Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-29

Middletown, April 22.--Ihe spring
meeting OF the New Castle Presbytery
which convened in Forest Church hero
Tuesday evening adjourned last night
nfter busy day. 1t was one of the
best attended meetings of that religious
body which has been held for some
time.
As stated in a dispatch to The
Gazette last week, as soon as the regu-
lar business of the day was in order
yesterday morning, and before those
who bad accused the Rev. W. +. Lewis
OF heresy had time to present charges
to the Presbytery even If they 30 in
tended, the pastor of the Rodney
Street Church was on his feet and
asked permission TO make statement.
This was accorded him and in his
statement he made himself so perfectly
clear and his denial of the charges were
SO emphatic that his statement was
accepted by the Presbytery and entered
upon the records by unanimous consent
Mr.. Lewis was warmly congratulated
during the day upon the prompt ad-
juatnient of what promised to be an IN
pleasant incident at this session.
The nominations for ministerial dele.
gates to the General Assembly which
meets at Winona, Ind, May 10th, re.
suited in the election of the Rev. N. H.
Miller and the Rev. W. f. Lewis, with
the Rev. W. j. Fitzsimons and the
Rev. j. S. Houck az alternates. The
elders chosen were d. G. Hudson and
y. j. BUCK, with E. G. Polk and Ed
ward Reynolds as aternates. The sta
tistical reports of all the churches were
read by the moderator and after the re-
ports of various committees the Presby-
terry adjourned at II O'Clock.
When the afternoon session convened
at l.3O O'Clock. the church was well
filled. and as anticipated the Olivet
Church troubles came up for considera-
tion shortly after the session was called
to order. There was rustic of expec-
fancy among the audience when it was
announced that this was the next mat
ter on the programme and a warm in
terest was shown.
The Rev.T. E. Montgomery, the pas.
tor of Olivet, was upon his feet at once
and asked permission to speak before
hearing the report of the committee ap-
pointed by the Presbytery to investi.
gate the troubles at Olivet. There was
some discussion as to whether this was
In order, but Pastor Montgomery Is
allowed the floor. He took exceptions
to the report of the committee about to
be made and claimed that it had
violated rules not allowed in the civil
courts. The committee, in his judg-
ment, bad not acted fairly and he
claimed that he could not obtain justice
at the hands of the Presby terry. Accu-
sations had been made to the commit
tee without the accused being present
or allowed a chance for defence. Mr..
Montgomery also followed with the
rather surprising announcement that be
would Immediately hand in his resig-
nation as pastor of Olivet Church to
the Presbytary, and requested that the
pastoral relations be dissolved. This
was rather unexpected turn of affairs
aud created some little excitement in
the Presbytery.
chairman of the Investigating commit.
tee, then handed in his report. II
stated that the committee had visited
the church on March 18th, ami as re-.
suit deemed it advisable that the pas
toral relations be dissolved. A lengthy
discussion followed. As Mr.. Mont.
gomery had already announced his
resignation it was hardly necessary
that his resignation be asked for and
considerable time was consumed in
making motions and amendments.
Pastor Montgomery secured the floor
and among other things said there was
no division in Olivat Church, that the
church was in good condition. and gave
figures to show that the income the
last six months was larger than the
first six months be was pastor there.
He insisted that he be allowed to face
his accusers and claimed that the
Synod. il appealed to. would sustain
him in the action he had taken in the
matter. He was bound to resign for the
reason that he could not get justice.
After some further discussion DR..
McCurdy was recognized by the moder.
ator. He stated that he was stranger
both among the pastor and the congre.
cation at Olivet Church, but that he
believed Pastor Montgomery was ION
the right track He had always found
that when the Presbytery undertook tc
enter into any church troubles tbs
Presbytery invariably got into hot
water. The church can usually adjust
its own difficulties. The fault finders
among the Olivet congregation admitted
that Mr.. Montgomery preached gooc
sermons He believed that MIR. Mont
gomery was in the right in the whole
matter and made the motion that thu
committee be allowed to Withdraw tbt
report in view of the resignation o.
Mr.. Montgomery.
DR.. McCurdy's motion was carried
and the report of the committee with
drawn.
1t was decided that the Presbytery
meet the third Tuesday in June al
2 O'Clock, in Central Church, Whining
ton. and that the Olivet congregation
be asked to appear and show cause WHY
the pastoral relations existing between
themselves and Mr.. Montgomery SHOULD
not be dissolved. This ended the con
alteration Of the Olivet difficulties fol-
this session at least, and when the mat
ter comes before the special session o.
the Presbytery in June there is little
doubt but that these difficulties which
have been pending for over two year.
will be SETTLED for all time.
Taken as whole the Presbytery by
its action yesterday treated Mr.. Mont
gomery with utmost courtesy. The en-
tire report of the investigating com
mittee, which meant considerable work
to the members of that body was
dropped and nothing remains now but
for the congregation TO accept the
resignation of their pastor.
Ths committee appointed TO arrange
for the installation of the Rev. Mr..
Reeve as pastor of Westminster Church
at Georgetown reported that the install
lation would take place on Nay 18th.
The Rev. Mr.. Wylie will deliver the
charge to the peunle, the Rev. W. f.
Lewis will preach the sermon, the Rev.
4. Al u