The herald., 1895-10-13
TRIAL OF THE ELDERS
The Presbytery Again Meets in
Judicial Session
H. T. GORDON'S ARGUMENT
A Gentleman for the Prosecution Reads
Ancient Law
T. GORDON'S ARGUMENT
tournament Which Was Had Until Mon.
day - Presbytery Notes

The prasby tory of Los Angeles net in
judicial session for the continuation of
the trial of the elders OF the Westminster
church for contumacy in resisting the
authority and orders of the presb terry, at
8 o'clock yesterday morning in the Second
Presbyterian church at East Los Angeles.
After prayer and roll call the minutes of
the preceding meetings were read. They
contained no mention of the notice OF ap-
psal or request for a stay of execution
entered by Rev. Mr.. Howard, but on his
direction they were inserted and the rec
ord approved.
Owing 10 a premature adjourn ment on
the preceding evening, which interrupted
the proceedings at the point of his enter
ing a notico of appeal and request for
stay of execution of the judgment. Mr..
Howard moved that action be taken upoh
the matter at this time. After q general
discussion, embraced by ]. H. Hartley
and several others as an opportunity to
cast last stone at their convicted broth.
ef, the matter was laid on the table, thus
practically denying Mr.. Howard the priv
ileges asked for.
At this point a motion was made to
postpone the trial, when adjournment was
taken until Tuesday. October 90. at 2 p.
m. This move had the appearances of
being made for the purpose of deferring
the trial of the elders until after the
meeting of the synod on October II at
San Jose, which would exclude the possi-
biliity OF taking an appeal in case of
adverse judgment, until the next meeting
of the synod, year hence. This motion
was also laid uDOn the table.
H. L. Gordon then resumed his argu.
ment on the objections to the charges,
beginning with the fourth objection, re-
lating to the assumption OF the appoints.
ment of the accused as ruling elders in
Westminster church. He made the point
that, even had the prespytery rightly
divided the original First church. yet
it could not constitutionally appoint
officers to the new churches without their
consent. Passing TO the next objection,
upon the insutficiency of the charge and
specification, on the grounds that they
sion OF the Westminster church. counsel
brought up further reasons showing ths
unconstitutionality of the constitution
of the session. Warming up to his sub
ject, Mr.. Gordon said: These charges
do not allege a specific offense. Do they
orders? They only charge that We have
not obeyed the orders OF the presbytery,
regardless of the right or wrong of those
orders. My brethren. is that the charge
which we are called upon TO anwser? Are
we to obey ollndly the mandates of the
preshytery. right or wrone?' A mem
ber of the judicatory replies YES"
Then" responded the speaker. "if
that is what constitutes a Presbyterian
am not a Presbyterian. 1 am SO consti-
,.Led that have mind and will of my
own which can never submit to the un-
reasonable dictates of any body of men.
Evsn should this presbytery. the synod
or the general assembly decide. that l
should be placed in any church against
my will | would rebel against it, even if
in so doing 1 put myself out OF the
church.
''Such an act as the arbitrary appoint
ment of body OF men to an Office, the
very existence CT which they deny, is
contrary to the spirit Of American liber-
ty. to the self-rcspect oil any intelligent
and conscientious man, and therefore in
rebelling against it we can not In our
conscience before God acknowledge our
selves guilty of the offenses charged"
The accused elder spoke with an earn
estnsss that showed clearly the truth OF
his statements and his attitude in the
matters under consdera' ion.