The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-04-24
MINISTER GETS
IN HOT WATER
Presbyterians In Philadelphia Are
Agitated Over Speech
Made To Boys.
FOR SUNDAY BEER SELLING.
He Also Had The 1emerity 10
Deny The Virtue OF
Local option.
FOR SUNDAY BEER SELLING.

PHILADELPHIA, April For two
hours yesterday the Presbytery OF
Philadelphia, at its meeting in West
minister Hall, debated the ACCESSIBILITY
of calling the Rev. DR.. Robert Ellis
Thompson, president of the Central
High School, to account for his recent
utterances before the boys of the SCI
Nor class favoring the sale of beer for
three hours on Sundays and denying
the virtue OF local optino.
Doctor Thompson is a Presbyterian
minister and a member of the presby-
terry.
After heated debate the matter was
referred to a committee of five min
listers and two laymen, who will make
report to presbytery this afternoon
in Westminster Hall. This committee
will probably communicate with Doc
tor Thompson and seek an eXplana-
ton of his attitude. 1t may invite him
to address the presbytery today.
The Rev. DR.. George B. Bell intro
duced a resolution censuring Doctor
Thompson. The resolution, while ex-
pressing confidence in Doctor rhomp-
son as an educator, "deplored, con-
demned and repudiated" his recent
'indiscretion." His statement, it said,
had worked irreparable damage to the
cause of temperance.
'LYNCHING A MAN WITHOUT
TRIAL.
The Rev. DR.. ]. Gray Bolton declar-
ed that a resolution Of this sort was
equivalent to lynching a man without
trial, outside of the government OF
the Church and of the Word of God. -
He contended that Doctor Thompson
was being crucified to public senti-
ment," and that every men had right
to his own opinion.
The Rev. Dr. William Hutton said
Doctor Thompson had committed a
great blunder," and he favored Wig
orous measures to bring him to ac-
count.
The Rev. DR.. Robert Hunter pointed
out that no dlsciplinaryaction could be
taken by presbytery involving Doctor
Thompson's character or his speech
without summoning him to account in
an official manner.
The Rev. DR.. Andrew T. Taylor de-
clared that Doctor Thompson had
taught things directly opposite to our
teaching of obedience to the laws OF
God and of the State"
I'VE must not nibble at this thing,
nor must we keep our mouths shut on
the subject" said Doctor Taylor. I'VE
must not remain silent merely because
somebody's toes will be stepped on il
we take action" He denounced as "a
Sabbath dissertation Doctor Thomp-
sons suggestion to open the saloons
on Sunday afternoons. He called such
advice 'insolent."
BREWERS WILL THANK US"
I'VE are getting too liberal" cried
the Rev. Dr. R. T. Jones, who followed
Doctor Taylor. IF we go on in this
manner we will soon have a vote of
thinks from a brewery association -
j. Frank Beale a venerable elder
de clared that Doctor Thompson s
statement, as printed in the Public
| Ledger, was not retraction, but mere
ly expressed the educators regret that
he advanced such views at that time
and place.
Impressed by this statement, the
Rev. DR.. H. Clay Ferguson demanded
that Doctor Thompson should make
an explanation to presbytery.
The Rev. DR.. William P. Fulton of.
fered a resolution to refer the whole
matter to a committee of five of the
wisest men in the presbytery." A sug
gestion that it invite Doctor Thompson
to appear before presbytery and ex,
plain his position was hailed with sat,
istaction. Doctor Bolton objected Tic
| declared that Doctor Thompson
mention Doctor Thompson's name il
any recommendation that it made tc
presbytery
81 give notice that l will appeal from
such action to the Synod of Pennsyl
vania,' he announced, shaking his
finger at his opponents. He declared
that if Doctor Thompson's name was
mentioned in the recommendation
Doctor Thompson would have remedy
lin this court and in the civil courts
The moderator, the Rev. DR.. Herbert
r. Burgess, appointed a committee OF
seven to report on Doctor Thompsons
case. 1t is composed of the Rev. Dr.
w. P. Fulton, chairman; the Rev. DR.
John r. Davies, the Rev. DR.. J. Gray
Bolton, the Rev. DR.. George B. Bell
Dr. Andrew T, Taylor, Henry w. Lam
birth and DR. John w. Dulles.
Before the debate the presbytery
adopted a resolution presented by ITS
temperance committee, which declared
that ut is the duty of the church and
of all Christian citizens to put forth
every possible effort to secure from the
Legislature local option law"
CRITICIZED AT MINISTER'S MEET