Evening journal., 1921-05-26
'ELMOYLE
LOSES fight
FOR PULPIT
CONTINUED from First Page)
aeero ohix NJ the preshvterian Church

IN the Onlteu states OF Atueflcd
The assembly adopted the perma-
nent judicial commissions report, /
which declared that the Presbytery |
of New Castle Delaware, acted
within its authority and within the
rules of government Of the Church
in ordering Dr. McElmoyle's re-
moval
The action Of the Presbytery OF
New Castle was appealed to the Sy-
nod OF Baltimore. which reversed the
action Of the Presbytery and the ap-
peal to the premanent judicial com
mission resulted.
] Dr. McElmoyle came into public
notice some years ago by gaining the
title OF THE Marrying Parson Of
Elkton." II is said that in one year
he married more than 1000 couples,
averaging nearly three couples day.
For this and other reasons growing
out Of a factional division) in the
church some OF his elders believed
the pastor should resign his church,
Of which he had been pastor 20
years, and the Presbytory at sessions
in Middletown and Lewes. Del, dis
solved the pastoral relations and
recomm ended the minister to refrain
from performing the marriage cere-
nony unless the contracting parties
were properly vouched for. The Sy-
nod of Baltimore. on an appeal by
lDr. McElmOyle. held the action Of the
Presbytery In dlssolving the pastoral
relations was void. because no trial
had been held and no citation had
been given DR.. McElmoyle. There
was no charge Of offense against the
preacher and his standing as a min
is:er is not affected by the action Of
the Presbytery or Synod.
The Judicial Commission OF the
General Assembly found the Pres
b bytery has a right to dissolve pas
toral relations, even against the pro-
test OF church and pastor That Dr.
McElmoyle had full knowledge OF all
that was going on; that he spoke OF
1t in his pulpit: yet he did not appear
in the meeting OF the Presbytery
claiming that a funeral kept him
away. also was noted in the report.
The commission felt the Synod Of
baltimore was not warranted In re-
voking the action OF the Presbytery
, OF New Castle. therefore IL was
/ recommended that the action OF Sy-
nod was not sustained and the action
, OF Presbytery was affirmed.
, Election OF Elders Illegal.
, In the case Of the elders OF the
I Elkton Church who were elected at
r a meeting claimed to be illegally call
ed. the Assembly voted their election
vas Illegal. and directed that the New
Castle Presbytery call a meeting OF
the congregation within 80 days, with
a view Of establishing peace in the
church.
, When Dr. McElmoyle was re-
quested by the elders Of his church
to resign he refused. and a congre-
gational meeting upheld him by a
vote OF 9S to is.
Despite that rebuff the elders APP
pealed to the New Castle Presbytery
70 and a committee was appointed to IN
p vestigate. The investigation stirred
the town. but again the pastor re-
n fused 10 resign.
a Several months later the Presby-
e terry dissolved the pastoral relations
e at a session in Lewes, Del. The fight
o was referred 10 the Synod at Balu-
- more. which reversed the decision
d leaving the whole matter "up In the
e ayr" for the General Assembly to de-
eide.
j. The fight over the marrying par.
It SON" as Dr. McElmoyle came to be
i- known. is said to have started ovel
's a revival meeting which WIS con.
st Quoted in the Elkton Armory. While
D. that was in progress various youni
d neople's ORGANIZATIONS could not PLAY
" basketball games and other amuse
y. meuts for which they had been usini
20 the armory.
n The evangelist, at the end OF hi
l. allotted time. requested an extension
't Mr.. McEimoyle took the side OF IN
r young people and as member o
L the revival committee, decided tn
le evangelist should close.
et That action aroused the ire o
III some Of the elders Of the church,
80 is said.
VI At any rate Il was shortly after
20 ward that Henry Mccullough. Di
william Morrison and W. Sterlin
Evans. elders, requested DIR. Noel
movies resignation, which he refuse
II TO give.
v They made charges that he tip
ped taxi drivers to bring couples
his manse for marriage.
The same charges were presente
.el TO the congregational meeting, who
D. the pastor was upheld by his con
ty gregation. An appeal was the
re made to the Presbytery, which OF
a dered an investigation.
nj The board Of inquiry consisted
lie two ministers and two laymen. Tn
of committee sat for three weeks dali
.y in the church from 10 a. m unit
s. midnight on SOME occasions.
lt Finally the committee reported {
the Presbytery, upholding the eld
ers. That was I'm February, 191l
The speech OF the Rev. Josep
BOYLE. who presented the majorii
. report. I'm which he described thos
ne wishing the pastors removal as ''th
la, cream" Of the church, aroused grei
er indignation among the pastor
lS friends who thereupon called then
he selves the "sklmmed milk" The pa
n tor continued at the head OF h
church. but discontinued perform
w ing marriage services.
ay The matter again came up befoi
the New Castle Presbytery in NJ
vember, 1919. BY a vote OF 16
- 10 the action Of the committe WI