MELBOURNE PRESBYTERY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 232, 20 September 1881, Page 4

MELBOURNE PRESBYTERY.

[By Tblbsbaph.J [Per s.s. Arawata, at the Bluff.] MELBOURNE, September 14. The Melbourne Presbytery, in a sitting lasting nine hours, had a warm debate, on September Bth, regarding the recent speech o£ Mr Stewart, elder of Scots Church, which was listened to by the Her. Charles Strong without the latter commenting on the same. Although efforts were made by the opponents of the Bev. Mr Wilson’s resolutions to secure an adjournment of the debate, Mr Wilson and his friends pushed the matter to a conclusion at the sitting. The Bays. Murdoch, Macdonald, Bentoul, and Yules were the principal supporters of the motion. Each spoke, controverting Mr Stewart’s view of the Creation and other matters. During the sitting a warm discussion arose over a statement by Mr Duncan Eraser, attributing an extraordinary remark to the Bev. Mr Macdonald, which the latter flatly contradicted. The alleged remark was that Mr Macdonald, although hitherto disbelieving in the personalty of the Devil, considered that he had found the Devil now in Mr Stewart. Mr Eraser finally withdrew his remarks. Another storm arose while Elder Beid spoke against the motion. He quoted from Tennyson the lines that “ But half a lie is most difficult to meet, &c. ” Mr Beid’s remarks were cheered by the strangers present. Mr Wilson's first three resolutions were carried by eighteen votes against eight. *• 1. That MV Stewart’s statements tended to misrepresent the recent action of the Presbytery in the Strong case,” “2. That Mr Stewart had misrepresented the standards of the Church, and should be required to express bis regret for having done so.” “3. That the imputation of dishonesty against those professing adherence to the church standards be implicitly withdrawn.” The fourth resolution, reflecting upon the silence of the Bev. C. Strong, was not pressed. On the re-assembling of the Presbytery on the 9th, a otter was read from Mr Stewart, denying tha I be made any reference to the decision of the Presbytery in his speech, and saying that he can give no further explanation regarding the

charge of dishonesty ; also as to the alleged misrepresentation of the church standards, Mr Stewart regrets that he cannot acquiesce in the finding of the Presbytery. A proposal then made in tho Presbytery for a committee to confer and reason with Mr Stewart was abandoned, and the case was adjourned till the 10th. Excitement • was caused by Mr Stewart producing an anonymous loiter, addressed to him, containing reflections on himself and family. It transpired that similar letters had been sent to the Moderator, and tho Bovs. McDonald and McEaohern. Worm sympathy is expressed for Mr Stewart. The proceedings were resumed on the 10th. The Bev. Wilson moved—“ That as Mr Stewart has not retracted the imputations of dishonesty, the Presbytery express disapproval and censure him j also for his contemptuous misrepresentation of the standards he shall not again sit in the Presbytery." The Key. O. Strong, in a speech, defended Mr Stewart, urging that tho motion was merely the shelving of an important question. After four hours’ debate, the motion was carried by 23 against 9. The Bev. Hay protested, and will appeal to the Assembly.