Evening journal., 1904-01-20
.LWOOD FOUGHT
FOR PUBLIC TRIAL
'resbytery Fixes New Castle
AS Place for Hearing on
February
CCUSEO WANTED OLINET SELECTED
. Was Vigorously Opposed by Or. 7.
I E. Mecurdy, Who Objected to Local
Church Being Accepted as Place For
Hearing.

v Special 10 the Evening Journdi'
Dover. Jan. 20.-For preaching his now
NOUS lynching sermon. the Rev. Robert
Elwood. of oiivct Presbyterian Church
,ilmsngton will be PLACED on trial before
E Prcsbytery of New Castle In the Pres
Ater,an Church in New Castle on Febru-
IN This action was reached at the af-
rnoon session after q lively debate.
Prayer by Accused Pastor.
4r. Elwood himself was delegated 10
en- the afternoon session with prayer
ID ne prayed without reference TO MS
sal. but that the Presbyterian ministers
n mis- body should be awakened 10 the
ork Of saving souls, so that when they
oulJ be called TO account for their ia
srs in that hnal day they could be pre-
red 10 give a good account
several ministers moved that the trial
proceeded with behind clos'd doors.
Mr.. Elwood and Mr.. White. his counsel,
So to object. and Mr.. White was recog-
zed. He said:
am not only willing that God should
iow what l do. but that man should
now. What would be said, II at the cul-
ination Of this trial the result should be
he way OF the other--thar we met within
osed doors and that our deeds therein
ere secret and hldden7 Do not, Mr..
oderator. let us raise a stigma upon this
-esbytery by secret trials and secret
eetings. We are not catering to the ele-
ents Of the rsiblic which might be IA
,rabie or unfavorable 10 any action We
light take: we simply have nothing to
de ana must nos hide anything.
Protests Against Star Chamber.
Mr.. Wylic-I would like to ask Mr.. FL
ood If he ever heard Of a minister being
led in public. Certainly he must know
at It Is unheard OF.
Mr. Elwood-well. if you've got any Law
hich says I must be tried in private
low IL % me.
Stared Clerk Miiigan-Oh. there is nc
W; it is entirely within the province Of
Z 'esbytery.
fOr. McCurdy took the platform to speal
favor of closed doors. He DECLARED tha
his movement meant no star chamber
-oceedlngs. but Il was intendel for quiet
-ayeiful and unsweTing consideration
this case upon its merits. "As Mr.
Thite says. there Is bound to be an ele
tent satisfied or dissatisfied with Oul
sposftlon Of this case. We must not al
Nv any element to enter into it,"
Moderator North here ruled the who'll
after out OF order as this meeting sim
~ rad before it the time and place 70
aal
Wanted Trial in His Own Church.
Mr. White asked THAT the trial TAX
lace in Olivet Church Wilmington. IT.
eclared that he did this because of tn
cry large number Of witnesses to b
ammoned for the defense. Gentlemen
will be decidedly moro convenient 70
ur witnesses to have this held near IN
Gene of the alleged onfense. We will fur
her guarantee to pay the expenses of al
iergy who reside at remote distances
Dr. MccJrdy-Ar. Moderator, upon an
ondition do not take this trial to Olive
/ hurch. As long as you live you will re
ret il.
Mr.. Eiwood--Dr. McCurdy. DO you NEAR
ir. to cast reflections upon my people?
DR.. McCurdy--I mean TO talk. sir. o
he impropriety of such proceeding a
'utting a pastor on trial before his ow
ieople.
Mr.. Elwood-oh. no. sir; you are insult
ng my people. Attend to your own. sir.
Mr.. Wylie interrupted with a motto
4 compromise-that the trial be held /
ne Presbyterian Church at New Cast
n February >. two weeks from toda.
nd that the hour for opening the cas-
,e fixed at 1880. after which no mini,
ers arriving at the scene Of trial coul
-ote in Judgment. This finally prevailc
nd Presbytery adjourned.