Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-20
CANNOT REDUCE
PAY OF MINISTER
WITHOUT CONSENT
Dover Pastor Says This Was Done
and He Has Relinquished
His Charge.
DIR. w. S. KREGER is
THE NEW MODERATOR

The right of Presbyterian church to
decrease the salary of its pastor without
his consent or the authority of the Presby-
terv was questioned AT the meeting OF
Presbyterv of New Castle yesterday after
noon at Hanover Church. The question
arose over the case of Rev. Floris Fer
werda, for several years pastor OF the
PRESBYTERIAN Church at Dover. his
salary was increased from 81, 200 to 81 400
two wears ago, but later the church ses-
SION voted to decrease it. Presbytery de-
rlded that. once such an increase is re-
ported to the presbytery and recorded on
the minutes, decrease cannot be made
unless the pastor consents, or the Presby-
terry gives authority.
Mr.. .Ferwerda asked the dissolution OF
his pastoral relations with the lover
church, and it was granted. lie stated
that he has been unable to meet properly
the financial demands upon him, and that
his wife has been adding to the family m
come for two years by teaching IN hlgn
school. Meanwhile the congregation Oh
the church has grown and the henevolenc-
es have increased from Si6O to 81, lou, yet
the congregation voted to decrease ms
salary. Herbert c. Richardson read reso-
utions Of the congregation in praise OF his
services He is awaiting a call TO another
church.
REV. W. 5. KREGER MODERATE r.
Rev. Winfield Scott Kreger of Snow
Hill. Md. was chosen moderator at the
opening of the session. He was nominated
bv Rev. Alexander Boyle of Salisbury, Md.
who stated that the Maryland end of the
Preshvterv had not had moderator for
some time, that the influence of the church
would be strengthened by such an APP
pointment and that Rev. MIR. kreger had
all of the ability and facility necessary
IN moderator.
The following committees were APP
pointed. Bills and overtures. Rev. Alex
ander BOYLE. Salisbury, Md; Rev. Thom-
as Kerr, Wilmington; Elder John Heyd,
Wilmington. Judiciary, Rev. Charles II.
Bonner, Wilmington; Rev. Thomas ;.
Armentrout, Wilmington; Elder CALVIN
r. Taylor, Berlin, Md. Finance. Elder
George II. Chandler. Wilmington: Elder
George W Jones, Dover. Leave of alb
sence, Rev. William Ill. Dawes, zion,
Md; Rev. David A. Reed, White Clay
Creek.
Rev. Walter r. Clyde and Elder c. {.
Brokaw were chosen temporary clerks.
The stated clerk, Rev. J. II. Mllligan,
read communications from Cayuga Pres
bvterv on efficiency in religious education,
from Pittsburg Presbytery protesting
against the cost of raising benevolences,
and from Cincinnati PreSbytery protesting
against the change of the word evan
gelical" to Christian" In the plan OF
union OF evangelical churches.
Dr. Milligan's pastoral relation with
the PRESBYTERIAN Church at St. Georges
was dissolved at his request. He stated
that the drift of population was against
he church, of which he has been pastor for
many years A resolution OF appreciation
for his services was read and several
members of the Presbytery praised the
effort which he has made in the face OF
insurmountable difficulties.
Rev DR.. U. Franklin Smiley declared
that the church at ST. Georges was a
true mother church, having contributed
much of the best element to the member
ship of Wilmington churches, and ex-
pressed regret that the population, IN
moving away and leasing farms to MEM
bers of other denominations, has SO
weakened the church as TO make Its con-
tinuation difficult.
MELMoYLE CASE ECHO.
An interesting Question In regard to the
case of Rev. John McElmoyle, pastor OF
Elkton Church, was brought up by Dr.
Smiley, who was clerk of the commission
on the case. He had several books con-
tanning evidence ON the marriage license
question, which brought about the trouble,
and now that the case has been appealed
to the synod, he turned IN the books. The
Presbytery passed motion that they be
put In the hands of the stated clerk, to
turn over to the synod when called for.
Rev. Smiley read report on Sunday
schools, which indicated an urgent need of
more teachers and more thorough re-
lgious instruction.
The following were present at yesterday
afternoons session: Pastors, Rev. Thomas
$ Armentraut, Rev. John ID. Blake, Rev.
Charles H. Bohner, Rev. r. Alexander
BOYLE, Rev. Henry Bunsteln, Rev.
Charles L. Candee, Rev. Walter r. Clyde,
Rev. Josiah II. Crawford, Rev. Agostlno
Dassori, Rev. William H. Davies, Rev.
Floris Ferwerda, Rev. William L. Freund,
Rev. William Gibson, Rev. Joel 5. Gil
iillan, Rev. A. Burtis Hallock, Rev.
Charles II. Holloway, Rev. Robert II.
Hoover, Rev. Robert L. jackson, Rev.
Thomas Kerr, Rev. Winfield s. Kreger,
Rev. Edward W Long, Rev. Henry G.
Martin, Rev. Henry F Mason. Rev.
J. r. Miligan, Rev. Francis II. Moore,
Rev. T. F. Mordecai. Rev. Robert C.