Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-09
PRESBYTERY OF NEW CASTLE
Its Busy Session in This City
Tuesday Afternoon.
INSTALLATION OF DIR. M'GURDy
Consideration of the OlIvet
Church Trouble.
A Commission to Investigate the Complaint
OF j.. Max Hammond, #. l.. Bnckmaster,
Maggie and Warren Curiett and John
Cfoss, the Suspended Members.

Inc call for the pro re nata meeting
OF the Presbytery of New Castle, which
J was held In Central Church Tuesday
afternoon. included not only the matter
OF the installation of the Rev. Thomas
A. McCurdy, u. D., as pastor vi Gem
tral Church, but also the matter Of a
petition in regard to the trouble at
Olivet Church. A motion to appoint a
commission to investigate the trouble
ut Olivet was made and carried, but
not without some warm discussion.
There were present at the meeting
the Revs. W. w. Taylor, j. l.. VAL
+ landieham, ID. D., j. D.. Shanks, ID.
y d., j. B. Turner, E. W. Long, I. E.
4 Montgomery, W. j. Fitz Simon, w. +.
Lewis, Luther A. Oates, A. N. Keig-
Twin, William Mcfarland. S. B. Wylie,
Lafayette Marks, ID. D., j. r. Milligan,
Nv. W. Shaw and N. ii. Miller, ID. D.,
md Elders George Rommell of Olivet,
William M. Canby of Rodney Street,
HF. w. Fem of Central and James +.
Price Of First Church. The Rev. Luther
IA. Oates presided and the Rev. N, II.
Miller, ID. D., was clerk.
ri In addition to those named there
vas present David McHenry and j.
Max Hammond Of the persons who had
been dropped from membership by the
6ession OF Olivet Church, and s.
Bheward johnson and Benjamin #.
Hopkins, who had been appointed by
The congregation of the church to bear
4 ~ petition to the Presbytery in regard to
;tbe trouble.
After the arrangements for DR.. Nc
3urdy's installation had been agreed
39pon Olivet Church matter was 10
frder. The Rev. T. L. Montgomery,
4he pastor Of the church, secured the
oor and stated that there was a petit
ion there from the congregation and
he suggested that it be read first. The
moderator, however, ruled that the
Porrespondence to which the call re-
&erred should be read first. The com.
munication was from j. Max Ham
mond, f. u. Buckmaster, Maggie and
$Warren Curlett and John Croes They
Protested at being debarred from the
n tchurch ana they asked that com
mittee be appointed to Investigate.
6 The Rev. A. N. Keigwin took the
y floor aud held that this was not
irregular complaint, but was a petition.
4 He spoke in favor of standing by the
rules declaring that the whole matter
was not in such form that could be
acted upon at pro re nata meeting.
fHe held moreover that the session OF
Olivet Church was in order in what IL
die and the records had been passed
ppon at the last meeting of the Freshly
terry. This being small meeting Mr..
E Keigwin thought it would be best to
lay the matter on the docket and IL
necessary to take it up at the next
4$egular meeting of the Presbytery
a Complaint against the session should
n De made 10 days after the meeting of
tz Gha" On e aifp and ol,o,,ll nrn,s l,afc,n fbs
xnsxt regular meeting OF the Presbytery.
"a He moved that the whole business be
|Mleferred until the next regular meet
(. ing.
FL Mr.. Montgomery began to speak in
4 regard to the matter, stating to the
d moderator that he was not speaking on
t8he motion. After the motion had
&been seconded, the Rev. Mr.. Wylie OF
New Castle moved as an amendment
That the petition be received and the
9fe .uest granted. He said that the
action of the Presbytery in regard to
HQiivet Church was really laughable.
He held that the elders had deep
krievance. At the last session of the
) Presbytery Mr.. Montgomery hao said
Kthat he was perfectly willing to have a
eommittee to investigate. Mr.. Wylie
lso corrected Mr. keigwin's statement
rs to the action at the last meeting,
;oaying that the Presbytery referred tine
minutes back to the session for cor.
;tIection.
Several members spoke concerning
S the action at the last meeting and this
Nfscussion showed difference of
Il #&pinion as TO what had been done in
Rthe matter. The minutes of the meet
l4g wese not at hand. In the course
pf the discussion Mr.. Montgomery,
While narrating the proceedings, said
that several motions were made but
none accepted Whereupon Mr.. Wylie
$declared that his motion was seconded
.fby Mr.. Candy, and Mr.. Candy verified
T fhe statement. Mr.. Candy said that
4 the minutes were referred for cor.
# ection. eti Egft
II The Rev. Mr.. Turner Of Dover
ayored postponing the matter unit,
{he regular meeting. He objected. to
t3mportant business being done by few
people. Mr. Wylie, however, held that
bis motion was, right and favored the
hppointinent OF a committee made up
E6f men honored by the PresbyteFy.
This committee could inquire into the
matter and report to a full meeting of
the Presbytery. -
# George Runmell, an elder from Olivet
ri SuufCb, tfDleu luab I06 QeDdrr6Q
n members had ever applied and been re-.
& fused hearing. lie held that it was
doing the session of Oivet Church an
Injury to have the matter brought UP
at every meeting of the Presbytery.
Fl He started into the merits of the
& trouble when the moderator ruled that
Fl the merits of the trouble were not
before the meeting.
s Mr.. Wylie. however, replying to Mr..
Rommell, held that the debarred mem
bers bad been treated with contempt
by the session. A letter sent by one to
Er. Montgomery had been returned
E without an answer
Mr.. Keigwin held that 1t would be
reproach to send comm ission to Oivet
Church. He said that the suspended
members hold meeting near Olivet to
the injury Of the church. He con
tended that the best way was to sweep
Z the docket and leave the whole matter
for proper adjudication at the regular
f.meeting.
Mr.. Montgomery desired to have the
petition of the congregation read, but
the vote was first taken on Mr.. Wylie's
amendment to receive the petition of
the suspended members and to grant
their request. On an aye and nay vote
the ayes were declared to have it; but
! division was called and the vote
stood about II ayes and nays.
On the ground that the Presbytery
bad not confined itself 10 the law Mr..
I.r ...a.