Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-07


questing the moderator to rule that the
case is not appealable.
Rev. DR.. Moffatt, chairman of the
committee, presented the report and
spoke in its behalf 1t had develored
at the night session that DR.. Moffatt
had not attended former meetings OF
the presbytery at which this matter
had been discussed and he knew but
little Of the merits Of the case. He
had been exceedingly reluctant to have
anything to do with the matter, hav-
ing hoped that the unfortunate trouble
would be settled justly, to the honor Of
the church and the glory Of God, with
out his interference. He wanted 1t un-
derstood, however, that he had not
sought to shirk his duty. Now that he
had gone over the evidence that had
been submitted, he was amazed at the
clearness Of the case that had been
made out; and that such conditions
could exist. The report Of the commit
tee had only covered the issues that
were properly tefore it; but whether
the report was adopted or not, he could
not feel that the question was settled,
as he did not see how, in the light Of
knowledge he now had, he could vote
to give Mr.. Duncan an honorable dis
missal from the presbytery. This is
about the substance Of what the doctor
said, only 1t Is more harshly put. His
language ard manner were character
lied by their usual an iableness, and
while his emotions must have been
deeply stirred, there was but little vis-
ible, outward evidence Of the fact.
Rev. Mr.. Duncan was not present
Monday night, but arrived Tuesday
morning from Asheville, where he Is
spending his honeymoon. The debate
on the report occupied several hours,
during two executive sessions, one In
the morning and the other In the after
noon. The two divisions Of the report
were discussed separately, and Mr..
Duncan was on his feet in his own de-
tense twice during the day.
The discussion of the alleged right
of appeal came up first, and 1t was par
ticipated in by several Of the ablest es-
clesiastical lawyers of the body. Elder
A. G. Brice of Chester, took occasion
to say that while he approved the ac-
ton at Rock Hill, he did not think that
the book on church government was
sufficiently clear on the subject OF ap-
peal to warrant him in an intelligent
vote. He was rather inclined to the
view that the right of appeal is invio-
late. Mr.. Duncan made very impress
sive argument in favor Of the right of
appeal. He was supported also by Ell
ders Mcconnell and Ross, who have
been upholding his cause In the dis
rupted church. Both are able and sin
cere men. It looked very much as II
those who supported the right Of ap-
peal had the best Of 1t, until the mod
orator ruled in accordance with the re-
quest of the committee, and then the
matter was settled.
In substance the moderator's ruling
was to the effect that the presbytery
has original and exclusive jurisdiction
in all matters affecting pastoral rela-
tions. This merely involves discretion
as to what is for the best interest of the
church. If there had been a judicial pro-
cedure of any kind resulting in sentence
or censure, and involving the moral
character Of the minister under consid-
Grafton, then there would be no ques-
ton of the right to appeal to synod. But
no charges have been made and no
penalty has been imposed. There is
nothing to appeal from. If, of course,
the minister should desire to take the
case up to synod on complaint there
could be nothing to prevent his doing
so.
The ruling Of the moderator was ac-
cepted without question or division and
that part of the report was disposed of.
In the afternoon there came up the
question Of reaffirming the action OF
the presbytery at Rock Hill, and this
also caused more debate. This part OF
the report was also opposed by Elders
Mcconnell and Ross and by Rev. ].
M. White. 1t was upheld by DR.. Moi
fatt, DR.. Johnson, DR.. White and 9TH
ers. There was but little heat or
acrimony in the discussion.
On the question Of adopting the re-
port as a whole, the vote was as fol-
lows:
Ministers voting yea: Revs. r. G.
Miller, G. R. White, ]. s. Moffatt, j.
P. Knox, oliver Johnson, James Boyce,
A. S. Rogers, ]. L. Oates, ]. w. Simp-
son, r. C. Davidson, r. M. Stevenson,
r. A. Lummus, ]. A. Smith, r. p. Pat
rick, c. s. Young, r. E. Hough, W. H.
Stevenson and C. Y. Love.
Elders voting yea: Messrs. Wallace,
Smith, Brice, Carson, Faulkner, Stroup,
Mcdonald, Barron, McGill, Whitesides,
Alexander, Neal, Carson, Grist, Will
liams, Ransom, Huey, Kirkpatrick, Pat
ton, Query, Craig and McNinch.
Ministers voting no: Revs. ]. c.
Galloway, John A. White, ]. M. White.
]. H. Pressly, J. M. Bigham, A. T.
Lindsay, william Duncan, w. A. Ken
nedy, w. Y. Love and E. F. Griffith.
Elders voting no: Messrs. Steele,
Morrison, Maloney, Johnson, Beard,
Harris, Mcconnell, Norman, Henry,
Utley, Falls and Paye.
After the report Of the committee
had been disposed of, resolution intro
duced by Rev. ]. S. Moffatt. was adopt
ed providing for the appointment Of
committee Of three to investigate the
intimations contained in various rumors
relating to Rev. Mr.. Duncan with a
view to advising presbytery as to the
advisability Of bringing charges, and
IL the committee should decide that
charges are advisable to formulate the
same. The moderator appointed Rev.
]. S. Moffatt, D. D., Rev. c. s. Young,
and Elder w. D. Grist. The commit
tee on calls and dismissions provided