The herald., 1898-04-15

| the grouping OF cnuTcHeS ia tue suouh psAi'
| and country districts of Southern Califor-
mia, thereby saving the board of home mis-
sions considerable money. This arrange
ment, they think, should be agreeable to
pastors and satisfactory to congregations
liable to be affected by 1t. In this way. OF
course, one congregation will have to listen
| to a sermon in the morning and another In
| the afternoon, and, II there be q third In
| the group, the pastor must preach for it In
the evening. This is done in other sections
| of the country, the report said, and there
was no apparent reason why it would not
be feasible here. The appropriation for
this work is $500, and must under no cir
cumstances exceed this sum; there being a
large number of churches dependent upon
this allowance for their support, the COM
mittee can see no way out of the difficulty
other than by trying to reduce expenses in
the manner suggested. The report and rec
concentrations received the unanimous
sanction of the convention.
And now came proposition that showed
the varied opinions that existed among the
delegates, and over this matter friends
fought with words for weapons. 1t was a
petition read by DIR. Parker, signed by AZ
residents of Highland Park and vicinity.
They asked to be allowed to organize into
a congregation to be known as the High
land Park Presbyterian church.
Rev. Laverty's Objections
The last words of the petition had scarce
ly left the mouth of DR.. Parker when Rev.
Laverty of the Second Presbyterian church
received recognition from the moderator to
address the convention. He objected vigor-
@f
serting there was no need of another
church in that locality, as the church of
which he is the pastor is large enough to
accommodate the Presbyterians of High
land Park, and, Furthermore. that he had
preached regularly during the winter to the
congregation that now petitions the con-
vention. Though his church is but short
distance from the other, the missionary
who organized the congregation did not
consult him nor his church regarding their
pleasure in the matter, and now he wishes
it known that he and the session of his
church object strenuously to the encroach-
ment on his rights proposed.
"Is it just, is it courteous to me or to my
church?' said Rev. Laverty, with sup
pressed emotion. MANY of the petitioners
in this matter are not Presbyterians, but
Catholics, Baptists and others. 1 charge
the missionary with knowing this, and if
he does not can prove it. To permit this
would be a shameful waste of the home
mission money that could certainly be used
to better purpose
1t could hardly be expected that Elder
Mckinley would let so coaXing and inviting
a subject pass unnoticed, and he according
ly rose to unbosom himself.
Elder McKinley's Remarks
"I have reason to know" Mr.. McKinlev
said what it means to divide a congrega-
tion as is now being attempted have had
experience in the matter. About two
thirds of my church was taken away from
me some time ago by order of this body I
believe that churches of one denomination
should be at least two miles apart, then
perhaps they will be self-supporting. The
home mission board is fooling its money
away by organizing churches everywhere
and within few feet of each other. Some
brethren say that if We don't organize out
at Highland park some one else will-epme
other denomination. That is a manner of
saying, If 1 don't drink the whisky some
one will; if don't do foolish thing, some
one will, and therefore had better do It..
This is due to selfish sectarianism-the
cause of all religious trouble. You should
remember that other denominations are
Just as good as the Presbyterian, and so
long as a sect is evangelical it serves the
purpose of Christ as well as any other. All
there is in religion any way is faith in
Jesus Christ. which all denominations
preach, and I disprove of churches COM
x1-ift a n
keepers do for the drinks the pedestrians
may purchase"
Mr. Mckinley always says something in
teresting when he rises to speak, and the
convention has come to expect it from him.
Rev. Laverty here explained that he had
an agreement with the Highland park
church people that they were to be part
of his church. He then spent a few mill
utes in excoriating Missionary Stewart.
who canvassed the names of the petition
ers.
Others spoke to the subject, after which
a vote was taken resulting IN the grant
ing of the petition, Mr.. Mckinley alone
responding when the nays We're called for.
Committee Reports
Rev. J. T. Hopkins was continued as
of the meetings of churches of other cities
.l the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Los
Angeles were read and approved in order,
nearly an hour being consumed in the
work.
The committee on ministerial relief re-
ported having one hundred names now oal
its rolls who are receiving assistance from
the board. Ministerial veterans who are
over II years of age and who have been in
the service of the Presbyterian church for
forty-two years at least are allowed $500 /,
year to maintain them. Sick or indigent
ministers or the families of dead ministers
so situated are given $3.50 a year. Sta.
tistics show that not 40 per cent of the
churches of this country are giving any
thing to the cause.
The auditing committee approved the re :
port of the treasurer, and it was upon vote
adopted by the convention on the commit
tees recommendation. The receipts from
October l, 1897. to April l. 1885, were s7SS. OIL ;
The expenses s6s25S, leaving a balance for
the fiscal year of s5G.43.
The committee on systematic beneficence
reported the progress of its work, and the
chairman said he had hoped that circum-
stances would permit 1t to be more cheer.
full and encouraging. In this connection
Rev. Newell thought that we eat too much
and wear too good clothes, and for that
reason don't give enough to charity.
Moderator Fisher. in his report of the
committee on education, favored young
men entering the ministry, as there were
still many people unconverted. The re-
ceipts for this work during the year were
than 500 0lll trha thaolnuicnl in