Evening journal., 1919-10-28
RELNOYLE CASE
With COMMITTEE
Synod of Baltimore Expected
to Act, Their Judicial
Body Reports
QUESTION MAY
COME UP TO-DAY
BY stan Correspondent

'erred. without discussion, 10 the Judi
,ial committee, by the Synod Of Balti-
more, at the opening session in the
Eastern Presbyterian Church in Wesh-
.ngton, d. c., yesterday afternoon. The
Judicial committee was instructed TO
report back to the synod with a
recommendation as to procedure. The
committees recommendation might be
for disposal Of the case in the open
synod, or for action in secret session
Of the synod, or for referring the case
TO a committee. opinion unOfiicially
expressed yesterday was that the mat
ter would be taken up in the open
Iynod.
In case Of consideration by The open
synod, DR.. McElmoyle's appeal from
the request Of Presbytery OF New
Castle for his resignation from the
pastorate OF the ElktOn Presbyterian
Church would be read and other papers
in the case, including finding OF the
committees Of Investigation appointed
by the Presbytery.
Not many members Of New Castle
Presbytery were present at the open
ing session, but a number OF others
were expected today. Dr.. Joel 5. Gil
flllan, OF Olivet Church DR.. u Franklin
Smiley pastor OF West Church, VIII
mington, and Frank Sheppard, elder
from West Church, DR.. Charles II.
Bohner, pastor Of Hanover Presbyterian
Church, and ]. Chandler Pyle, elder Of
Hanover Church, were Wilmingtonians
here yesterday. DR.. T. s. Armentrout
and the Rev. William J. Rowan were
other members Of the Presbytery at
tending the opening session. The Rev
Josiah II. Crawford. who will preside
at the New Era Conferences this after
noon and evening, came this morning
from Wilmington. He IS pastor OF
Central Presbyterian Church I'm that
city Dr. John McElmoyle and ElkiOn
church members were expected today
The report Of the judicial committee
In regard TO procedure Of the Synod op
The McElmoyle case was expected early
This morning. Disposal OF the ElktOn
church troubles by the synod is the
central point OF interest in the sessions. !
The case Is too we'll known TO Della |
wareans TO need elaborate description. |
Briefly. friction has been developing |
for a number Of years between DR.. John |
McElmOyle. pastor OF the Elkton Pres |
byterian Church. supported by one ele- /
ment Of his congregation, and an
element opposed 10 his administration |
OF church affairs. Both sides have |
claimed majority Of the church Mem |
bership The lack OF harmony came /
10 a climax last winter when the Op- !
posing element which objected par
ticularly TO the large number OF
"Gretna Green" marriages performed by
DR.. McElmOyle, made their complaints /
known 10 the presbytery.
A committee OF investigation appoint
ed by the Presbytery, reported back /
with a recommendation that DR.. Nc
Elmoyle be asked 10 resign his pastor
ate OF the Elkton church as the best
way to restore harmony in that consre-
cation.
Tho Presbytery acted upon this
recommendation but the requested
resignation was not forthcoming.
The next step was an appeal by Dr.
NcElmoyle 20 The Synod OF Baltimore
The text Of the appeal was read at tne
stated meeting Of the Presbytery IN
Jewes last spring At this meeting an
executive commission was appointed
by the Presbytery TO take further
testimony and report with recommen-
datlons upon the request from the
element Of the Elkton church opposed
10 DR.. McElmOyle, for a congregational
meeting to elect new trustees. Ihls
element claimed that the pastor re-
fused 10 call a congregational meeting,
although Il was desired they said, by
~ majority Of the church membership.
They said he wished TO keep in office
The trustees favOring his retention and
nolicies. They could not legally elect
new trustees in the face OF his refusal
fnnu1 m1nnffnnr unless
he Presbytery would authorize such
4 meeting.
The report OF the executive commits
sion made az the meeting OF the Pres
bvferv held recently in Berlin. Md, was
not acted upon by that body. Since
the synod has the power to overrule
any action the Presbytery might take,
both sides to the controversy have
marked time awaiting the action Of the
synod upon DR.. McElmoyle's appeal.
Dr. McElmoyle claims in his appeal
that the majority Of his church MEM
hers support his actions and desire TO
retain him as their pastor; that he
has acted within his rights In perform
ing marriages allowed by the State
law, that the law should be blamed !
rather than the clergyman If these
marriages are objected to- that the re-
quest OF the Presbytery for his resig- !
nation from the Elkton pastorate is
based on insufficient grounds and is an
unwarranted attack upon his personal !
rights.
Defense Of the action Of the Presby-
terry in requesting a resignation from
his present pastorate by DR.. McElmoyle
Will be made by Or. u. Franklin
Smiley.
According TO sentiments expressed
by various members at meetings Of |
the Presbytery of New Castle, the
Presbytery does not believe harmony .
can be restored In the ElktOn church ]
without a change Of pastors. since all Q
the friction has centered around Dr. ]
McElmOyle. The Presbytery deplores !
the situation in the Elkton church and q
feels that its continuance will be harm I
ful to the spiritual progress Of that 7
church and detrimental 10 the cause 7
OF religion generally. q
Yesterdays session opened with
devotional service and sermon preached I
by the retiring moderator. the Rev.
Joel s. Gilnllan, OF Wilmington. The b
Rev. Titus Z. Davis. pastor Of the n
Westminster Memorial Church. Of a
ID. c.. was elected as C
moderator. The Rev. Or. Charles G.
Cady. Of Kensington, Md, was re- T
elected as stated clerk 5
The narrative Of Christian life and b
work. delivered by the Rev Hubert Rex Il
Johnson, was ordered printed for dis Il
iribution. d