New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-26
REVOLT IN PRESBYTERY
TIRED OF "CZAR RULE" ="
Clrgymen Protest against "Star
Chamber Methods"

There is conflict on in the Presbytery Of
~ez York which bids fair 10 shake the organi-
-s-ior 70 its foundations before a settlement is
reached. Many Of the members are in open
revolt against what they term the star cham
bsr methods and cut and dried tactics of GER
-st- powerful clique which has run the Pres
hvtery m suit itself for several years.
The cali 70 arms was sounded by the Rev
pr Howard Dufield. at the last meeting OF the
Pres6yrerv. on March II when he arraigned
me 1rEarizGtion for its general Incompetence
and called for the appointment Of a committee
% investigate its actions and suggest needed re-
forms II was generally supposed At the time
that Dr. Dufheld's reference was TO the way in
vhich The case Of the Rev. DR.. John Lloyd Lee
s7d the Westminster Church had been handled
by rho Presbytery- There was. I'm fact great
rejoicing among DR.. Lees friends over the al
legged appearance Of powerful faction in the
7reshyte-y which seemed about to espouse the
cause of the Westminster Church
later developments. however. have shown
iz. Dr. pumelds motion had no bearing what
erer a- The Westminster Church case. For
yfars according 10 the protestauts a powerful
faction. headed by James Yereance, Warner
Van Norden. John J. NIcCook. the late Rev Dr.
Robert Russell Booth. the Rev. Dr. Frederic r.
Srra-Gr The Rev Dr Walter y. Buchanan,
Tho EeV John Carpenter Palmer. the Rev
George nixon, the Rev. Dr. George l. Shearer.
lhe Rev Dr. David @. Wylie and the late Alex
srder P KetchUm. has run the Presbytery Of
New York just as it pleased. The opposition to
This regime has been steadily growing and has
nov reached the boiling point
Il Is learned from authoritative sources that
the last meeting Of the Presbytery was a stormy
ore and that there took place a battle Of words
between James Yereance. who Is one Of the trus-
. tees NJ the Preshytery. and the Rev. Dr. John
Newton Lyle. the Sunday school missionary of
the Board of Publication and Sunday school
Work for The Synod of New York. The argu-
-sut. which was over the appointment Of a
committee desired by Or. Lyle. vaxed so heated.
IN fact. that the Moderator was obliged to beg
the two men 10 desist.
Az the meeting Of the Synod of New York at
sy-acuse last October DR.. Lyle was appointed
ss the representative Of the missionary depart
ment Of the Board Of Publication and Sunday
School Work for the Synod Of New York TO sue
ceed the Rev. Dr. A. c. Mcmillan, who resigned
70 acoept the pastorate Of the Westminster
Church in Yonkers. The duties of the place
s-e 20 look after the Sunday school missionary
work Of the state. Under the present regime
n The Presbytery OF New York. It is charged.
the missionary has been expected to DO the bid
ding Of the local body. Il was partly for this
reason, f. is alleged, that Dr. Mcmillan re-
slEned.
DR.. Lyle. however. has shown a strong ten
dency 70 do the work laid out by the board in
Philadelphia. and not 10 lznuckle down 10 the So
called czars OF Presbytery. who by the way, BIT
terly opposed his appointment at tire meeting Of
the synod ~ New York at Syracuse last Oc-
her.
Dr. Lyle recently asked the Presbytery 10 ap-
point a committee 10 represent the Board Of Pub
--ati0n and Sunday School Work and aid him
'r bis work The request was referred to the
Modera.7rs council and adversely reported at
The last meeting Of the Presbytery.
When This announcement was made DR.. Lyle
took me floor and demanded that the committee
Do appointed. He was backed by some Of the
strongest men in the Presbytery and he got the
committee. This so nertled Mr.. Yereance that
h- delivered a philippe against Dr. Lyle, in the
course of which he accused the latter Of incom-
rarar.-. Then DR. Lyle let the cat out of the
bag ar retortiug that he had received secret in
srru.- aGs from the board in Philadelphia not to
~ -he bidding Of the Yereance- -Shearer faction.
This Produced a big hubbub in the Presbytery,
an7 T. was here that the Moderator had to inter
fer -1 restore order.
Some ~ the strongest men in the Presbytery
s-e confident that the present contest will end
.r rre overthrow Of the so-calIed car rule II
reC-rr Years and the establishment Of a more
Democrat. organization.
~ Fe~eluoe declined last evening to discuss
ths difference he had with DR. Lyle at the last
meeting ~ the Presbytery. He expressed sur
prise tHar report Of the controversy over the
appointment OF n committee demanded by Dr.
Lyle lad reached Tho Tribune.
II know ~ no factionel fight in the Presby-
terry ar. Eearance said. There has been no
eUarreL not even serious friction. so far as I
nave observed. OF course, there have been diff
ITf-T.EaF rf honest opinion TegaTding methods
ar times. and there have been discussions Of such
s1eral.es ] am not leading any faction. and
nave H1 interest in any movement 10 promote
cisserstous ia the PTesbytery."