The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-18
THE STORMY pREsBrrERr.
pr. buchanan Has q Lively Tt-se ne Moderate
In Suaintniping Decoruu.

The Rev. Walter d. Buchanan. d. D., tho
Moderator Of the Now York Presbytory, has had
astormy term OF Office. Tho case OF Hermann
WarsHawiak has occupied the greater part Of the
time OF tho Presbytery for the last year, and
the teelinR on both sides has been very strong.
IL mas differed from tho far moro celebrated
Briggs case in that those unfolding the side OF
the Hebrew missioner have charged. as DIR.
George Alexander said, everything down to
bribery and unrighteous influence against tho
other side. Tho friction engcndcred by the per.
sonal differences Of opinion on the unnumberod
ramihcattons of tho case has caused such irrl.
tatton In tho Prcsbytery that scarcely any mat
ter can come before II that does not call forth
emphatic and vigorous argument. DR.. ]. Bal.
colin Shaw voiced the Presbytery's appreciation
Of its oyerwrought state Mt tho last meeting by
asking his brethren whether =" the time had not
come when Prcsbytcry should sit by itself, or.
IN other words, where reporters could not see
Its increasingly tompestuous proceedings.
1t has been the Moderntor's task to restrict
tho discussion on the floor Of the prcsbytery TO
q Tone ana manner behtting n body OF ministers.
His methods have been the admiration OF the
laymen who have watched him. No point Of
Procedure, commonly known in Presbytery
meetings as " the book can come. UP quickly
ruling. He ' IS just n as quick aG eef IN for m %aknRf lis s
explanations of the ruling when II, has been
made. Nothing would, give more pleasure, to
terry than haD''G TO o'a c eaSsSn s tRbe M 10 s%S a'0ik IN
the chair. DR.. Buchanan never forgets
TO disarm them by prcfacing whatever. he
wishes to say by the remark that he has no right
to speak and will not II any one objects. OF
course. no one objects. He has sufficient fire to
startle a particularly unruly brother into mo.
mentnry silence. II occasion arise. And usually,
before the surprised one RECEIVERS his speech, the
proceedings have gone beyond him.. Such an
incident, was the Moderator's suppression OF the
Venerable Rev. Dr.. j. Ford Sutton. DIR. Sutton
had accused the MODERATOR Of high crimes and
mlsdemeanors In the conduct OF his Office.
sit down, sir!" said the Moderator, when
more deferential requests had failed.
~ will not sit down." said the old gentleman.
Sit down. sir!" repeated DR.. Buchanan.
~ am an older man than you are. sirl' DR..
Sutton said hotly.
You are!" said the Moderator, leaning for
ward and looking in his brisk opponents eyes.
You arc old enough to know better"
DIR. Sutton was not heard from for Mt least ten
minutes.
DR.. Buchanan has the confidence and support
OF a group in tho Presbytery In which DR.. How
ard Duttield and Elder II. w. Jessup are con-
spicuous. No matter on which side OF the gen
eral subject under discussion they may happen
to stand they unite in backing the MODERATOR
decisions. With tho aid OF this balance OF
power the Moderator is always sure of his
ground. He has never been reversed on an APP
peal from n decision Of the Chair.
DIR. Buchanan Is one of tho youngest men In
general appearance in the Prcsbytcry. He is
tho pastor of the Thirteenth Street Presbyterian
Church.