Milford chronicle., 1936-03-27
LAIRD FOUND GUILTY
.REBUKE MADE PENALTY
[ConIInNed ION ~ I'd

[CoStinHed from Fgsf Pagel
the Synod Of Baltimore. Defens,
counsel, meanwhile, after filing al
exception to the decision, indicated
that it would study the verdict fur.
Their before deciding about an ap.
peal. Ten days are allowed within
which to file appeals.
The rebuke officially will not be
given Mr.. Laird until the special
judicial commission makes it's re-
port to Presbytery. II will then be
the duty of the Presbytery TO admin
lister the penalty.
Rev. H. D. Kline Dissents
The decision was not unanimous.
The Rev. Harley B. Kline, pastor Of
Greenhill Presbyterian Church, and
member of the commission dis
scented. There were seven members
on the commission. but the vote was
to l for conviction, one member
the Rev. DR.. A. H. Hibshman. of
COlOra, Md. because Of having been
absent from two sessions of the
trial, was not entitled to vote.
Mr.. Kline, as clerk of the COM
mission, read the majority opinion,
but asked that the record contain
his vote as n dissenting one. He will
draft his minority opinion shortly.
Soon after Mr.. Laird returned
from Dover to his nome. 1900 Gilpin
avenue, Wilmington, telephone calls
began coming in. Members of his
church and other friends in many /
instances said that while they felt |
the verdict was wrong, they believed /
the result a moral victory.
Greeted AZ Prayer Service
Wednesday night at his mid-week
prayer service, attended by $50 per-
sons. Mr.. Laird made no reference
to the commissions decision; hut
afterwards many grasped his hand
as they left the meeting room, and
other spoke their joy that the penal
" was not severe. There was no for
nal demonstration.
The various penalties which can
be given in a verdict by a special
judicial commission in a minister's
rial involving charges such as
llUhG nkaAMDk NIL AAlAAANH gAAGa IA VI
Ter of their severity: admonitiOn.
'ebuke, suspension, deposition, and 4
communication.
The prosecution had argued at
he conclusion of the evidence in
he case last Friday, that suspension
vas the proper penalty. under Pres
,yterian law. This would. il made
Elective Immediately as Dr. Mac |
cod and James NJ. Tunnel, of
prosecution counsel,
rgued should be done. would have
eprived Mr.. Laird of his pulpit uR-
il final settlement by the General
.ssembly. |
VIII Study Next Move
When asked Wednesday. night If
he prosecution would press for n
pecial meeting of the Synod OF Bal
more so that its appeal from the
enalty in connection with the de-
ision might be heard before Cen 6
raj Assembly meets in late May, {
r. Macleod answered that he was {
OF ready to make any statement J
ntil conference with Mr.. Tunnel, !
Is associate In. the prosecution.
II special meeting Of the Synod .
called and the appeals Of the
and defense acted upon.
len the case could go on up to the
eneral Assembly this year and be
lally settled.
The Decision Said In Part;
Since his (Mr. Laird'sl Offense
res not strike st the vitals of our
it'll, since his views are not indus
iOusly spread and since his error
an error of the human under
anding and not likely to do much
jury to our great church. we feel
may still labor with us in our
lrk for Christ i'm the bounds of the
'esbytery Of New Castle and in the
lrk our representatives are doing
rOughout the world"
The verdict expressed the hope
at MIR. Laird may in time see the
ror of his position and have his
me removed from the role OF the
dependent Board of Foreign Mis-
ms. and continue with us in the
,rk our great church is doing for
rist Whom we love and serve"
Commission Members
The commission consisted of: The
". John d. Blake of Red Clay
eek Church. the Rev. A. H. Hibsh-
an of COlOra. Md; the Rev. J. J.
own, Jr.. Of Milford; the Rev.
riley B. Kline. of GTeenhill
urch, Wilmington; Elder Howard
Clark. of Salisbury, Md; Elder G.
Tunnel. Of Lewes. and Elder
race Davis of Berlin, Md.
Mr.. Laird was represented by
mes E. Bennett, New York attor-
Y; James L. Rankin. Chester at
ney. and the Rev. John p. Clel-
i'd of Gastlake Presbyterian
urch.
The prosecution committee con-
ted of James NJ. Tunnel. George
gn attorney. and the Rev. Dom
c. Macleod. pastor of Lower
andywine Presbyterian Church.