The herald., 1896-06-23

nor produces that ecclesiastical inde-
pendence which you seem TO ueslrei
neither can the presbytery itself give you
an honorable release until you regain
an honorable standing on its roll
In the spirit of Christ we would there
fore most earnestly and aHectionateiy
entreat you to remember the Solemn
nature of the VOWS which you, as 81
Presbyterian minister, have vountarlly
assumed, and to yield obedience to the
acts and orders of the presbytery, ana
thus regain your former honorable po-
sition on our roll.
BY doing so you yourself will be
blessed of God and the church Will be
edited.
For this we devoutly pray, and kindly
request that your response be handed
to the stated clerk of the presbytery
prior to July s, 1896.
]. II. STEWART.
r. II. HARTLEY,
ROBERT STRONG,
JOHN M. COYNER,
II. GAGE.
The committee to prepare reply 10
the Westminster church presented lHeil
report as follows:
'In reference to communication TO
the presbytery, the action OF the con
gregation at it's meeting held June lth'
and referred to this committee, we rec
ommend the following;
That no action be taken at present,
awaiting the answer to Mr.. Howard
and the members of the former session
of Westminster church. Meanwhile,
however, calling their attention to the
fact that church has no constitutional
right to withdraw from a presbytery
without their consent. The committee
had a double duty to perform-repiy 10
the church and to prepare minute Oh
the action presbytery should take IN
obedience to the recommendations mace
by the general assembly. The report is
as follows:
Your committee appointed to bring In
a minute for the action OF Prespytery
in respect to the recent decision OF the
general assembly on the appealed case
of the session Of the Westminster
church, respectfully submit the follow
To ]. C. Salisbury, j. X. Hoffman, H.
G. Wylie, H. N. Avery and H. I. Cor
don, formerly constituting the session
of the Westminster church Of Los Ange..
les: In accordance with the direction OF
our general assembly. at its recent meet
ing at Saratoga, N. Y, we herewith
transmit to you a copy Of the action OF
the said general assembly on the case
of the session of the Westminster
church. brought before that body on ap-
peal lIOHl tHe QtClSlOIl VI tlC oy hOu VA
California. We earnestly ask your care
full and prayerful consideration of this
action and sincerely desire and hope
that you may see your way clear to re-
consider the position you have hereto
fore assumed in regard to the former
action of the Presbytery, and assure you
that in case of your acceding to this de-
cision and adopting the course therein
indicated, it will give the Presbytery
great pleasure to conform its course to
the aforesaid Recommendation of the as
sembly. You are requested to send an
answer to the stated clerk before July
9Th.
An animated discussion ensued on
these reports. Rev. Mr.. Kipp thought
they were fulfilling the letter but not
the spirit Of the law The letter killeth
every time. What they needed was
more of the spirit and not so much Of the
letter.
Rev. w. L. johnson thought they were
not proceeding in the spirit of Christ.
The Westminster church is bound up
in the life of the Presbytery, and he
urged that a committee be appointed to
carry these letters personally and plead
with them to reconsider their action.
The discussion continued until an
urgent call to lunch came from the
ladies of Emmanuel church, whereupon
the session adjourned until 7:15.
The expression Of the meeting was the
utmost kindness and tenderness toward
Westminster church and it's pastor, and
1t was the sense Of the body that they
be approached in love and requested-to
return to the presbytery.
The evening session convened earlier
than the hour named, as some of the
delegates had long distance to drive
home. The moderator called the meet
ing to order at O'clock sharp. The
topic of interest was taken up at once,
and the matter of a pastoral letter was
discussed during the evening with much
animation and manifold differences It
opinion pro and con. Several members
thought the letter should be sent to the
recalcitrant brethren to set the presby-
terry right before the people. The discus
sion proceeded excitedly but good ma
turedly.
On motion, Reverends Stewart, Kipp,
Johnston, Strong, and Elder w. S. Craw-
ford were finally appointed to prepare
the aforesaid pastoral letter.
The presbytery adjourned to meet in
Emmanuel church July 9Th,