Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-13

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Rev. AdOlOs Allein
understood that DIR. Talmage had made q
statement from the pulpit which seemed to
settle the whole difficulty.
In answer to this Mr. Allen said that he
was not at church last evening, as his wife
was sick at the time, so that all he knew
of the statement was what he had seen i'll
the newspapers this morning.
The moderator then stated that there was
a representative Of the First Presbyterian
Church present, and that as Mr.. Aliens
statement was necessarily an eX parte
statement, it would be but proper to hear
from the other side.
Mr. Octavius Knight, one of the elders
of the charch, then arose and paid a high
compliment to the fairness and straight
forwardness Of the statement which Mr.
Allen had made He then went on to make
a fervent speech, in which he expressed his
deep regret that the affair had ever been
given so much publicity.
The whole discussion he regarded as out
of order, Mr. knights point being that
there was nothing before the meeting.
There vas nothing to discuss settle
said he. for the reason that the whole trou-
BILE had already been settled prior to the
calling of this meeting of presbytery. The
complainant, in other words, had no COM
plant to present, and the only thing of
real sariousEess that had occurred was
"the cruel wound which was inflicted upon
this flock of Christ by the clamor of pub
licity which had been started by Mr. AL
lem
DIR. HGmlin Takes Positive Ground.
The moderator at this point suggested
that it might be as we'll if Mr. Allen would
state definitely just what action he wished
the presbytery to take. Both DR.. Hamlin
and DR.. Radcliffe raised the point that
n nj of ha
the author of the call. In a brief speech
DR.. Hamlin said that while Mr.. Aliens
statement was an ex parte one, it still pre-
scnted something very tangible to the pres
bytery and well worthy of its conSidera
ticn. His speech gave the idea that DIR.
HamliR did not think very highly of the
board of trustees for turning down
minister in the very face of the preSbytery
which had installed him. and in violation of
the orders of the session, which had di-
rected the board to dcsist from its efforts
to- oUst him. Z
In conclusion. DR.. Hamnn moved that
when the meeting adjourn it be to meet
Wednesday of next week. In the interim
the congregation wGs to be formally noti-
fed and furnished with copy of AIR. AL
lens papers. so that at the meeting it
might he represented by special commits
sioners to present its side of the case.
Mr.. knight argued that there was no
reason why another meeting should ie
held, there was no action for the pres
bytery to take and nothing to be adjudi-
Gated.
This gave rise to rather lively triangu-
lar discussion in which Dr. Hamlin Mr..
Allen and Mr.. Knight took part. During
the debate Mr.. Knight was telling just ex-
actly what the wishes of the board were
when they attempted to rearrange the sys-
tenn of Sunday services.
Well in that SYSTEM asked DIR. Ham
lin. ''just when was Mr. Allen to preach?''
This question raised laugh in the meet
ing and Mr.. Knight appeared not to like it
when the litter went round. He charac-
terized i: as unseemly and not at all in
keeping with the dignity of such meet
ing. 1t looked. he said, as though they
him. Really, there was nothing to debate
or to warrant all this bother The whole
matter sifted down into this: Mr. Allen had
started the bail by his objections when
the Sunday services. Mr.. Allen objected
to being shut out of both services, but now
DIR. Talmage had come out with a fiat
statement that he would not under any cir
cumstances preach at both. In his opinion
that settled the whole difficulty and Mr..
Allen was left without grievance
DIR. Talmage's Announcement.
He then read The announcement which
DR.. Talmage made at the service last even
ing, which had been carefully prepared in
advance, copies being sent to the press.
This statement was as follows:
AN outrageous wrong has been done me
by many of the newspapers of this country
concerning my pastorate in this church,
and l call upon all newspapers who believe
in fairness to state the following facts:
Il have been preaching here in the even-
ing Ivy my own choice. AS very many more
people come to our church in the evening
than can get inside the building, many of
them standing in the street an hour and
half before the time Of service, there was
petition, signed by all the board of elders
ard all the board Of trustees, and sanctioned
by DR.. Sunderland. handed me inviting me
to preach Sabbath mornings as well as
Sabbath evenings l much prefer to preach
only in the evenings, and am certainly not
to blame because l have been petitioned to
preach in the mornings. / now wish il dis
tinctly understood that l will not in any
circumstances take the morning services"
A Committee to Investigate.
Rev. DR.. Chester made brief address in
favor of peace and harmony. He presented
a substitute for DR.. Hamlin's resolution,
providing for a committee. whose duty 1t
should be to visit the First Church, to in
Guire into the matters at Issue and to re-
port back to the presbytery.
Mr.. Knight admitted, that the amend
n?ent was an Improvement on the original
motion, but he continued with his argu-
ment to the effect that there was nothing
to be arbitrated or aGjudicated. A long
statement of DR.. Sladerla nd's views on the
1natter was read by Mr.. Knight.
After some further discussion DR.. Ches-
ter'S motion was adopted, was another
providing that the committee should con-
sist of four pastors and three elders, and
that they should report at "A meeting to be
called by them as soo1 as they We're ready.
Or. Luccock appointed on the committee
DIR. Bittinger DR.. Han1lin. DR.. Radcliffe,
DIR. Little and Messcs. Parker. Lyman and
Linton. The meeting then adjourned.