The herald., 1896-06-18
been subjected to ecclesiastical trial and

We concede the right OF any portioh
of the membership of this churcn 10
withdraw from our organization anu
fellowship, and the right of presbytery
to organize them into a new and distinct
church; but we cannot corcede to pres
bytery the authority to rob US OF our
name, suspend our pastor, dissolve our
session, cripple our usefulness ana otn-
erwise humiliate us in the eyes OF the
church at large and of the pubic, ior tne
sole purpose of securing temporal ends.
The late general assembly of the Pres
byterian church in the United States
of America, although strangely enough
reversing the judgment of synod OF
California, which judgment was in our
favor, has declared that the presbytery
has no power to dissolve the civil corpo-
ration. This ruling of the assembly is
in harmony with the constitution of the
Presbyterian church in the United states
of America, which expressly states &C.
of F., ch. XXI, sec. iv): THE church mas
no temporal authority, and its courts are
not to intermeddle with civil affairs
which concern the commonwealth, un-
less by way of humble petition in cases
extraordinary, or by way of advice for
satisfaction of conscience If they be
thereunto required by the civil magis-
trate.' Nevertheless, the points decided
in favor of the presbytery and against
us by the general assembly, pertain
wholly to our obedience or disobedience.
our loyalty or disloyalty to presby-
terry that has antagonized us, harassed
us and endeavored to coerce us into sub
mission to their peculiar views in mat
ters purely temporal And we believe
and affirm that all the acts, communica-
tions. orders and judgments of presby-
terry. including and subsequent to the
attempted dissolution of the First Pres
byterian church of Los Angeles, were
all l. l.
express purpose of enforcing the pay
ment of money. and not for the glory
OF God, the peace of His church. or the
advancement of His kingdom on earth
and are therefore void.
We affirm our full confidence in the in
tegrity, faithfulness, business expert
ence and ability of our trustees in the
management of our temporal affairs, and
declare that the ministra ations of our
pastor and session have been and are
now eminently acceptable to this
church
We further affirm that this church is
now and ever has been loyal to the
doctrine of the faith SO long held dear
by its people and proclaimed by its
ministers. and we assert that it is our
earnest purpose now. as in the past. to
give ourselves to the development in
this community of life pervaded with
the mind and spirit of Jesus Christ.
But we believe that the ecclesiastical
functions and powers of church courts
pertain only and solely to spiritual mat
terS and not to the temporal or property
affairs of the church, and that the exer
else of ecclesiastical power in temporal
matters is unwise, unauthorized and sub
versive of the principles of Protestant
ism and the best interests of both church
and state
Now, therefore, since it has become
apparent that the future peace, prosper
ity and efficiency of this First Presby-
terian church of Los Angeles demand
severance of the ecclesiastical relation
it has heretofore sustained to the Pres
bytery of Los Angeles, and because of
the further fact that that Presbyterv
has persistently refused to recognize us
for the past year as the First Presby-
terian church of Los Angeles, be it
Resolved, 1, That the First Presby-
terian church of Los Angeles hereby
from and sevrS its connec-
tion with the Presbytery of Los Angeles.
2. That we ratify and confirm the re-
fusal of our trustees to pay over the
money unlawfully awarded by the Pres
bytery in view of the contingent condi-
tions; and that we further ratify and
confirm their action in the erection of
the church building on the corner of
Figueroa and Twentieth streets, pur-
suant to instructions.
8. That we recognize the true worth
and high Christian character of our pas
tor, Rev. Burt Estes Howard, who has
stood by us Loyalty throughout our
troubles. and has shared our grievances
and borne his own excessive burdens,
placed upon him by reason of his con-
nection with us. and that we hereby re-
quest him to continue his ministrations
as pastor of the church and congrega-
ton.
4. That we express our confidence in
the fidelity of the members of the ses-
sion to the interests confided in them,
and indore fully the course they have
pursued, and hereby request them to
continue to discharge the functions of
their office until their successors are
duly elected and installed.
s. That we pledge to our pastor, ses-
sion and trustees our continued support
and allegiance.
G. That we remain, as heretofore, the
First Presbyterian church of Los An
geles, reaffirming our devotion to the
faith we have always espoused and
and our loyalty to the va
rious interests to which the beneVo-
lences of the church have been hitherto
committed.
l. That copy of this minute and these
resolutions be transmitted by the secre-
tary of this meeting to the proper officers
of the Presbytery of Los Angeles.
The vote of all the qualified members
of the congregation was then taken as
to the acceptation of the report. The
aves were 1853 and 80 ayes by proxies, to-
tai vote endorsing the report OF the COM
mittee When the nays were called upon
but five individuals stood up, thereby
making the resultant vote 1913 to D, a ma
jority of 1SS.
PASTOR TO THE CLERK
The Rev. Burt Estes Howard then
read the following letter which was ad-
dressed to the clerk of the Presbytery:
LOS ANGELES, Cal, June Is, 1896.
The Rev. +. ID. Young, Stated Clerk
Los Angeles Presbytery: Dear Sir and
Brother-You will be informed by
communication from Mr. George ii.
Stewart, secretary, of an action taken
by the congregation of the First Presby-
terian church of Los Angeles, seVering
their connection with the Presbytery Of
Los Angeles, and requesting me to re-
main their pastor.
During the four years in which it has
been my happy privilege to walk ana TO
work with this people, | have always
found them responsive, generous, low
ing and loyal. When the unWiSe haste
of the Presbytery to exploit its episco-