New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13
CLEARS PARKHURST.
OF DRYS' CHARGES
N. Y. Presbytery Unani-
nous in Generating Him
for Temperance Wire.
DR.. JOWETT DENIES
HE'S TOO ORTHODOX
Wins Session to Approval of His
Plan for Examination of
Union Seminary Men.

The Rev. DR.. Charles II. Parkhurst,
pastor Of the Madison Square Presby-
terrain Church, was exonerated yester-
day by the Presbytery Of New York
Of charges made against him following
his telegram criticising CALIFORNIA;
campaign for total prohibition. In dis
oussing the admission Of Union Theo-
logical Seminary graduates to the min
istry the Rev. DR.. John Henry Jowett,
pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain Church, branded as falsehood
the published report that he had re-
Gently joined the ultra conse rvatives in
lis denomination.
During the fight in California on the
liquor question at the last state cleo
ton, Dr. Parkhurst sent a telegram
urging temperance. He pleaded for
elimination of whiskey drinking. but
extolled the virtues Of light wines,
made and sold in large quantities on
the Pacific Coast After the campaign
had been won by the "wets." the Pres
bytery of Oakland, Cal. forwarded a
protest against DR.. Parkhurst to the
Presbytery of New York. A report from
the moderators' council recommending
that the charS~s be dismissed was APP
proved. The meeting was held in the
First Presbyterian Church, and the
Rev. Henry NJ. McCracken was chair
man.
Only one minister dissented from
quick action on the report of the mod
orators council. The Rev. DR.. David
G. Wylie, of $50 West End Avenue,
said he believed the matter deserved
little more attention than seemed to
have been bestowed upon IT. He asked
what excuse DR.. Parkhurst had given
for his telegram. DR.. Wylie said he
was in California at the time the mes
sage arrived and that the Parkhurst
message dropped like a bomb IN the
camp of the dry" forces.
Two letters from DR.. Parkhurst to
the moderator were read. in which the
pastor said that he was entitled to his
own opinion on the liquor question. lie
said he realized that absolute prohibl-
ton in California was impossible from
q practical viewpoint. In view OF the
fact that half a loaf was better than
no bread. DR.. Parkhurst said he advo-
Gated the elimination of the sale Of
heavy LIQUORS, such as whskey, and
spoke for temperate use of light wines:
He said further that his stand
against intemperance has always been
known. II was not question Of diff
ference in moral ideas, he wrote, but a
difference in methods. When temper
ance was attained. he jokingly con-
cluded, it would be time to go further,
and even possibly have "our own
brothers give up drinking tea and cof-
fee, whose effects, in their way. are as
harmful as strong liquor"
This explanation was satisfactory TO
DR.. Wylie, who moved the acceptance
of the report.
While arguing in favor Of an execu-
tive session to examine candidates for
the license Of minister, the Rev. DR..
Jowett took occasion to say that a
newspaper article had misrepresented
him grossly in saying he was lined up
with the orthodox party in the Presby-
terry. the party which scrutlnizes with
unusual carefulness candidates from
Union Theological Seminary.
DR.. Jewett branded the story as a
falsehood He said he was in favor Of
an executive examination Of the can
didates, because he had been msrepre-
scented in the press.
After more discussion, the Presby-
terry voted to accept DR.. Jowett's plan.