New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-13
4 PRESBYTERY INQUIRY
ND DUFFIELD'S DEMAND.
Car Westminster Church affair
Has Been Badly Mismanaged.

pic for what ne termed ''mismanasement''
:. affairs OF the Westminster Presbyterian
- which not long ago renounced all con-
-,,,n With the Presbytery. and whose pastor.
=. pev Dr. John Lloyd Lee. seeded along with
,is congregation
~ Dufield was obliged 10 pause frequently to
mi, the applause which punctuated his
rs.sch AZ almost every point 10 When
:, had concluded the gathering approved his
tito, by q unanimous viva voce vote in tones
..,, we're heard by a group of reporters waiting
y the hall below
Frort was made by officials OF the Presbytery
"a ,-event any account Of the action becoming
,rlfc and announcement of IL was refused by
+.s Rev. Dr. F. F. Shearer. the stated clerk. From
,,o,ber source il was learned late last night,
.ousver that two members Of the investigating
..,,rnttee are Or. DuffieId and the Rev. DR.. An
,bonv H Evans. pastor of the West Church.
obe-s are said 10 be prominent laymen and
,s-gynen identified with what chose last
-,gEt 10 call "the best Interests of the Presby-
terc"
rsor,s 10 reach DR.. Dufield last night were
.,.uinR- and no account could be obtained of
bs, he had said. He is reported, however, to
~. declared that the Westminster Church had
-, r,istreated. and that the Presbytery had
s,ovn ,ts 'qncapacity'' in dealing with the whole
affair.
.Esrs We are a presbytery," DR.. Duffield is
-.r+ed as saving that has shown its entire
,-sbfl,,v in many ways 10 cope with the Difficult
lies that have existed in the Westminster
church The condition that permits affairs to
axe This course is a wrong one. / would move
=. s-nointnleut OF q committee TO look into this
Whole affair with the deepest scrutiny and to
A-snr IN a report covering the whole Of its fnd-
h.
,nd The fullest investigation ought TO be courted
Nv this body"
When the rumor that DR.. Duf1eld urged the
commitment of a committee was brought TO the
srtsntion of Dr. Shearer last night he would not
,,ns-rn the report The Official record. IL was
declared would show that DR. Duffield had no
criticism n make Of men or methods. but that
ts desired that steps be taken looking to the
greater efficiency Of the Presbytery. He desired
q was said that this efficiency might be immedi-
ately increased.
II developed in the meeting that there is ap-
rsrsntly some rebellion in the Westminster
Church congregation against the withdrawal of
me church from the Presbytery- Some members
of the church in good standing, II is said, have
urted and retained the services Of Rush Tag
rr who. il was announced few days ago.
had also consented TO represent the Presbytery
an HCl0D 10 DN NdhcA os0 AitN " N@N-
Church
OAioers OF the Westminster Church last night
nsde denial Of this statement
The Presbytsry took action TO dissolve the
session of the Westminster Church. A resou-
ton to this effect was adopted. The wording Of
he resolution practically made it one expering
tne members Of the session both from the church
and the Presbytery The church was ordered
no longer 10 permit the members Of the session
10 act in an Official capacity or to exercise indi-
vduaIly or collectively the functions properly be-
longing 10 them.
This resolution was adopted after the reading
O. report from the Rev. DR.. George Alexander
pastor Of the University Place Church, whom
The PTeshytery named al its last meeting to act
rs the presiding officer OF the Westminster
Church session. Dr. Alexander's report was not
Presented In person. as DR.. Alexander has
started on a tour Of Egypt and Syria
This report noted that IN compliance with the
duties assigned 10 him by the Presbytery, Dr.
Alexander had told the clerk of the Westminster
session 70 call meeting of that body. In reply.
he report said. he had received a letter from
John IT. DeLsmater The clerk, noting that the
sisson had given due consideration TO DR.. Alex
sudeT's request and respectfully informed him
mat inssmuch the church had voted unani
mously n sever ali connection with the Presby-
tery q New-York neither the church nor the
Session could receive or consider any communi-
cation from DR. Alexander or from any one rep
rese1iirg the Presbytery-
The Presbytery accepted the report and named
the Rev Dr. Robert Mckenzie. pastor Of the
Rutgers Church. TO take Dr. Alexander's place
as moderator OF the Westminster Church ses-
sion. II also named a committee. consisting Of
the Rev. Dr. ". R Richards pastor of the
Brick "a. De-. Ttr NfYOp mod
orator % the Presbytery and pastor Of the Tre-
mont Church. and two laymen. w. z. Magic
and Theron @. Strong.
Or. Lee declared last night that the Presby-
le-y had no jurisdiction over the Westminster
thufch and that its act WAS null and void
The Presbyery," he said. cannot discipline
nls church, and any action II may take in ref
eence 70 us is without force"
one member of the Presbvterv last night de-
ARC tnat he believed that there was doubt oi
~ cpnsututionality Of the act Of the Presby-
80 IN dissolving The session. He feared. ne
own laws
The session of the Westminster Church helc
plHeeuhg last Sunday and communicated 70 IN
1issbgter8 the result of the deliberations. Th'
message declared that the designation of Dr
- Iy the term late pastor is incorrect, a.
- Ias remained pastor Of the church. In IN
Tec'hn place. il said. the statement that DT
--ee mad abandoned the Presbyterian Church AM
ttholnced the jurisdiction OF the same Churcl
=. ~4Sp declared 20 be incorrect In CONCLUSION
y ioisd that except for the severance or con
Itcuons with the Presbytery the church remain
esNo'ed 10 the faith and doctrines Of the Pres
4gterian Church
u was decided that no action on the West
Minister Church message was necessary. Like
,Iht II was deemed unnecessary 10 act on IN
lstler from DR. Lee, urging that the Presbyter,
4p Tot consider that he had intended 10 re
''.ehce the ministry Of the Presbyterian Church
Tie Presbytery also voted 10 permit the Har
ssn Presbyterian Church 10 place a mortgage o
satHp on its property IN Mount Morris Parh
Vest, that II may finish it's new church building
ms matter. as announced exclusively in tn
tribune. formed the basis Of bitter discussio
AZ the meeting of the Presbytery a month ago