The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-29
Ralph Grier in News and Courier.

tG kalpll UTlef Ill news ana Courier.
Greenyille, March 24.-After hay
ing debated for more than clever
i hours the question 'of the legality O.
the action Of the Synod Of Texas il
reversing the action Of the Presby
terry of Fort Worth, and having also
entered into discussion as to tht
justness OF harshness Of that action
the General Assembly of the Presby.
terrain Church today sustained the
complaint and declared illegal the
action of the Synod, thereby restor-
ing Dir. William Caldwell to his
former position as a member of the
Presbytery of Fort Worth, and also
to the pastorate Of the First Presby-
terian church Of Fort Worth.
After many Of the commissioners
had entered into a full and lengthy
discussion Of the case, the Rev. j. v.
Smith of Fayetteville, N. c., arose
and called for vote OIL the ques.
tion.
The floor became scene of tur-
" moil, and half the commissioners in
the ear of Moderator Hall. DR.. Jo-
sephus Johnston, Of Texas, finally
the house were endeavoring to gain
managed to make himself heard, and
called in strenuous tones for yea
and nay vote.
DR.. G. r. Hemphill, Of Louisville,
then calmly stated the object Of the
vote, explaining clearly that the ques-
ton before the Assembly was wheth-
er or not the action Of the Synod was
unconstitutional, and that the vote
had nothing whatever to do with en-
dorsing the views entertained by Dr.
William Caldwell.
The complaint Of the session of tho
Fort Worth church was then read
The complaint was as follows:
The Complaint.
We, the members Of the session
of the First Presbyterian Church OF
Fort Worth, Texas, hereby com
plain to the General Assembl!
against the action of the Synod Of
Texas in sustaining the complaint OF
the Rev. John V. Mccall and others
against the Presbytery Of For
Worth in pronouncing judgment an
nulling the action Of said Presbytery
by which the Rev. William Caldwell
was received and installed pastor OF
the First Presbyterian church o1
Fort Worth.
/. When the Synod did not pro
ceed regularly in the trial OF th'
cause, (a) in that ii acted in a com
Dlaint which had not constitutional
standing before the Synod, and %
in that it heard and deceived the IS
sue upon record Of the case. whlcl
was not the record upon which th'
Presbytery of Fort Worth acted II
receiving DR.. Caldwell, and (c) II
that it denied to the Rev. William
Caldwell his constitutional rights a
member of the Presbytcry OF For
Worth.
2. When, in annulling the Act o
the Presbytcry Of Fort Worth, IN
SYNOD Of Texas pronounced ms
taken and unjust judgment, (a) /
that it had before it no adequat
oroof that the Rev. William Gale
we'll WAS not in accord with tn
standards of the Presbyterian churc
in the United States charged, and ID
in that the penalty inflicted was ur
iustIv severe and out of all propol
ton to the offence.
Meaning of the Vote.
After many and bewiderln" c'
nlauations of the question on wine
the Assembly was voting it was III
aIIy announced by Moderator LA
that the vote was being taken to sc
who favored sustaining the tirst pa
of the complaint, which was d'v'"e
into three sections. 1t IS seen
once that to vote to sustain 'nc '",'
nlaint was to vote to sustain y
Caldwell. =, /,
Intense silence reigned while tt
roll was being called. The conVers
tions which are usually going on
over the house we're hushed ana on VI,
the voice of the clerks calling Il
ron broke q stiffness that was a
most painful.
Result Of the Vote.
About an hour. was consumed
:. taking the vote. 1t was as follow
TO sustain the first section oh !, !,
complaint in full, 70. TO sustain u
: II NJ OF TO Sn