Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-12

Debate Over the Trouble in the
Wheeling q. p. Church-Dr. Littell
Makes Very Bitter Spcech-A
Wheeling Man Licensed.
A session of the Wheeling Presbytery
was held yesterday at the U. P. church
In st. Clairsville. O., and the most i'm
portant issue before the body was the
consideration OF the situation existing
for the past six months or so in the
United Presbyterian church in this city.
The matter has been aired in the press
several times during that period. In
brief it is as follows: Upon the death
Of Dr. Mcclure last winter. who for a
half century had been the pastor OF
the church, minority faction of the
congregation demanded the resignat N
Of DR.. J. H. Littell, for seven years the
co-pastor. The majority faction oppos-
ed the measure and askel Or. Ii .rell's
promise not to resign, which was given.
Since that time a session composed OF
elders of the church and commission
of six members of the Presbytery have
been unable to bring about reconcil-
iation. The matter has finally come
before the Presbytery itself for settle
ment.
The matter occupied almost the en-
tire morning and afternoon sessions.
There were present two committees
from the Wheeling congregation to lay
both sides before the body. The COM
mittee in favor of Mr.. Llttell severing
his PASTORAL relationship with the
church were: W. j. w. Cowden, Prof.
Stevenson, John Brown and R. X. Gift
fen. The committee in favor of DR..
Littell retaining his PASTORAL relation
ship were: S. p. Parker, S. B, Mckee
and Frank Hare. There were also
present quite number Of church mem
bers.
After the minutes had been read, two
petitions concerning the existing
trouble in the First U. p. church Of
Wheeling were taken UP One favored
Dr. Littells remaining. The other OPP
posed it. After they had been read DR..
Waddle moved that the p:ayor of the
latter pettionists be granted 1t was
seconded by DR.. Love, OF New Athens.
1E support of his az ton DR. Love stated
he thought it was the only way to
settle the difficulty. Nevertheless he
was warm friend to Dr. Littell.
In a short speech Mr. Cowden called
attention to the fact that five of the
six members of the session had sign
ed the petition with the minority and
were against Dr. Littell retaining the
pastorate.
Mr.. Parker reviewed the whole
trouble and assaulted the members of the
session for taking such on activity in
the movement against D.. Littell, for
the purpose of forcing him to resign.
The body then adjourned for din
Ter.
Shortly after the Pres5ytery recon
yened series Of sermons were deliv-
cred by Charles E. Garvin, of Wheel
ing, and Morris Watson, of High Ridge,
o., graduates of seminaries. The eff
forts were excellent ones. At their con-
clusion they were placed in the hands
Of the committee on the training of
young men. AT the evening session Mr..
Watson was ordained a minister and
Ic. Gary:n was licensed.
After the sermons the Wheeling case
VAS taken up under the head of unfin-
shed business. Mr. Frank Hare. of
his city, was granted permission of
he floor. He is one of the ardent sup
,orters of DR.. Littell. He said that in
7oicing the opinion of the majority of
he congregation he asked that the
notion advocating the dissolution of
The pastors relation with the church
be not granted. After quite lengthy
explanation of the situation, he said
The opposition had employed methods
that would put any politician to shame.
In conclusion, he said: And we most
vigorously protest against the disolu-
--~-----------