New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-02
ISKEp DR.. LEE TO RESIGN.
ST0R REFUSED TO GO.
R,port of Committee on Vest
minister Church Troubles.

-. .,rnr5se Of Presoyteriaus. the full reports
10 M. -o,lles of the last eighteen months in the
% y. ,e,e- Presbyterian Church, IN West 16th-at,
Nes,I-.h Or John Lloyd Lee is pastor, were made
o. ,ss. night The entire findings OF the special
puDi~, which the Moderator OF the Presbytery
oonnIe I--l appointed to examine into the affairs
o. N pc bprch were thus disclosed. The report is
q a,o and carefully reviews the case from its
,osf sensational part Of the findings OF the
,gt.ee is the suggestion that DR.. Lee. in it's
0,oton had outlived his usefulness pastor Of
Irs,+r,iusrer Presbyterian Church and ought to
resign. - tho 4,..s,,,-,or,- 90 c-or,-
Tho has followed she case carefully, last
pight said
-,s special committee has been continued indef-
rleE KIN The present status OF the WestInin-
lstnurch IS as follows: The committee in its re-
rt suggested the advisaoihty OF Dr. Lee reslg-
g o.So but did recommend it TO the presbytery
e. oiicial action. Ihc presoytery accepted inc
ss5ircs Of the committee. ana decided TO keep It's
EsSds of for the present and see how things would
- out DR.. Lee refused 10 resign, though near
-.F per cent Of me congregation was asalnSs MIN I
va he session. Tho minority, therefore left the
lSrch 10 the number OF l2S THIS leaves Dr: Lee
- victor. There are grave DOUBTS however,
eao .5sr Dr. Lee VIII be able TO run affairs smooth
= IN view of all that has uanspired
o,toher IS last. at the suggestion of the spe-
- orn,,itTee and with the approval Of the Pres
- Of ew-York. a meeting Of the congregation
cha Westminster Presbyterian Church was called
,.ka q vote on whether the majority stood for
:. srsiust Dr. Lee and the session. This vote re-
80 in victory for DR.. Lee by majority Of .
:, of a total Of 2SS votes cast
The report Of the committee refers TO the closo-
Is NJ This vote as indicating that the strength
- ssze Of the faction opposed to Or. Lee was
~ larger han it or the Presbytery had sup
nossa and then goes on to say:
ne must report that the strength Of this oppo-
iran seems not to have diminished IN these seven,
ear months, but that the church to-day Is >tliI
os9sr 5s Itself unable to cooperate in the work
II he church under tbs present management.
tbs first question 10 which we addressed our
uiyes whether i would be possible under me
5ssnt leadership 70 quiet the e1lstlnS opposlIlQh
M draw the opposing party INTO helpIul, pIdclZ
81 cooperation. Our Inquiries have shown us no
-g almost half the chJrch' ana when HdS IoM nov,
rsinianed its fun strength Tor nearly year ana
in Of It's membership TO the present ADMINS
rsion -.,.. e,,,+,, r-batber
81. nsrty OF the majority, by itself, or with such
f5F7iduals as it might hope to draw IN from the
ivy on the work successfully. Here again, We
Vsre driven reluctantly to the negative opinion
re could not avoid the apprehension that any al
TEMPT to continue tie church on that basis must
mean in the not remote iuture elmer ne I9I 5000
,ii hiS P 8f 3Ps chur ,.f't 80 -
fy-ther question then confronted US, whether
;bsrs was any hope that under the leadership OF a
rs pastor IT would be possible for these two ele-
,nerts which have been so seriously estranged, to
ilTs together again in Christian cooperation. We
recognized the great difficulty OF predicting the OUT
come Of such an experiment yet were disposed
10 hopeful view of ii. provided the present pastor
should voluntarily resign.
We felt it our duty therefore-a duty which we
could not escape. but which we accepted with the
greatest reluctance-to. communicate this, our view
n the facts TO DR.. lee and his friends. It seemed
N rs that the pastor of the Westminster Church,
in deciding his own course of action had right
10 anv help that he might derive from the opinions
Of our committee. Our judgment commenting IL
self 10 him, he might be glad 10 take advantage
nj the rresent situation when the actual majority
has been declared in his favor and voluntarily oHeT
Bis resignation as pastor.
We have to report: however, that the pastor and
lis friends have found themselves unable 70 accept
our view Of the situation. They think that the re-
tirenent OF the present pastor. whether voluntary
O. Involuntary would be followed by the 1TnTlledlate
vithdrawal Of the great body of his present sup
rorers and they also seem confident Of their own
ability under the present pastor, to command sum
511t st7ppcrt in the congregation TO carry on the
work OF the church successf ully
IN view OF this wide divergence or opinion De-
tween your committee and the majority OF the
officers Of the Westminster Church, it only remains
for TO present this report of the situation as We
it. and ask that may be relieved from
further consideration Of the matter
WILLIAM r. RICHARDS. 4
GEORGE NIXON.
THERON B. STRONG.
WILLIAM A. MAGGIE.