the said
church whose names are now upon what
is known as the retired list and as such
are not reported to the general assembly
of 1895, shall be equally divided between
these two organization S.
Seyentb-That a commission of five men
be appointed whose decision shall bs final
in regard to an equitable division Of the
property which shall be done before May
22d.
The commission appointed under the
last clause was as follows: Rev. Abel
Parker, A. G. Junkin, D. d., Williel
Thomson. Elders j. W. Cogner and D.
W. Mcleod.
he new born Central Presbyterian
church will hold meeting at Temper
ance temple ut I 80 p. m. on Thursday
next, May 9th, to arrange for the prelim-
mary work of organization.
BROADWAY WIDENING