Evening journal., 1919-03-08
Enrcial Is The Evenlns journal.

IN behalf OF the pastor, the Rev, JONI
McElmoyle, 70 the Presbytery OF New
Castle, meeting at Middletown, or
Janusry i3. made iis report 10 The Elk'
son church congregation oh Thursday
pight. The committees report SAYS
hTo the Congregation Of the Elktor
EPresbyterian y Church:
4 The undersigned. members OF The
c.mmlttee appointed by the congrega'
hon al its meeting on Jahuary 2. ieis
10 appear bef0te Presbytery at Middle
{own ON January il. 1919, and present
10 II the request OF the congregation
HAT a meeting Of The congregation be
tsiict for the election Of elders, beg
ieave 10 submit the following report:
-"1hc committee visited Presbytery as
hftctel, but was unable 10 obtain a
nearing or the reading OF its written
Statement Requests that it-he heard
we're made by Drs. McElmoylo and
Rowan, Of Newark, Delaware. but q
notion made late in the afternoon ses-
Zion. that your committee and the
elders Of your church. all or whom
We're present, be each allowed five min
Ntes 20 address Presbytery. was de-
feaied by q vote Of II 20 O. The ground
for the rejection Of the motion APP
peared 70 be that the congregation had
had ample opportunity 10 state its case
20 the Investigation committee and was
Entitled 10 no further consideration.
The request Of Or. Rowan that he be
permitted 20 read your committee :
st5iement was also refused.
Your committee attended the greater
part Of the morning session and the
entire afternoon session. all but the
bst few minutes Of which was devoted
% the matter OF the report OF the
Committee Of Presbytery. which con-
3ucted the recent investigation Into
thc affairs OF your church.
Before the submission Of the report,
pr Gilnllan. chairman Of the commit
tee durihg the conduct Of the investi-
zliion, made an earnest plea FOR per-
mission TO make a personal statement
- the nature OF q minority report He
Explained that he contemplated urging
Apon prcsbyiery that 10 postpone hear
ins the report, and that IL make a
sr0hg appeal alOng spiritual lines TO
shc pastor and entire congregation OF
ne ElktOn Presbyterian Church 10 com
pose their differences, and come to-
eeiher in harmony for The good Of the
church. lie stated that what he had 90
say would be absolutely futile and OF
10 avail IN the committees report was
0rst heard his Implication being tifat
fhe report was OF such a character as
10 widen the breach between the two
foctons Of the congregation beyond
9ope Of repair.
"Dr Glnllans suggestion met with
Vehement opposition from Mr.. Wales
md Dr. Boyle. the latter stating that he
sent 10 Elkton with the same thought
81 the possible restoration Of harmony
= ne church. but that before the In
scstigaton closed he realized that such
al cnort would be- TO use his own
fords, almost blasphemons.
cpr Gnnnan further asked that II
Permission be refused him 10 read his
Statement. he be released from meni-
1rship on the committee. Presbytery
pefuseJ 10 accede to this latter request.
md n motion that 10 hear the report
s-sFcarried.
- The report was read by Mr.. Wales
! contained an outline Of The commit
A activities IN Elkton and Of what 10
III tdared the salient points disclosed
~ testimony. and closed with rec
y 0ndations that Prcsbytery pass
t.fsolutions 10 the following effect; first.
hat It was desirable that the pastoral
solation existing between Dr. McEl- !
1loyle and Elkton Presbyterian Church /
~ dissolved; second, that the pastor /
Il the church be Informed that it was /
nc sense OF Presbytery that no persons /
Iom outside the state Of Maryland be
married by him except such persons as
We're personally known TO him or were
vouched for by somesne 10 whom That /
lad been known for at least sixty days, !
Ind that the pastor give no inducement, /
direct or Indirect, 10 anyone 60 bring /
persons 20 him 20 be married, third, /
ihat the duplex system Of management
n tho finances OF The church be
adopted by the election OF financial
3ecret8ry.
t-'The report impressed your commit
C. Us being one-sided and unfair in IFS
statement Of the facts OF tho contro-
vfrsy al issue and in It's differences
drawn therefrom For example. after
1ferrinS 10 the fact that % your an
nual meeting in May, 1917, Mr. McCul-
ipugh failed Of reelection as trustee. il
stated that at the subsequent mcetins
N the trustees he was unanimously re-
elected treasurer, two OF the trustees
rot voting. IL failed TO state that three
II the trustees were absent from the
rneeing, two Of them because they were
not notified that Il was to-be held, and
hat Mr.. Mccullough had been re-elect-
ID by the unanimous vote OF four OF a
BOARD Of nine.
<"The report also. after making some
rference 10 the alteration growing out
n the series Of Bob johnson meetings.
characterized it as a trivial matter 90
3c assigned as the CAUSE for such 3
ssrious situation as had arisen within
ne church. This implied that in the
opinion OF members OF the committee
here was some other cause, yet they
AIDED to make clear. either in the re-
aort or in their subsequent remarks. I
Why the elders and their supporters !
ieit constrained TO absent themselves /
'gom the services Of the church and to
Withdraw from it their financial sup
port after April. 1918, when they had
not done 50 in t1e years before that
1aie, during whicn the marriage situa-
lfon they complain Of existed in even
Qnore exaggerated form than it has
sfnce
Inc discussion which followed a
49slvh 70 adopt The FIRST resolution
,1-,silunde t1o2alinended by tho committee was
XII ~ W, on The part Of Aiessrs. Bovie
Nales. not only in spirit ~ IN :
~, ~ tsansaip, but also n.rtic,,i
So ~ ,. eae case Of the former ,,.i,h ~.
oil'eihess and prenafc. 1, ~
-, ~ 'eheNcd .oNervihin, 80 ,
,,a wy elders and the,r. -,