Evening journal., 1903-11-10
REV. ELWOOD
TO Be TRIED At
OWN REQUEST
Objected to the Presbytery
Censuring Him Without
Hearing Evidence
PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS DIVIDED
Debate Lasting All the Afternoon Was
Confusion When the Young Minister
Said ell Would Ask For TriaI-Best-
ed His Opponents.
snecial Id the Evening journal.


Mlddletown, Nov. 10.--At his own re-
quest the Rev. Robert A. Elwood will
stand trial for preaching the now famous
sermon. "ShaH the Murderer of Helen
Bishop be I.ynched?" Mr.. Elwood made
this request at the afternoon meeting Of
the Presbytery when he found that this
body sought ITO censure him for preaching
the sermon and after Il had discussed the
matter nearly all day. The Presbytery
win now meet on January 10. in Dover,
when the formal charges will be made.
The prosecuting officers will be the Rev.
Joseph Brown Turner and the Rev. j. s.
|Gilhllan who took an active part in THE
meeting yesterday. He viii be defended
by Robert G. White, former attorney
general OF the State, who is a member of
the Presbytery and who DID all he could
for the young minister at yesterdays
meeting. The trial will take place on jan
uary %. ten days after the time dhe
charges are filed.
The Presbytery was hopelessly divided
and could not arrive at any conclusion in
the case that was satisfactory to all.
when Mr.. Elwood Jumped 70 his feet and
said he would demand a trial.
Did Not Want Trial.
The Presbytery did not wish to go this
far and tried hard to get the young min
Lster 20 say that he was sorry for his
words uttered the Sunday evening pre-
ceding the day that the negro. George
White was taken from his cell in the
workhouse and burned at the stake. He
would not do this. however. although the
other ministers pleaded with him TO do
so. Mr.. Elwood insisted that he was not
sorry. saying that his sermon did not
bring abou. the lynching. He said that
he preached the sermon TO prevent It,
He Thought he was doing his duty and hi
had nothing TO retract.
II as afier he had made his Statement
on tho floor Of the Presbytery rhnt a com
mittes composed OF the Revs. ]. S. Gil
lfilan, Joseph Brown Turner W. j. Row
an and Elders Clark and Fryer were ap
pointed to take the statement Of fact
previously adopted as the report OF the in
lvestigating committee and prepare a re
port to be submitted to the Presbytery
Jas Its conclusion. A recess Of half an houi
was taken to give the committee time tC
present Its report. The Rev. Mr.. Wylie
lof New Castle, was first appointed q
member OF the committee but he refused
to serve.
Committees Report.
The report of the committee follows
The statement OF the committee was
lbref and IN substance held that in view
lof the fact that the sermon of Mr.. Ell
wood had been generally regarded as
lfavorlng lynching under certain condi.
tions. the committee held that he was
worthy Of censure.
On reading the statement the announce
meut was made that Elder Theodore
clark, whose home is in Delaware City
had refused to sign IT, and In giving his
treason for his failure he said:
'I believe that THE welfare Of our homes
land the safety OF our wives and daught.
lers depends on our settling this matter
lust as quietly as possible. Many ignor'
ant persons actually believe that this
body in a way is approving OF crime"
CONTINUED on Fourth Page)