The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-12
PARKHURST NOT PUNISHED.
THE PRESBYTERY TABLES CON-
DEMNATORY RESOLUTIONS.

The Vote 81 to 3G-Dr. Parkhurst Not
Present at the NIeeting-Dr. Cham
bers Lays the Alleged OHense Of
DIR. Parkhurst Before the Meeting.
The Arrangements Made to Sell
the Church Year and a Hnif he
fore DIR. Parkhurst Took Charge
of II.
New York March I.-According to pro-
gramme the resolutions rejecting upon
the conduct of Dr. Charles II. Parkhurst
in the matter Of his criticism of the New
York presbytery's action with regard to
the sale of the church of Sea and Land
were offered this afternoon at the month
ly meeting of that body in the lecture
room of the First Presbyterian church.
DR.. Parkhurst was absent, having left
the city for a two weeks rest, but his
friends were there in force.
DR.. Chambers, having the resolutions in
charge, secured the floor at the opening Of
the session. He read a 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
DIR. Parkhurst is pastor He prefaced
this statement with whereas setting forth
the fact Of an interview with Dr. Park
hurst. in which the proposed sale was
characterized by the eminent refOrmer as
a "cold-blooded violation of a solemn con-
tract which is as true as the everlasting
gospel. 1t was an act which had it been
committed in Wall street, would have fur
nlshed the clerical members of the pres
bytery with what they would have con-
sidered juicy material for homilectical ex-
ploitation."
Following this preamble were the ex-
tracts from the presbytery records show
ing that the decision to sell the The Sea
and LanG" church antedated the arrange
ment with DR.. Parkhursts church by
nearly a year and a half. that the occu-
pancy Of the church by DR.. Parkhursts :
session was for one year only, that the
session of the Madison Square church
had stipulated in writing that I'VE would
not wish to be obligated ourselves, or ask
the presbytery 10 obligate itself beyond
the one year." that subsequent action in
regard to the sale of the church was made
subject TO the agreement with the Mad
ison Square church, and that part of
the proceeds of the sale was to be used
in planting a mission in the neighborhood
of the church, which would be available
as a field for work carried on i'm the
sea and Land" building by Or. Park
hursts session.
Dr. John Hall opposed the resolution
in the interests of peace and harmony
He objected to the references in the pre-
amble to DR. Parkhurst and the Madison
Square church. He asked to have the
names sticken out Authorize the Off
GERS of the presbytery,' he said, "to print
and circulate' the statement as far as
you WISH but omit all personal refer
ences to a brother whom we love and
respect Let the statement rest 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 ref
erences and adjudicate upon them as
they see fit"
DR.. Mulally, whose objections to the re-
cent vote of approval of Dr. Parkhursts
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 most important.
1t is a question of a member of the presby-
terry arraigning his presbytery before the
public, instead of before the session, and
charging it with crime, with a msappro-
priation Of funds, with violation of con-
tIdtlt Win DclNS not worthy OF conn.,
dence. An honored pastor of a church
rises to object, because the member who
does this is named Are we to be the prey
of man who makes his living by sensa-
tional writings? An Individual has ar
raigned the presbytery, and an individual
should be named. If L had my way 1
would bring him before the bar of this
court and make him answer"
DR.. Francis Brown, Dr. Dufield, DR..
Buchanan and other pastors opposed the
resolution, which had been altered by DR..
Chambers to meet DR.. Halls suggestion.
DR.. Buchanan thought it was unnecessary
and undignified for the presbytery to ex-
onerate itself from alleged criticisms
spoken to an unknown reporter on the
mere rumor of publishing a statement.
DR.. Atterbury agreed with DR.. Buch-
anan, and his motion to lay the resolu-
tions, as amended, on the table. was car
ried by a vote of 81 to 36. Many of the
conservative members of the presbytery
voted with the liberals on this motion.