The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-08
PRESBYTERY'S COMMITTEE.
One Is Appointed to Investigate Olivet
Church's Affairs.

Churchs Affairs.
Tho trouble at Olivet Presbyterian
church caused n lively session of the New
Castle Presbytcry in Central Church yes
terday afternoon. The excitement did not
begin until after the call Of Rev. Thomas
A McCurdy, ID. d., as pastor of Central
Church had been accepted. Then when
Moderator Oats asked if there was any
further business petition from the Olvet
Church congregation was presented, PRO.
testing against the appointment of any
| commission to investigate the trouble
between the pastor, Rev. 7. K. Mont
gomery and the elders who have left the
church.
Rev. A. N. Keigwin was opposed to such
action as also were w. Steward johnson,
b. +. Hopkins and Geo Rommell, present
elders of tho church. j. Max Hammond
and David McHenry, the old elders, urged
the appointment Rev. Mr.. Wiley, who
has been the leader of the representatives
of the deposed elders, spoke first, claiming
that the commission should bc appointed
and an Investigation of the whole matter
| made Something was wrong with the
ministry or the trouble would never have
| occurred.
| Then Mr.. Keigwin made strong speech
against the appointment claiming that
such IL step was contrary to the laws OF
the church and that it reflected on the
character Of the minister. Rev. w. +.
Lewis replied to DR.. Keigwin, maintain
ing that the commission should De up
| pointed to settle the trouble, to act as "a
board of arbitration. Such commission
the pastor believed would not reflect on
| the reputation Of Mr.. Montgomery. VIM.
| NJ Candy and edward Price cOntended
likewise, believing the former elders had
been done great wrong.
| DR.. Kegwin again got tho floor, and
after he finished, Mr.. Montgomery made
| the speed h of the afternoon. He opposed
the appointment Of q commission and said
that the church was getting along better
! than ever it had while the ex.elders were
| numbered among the congregation. The
| ministry of the church was all right and
| the church wns flourishing He claimed
that tho Presbytery should not interfere.
A vote was then called for, and after
| some difficulty it was taken. When the
vote was taken it was found that 1t stood
II to in favor Of appointing the commits
sion DIR. kelgwin, as soon as the vote
| was announced, gave notice that he would
appeal to the synod, ON the legality of such
an action.
The full text of the petition sent to the
Presbytery from the congregation OF OIL
vet Church is as follows:
/ at Is with deep regret that we learn that
the presbytery has on its docket of spe-
cial meeting to be held on July con-
cernng the affairs Of Olivet Church.
1--WE are constrained to make pathetic
appeal to presbytery to cease disturbing
the feelings of the members Of the church
and prejudicing the public mind against
our welfare by making public and discuss
ing matters that belong to the domestic
affairs of our individual church.
". the ; oh outh of the DrpSbVtarV
we have submitted with fear and respect
and an earnest desire to continue obedient
prompts us to hint to the presbytery not
to force us into position that would be
embarrassing to all parties concerned.
"That we may be better understood let
US specify some of the grounds of our COM
plant.
This makes five times Olivet Church
has had to undergo the embarrassment Of
exposure before the presbytery, besides
being discussed at the Synod at Baltimore.
At each time the discussion occurred it
was published In the papers with -four
ish.
eve protest against the presbytery In
stituting proceedings against our session
on cases that have been outawed by limi-
tation of time.
"We protest against the presbytery for
attempting to consider judicial cases at
pro re-nata meeting, when such cases are
to be discussed only at regular meeting
and then must come up for discussion in
legitimate way.
I'VE protest against the presbytery at
tempting to usurp authority that by con-
situtional right belongs to the session of
the church. This assumption was made
by the moderator when he announced that
action would be taken by the presbytery
on the action of our session, when the sus-
pended members had not responded to our
session before going to the presbytery.
1--WE protest against the presbytery for
countenancing individuals who privately
maintain that former acts of the presby-
terry were illegal and invalid and refuse to
show compliance except by acts of noto-
rious nsubOrdination.
I'VE protest against the presbytery for
countenancing disturbers of the peace who
have been suspended from our church for
abusing their privileges and forfeiting
their claims, Any encouragement to them
now only casts reproach on civility and
demoralizes justice.
I'VE protest against the presbytery taxi
ing action that would cast reflection on
our officers, whom we have elected and
who have guided and maintained our af-
fairs amidst the most extraordinary diff
culies.
I'VE expect to sustain our officers
against any action or law that will cor
rupt good morals.
I'VE protest against the presbytery for
the assumed proprety of sending a COM
mittee to Olivet Church when we have
no disturbance. and a committee would
probably do mischief and unsettle our af-
fairs.
I'VE would welcome friends for encour-
agment, but any attempt to administer
our affairs in our stead now would not re-
suit in good.
I'VE have made fair progress amidst
great hinderances and now we respectfully
ask and petition the presbytery to sup
press our troubles both in and out of the
presbytery and We wish that the presby-
terry would respect the efforts and progress
that we have made"
The petition was signed by B. F. Hop
kins and s, S. Johnson, the committee ap-
pointed to carry it to the presbytery.
There was also foOt-note signed by Pas
tor Montgomery certifying that the paper |
was acted upon at ian informal meeting |
Of the congregation held after prayer |
meeting, Wednesday night, July l."
Sir: A damaging article appeared in the |
Every Evening yesterday and it too into- |
cradle to go unnoticed. Some irrespons- |
bio person has furnished material to make |
unjust Impressions. do not boast of the
fine condition of the church is in, ,butnever-
theless some facts are clear and emphatic.
The church has raised enough money to
pay expenses since l have been there and
it never raised money enough to pay ex-
penses before In its history without help
from other churches. have received into
the church about as many new members
as were at the meeting that gave me the
call. Within the last three months we
have received thrty-three new members
Within the last three months we have
raised over three hundred dollars, more
than enough to pay running expenses,
A larger number Of members took the
sacrament at the last communion than at
any other previous communion since the