The process, testimony and opening argument of the the prosecution

Prefatory Note

The testimony and the argument in the following pages, in the judicial case of the Presbyterian Church versus Eev. W. 0. McCune, are published herewith at the earnest solicitation of many Presbyterians, and for the information of those who are interested in the study of the trial. It is only necessary here to mention the following things :

1. That the testimony of the prosecution has never yet appeared — as the testimony for the defense has appeared — in any of the daily or weekly issues of the press, whether secular or religious.

2. That from the beginning to the end of the trial, the testimony for the prosecution remained intact, complete in its integrity, undamaged, and admitted by the defendant. It is to this day undisputed and unchallenged testimony, and it remains for every reader to judge whether it supports the specifications and the charges.

3. The vote of the Presbytery upon each specification and upon both the charges is appended, under each, respectively.

4. With the testimony thus uninvalidated and unbroken, the Presbytery, by a verdict of 29 to 8, declared the charges not sustained.

5. Of the specifications, the Presbytery, at the same time, voted that the specifications 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 11, under Charge I were not sustained by the proofs ; and that 6, 7, 8, and 10 were sustained. Also, under Charge II, the specification 2 was sustained, and specification 1 was not sustained.

6. The final minute of the Presbytery, which is printed at the close of the argument, reports specification 10, under Charge I, as not sustained, whereas said specification was sustained by a vote

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of 21 to 17, the law of the assembly being, that to "sustain in part" (9), and to " sustain " (12), are always to be counted together.

7. The Presbytery has decided that nothing taught or done by Mr. McCune, in any or all of the proofs of the case, was in contravention of his ordination vows, nor impaired the integrity of our system of doctrine, nor was disloyal to the Church, nor, if generally persisted in by our ministers, would subvert the Presbyterian denomination.

8. The opening argument of the prosecution is given to the public at the request of many members of our Church, and others not members of the Church.

THOMAS H. SKINNEE.

Cincinnati, April 10, 1877.