The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-01-22
PRESBYTERY OF
MORRIS AND ORANGE
Holds Midw inter session in the South
st. Presbyterian Church. Some
Church Troubles Discussed.

st. Presbyterian Church. Some
Church Troubles Discussed.
There was large attendance at the
midwinter meeting of the Morris and
Orange Presbytery in the Sunday
school rooms Of the South Street Pres
byterian Church in this city last Mon
day. The Rev. DR.. Albert Erdman,
pastor of the church, was chosen
moderator and Rev. Stanley White
stated clerk.
In reports of committees, Rev. w.
W. Holloway, chairman of the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
roll of the Second Church of Mend
ham prior to its dissolution, said that
there were only nine members of the
church, and committee recommended
that the church be disbanded and
letters of dismissal given He also
recommended that minute be spread
upon the records of appreciation of the
sacrifice and faithfulness of those who
have been connected with and labored
in the life of the church in former
years.
The committee on matters in the
First Church of East Orange between
the session of the church and a MEM
Der of the congregation reported pro-
gress and was continued.
The committee on Synodical Home
Missions recommended that aid to the
amount of 5000 be granted to the Mis-
sion at North Summit, where work
was being carried on among a mixed
foreign population under the care of
the First Presbyterian Church of Sum-
nit.
Owing to the absence of Rev. j. S.
Ferguson, ID. D., no report was made
on vacant churches and unemployed
ministers.
Considerable interest was taken in
the announcement on the docket of
Presbytery that if found in order, the
consideration of an appeal and COM
plant against the action of the Session
of the Church at Chester" be taken
up. A special committee consisting
of Rev. DIR. John Macnaughtan, of
Madison, Rev. Mr.. Nichols and Elder
Frederick Burnham, of MorrisLown,
had been appointed. When the modera-
tor asked for a report from the com
mittee, Dr. Macnaughtan said the
papers in the case had been examined
and it was found that the appeal was
in order. But the chairman stated
that he wanted Presbytery to under
stand that not all the papers con-
nected with the case had been handed
in, or sent up.
The clerk thenread from the govern
ing rules of Presbytery a section which
provides that a judicial commission
could be appointed to inquire into the
merits of the case, consisting of seven
members four ministers and three
elders.
William Il. Coils, of Chester, then
addressed the moderator and said he
was the complainant in the case, and
acting as his own counsel. He asked
to read a section from the governing
rules, if it was decided that he had
any standing before Presbytery; il
not he asked the privilege OF being
heard. Moderator Erdman said that
he did not believe Mr.. Coils had any
standing before Presbytery, but would
gladly allow him to read from the
book. ME- COlliS called attention to a
section which provides that where all
the papers jim a case are not sent up,
the committee should be ,censured and
the complaint dismissed until all rec
ords were obtained.
The pastor of the Chester church at
this point, asked to make an explana-
tion, but he was adjudged out of order
as Presbytery hadmo right to hear the
merits of the case.
Without further discussion, the
moderator appointed a commission to
take evidence, consisting of DR.. Mac
,naughtan, of Madison; Rev. Mr..
Nichols, Rev. G.. l.. Richmond, Rev.
DIR. Ludlow, Of the Orange churches;
Elder Frederick Burnham, of this city;
A. j. Coe, of Grange, and II. c. Jen-
kinS, of BoOnton.
Devotional exercises were held and
PueSbytery adjourned.