The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-05-02
yFiE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.

Gin going further than sustaining the complaint
against the reception of Rev. VIM. CALDWELL
month later the Presbytery met at Weather
ford. DR.. Caldwell was present and a series of
written questions submitted to him. The
Presbytery had requested that a stenographer be
employed and the representative of the First
Church, Fort Worth, brought its stenogra-
pher, who was accepted by the Presbytery. The
questions were asked and the stenographer took
down the answers of DR.. Caldwell After the ex-
animation Presbytery took and the ste
nographer took his manuscript and returned to
Fort Worth without the knowledge or consent of
Presbytery. Dr. Caldwell again received into
Che PresDytery but when the Presbytery would
complete its record the manuscript was not to be
found anywhere. The representative of the First
Church. Fort Worth, guaranteed that the record
would be forthcoming-but when the Stated Clerk
called for it he could only secure the affidavit of
the stenographer that his manuscript had been
stolen from his office" The stenographer had
been notified that his manuscript was the property
OF the Presbytery. Notice of complaint to Synod
was filed soon as DR.. Caldwell was received but
the majority went and installed him pastor of
the First Church
The new complaint is as follows:
Cd That lie declines to state that he accepts
the Mosaic authorship of the Penteteuch; (2)
that he believes in the miraculous element in the
Old Testament; CD that he believes in the his
toricity of the earlier chapters of Genesis and
further (4) that his answers TO many of the uues-
tions essential to the integrity of orr faith are
equivocal and evasive."
In order that the instructions of Synod might
be complied with, and the record of the case be
completed, the representatives of the First Church
OF Fort Worth agreed that if Presbytery would re-
produce the series of questions that DIR. Caldwell
would answer them This was done and the uues
lions were placed in DR.. Cadwels hands March
q, 1905. He refused to answer them at the next
meeting of the Presbytery, but finally agreed to
answer them at the fall meeting of Presbytery.
so you see that these questions were in his hands
for more than six months-to consider and consult
with others-before he gave his answers to the
Presbytery
When Synod met at Houston November 90
I9o5, the case was again heard and the vote was
taken-S5 to sustain, to sustain in part and 81
not to sustain; excused.
committee was appointed TO formulate tbe
Judgment of Synod, which submitted the follow
ing report which adopted by a vote of 65
to %:
Your committee appointed to formulate the
judgment of Synod upon the complaint of Rev
j. V. Mccall and others against the action of the
Presbytery of Fort Worth in receiving into it's
membership Rev. William Caldwell have to report
follows:
First Synod sustains the complaint of Rev.
j. " Mccall and others against the Presbytery
of Fort Worth, since Rev. William Caldwell is not
in accord with the Standards of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States, by the following
vote: To sustain, IS; to sustain in part 4; not to
sustain, 81; excused, 2.
Second. The effect of this decision is to annul
the action of the Presbytery of Fort Worth in re-
ce1vtng him. as well as the action by which he was
installed pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
of Fort Worth"
This history has been ready since February %,
1906, and has been withheId-nor would it have
been published but for the demand that is
made for it. and the fact that our silence is .
misjudged and that other matters connected with
thls case which do not present the plain facts are
being published to influence the decision before
the Assembly. This history can be verified from
the record of the case.