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« • 
 
 2 
 
 HAMILTON, 12th Mabch, 1867. 
 
 Bbv'o. k Dbar Sib,— 
 
 dioU 
 allo^ 
 
 . 
 
 I beg leave, thro' you, to ask the Session of Enex' 
 Church to remove my name from the Communicant Roll of the Church. 
 
 I make this request, after due deliberation, in consequence of having 
 understood that Mr. M. E. Rice has been elected to the Eldership of the 
 Church, and that he has consented to act. 
 
 I consider that Mr. Rice is not possessed of that moral and religious 
 character so absolutely necessary to warrant bis being appointed a ruler 
 in spiritual matters. The position is one too important to be filled by any 
 person save one who could have the confidence of the members of the con- 
 gregation over whoso spiritual interests he has to preside— one vho could 
 with honest heart kneel at the bed-side of the sick, and give proper advice 
 and direction to all who sought for it ; one whose walk in every day life 
 would give the world to know that he is a pious man. 
 
 As I do not wish to see such a position trifled with so long as I am a 
 member of the Church, I desire, before Mr. Rice is ordained, to feel and 
 know that I am no longer a member. 
 
 If you cannot remove my name, please grant me the usual certificate. 
 
 , , , Tours Truly, 
 
 DAVID McKINNON. 
 
 Rbv'd. a. B. SIMPSON, 
 
 Moderator, 
 
 Knox's Church Session, 
 
 fiamilton. 
 
 Rbv'd. akd Dbar Sir, — 
 
 HAMILTON, March 13, 1867. 
 
 Understanding that Mr. Rice is to be or- 
 dained an Elder in Knox's Church and- from reports in regard ttf his moral 
 character which have reached my ears, believing that he is wholly unfitted 
 for iuch a high position in the Christian Church, It in ■ecordanee with the 
 
IfAKCH, 1867. 
 
 eselon of En^z"* 
 of the Church. 
 
 uence of having 
 Eldenhip of the 
 
 al and religions 
 pointed a ruler 
 be filled by any 
 ibers of the con- 
 -ono nrho eoald 
 rfi proper advice 
 t erery day life 
 
 long as I am a 
 ned, to feel and 
 
 isual ccrtlfioate. 
 
 cKINNON. 
 
 !H 13, 1867. 
 
 Rice is to be or> 
 ardta his moral 
 wholly unfitted 
 rdanee with the 
 
 8 
 
 dietates of my oonsoienoe, feel that if he is to be ordained I ean no longer 
 allow my name to remain on the Communion Roll, and therefore, do here» 
 by request the Session to grant me, at once, a Certificate of Membership. 
 
 Tours Truly, 
 
 MARIA MacKinnon. 
 
 Riv'D. A. B. SIMPSON, 
 Moderator, 
 
 Knox's Church Session. 
 
 David McKinnon, Eaquire: 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Agreeably to my instructions I bog to hand you the 
 following extract Minute of Session of Knox Church : 
 
 " At Hamilton, and within the Manse of Knox Church, the sixteenth 
 day of March eighteen hundred and sixty-seven years, the which day the 
 Session met pursuant to adjournment, and was constituted with prayer. 
 Present,— The Rer. Albert B- Simpson, Moderator ; and Messrs. John 
 MoCoy, John Alexander, John Stewart, Thomas White and Edward 
 Bethune, Elders." 
 
 Inter alia, 
 
 " The Session took up the subject of the communications of Mr. and 
 Mrs. David McKinnon, the consideration of which had been postponed 
 from last meeting. After mature deliberation, the Session unanimously 
 agreed that in the face of such a grave charge against a fellow member 
 and an Elder elect as Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon prefer against Mr. M. E. 
 Rioe, it is incompetent for the Session to grant them certificates until the 
 said charge shall have been enquired into and adjudicated upon. And 
 farther that Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon be required to bring forward their 
 charge or charges in a definite and specific form, and put them in posses- 
 sion of the Moderator, or Clerk of Session, on or before Wednesday next 
 the twentieth instant at half-past eight o'clock, P. M. when the Session 
 will meet for the purpose of receiving said charges and making arrange- 
 ments for the investigation of the cose." 
 
 "The Clerk is instructed to send Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon copies of 
 this Minute." 
 
 Extracted from the Session Records of Knox Church, this eighteenth 
 day of March, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven years, by me, 
 
 EDWARD BETHUNE, 
 
 Stttion CUrk. 
 
 ■ K reply similar to the above was made to the application of Mrs« 
 McKinnon. 
 
i 
 
 HAMILTON, 20th. Marob, 1867. 
 
 iUv'p. ^BiAsSim 
 
 I am unable to attend the oiMting of Session this ereningin eenie- 
 anenoe of baring been engaged all day between the Asaiies and DiTiaion 
 Coart> and my haying to make preparation for important work to-morrow 
 
 Would it not be well to came some day next week for the examination 
 of witnesses? 
 
 Yours Truly, 
 
 DAVID MoKINNON. 
 Eiv»D A. B SIMPSON, 
 
 Moderator, 
 
 Session Knox's Church, Hamilton. 
 
 David MeKinnon, Eiq.t 
 Djah Sib,— 
 
 Session of Knox's Charcn :— 
 
 hand you the following Extract Minute of 
 
 " At Hamilton, and within Knox's Church, the Twentieth day of 
 March, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-seron years, the which day the Ses> 
 eion met pursuant to adjournment, and was constituted with prayer.— 
 Present: The Reverend Albert B. Simpson, Moderator; and Messrs, 
 John Alexander, John Stewart, and Edward Bethune, Elders." 
 
 Inter alta, 
 
 " The Moderator read a note of this day's date which he had reoeired 
 from Mr. David McEinnon, addressed to him as Moderator of Session, but 
 jn which he has i^ven no reply to the demand made upon him by the Ses- 
 sion at i*« last MeeUng. After mature deliberation, it was unanimously 
 agreed, that the communication of Mr. McKinnon is entirely unsatisfiM- 
 tory,and that Mr. McKinnon be again required to specify in writing, or 
 personally, at an adjourned meeting of this Court, to be held in the Ses- 
 sion Boom Friday first, the Twenty-second instant, at half-past seven 
 o'clock evening, the charge or charges which he has already in a vagno 
 a^d gener/ftl manner preferred against Mr Rice, in order that the aocosed 
 party may have an opportunity of preparing his defence before the inves* 
 Ration of the case." 
 
 Extraote,4 frm the Session Beeords of Knox's Church, Hamilton, th<s 
 twentieth day of March, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven years, by me, 
 
 EDWARD BETHUNE, 
 
 Setsion Cltrk, 
 
AROHi 1867. 
 
 ening in eenie- 
 les ftnd DiTiaion 
 irork to.morrow 
 
 lis ex»minfttIon 
 
 McKINNON. 
 
 nilton. 
 
 raot Minute of 
 
 entieth day of 
 sh day the Ses- 
 witli prayer.— 
 >; and Messrs. 
 iers." 
 
 e had reoeired 
 of Session, but 
 tim by the Sei- 
 a nnanimonsly 
 ely nnsatisfae- 
 ' in writing, or 
 Bid in the Sea- 
 alf-past seven 
 ty in a yagn* 
 at the aooosed 
 Fore the inrea- 
 
 Hamiiton, th<i 
 yeara, by mOf 
 
 lUNE, 
 'leuion Ckrk, 
 
 \ 
 
 A renewal of the former demand waa also eerrod upon Mrs. McKinnon. 
 
 HAMILTON, 22nd. Mabch, 1867. 
 
 . Tht Retfd. A, B. Smjaaonf 
 
 Moderator, Session Kno^s Church, 
 
 Rxy'D. k Dbab Sib : 
 
 In the Isttera directed to you by Mrs. MoEinnon and 
 myaelfin regard to the action we desired to take in consequence of the 
 intended ordination of Mr. M. E. Rice as Elder, we merely stated our 
 'firm eonidotions that he was not possessed of that degree of godliness 
 necessary to warrant his undertaking the all important duties appertain- 
 ing to the position of a spiritual ruler over a congregation of Christians. 
 
 We. made no specific cLarge against him because we thought that you 
 would rery likely either grant our requests) or else advise Mr. Rice not to 
 aooept an ordination at your hands so long as there were those in the 
 Congregation who held such strong opinions as the above, and that there 
 waa a probability of these disseminating their ideas throughout the 
 Congregatipn to the possible disturbance of that peace and quietude so 
 neoes sary at an approaching communion season. 
 
 In reply to our requests we have received ftrom Mr. Edward Bethune, 
 Elder and Clerk, extracts from the " Session Records," of the Church, 
 whereby we are informed that our demands cannot be acceded to in the 
 flaoe of the charges .against Mr. Rice, which wore implied in our respective 
 letters, and are required to specify what charge or charges we prefer 
 •gdnsthim. 
 
 I have not the time to arrange, in proper form, a series of charges 
 i«ainst him, but will now state that he has not that pbopeb bkgabd roB 
 
 TRBAOITT TO BXABLK HIH HONESTLY TO FILL THE FOSmOX OF AN ElDEB. 
 
 So far as I am personally concerned I must say to the Session through 
 yon, that it is more than ever my earnest desire to be removed from the 
 membership oiiha church, as I have become entirely satisfied in my own 
 mind that the sooner the eommunion rolls of our Presbyterian church 
 become filled with the names of pure christians, and not ahama, the more 
 rapid will she advance, and the greater will be the good she can do in our 
 approaohingnewstateof national existence, when I trust that the dif- 
 ferent branches of Presbyterians in the now separate Provinces will enter 
 into a eloae confederation for the purpose of the better imbueingthe minda 
 of the whole people with a oneness of Christian feeling, and attachment to 
 the new " Dominion "—thereby making all good and loyalsnbjects. 
 
 Tours truly, 
 
 DAVID McKINKON 
 
1 
 
 . David JieKinnon, Etq.^ 
 DiAB Sir,— 
 
 I btf to hand you tho following Extraet Mlnnto of 
 fieulon of Enox'i Cburoh :— 
 
 ** At Hamilton, and within the Manio of Knos'i Chvreh, tho twenty- 
 eeeond day of March, Eighteen Uundrcdand Sixty-ieren yean, the whieh 
 day the Session met pursuant to adjournment, and was constituted with 
 prayer. Present : The Reverend Albert B. Simpson, Moderator ; and 
 Messrs. John Alexander, John Stewart, and Edward Bethune, Elders.** 
 
 Inter ofui, 
 
 **The Clerk reported that he hod serred Mr. and Mrs. Darid MoKln. 
 non with Extract Minutes of tho lost Meeting of Session relating to them." 
 
 " The Moderator laid on the tablefa communication from Mr. McEin- 
 non, in which he charges Mr.M.E.Rioo with the wantof ' that proper regard' 
 for veracity to enable him to honestly fill ' tho position of an Elder.' After 
 mature deliberation, it was unanimously asreed that, Whereas in reply 
 to the communication of the Clerk, a communication has been received 
 fkom Mr. MoKinnon of this date, in which he prefers against Mr. Rice 
 the charge of want of veracity, but fails to specify the time wheut the 
 place where, and circumstances under which the particular aot or acts of 
 falsehood were committed ; 
 
 Therefore, bo it resolved. That the Clerk be instructed to convey 
 to Mt. AfoKinnon a further and final demand for the specification of these 
 particulars of time, place, and circumstances in connection with the 
 offence alledged against Mr. Riooi and the speciftcl&tioii of any other 
 charges which Mr. ilfoKinnon is prepared to prefer against Mr Rice ; and 
 to present the same in writing to the 3foderator or Clerk, on or before the 
 hour ef half-past eight o'clock, P. Jf., on Wednesday next, the twenty, 
 seventh instant* when the Session will hold an adjourned Meeting to 
 receive his communication, and take action in reference to the same." 
 
 Extracted from the Session Records of Knox's Church, Hamilton, this 
 twenty-second day of March, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-seven years, 
 by me, 
 
 EDWARD BETHUNE, 
 
 Seuion Clerk. 
 
 
 HAMILTON, 27thMABOH, 1867. 
 
 Bey'd. & DiAB Sir, 
 
 I have received from Mr. Bethune, Elder and Session Clerk, an ex- 
 tract from the Minutes of youriprocecdings on Friday evening last, whereby 
 it appears that the charge made by me agdnst Mr* M, E. Rice is 
 
(traet Minate of 
 
 roh, the twenty- 
 7«Mn,thewhieh 
 eonitituted with 
 Mod«r»tor; and 
 thune, Elden.** 
 
 . Darid MoKln. 
 )latinctothem." 
 
 rom Mr. SfoEin- 
 it proper regard' 
 a Elder.* After 
 hereas in reply 
 » been reoeived 
 rainst Mr. Rice 
 time wlien, tlie 
 ar aot or aets of 
 
 loted to oonrey 
 floation of these 
 lotion with the 
 i of any other 
 it Mr Rice ; and 
 m or before the 
 •xt, the twenty, 
 ned Meeting to 
 
 the same." 
 
 1 Hamilton, this 
 ty-6even yean, 
 
 'HUNB, 
 Setaion Clerk, 
 
 March, 1867. 
 
 Clerk, an ez> 
 iglast, whereby 
 Rice if 
 
 IT. B. 
 
 not sufficiently speoifio in that the place ''«A«re," tho time "when," and 
 *' cireumstanoes under which the particular aet or acta of faltehocd were 
 committed," are not atatAd, and that I am required to fumif h thcM thit 
 erening, in order, aa I auppoae, in accordance with the worda of the pro* 
 rioua demand that '* the accuaed party may hare an opportunity of pre- 
 paring hia defence before the inteatigation of the caae." 
 
 The inference to be drawn from this laat demand, ia that if I do not 
 
 >fiTe "place," **date," and "ciroumatancea," aa deaired, you will, in oon- 
 aequence of my default, and in the face of the aerioua charge made, 
 (without the leaat inreaUgationor enquiry,) proceed to ordain Mr. Rice aa 
 an Elder, or, in other and plainer words, through what might perhapa be 
 eallod my neglect, place over the congregation of Knoz'a Church, aa a 
 Spiritual ruler, a man who ia charged by papera in your possession, aa 
 l)eing not possessed of '* that proper regard for veracity to enable him 
 honestly to fill the position of an Elder," and such charge made with the 
 aaaurance of the party making it that upon receiving a aufficient notice 
 evidence will be produced to sustain notonly that charge but others which 
 may yet be made. If this inference be correct and the action indicated 
 be sustained by church law and rule, then I consider that there ia a 
 defect somewhere. Ifit became known to the public that a person un- 
 qualified "in morals as well as in manners" was about to be appointed 
 one of the Judges of our Courts of Common Law, and a remonstrance 
 against the appointment was made, containing various charges even in a 
 vague and general manner against the person, what action would be tak« 
 en by the government which had the right to make the appointment? 
 Just the same as has been heretofore! They would reply, "Gentlemen 
 bring forward all your evidence against this man, and we will see what 
 
 should be done in the premises" ! They would not pin themselves down to 
 the rules of law and evidence in a matter wh<ch thus affected the whole 
 people who jealously watch the integrity of the Bench, and how equally 
 necessary is it that those in the government of a Congregation of pro>esa- 
 ing christians should see to it that only those who are possessed of a deep, 
 living, yes burning piety should be placed in rule over the spiritual inter* 
 eats of the members and adherents ? 
 
 Mr. Rico knows very well places where, times when and circumstan- 
 ces under which he has been guilty of what is charged and also knows 
 whence would come a portion of the evidence against him, aa hewaa about 
 a week endeavouring to pet one of my witneaaeiito poisoned against me that 
 he would not appear to give teatimonj/ against him. 
 
 The name of " Arthur Crooks" will, when mentioned to him, cause 
 him to remember a number of places where, times when, and circum' 
 stances under which the offence might have been committed, and fully 
 prepare him for the reception of at least a portion of the cose against Upi. 
 
 In conjunction with the above, considering the charge made sufficient 
 to warrant investigation, I will give no further particulars. 
 
 If you in the performance of your duty aa a Session feel that yon 
 should without any enquiry proceed with the ordination of Mr. Rice, I 
 and Mrs. McKinnon will, at any rate, have the satisfaction of feeling and 
 knowing that we entered our protest against it. 
 
 If he is ordained I trust that he will not so far insult his Maker aa any 
 longer to wear the abominable cloak of the Pharisee, but rather that it 
 
 
9 
 
 trin from tlitneerurtli hb •tv^ o^ mA ihiit be win dtrote himMir eKmeiay 1^°^ 
 to (Im (Nat and leriom work h« bM nndertttlMn. 
 
 .lira. McKlQnon and mjrself howerer reoew the reqoMta made in oar 
 ffm eonimunteattonf . 
 
 Tour$ truljff 
 
 DAVID McKINKON. 
 
 REV.A.B, SIMPSON, 
 
 Moderator qfSestion, Knox^a Church, Bamiltom. 
 David McKinnon, Esq., 
 
 I hand to you tho following Extract Minute of Session :— 
 
 " At Hamilton, and irithin Kq«x's Church, the second day of April 
 Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-seven year?, the which day the Session mei, 
 and was constituted with prayer. Sederunt : The Reverend Albert B. 
 Simpson, Moderator ; and Messrs. John McCoy, John Alexander, Thomas 
 White, and Edward Bethuno. Elders. 
 
 Inter alia, 
 
 * It was agreed that the communication of Mr, MoEinnon be laid on 
 he table until Monday evening next: ^' ^ eighth instant, when Mr. and 
 Mrs. MoEinnon will have an opportunity of substantiating any eharges 
 they have to make against Mr. Rice ; and the Clerk is instructed to grant 
 Mr. McKinnon an Extract of this Minute." 
 
 Extracted from the Session Records of Knox's Church, Hamilton, this 
 second day of April, Eighteen hundred and sixty-seven years, by me, 
 
 EDWARD BETHUNE, 
 
 Session Clerk. 
 
 HAMILTON, 11th April, 1867. 
 Rev^d. A. B, Simpson, 
 
 Moderator'jjf Session, Knox's Church. 
 
 f 
 
 ev'd and Dear Sir, 
 
 Since Monday evening last I hate oarefully 
 considered the corrspondenee which passed between myself and the Sei- 
 eion, in regard to the nomination of Mr. Rice, and the action taken by 
 the Session in relation to same, and have arrived at the conelusion, that 
 out of self respect and a detestation of all quackery in religious matters 
 I must at onoe surrender my pew to the managers. 
 
 In doing so, however, I beg leave to express my admiration of the 
 
ihioiMireaniciay 
 
 oests mad9 in onr 
 
 McKINNON. 
 
 ion. 
 
 on:— 
 
 oond day of April 
 7 the Session met| 
 iverend Alljert B, 
 lezander, Thomat 
 
 ^innon be laid on 
 it, when Mr. and 
 uing any eharges 
 nstruoted to grant 
 
 oh, Hamilton, this 
 years, by me, 
 
 STHUNB, 
 Seasion Clerk, 
 
 I April, 1867. 
 
 I; I hate carefully 
 self and the Set- 
 I action taken by 
 B conclusion, that 
 religious mattetf 
 
 idmiratton of the 
 
 itand taken by you and Mr. John Stewart, Elder, Iq favour of nakioc 
 he inTestigation exbanstire, and of protecting the witnesses produeed bf 
 me to partially sustain one of the charges I intended to hat* mnde wuH 
 lid make, from the broW'beatiog they reooired at the hands of a major* 
 ty of the Session ; a brow-beating which was taken part in by Mr. Riott 
 sad which resulted a« wma intended and desired in the withdrawal of Ih^ff* 
 witnesses and appointment of a day for his ordination, and this last i i 
 aoe of a statement made by Mr. Crooks, as he was retiring, in the word* 
 IbUowing:— 
 
 " Mb. Moderatob a>d Gentlbmbn,— 
 
 1 am now under Oath, 
 
 I state that Mr. Rice is a thi( f. He stole a pidr of Glores out of John 
 Crann's in Aneaster, and I can proye it " 1 1 1 
 
 If these witnesses had l)een examined as I desired, and as they would 
 have been in any Court of Commoa Law evidence would have l>een elicited 
 which even the If Aite-washers in the Eldership could not have been able 
 to overlook, much less the members comprising those Courts which, J 
 presume, are open to an appeal in a matter like this. After the gentle* 
 men produced would have been examined I had intended to bring forward 
 other evidence to sustain various charees against Mr. Rice, in fact had 
 determined upon going to the expense of bringing an important witnest 
 from a point West of London. 
 
 However, this evidence has been suppressed- The honest members of 
 Knox's Church Congregation have, against the protests of yourself i^ 
 Mr. Stewart, been put in a falsr, a bund position, and all this for whi^T 
 For the sake of advancing the Christian work in a Christian manner, for 
 the sake of the prosperity of Presbyterianism, or even for the sake of 
 securing union in Knox's Church ? No, not a bit of it 1 But for the sole 
 reason (how hard it is to think, let alone believe it I) of gratifying a spirit 
 of malice against myself which luiks in the breast of one of the Elder- 
 ship, who was lately before a portion of the Electors asking a favor of 
 them, which spirit has become a contagion in the persons of three otherg 
 who act as his " brethren." This is the sole and only i-GOson— the Elder- 
 ship carrying the slime of municipal politics into the Session room— the 
 Eldership so malicious that they accept the ex parte and 7alsb statemente 
 of the party charged in regard to the charges, and trtVA the open ateUt- 
 ance cf tuck party^ hurk the reception of any evidence- 
 
 I feel that on leaving Knox's Church I owe it, at least, to my friends, 
 
 that I should fully inforra them as to the reasons why I have taken thif 
 step. This I purpose doing before the ordination of Mr. Rice. 
 
 Mrs. McKinn >n deaires me to state, that considering the action teken 
 by the Session in relation to the above, she could not think of accepting s 
 Certlfieate of membership from them. - 
 
 Ton would oblige me by informing the Managers that after next 
 Sabbath the pew occupied by me will be at their disposal. 
 
16 
 
 . Mr. Tiidal* and Mr> Orooki bar* rtquMtod me« on their behalf, to 
 aank jon and Mr. Stewart for the oourteijr abown to them by each of yoa 
 oa the ef eniof abore referred to. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 DAVID McKlNNON. 
 
 David MeKinnon, Etq.f 
 
 DiAR 8lB,~- 
 
 *»^ In aeeordance with initruetloni of Seaiton. I beg to hand you the fol- 
 lowing extract minute :— 
 
 ** At Hamilton, and within Knox'i Ohuroh, the twelfth day of April, 
 BIghteen Hundred and Siztyaeven yearsi the whioh day the Sesaion met 
 purauant to adjournment, and waa oonatitutod with prayer. Preaent : The 
 Reverend Albert B- Bimpaon, Moderator : and tfeBdra- John McCoy, 
 John Alexander, John Stowarti and Edward Bethune, Eidera.'* 
 
 •* 
 
 lth( 
 
 Isfra. 
 
 '^addr 
 in a 
 comt 
 
 InUr alia, 
 
 - ** The Seaaion toolc up the ooae of Mr. and Mra. David McKinnon, the 
 farther oonaideration of wihob bad been poatponed from last meeting. The 
 Moderator read another communication from Mr. McKinnon, addreaaed 
 to him aa Moderator of Seaaion, in wbiob he falaely accusea the Seaaion 
 with auppreaaing the erideooe in the charge whioh he lately brought 
 ■gainst Mr. M. B Rice, imputoa malice on the part of a majority of the 
 Seaaion as their reaaon for ao doing, uaea towards them oontompt- 
 nons language; and, though aolcnowledging the right of appeal to 
 the higher Courts, yet makes no auoh appeal. After mature de- 
 liberation, the Seaaion unanimously roaolved that whereas, the lanj 
 
 and conduct of Mr. McKinnon towarda the Soasion of Knox's ChuroL 
 throughout all his communications relative to his late charge against Jlln 
 JIf. E. Rice, which he has failed completely to prove, has been dictatorial, 
 eontemptuous, and contumacious : and whereas, in the communication 
 Mdapon thetoble of the Session thla evening, he haa manifeated a similar 
 spirit in a still stronger denreo, Be it therefore resolved : that lilfr- AfcKin- 
 non be hereby suapended from the fellowahip of the Church until he ahall 
 give evidence of repentance, and that ho be hereby required to appear 
 Mfore thia Court to receive aaid sentence, in the Seaaion room of Knox's 
 Church, at ite next regular meeting, on Tuesday the seventh day of ilfay 
 next ensuing, at half-past seven o'clock evening : and the Clerk is hereby 
 instmeted to provide Jifr. JfcKinnon with an extract of this minute." 
 
 Extracted from the Session Records of Knox's Church, Hamilton, thia 
 eixtoenth day of April, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-seven years, by me, 
 
 EDWARD BETHUNE, 
 
 Session Clerk, 
 
 
 Mrs. David MeKinnottf 
 Dbab HadaMi 
 
 In accordance with Inatruotlona of SfSsion I beg to hand you the fot^ 
 towing extract minute :— 
 
 "At Hamilton and within Knox's Ohuroh the twelfth day of April, 
 
 fi 
 
n their behalf, to 
 im by each of yon 
 
 McKlNNON. 
 
 hand you the fol- 
 
 fth day of April, 
 ' the Session met 
 ir. Present: The 
 's- John MoCoy, 
 lders.'» * 
 
 d MoKinnon, the 
 ast meeting. Tb« 
 Jononi addressed 
 mses the Session 
 le lately brought 
 ii majority of the 
 them contempt- 
 ht of appeal to 
 fter mature de- 
 eas the language 
 r Knox's Chnroh 
 large against Jllr, 
 been dictatorial. 
 e Communication 
 nifested a similar 
 thatlAfr.JfoKin. 
 rch until he shall 
 luired to appear 
 room of Knox's 
 Bnth day of JIfay 
 I Cleric is hereby 
 his minute." 
 
 h, Hamilton, this 
 en years, by me» 
 
 11 
 
 Bifhteen Hundred and Sixty-seren yean, the which day the Session mat 
 
 KrsAant to adjournment km was eonsdtnted with prayer. Present the 
 Terend Albert B. Simpson, Ifoderators and Jfessrs, John JifoCoyi Jolm 
 Alexander, John Stewart, and Edward Bethane, Elders. 
 
 Inter Alia^ 
 
 "The Session took up the ease of illr. and Jllrs. David J/oKiunon 
 the further consideration of which had been postponed from last meetUig, 
 I * * * The Session unanimously resolred that, Inasmuch ai 
 /Sfrs, David JIfcKinnon has given no reply to the last two communications 
 '^addressed and delivered to her by the Clerk, and has treated the Session 
 in a contemptuous and contumacious manner ; and inasmuch as in the 
 communication of ifr. AfcKionon laid on the table of this Session this 
 evening, the following contumacious langua^ occurs :— * JUrs. JfoKinno'n 
 desires me to state that, considering the action taken by the Session in 
 relation to the above, she could not think of accepting a Certificate of 
 membersnip from them.' Be it therefore resolved, that JIfrs. AfcKinnon 
 be hereby suspended from the fellowshi|> of the Church for these repeated 
 acts of contumacy until she shall give evidence of repentance, and that she 
 be hereby required to appear before this Court to receive said sentence. 
 In the Session Room of Knox's Church, at its next regular meeting, on 
 Tuesday the seventh day of May next ensuing ; and the Clerk is hereby 
 instructed to provide J/rs. J/cKinnon with an extract of this minute*" 
 
 Extracted from. the Session Records of Knox's Church. Hamilton, 
 this sixteenth day of April, Eighteen Uundred^and Sixty-seven yean, 
 by me, 
 
 EDWARD BETHUNE, 
 
 Seaaion Clerk, . 
 
 THUNE, 
 JcMJon Clerk, 
 
 nd you the fol- 
 h day of April, 
 
 HAMILTON, 8th May, 1867- 
 
 Bev. A. B. Simplfonf 
 
 Moderator Sesaion, Knos^a Church. 
 
 Re^d. and Dear Sir, 
 
 In reply to my last communication addressed to you as " Moderator" 
 of ''Session,' I have been served with a " Bull of Excomn n lication** 
 which you had " unanimously agreed" should bo fired atpiewitn as much 
 pomp' as if the small fire-piece used was under the exclusive direction of 
 the Pope of Rome- who with his clergy were supposed by poor mortali 
 like myself to be the only persons in this enlightened a«e possessed ef suf- 
 ficient assurance to fulminate their wondroua *'Balli"'— by which they 
 vainly imagine that the person assailed is placed beyond the pale of the 
 church— is in fact consigned to the tender mercies of the Devil I The 
 Popes of Knox's church have in their wisdom " suspended" dm *' from the 
 fellowship of the church," and in order to show an imaginary authority 
 have required me " to appear before " Uiem to reeeive ny sentence— ft 
 sentence which In their opinion amounts to someUiinf terrible. 
 
 While they were engaged in doing God's service by eoosigning me to 
 
 Eerdition they iMthought themselves in their charity .tlwt it would he to» 
 ad to send mo upon the Journey all alone, so <hey-*llM gentle^ meeb« 
 amiling, heavenly- minded party— decided upon snippiDg my wife alone 
 with me, and accordingly another "Bull of ExoommunieatioB" was font^ 
 ed and at her it was fired, and that on a pretext as shallow as are t&e 
 brains of those who grasped at it 
 
 £ 
 
i *'.t.- 
 
 I 
 
 ! 
 
 f I 
 
 12 
 
 Who are A« men who Urns take it ttoon thenuelres to sospeBd thri 
 . feUow-beinin from the followship of the eburoh ? Af* thejr imI io put 
 and godly that aqeh power aa UiM has been ciren them— that they w«ni1( 
 trifle with what a saint would fear to touch t Will I name them and an 
 fold to the eyes and ears of the.peiOpIe of Knox's Church tales which ooul 
 be told in regard to these BuU-fulminators. and which, if told, would star 
 tie many a heart which shudders at the very mention of hynperisy betni 
 apart and parcel of the daily eharacrer<^ more than one Eilder in th< 
 oharoh ? No, I will not touoh the mask behind which sin liver, hot 
 when theystrikeatmeandthepartner of my life I will drive home the 
 anestion who are these men who tako it upon themselves to investigai 
 *'t^eeaeeof J£rr< and ilfrs. David JIfcKinnon the further consideration < 
 Whioh had been postponed from last meeting"— vide commencement of thi 
 *' Ball"— and without even notifying JIfrs. JK^cKinnon or myself that thei 
 was anoh a "case" bogusly consider it, after impiously asking the bles-| 
 ling of Gol upon their proseedings.nnd wind up the farce by suspending n 
 from the*' fellowship of the Church"? The characters of the men wer 
 shown in the coarse they adopted towards preventing an investlgatioi 
 into the charges made and to be made against Mr. Kice— there they mani- 
 fested a sincere desire to burk every effort being made to prevent the or- 
 dinattonof that person to the Eldership, and in so acting showed dearly 
 how little they cared for the purity of the Session and the prosperity oi 
 the Church. 
 
 One feature of the ''ball" against JIfrs- JIfcKinnon shows how extremely 
 anxious the Session were to excommunicate her. As a principal reason 
 for their action they quote a sentence from my last letter, in which I 
 said, that " Mn. JIfcKinnon desires me to state, that considering the 
 action taken by the Session in relation to the above, she could not think 
 of accepting a Certificate of membership from them." This is oalled 
 *' eontumaoious languaiore !" How did they know JIfrs. ilfoKinnon anth- 
 orised me to state this ? I said in my letter that she did, and I so say 
 aeain,bat should that have satisfied them if they wanted to act the honest 
 part of common men, let alone Christian Elders? Why did they not 
 see JIfrs. JIfcKinnon about the matter and from her own lips hear the 
 - ** eontamaeioas language V* The reason is obvious. They oared not for 
 evidence or law— all they wished for was the gratifiotftion of their own 
 malignant feelings, and they were in such a hurry to satisfy their appe- 
 tites that they then and there, in an unlawful and unohristian^anner, 
 decided to excommunicate her. What a gallant party to be <are{ Six 
 men in such hot haste to hand a lady over to the care of his Satanic 
 ifajestyl 
 
 I will now state, as fully as possible, what transpired at the meet- 
 ing referred to in mjr last communication, in order that it may be seen 
 how mvAh called for were the remarks I then made, and how falsto 
 is the introdacti n and preamble to the "Bull*' iisaed against me. 
 
 • 
 
 k.». In obedience to the notice requiring me to attend the meeting of 
 BMsion appointed to {investigate anv charges made or to be made against 
 any of the elected Elders, x attended, accompanied by two of my wit- 
 BMjsesi who had eame from Anoaster in order to irfve their testimony. 
 After several matters of roatifte had l>een disposed of, yon asked if an^ 
 peMon or persons present liad any objection to make to the ordination 
 of the eleisted Elders, whereupon I said that I ohi^oted to the ordina- 
 tion of Ifr. Rieia nirnn grounds statisd in letters I had addressed to thr 
 JIfoderator. I was then asked to name what parttoular objections I 
 had, to which I replied, that amongst others I protested against his or- 
 <duiation on aeeonnt of the want of veracity oomptained of in one .of 
 tneh letters. The eliarn was then written down by Jt^. AlejcandJBr, 
 who aeted a« Olerk. giro tent. I was tiita asked by Mr. Alexander to 
 «am« iMie Mrtienlar act of falsehiood committed by Jwr. Rice, of wliioh 
 I eomplainea. To this I replied that I had a portion of raw evideno^ 
 ttady for presentation that night, and in order to present the balMm* 
 intended to ask for an adjournment— that if I knew pf'onattu of no 
 **aet of falsehood" it would be wrong to give particulars of any from 
 
1^ 
 
 vs to sasMiid Ihd 
 f th«)r M go pat( 
 n— that they wouh 
 name them and an 
 li tales whiohcouk 
 , if told, would star 
 of bynperisy beini 
 I one " " 
 
 lioh sin 
 ill drive 
 ilres 
 
 er consideration o 
 mmenooment of th< 
 >r myself that there 
 sly asking the hies- 
 ee l»r suspending oi 
 rs of the men were 
 ng an investigation 
 »— there they mani. 
 to prevent the or. 
 ing showed clearly 
 id the prosperity oi 
 
 I0W8 how extremely 
 a principal reason 
 letter, in which I 
 lat considering the 
 she could not think 
 .'' This is called 
 9. inoKinnon anth- 
 i did, and I so say 
 )d to act the honest 
 Why did they not 
 own lips hear the 
 They cared not for 
 ■tion of their own 
 ' satisfy H(e!r appe- 
 nchristian^anner, 
 y to be «are 1 Six 
 are of his Satanic 
 
 pired at the meet- 
 lat it may be seen 
 ie, and how false 
 1 against me. 
 
 1 the meeting of 
 ^be made against 
 ►y two of my wit- 
 , their testimony. 
 , yoQ asked if anjr 
 to the ordinaUon 
 ed to the ordin** 
 addressed to the^ 
 oular objections I 
 ted against his or- 
 lined of in one of 
 yM. Alexander, 
 Mr. Alexander to 
 vr. Rice, of which 
 1 of mj evidene^ 
 lent the balMC* 
 p*r$onatty of no 
 lars of any from 
 
 mere hearsay and thai oonaeaaently they should allow me to produce all 
 uy evidence sustaining any ctiarse^ i might make, leaving it to Mr. Rico 
 afterwards to break this duwn. The opinion of the various members of 
 Session was then taken, all of whom were in fnvor of presiding me to give 
 partioulard or(kop the charge, except yourself and Mr. John Stewart who 
 cooaideredthat your duty as a Sed:3ioa was lo make a senrehina not a rur- 
 /ace invciitigationof aohargeso serious made against one who was ap' 
 pointed to be a ruler over the epiritua-l atTairs of the congregation. Find- 
 ing that the majority were determined to dodj^e the investigation, nnd 
 that illr. Uice and some friends were acting as prompters for such major* 
 icy £ stated that personally it made no difference to me wh)it course they 
 as a Session would take— that if they saw fit to ordaia him thev were at 
 liberty to du so without my interference, and aocordiniKly I withdrew to 
 ktho door leading from the Session room, followed by my witnesses. When 
 fat the door you called us back and made a stron<;edort to get the mnjorlty 
 tofallin with your ideas of their duties as spiritual rulers, in a mutter 
 like this— the chief of which was not tq avoid enquiry by an attempt to 
 fence up their proceedings with a stronit desire to adhere to the strictest 
 rules of law and evidence. Afraid that their zeal mixht appear too fla- 
 grant the majority succumbed by voting; for a resolution in favor of hear- 
 ing the evidence, against huwever the protest of Mr. Rice, who on lookini; 
 towards Mr. White said "Mr. Moderator, it has not been put to a vote— E 
 think that it will not carry." Instead of courting investigation he thereby 
 sbowed openly what he had previously shown eovertlu — a desire mort 
 strong to prevent any evidence being received. An admission of the of- 
 fence charged made in a manner still more clearly developing the hypocri- 
 tical nature of the elected Elder ! 
 
 It was then desired by Mr. Alexander, Mr. White and the majority 
 that I should be the first witness examined. Against this I protested, con- 
 tending that aa I was the prosecutor I should have the management of mv 
 own case— that as thoy did not know what evidence I had to produce they 
 had no right to interfere with me in my manner of arranc^ing Ihi) witness- 
 es. However the inexorable majority decided that examined I roust be 
 first, to which decree I bowed in all humility, at the same time intimating 
 that r-ersonally I knew nothing, but if examined when I desired to be I 
 might know something, a contradiction which may appear strange but 
 hot so much so when it is understood that if my witnesses swore 
 to certain facts and certain statements then I could give evidence proving 
 the charge already made and. others to be made. 
 
 Mr. Alexander then asked mo several questions which were answer- 
 ed to the effect that personally I knew nothmg against Mr. Rice, but that 
 if what he had said and done was reported to me correctly, then I knew 
 aomethinff, and I stated particularly that I was " aware of a certain affida- 
 vit having been made by ilfr. Rice which I" had*'S'nce been told was 
 false"— meaning that if the evidence was such as I expected it would have 
 been, Mr. Rice would have been proved a pebjurkr. 
 
 , 'I then called Mr. Crooks as my witness, whereupon Mr. Rice and his 
 friends who were present set up a loud sneer— conduct so gross and im- 
 moral that in an indignant tone of voice you called them to order. Finding 
 that as all previous objections had fallen to the ground, there was now a 
 prospect of dangerous evidence being produced. Mr. Rice protested against 
 the examination of Mr. Crooks, for the reason that he was not to be be- 
 lieved under oath. A discussion then arose, which resulted in a 
 determination to accept the testimony of Mr. Crooks undnr oath. 
 A result which was arrived at more per force than otherwise 
 by a majority of the Sestiion— always excepting yourself and Mr. Stewart- 
 
 Ilere again we find Mr. Rice dodging the reception of evidence-^-here 
 as'ain we find a desire to tnppreaa »om«thing aeriouif, and here again we 
 find material upon which to found suspicion as to his being possessed of 
 that piety, that worth, that Christian 7<eal necessary to qualify him for the 
 very exalted and important position of an Elder. 
 
 m 
 
 ■*•■ 
 
Mfk Crooks hftving been swonii7oawer« ukedby the "majority" to 
 •iMnino him.— A Judge or m JarjrmMi ealled to •zamina « man about 
 what he himself did not know I Dodgery had gone then aunoet mad I I 
 submitted that as the Moderator of Session did not know the partioulars ^ 
 nny matter nbont which I wished my witnesses to giro evidence, I was the 
 the proper party to examine them. Again a discussion arose, when it was 
 decided that I could hare the opportunity of examining my own witnesses. 
 I then asked Mr. Orooks, ** Do you remember meeting Mr. Rice in your 
 house lastFaU?" He replied, *' Tea." Then I said, " Please state what 
 transpired on that occasion." At this stage there was suddenly a request 
 made by Mr. Rice, that my other witness, Mr. Tisdale, should leave tiie 
 Session room and wait outside until the examination of Mr. Crooks had 
 been concluded. Mr. Tisdale, with all due respect to the Session, stated 
 that he must beg to decline the request made, inasmuch as the veracity of 
 Mr. Crooks had been called in question ; that he, as a Justice of the Peace, 
 had been the means of appointing that gentleman to two positions uf im- 
 portance io the Township of Ancaster, for which he would be called to 
 account if he had appointed an unworthy person: that he had heard Mr. 
 Crooks make serious statements in regard to Mr. Rice, and that 
 he wished to be present in the room during the examination of that person 
 under oath in regard to these statements ; and finally he asked what reason 
 there was for desiring him to to leave the mom. To this the reply was. 
 made by Mr, Rice, " tfeoause your evidence may be affected by what you 
 hear sworn to by Mr- Crooks." At this imputation upon his own veracity 
 Mr. Tisdale naturally grew indignant. The idea of a Yankee upstart thus 
 daring to insult one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, a native Can- 
 adian, a man of large means and great honor, was too much for Mr. Tis- 
 dale to endure, and resulted in his informing the Session what his evidence 
 would have amounted to. namely : the proving of Mr* Rice to be unworthy 
 of associating in the rulership of any congregation of pretending Chris- 
 tians, and at the same time he expreased to you the hope- that ' from what 
 I know of that man,"— pointing to Mr. Rice—'' I trust that you will never 
 allow him to sit with yon as an Elder at this table." 
 
 Mr. Tisdale having again been asked to leave the room, he renewed 
 his request to be allowed to remain, whereupon £ stated that in any court of 
 common law a counsel had a right to cbaniie one witn-^ss for another, even 
 after one of them had been sworn, and, that under the circumstances, I 
 would avail msrsolf of this privilege by calling Mr. Tisdale to Kive his evi- 
 dence first, during which time Mr. Crooks might withdraw, and that after- 
 wards Mr. Crooks mlKht be re-cnlled to give his testimony In the presence 
 of Mr. Tisdale. This reasonable proposition was actually frowned down 
 such men as Mr. Bethune and Mr. McCoy, ass sted actively by their 
 brethren at the tab'e, and their pet Mr. Rice from behind their backs, 
 laying down rales of evidence as glibly as any Qaeen's Counsel of 23 years 
 standing at the bar. 
 
 Whilst the disoasston was beinir carried on upon this point, Mr. Crooks 
 stated that he had a charge to make against Mr. Rice which he wished 
 to have put in writing, and In order to do so asked for " pen, ink and pa- 
 per." This was refused him by Mr- Alexander. He next took out his 
 pocket book and reached across the table for a pon- m order to write his 
 charge with it. No sooner had he done this than Mr. Alexander took it 
 from him with an air of considerable authoritvt He next t<iok out his 
 lead pen<*ll and wrote his charge. On my readln? It I told him. that na it 
 was a charge most serious- he should not make it un'll that which I had 
 made and those which I had yet to make should be disposed of. The rea- 
 son why I mention this matter, is solely In order to show how tremendously 
 anxious the majority of the Session were to avoid investigation and in 
 fact lehite-ytMh the Yankee Christiin (?) who had by canvassing and 
 misrepresentation been elected to the Eldership. 
 
 Finding that the Session would not allow him to remain in the room, 
 or even to give his evidence firat, as I several times had asked. Mr. 
 Tisdale stated that he would retire, but not to return ; Mr, Crooks there- 
 
 :^ 
 
h» "m^iority" to 
 nwf • man about 
 nalmoatmadt I 
 .theiNirtioalaraof 
 idenoe. I WM ih0 
 iroM, when it wm 
 'Ko»S»witneMe8. 
 BUT. iuo« in your 
 'lease state what 
 udden^ a request 
 should leave the 
 Mr. Crooks had 
 be Seasion, stated 
 as the veracity of 
 atioe of the Peace, 
 positions of im- 
 ould be called to 
 w had heard Mr. 
 r. Aioe. and that 
 ion of that person 
 skedwhatreaiion 
 lis the reply was 
 ted by what you 
 hia own veracity 
 nkee upstart thus 
 )e. a native Can- 
 luoh for Mr. Tis- 
 vrhat his evidence 
 Je to be unworthy 
 )retending Chris- 
 that''froni what 
 tat you will never 
 
 >om, he renewed 
 at in any court of 
 t)r another, even 
 circumstances, I 
 le to Kive his evi- 
 r<,and tbatafter- 
 Mn the presence 
 ly frowned down 
 actively by their 
 und their backs, 
 unsel of 25 years 
 
 >'>int, Mr. Crnoks 
 vhich he wished 
 Den, ink and pa- 
 Bxt took out his 
 der to write his 
 lexander took it 
 xt took oat his 
 I him. that a^ it 
 at which I had 
 Id of. The rea- 
 y tremendously 
 tigation and in 
 canvassing and 
 
 un in the room, 
 had asked, Mr. 
 U Crooks there- 
 
 15 
 
 UMB lUtodt that if Mr. Tlidalt would fetin so alio matt he, u b« felt, 
 after the insnlti offered him, he should give no evidanoe tzeept in ihn 
 heaitag of Mr. TiBdale. They then withdrew, aoeompanied by myself, but 
 not, however, without Mr. Orooks turning around and making the folbw* 
 ing remarks :— 
 
 " Mr. Moderatori and Gentlemen ; / am now under oath.— 
 
 I state thaiMr. Rice is a tM|f 1 Ho atole a pair of gloves out of iphn 
 |p,j^in^^gjerjpd^o.n^yit\| ^ ^^ ^^ ^ 
 
 I understand, that after we withdrew, Mr. Rice whvipered aronna the 
 table his explanations as to the charges made, and.that at once the Session 
 decided to ordain him. 
 
 If thev considered Mr. Rice perfectly qualified to fill the position of an 
 Blder, and that they should proceed with his ordinaUon irrespective of the 
 serious charges made, and the manifest desire of Mr Uice to resist investi- 
 gation, then they were perfectly right in arriving at this decision, But, 
 after leaving aside all private malice, hatred, envy, &o. aicainst myself, 
 could the members of that Session, in the face of that Maker whom Uiey 
 profess to follow most closely, say with honest tongue, that the path was 
 so clear, their minds so composed, their convictions so decided that they 
 eould without hypocrisy proceed with the ordination of Mr. Rice 7 
 
 I do not for a moment believe it 1 " 
 
 Their action was intended as a direct insult to myself at the dictation 
 of the one out of their number who was lately by me defeated moat i^uo- 
 miniously at the polls, and of others who play * second fiddle' to him t 
 
 Such conduct might be oountenanned in the world of politics where 
 each one is endeavoring to defeat his neighbor in the race to fame and 
 influence, but that it should be dragged into a meeting of Presbyterian 
 Elders constituted with such a i>rayer as on the evening of above meet- 
 ing was offered up by youisastn— a/nrecupon religion— an abominatioQ 
 in the sight of Him whose work these Elders have undertaken to perform. 
 
 Unbury from the dictionary such long words as may bo considered 
 necessary to describe the language used by me in my last communication 
 to the Session— call it ' dictatorial,' 'contemptuous,' 'contumacious' or 
 what not, I care not. as notwithstanding all, I shall remain of the opinion 
 that such conduct on the part of pretending Christian rulers as the Elders 
 of Knox's Church have been guilty of as above described could not be 
 condemned in language too strong, and this is all the more apparent when 
 judged bv the proceedings since taken in the ordination of Mr. Rice and 
 thefiringof 'Bulls of Kxeommunicatiou' after the example of Popery at 
 Mrs- McKinnon and myself. 
 
 We are called upon to appear before the Session to receive our 'sen* 
 tence' ! 
 
 The call is certainly an amusing one. We to appear to have a judg- 
 ment pronounced upon us by Mr. Bethune, Mr. McCoy, Mr. Rim and 
 other Ruch Anurious .christians, bv yrh'wh we are to be suspended ' from 
 the fellowship of the Church' i No, never. 
 
 Tours truljr, 
 
 PAVID MoKINNON.