The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-03-04
SESSION
OF PRESBYTERY
Chester Church Case Occasions
Use Of Some Rather En-
phatic Language.
NOTHING DECISIVE IS DONE.

NUlHlNG DEClSlVE ID DUNE.
1t was rather lively session that
the Presbytery Of Morris and Orange
put in at the South Street Presbyter-
ian Church Tuesday morning last.
Two vexed questions were up for
/ discussion and the feelings Of some of
the members were evidently aroused
to an unusual pitch.
Resolutions were passed condemn
/ ing stories of Presbytery proceedings
/ printed in newspapers and remarks
were made that other things printed
about the meetings were misunder-
stood and misapprehended.
The meeting was called to listen to
the reports of the judicial commission
appointed to take testimony relative
to the action of the Chester Church
in suspending William e. Coils and
of the one selected to investigate the
charges made against William S.
i Wensley, of East Orange, by the
session of the First Presbyterian
Church of that city. The Rev. AL
bert Frdman Of this city, was chosen
moderator and the Rev. Stanley
/ White, stated clerk.
/ The greatest interest was centered
in the East Orange matter. 1t was
charged that sometime ago William
S. Wensley circulated certain letters
among the members of that church
1 deriding the character of the pastor,
Rev. James M. Ludlow; that these
letters were malicious and with the
purpose and intent of creatinga feel
ing against DIR. Ludlow: that after
several stormy meetings of the session
OF the church Mr. Wensley was seen
concerning his course and asked to
cease further attacks upon the pastor;
/ that he Repented of his acts and
signed an agreement not to circulate
any more letters. So far as this was
/ concerned it was stated that Mr..
Wensley had kept his promise but
that he refused to shake hands with
Dr. Ludlow when they met alta club
in East Orange, This conduct some
i of the ministers thought, was of a
such a nature as required disipline.
The commissioners said that on
November 4, The session of the
East Orange Church decided to
ask the Presbytery to take needed
action in the matter. The
Rev. w. Hatch Nichols, of Orange,
said that Mr. Wensley had no fol-
lowing and was not capable of making
any trouble. He warned the Pres
bytery against a public trial. The
Rev. DR.. MacNaughton wanted to
know if the Orange Church desired
public hearing.
/ The speech of the morning was
made by the Rev. Theodoee f. White,
pastor emeritus of the Summit Pres
byterian Church. "My sympathies
are with Dr. Ludlow" he said, "but
| am convinced that the adoption Of
the report of the commission recon-
mending trial would be a great
mistake Here DIR. White told a
story that was very severe in its
application. He said Wensley had no
following and had only cemented the
congregation to the pastor. They
stand stronger as a church than ever
before.
Dr. White said he could not see
how the Presbytery could exclude a
man because he refused to take an
other mans hand. He did not be-
lieve it was good grounds for an
ecclesiastical trial. "If you treat
Mr.. Wensley Ikea balloonr continued
Mr. White, you will of course balloon
him up by granting trial. That's
what he wants. 1t will give him an
opportunity to air himself" The
Rev DR.. Beaumont agreed with Dr.
White and said he was satisfied the
Summit minister had voiced the
sentiment of all present.
There were three members of the
East Orange Church present, one of
whom said that a letter recently
written by Mr.. Wensley contained
untruths which were in themselves
sufficient grounds for a trial. The
man he thought should be suspended.
Elder Frederick G. Burnham, of this
city, then made common sense
appeal to the Presbytery. He thought
discretion the better part of yalor
and suggested that it might be wise for
DR.. Ludlow to stand little indiyi-
dual suffering in the matter.
1t was finally decided to receive the
report and continue the commission
In regard to the suspension Of
William E. Coils from the church at
Chester che commission reported
that the matter had been amicably
settled. In the repor + was the fol-
lowing minute: without expressing
any opinion regarding the nature of
the trouble in the family of Mr.
L