New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-13
THE REV. DIR. KERR DEPOSED.
FREsBYTERY REMOVES HIM FROM THE
MINISTRY.
ALSO SUSPENDED FROM THE COMMUNION OF THE
CHURCH on CHARGES OF IMMORAL1TY-
NOT A HARMONIOUS SESSION OF

CHURCH on CHARGES OF IMMORTALITY
NOT HARMONIOUS SESSION OF
THE PREsBYTERY.
The Rev. DR.. Joseph r. Kerr. pastor Of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church. against whoin
charges Of immortality have been brought. was
summary deposed from the Christian ministry
by the New-York Presbytery at meeting held
in the First Presbyterian Church yesterday af-
ternoon. DR.. Kerr. II will be recalled. was re-
Gently found by members Of his congrega-
ton in Broadway hotel. in company with a
woman. under such conditions as 70 compromise
him seriously. In fact. DR.. Kerr made such ad-
missions TO the three trustees and one elder or
his church. who had traC ke1 him to the hotel. as
to make IL impossible that he could longer re-
main In his pastOrate. and accordingly AT the
morning service on the last Sunday In November
1t was announced that Or. Kerr had asked the
members OF the congregation to join him In go
Ing before the Presbytery and requesting that
the pastoral relations between him and the con-
gregaton be dissolved. At that time the exact
cause which led 10 this appeal was known TO
only few people. but despite the strenuous
efforts made TO keep the deplorable facts from
public knowledge they found their way into
print.
DIR. KERR NOT THERE.
DIT Kerr was not at the meeting OF the Pros
bytery yesterday. but four OF the FIVE members
or the committee appointed to present the Joint
request TO the Presbytery in attendance.
These four were Matthew J. Elgas Edmund o.
Hovey. John l.. Cameron and John II. Mac
donald. John McCullagh. ex-Chief Of Police.
was the NTH member Of the committee. but he
Is now on his way to Cuba TO help in re-
organizing the police force OF Havana. AS
| no
lowed TO appear before the Presbytery. THAT
body acted Independently and by finally eject
ing Mr. Kerr from the ministry left the pulpit
OF the Fourth Presbyterian Church vacant with
out listening to the formal appeal Of the pastor
and the committee Of the congregation.
But this step taken until after dis
cusslon lasting four hours. which was said TO
have been somewhat stormy az times At thu
expiration Of the session. which was held behind
closed doors, the Rev DR.. g. w T. Birch the
stated clerk. gave out the following:
1T was resolved that the Judgment OF the
Presbytery be published. and nothing else, viz:
That the Rev. DR.. J. r. Kerr be deposed from
the Christian ministry and suspended from the
communion Of the Church.
In giving this meagre information to the rep
resentatives of the press Or. Birch ntimatei
that the members Of the Presbytcry were
pledged to secrecy - the details Of the after
Moons proceedings and if anybody tells any
thing" added DR.. Birch. of what took place
and if his name be found out ne VIII be
visited with the excavations Of his brethren"
Dr. Birch made the threat also that II anything
We're printed regarding the proceedings in Dr.
Kerr's except the foregoing resolution he
would take the trouble to deny publicly the
additional matter few moments later, how
ever. he qualified this remark by saying that
he referred. OF course only 10 statements which
were not based upon truth.
MORE THAN ONE VOTE.
7, u.oe t,,o,oadiota, opnarap, no her
filed out Of the meeting chamber that there
was a prearranged determination TO refuse TO
diyulge the occurrences Of the afternoon. But
despite this studied retcence sufficient was
learned 70 show that more than one vote was
taken before DR.. Kerr was deprived Of his cleri-
cal standing In the Presbyterian Church. and
that the session WAS by no means harmonious
1t was ascertained. also. that the reason why
the CONGREGATIONAL committee vas not IecrlYeu
and allowed 10 lay It's request before the Pres
bytery was because DR.. Kerr had himself writ
ten a letter to the Presbytery asking TO be de-
posed. and practically admitting his guilt DIT
Kerr was Induced TO write this letter by his
friends. Of whom the Moderator is one. and II
is said that the Moderator. after laying this
communication before the meeting, remarked
Il wish to say ne Is guilty.
The vote taken the first resolution that
was made deposing Or. Kerr stood % for the
motion. and II against. while thirty members
refused to vote AT all. They refused to vote
on the ground that Dr. Kerrs letter was not
explicit. and that it was necessary therefore
that more light should be she'd upon the mat
ter ThereupOn. after a long debate, proposal
to reconsider the motion was carried urani-
mousy The Rev. Or. Mutually. who l. sald 20
have taken the lead in opposing the first resoiu-
ton. suggested that the Presbytery should de-
for action on the case until more definite in
formation could be obtained but this advice
was rejected. and the hrst motion was then
amended so as to read That the Rev Or.
J r. Kerr be deposel from the Christian
ministry and suspended from the conmuni'n
Of the Church" ard was carried by - votes
to T.
The ad option Of the resolution made vacant
the pulpit of the Fourth Presbyterian Church,
and at the same time stripped DIT he'r 81 ms
clerical orders
The Rev. DIR. George Alexander was appointed
Moderator Of the Fourth Church unit new
pastor Is chosen. The congregat lion Of the
church will be permitted 10 supply its own pas
tor The Rev. pr y W. Conkling vii preach
in the church next Sunday. ana viii 'ormaiiy
declare the pulpit vacant. but he will make 30
reference TO the causes which brought apout the
vacancy.