New-York tribune., 1906-12-11
DIR. LEE TAKEN BACK.
Presbytery's Action Comes After
Westminster Pastors Death.

Tae Presbytery Of New York meeting in the Old
First Presbyterian Church, yesterday afternoon
heard a written appeal from the late Rev. DR..
John LLOYD Lee pastor tbs Westminster Presby-
terisn Church. asking that he be restored 10 mem
bership and that his, name be placed again upon
the rolls OF the Presbytery. Though the late pas
OF the Westminster Church had contested the
P-ssbytery bitterly, he had many firm friends
within IL and tears dirnmed many eyes as DR..
Lees request presented. by the Rev. Dr. w.
R. Richards. Voting unanimously. the members
accsded TO the request
DR. Leee died few DAYS ago, after long IL
ness. He withdrew from the Presbytery. together
with his church a year ago. Last month, on what
was practically his deathbed. he made. through
others. a request for reinstatement The Presby-
te-y voted that upon the receipt Of personal re-
quest from Or. Les he would be restored Just a
few days before he died he signed the appeal
heard and approved yesterday.
This marks the closing step in one Of the most
dramatic incidents IN the local Presbytery since
the famous heresy trials a few years ago. The
Presbytery also took the other steps looking to the
reinstatement of the Westminster Church Of which
DR.. Lee was pastor Il was announced that at a
congregational meeting a few nights ago elders
were elected VINO, with TWO exceptions were the
same board the church elected during its with
drawaL
A request for loan Of $500 10 repair the West
minister Church held over One Of the elders
said that the plan Dr.. Lee had Of tearing down
the church and erecting in its stead great ten
combined. had not been entirely given up. a year
hence. he said il might be taken up and, II
erected woulQ probably constitute q Lee Ne
morial'
The committee named by the Presbytery a year
ago TO look into its internal affairs. with view
10 obtaining greater efficiency. made its report.
The committee was named when many sensational
runors were in the air concerning the Presbytery.
The report, presented by the Rev DR.. Howard
Dufield did not bear out. Il said. the expec,a-
Iions
Suggesting some possible reforms. without naming
reasons for them. the report was ordered for con-
sideration al the January meeting. Il suggests
that rnoderators be elected for year. with posi-
bic reelection for three years. in place OF
the present unwrittea law that moderators shall
be elected for two terms Of six months each, and
no more.
Council ought be replaced by a bOCy. to
consist OF eighteen members. half ministers and
half laynen and be made an elective body. At
present the Moderators' Council consists OF two
clergymen and TWO laymen and is appointed by
the moderator. Il IS provided that the members
must be active ministers when ministers. either in
the pastorate il connection with some denoTnina-
t.Onal board institution. BY these terms teachers
in Union Seminary and the Presbyterian officers Of
-lt'i--ll'i iiiatlo-4 organ ZdtlOliS are odITeQ
Il was also suggested thar. instead Of the nine
stated meetings held by the Presbytery in all
months except July August and September there
davs IT, May December and February, and the
M0ndav preceding the first Tuesday in October
Planned Tor besides are two detotonal meetings on
the second Monday IN March and the second Non
L was announced that the Rev. DR.. Pleasant
Hunter had Feslgned MS pastorate Of the Fourth
End avenpe. 70 accept he PasJoTate Of the Second
EresbyleT1an church or Newark Inc KEY. DI
j. 3 DeFins was named 10 preecn N me cnutGn
on the first SUNDAY n January. and to declare the
pulpit vacant d. Hunter pTeaches ms IareWeL t:
sermon on the last Sunday in December. closing his
pastcrate with the year.