New-York tribune., 1901-06-04
mr.. MOMENT WILL FIGHT
vpoo.-LYN CLERGYMAN TO TAKE THE
CASE TO SYNOD-MORE CHARGES
FERRED-EVIDENCE AGAINST
HIM READ.

Charges Of un-ruthfulness and contumacy
sre made against the Rev DR. Alfred II Mo-
r0snt by the Brooklyn Presbytery at a meeting
A.,s in the Central Church, Marcy and Jeffer-
s,n aves- Brooklyn. yesterday. Dr. Moment
riu be summoned TO appear Cor trial at a meet
,,r 10 be held in the Central Church at D. M
~ June IL The testimony taken before the
,usicia commission when DIR. Moment was tried
ear conduct unbecoming a minister and un-
+ruthfulness was read before the presbytery
,.s,erday at the request of DIR. Kenneth Junon.
q Emmanuel Church While 1t was being read
,he meeting went into executive session. and
none Of those present would talk about it.
The Rev. Thomas w. Campbell was moderator
yesterday. The Rev. DR. n. w Wells. stated
clerk read two letters from DR.. Moment one a
srrnal apology to DIR. Gregg and other members
n the presbytery for his outbreak last week
There was some opposition to receiving this let
tr il covered only a part of the statement
s. It was later printed in the papers. It was
finally accepted, two votes being in the negative
The following is part of one of the letters
from DR. Moment that was read:
shall begin with November 2l the morning
mon me the verdict of suspension from the func-
ions Of the ministry for six months. To the rem
sdaed not one condition requirement What the
chairman said was clear. definite and understood
preach perform any other function pertaining to
usstoral affairs. That sentence of your court /
lave served. not having opened my mouth in pub
lie so much as made a pastoral call, from No
fully performed? Could obedience TO church dis
ciplne and loyalty 10 the presbytery be better
/ did do during that long heavy half year? But
while was consclehIlously serving the time OF my
time expired. a request from the stated clerk to
Church With the request came no word of ex-
planation, and l left in total darkness TO
On the morning Of November y no such require
nent Was involved in The @ finding of the Sc secret ret
others OF the commission that it would be wise
the Church in my absence. that it might be in
good shape when returned to my work Upon
What principle of right and justice. therefore.
g new penalty added my sentence when that
sentence had been faithfully lived out till nearly
the end OF its term2 l regarded the demand OF
the presbytery unjust as violation of my
rights. and honestly believed 1t to be the dignihed
and Christian way or treating such lhJustGGe 2 Py
giving reply TO the request made, but silently
your court set forth on November p. that being
the only obligation the presbytery could impose
and proving such charges in judicial proceedings.
A few days before the suspension time termi,
oPfan to nreecb after Nav q and especially
must not return TO the work of Emmanuel Church.
Of Discipline That was the first intimation
had Of what the presbytery aiming in its
action of April % Now, the notice of your COM
and the spirit of the courts decision November
q. Moreover. il Interpretation OF SECTOR
20 Of the Book OF Discipline that neither OF the
higher courts of our Church could or would sustain.
There IS no law in church State that allows
any judicatory 10 augment the punishment OF the
first decision rendered without the proving OF new
charges. The conclusion therefore. is this II the
presbytery holds TO the right Of continuing TO
silence me from the functions of the holy min
istry because Of Section 40, the will have to
be tested in the synod this fall.
II the general impression Of the ministers
that there was nothing in the letter TO clear up
the situation, as il was an attempted justifca-
ion of DR.. --oment's course rather than an
apology or expression of repentance.
The Rev. j. b. Williamson, chairman Of the
committee appointed TO formulate charges, re-
ported two charges as follows:
First-Untruthfuness. in that DR.. Moment had
given TO the papers d statement, saying he had
delivered # before the presbytery, when he had
read il.
second-Contumacy in that DR.. Moment had dis
obeyed the presbytery when il had asked him TO
return the call Emmanuel Church and had for
bdden him TO preach there.
The charges were received and DR. Moment
was ordered TO appear for trial
Then DR.. JUNIOR took the floor. He said he
represented Emmanuel Church, which wanted
some definite statement Of the testimony taken
AGAINST DR.. Moment. Personally, he said, he
believed that if the minister had been found
guilty OF immortality he should be forced out OF
the Church. DR. JUNIOR will report TO Emmanuel
Church.