Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-04-12
Deferred Locals.
he Row in the First Presbyterian Church


tee-Dr SRRderiGad CeESUred for kis coarse an
the Fred Douglass Hdtter-TLs Church Debt
Slo,WG-A DtScoRrdgiRg Prospect No mode
disoerHGbIe Of Ggdia CHitng tic Congregation
and Liquidaiino he Church Debf-TI;oS oid ,i~s
On he adoption Of he Report picuE Election
eeFIHg Dodge-Mr. GdlldUdet rOtes his KeaddH
Green AUtes-' Dead RGGLits'' in SpeetGcIes-
ItceHfy-SereR htE-edgcd ToterS a a PetD-Re-
hGfogs BGHot-Ioz StEBEs 9 big sodle-Tri-
umph Of the Observation-Disclosures lOpely for
4sscegeRGtion-W VIA: Merit
On Monday evening, the annual meeting OF
the congregation OF the First Presbyterian
Church (Dr Sunderland's) was held in the lee
tnre-room OF the church. In consequence Of
the internal dissensons in the church, brought
about by the Fred. Douglass lecture and the
course Of DIR. 5. i'll that connection. there was
pretty large attendance in authorization Of \
livery uIne, which anticipation WAS not dIsap-
pointed. Dr. Sunderland did rot appear on
me scene In person, but his cause was adroi,Iy
managed by MIR. L. M. GalIaudet, who runs
the Kendall Green Deaf and Dumb ASYLUM.
Though living al Kendall Green. there - moi
shade OF the yernal tint about Gallaudet In
the language OF those who know him best he
Is as keen as q brier and as smart as they make
EN-. He is decidedly good-ooking Young
man, and is considered 10 have the haudSounes;
legs (masculine) that 20 10 the First presbv
terian Church. But he doesn't allow his de-
Noirs TO his locking glass or his admiration of
his handsome legs 10 impair his usefulness
Though quite youthful. he is not only able IN
carry on the Deaf and Dumb Asylum with
credit 10 himself, bUt TO engineer other things.
big and little, with shining success. But OF All
this more anon.
The meeting was called TO order bv MI O. G.
Wight, Secretary, and Rev. DT. McLain was
called 10 the chair. Mr.. GalaUdet moved the
appointment OF a committee to invite the pas
tor (Dr. Sunderland) TO be present Il: the meet
ing: A motion was made TO lay Mr. GalIau-
dets motion on the table, on which the ques-
non was taken by a rising vote, and the motion
was losi, 81 IN the affirmative and ~ in the
IN LIT
lost, . III the Affirmative and ci in the neya-
live. 80, virtually, the Doctor WIS invited not
10 come; and this OH the surface looked bad for
hr 6allaudet's side of the house, but that
adrolt young gentleman showed no sign OF
distress-attitudinIZed his handsome legs with
approving glances at the effect, and bore him
self altogether with the confident alr of a
manager who has resources i'll store certain 10
do the business
DIR. GUnton, chairman of the temporal COM
mlttee, presented the annual report of the com
mlttee, signed by himself J. W. Colley and b.
mllburn. The report states that the Treas
urtr's account for money expended from ADril
i le65, TO April /, le6G, exhibits a deficiency OF
the receipts over the incidental expenses which
In the opinion of the committee would no
have been the case but for the conduct of the
pastor In permitting the church 10 he occupied
by colored man 10 deliver a political lecture
10 an indiscrlminate audience OF white and
colored persons, IN opposition TO the remon-
strances OF a majority OF the elders; both dea-
cons, trustees. the temporal committee. with
one eXception) and many of the oldest and
valued members of the congregation. As it is
dlficnlt to realize such a state of things, it is
thought advisable 10 give in this report a de-
tailed account OF this unfortunate transaction.
In the first place the pastor had no authority
10 permit the church 10 be Occupied for any
such purpose, the secular concerns OF the
church having always been under the direc-
ton OF the temporal committee. and never
called IN question until lately. as will more
lulIy appear by a correspondence held more
than three years since, between the much re-
spected clerk OF the session and the chairman
Of the temporal committee. Notwithstandinr
this the pastor, soon after his return from Paris
informed the elders of the church that a sub
Jcct was TO be brought before them for their
action, in which the ayes and noes wauId be
called. With this formal admouitjon the
session was convened by the pastor and the
consent ef four OF the five members reluctant
~ obtained for Fred Douglas, a co!ored man,
To deliver a political lecture in the church be-
lore Il miLed audience of white and coiored per-
sons, on The following Tuesday evening. Feb
Eth. loOo.) As soon as this fact became known
to The temporal committee and Sc eyeral lin lIueu
ual members OF The church, an in formal meeting
OF the elders, temporal committee and others
Was held at 'he usual place of meeting. and
alter full discussion OF the impropriety of
having the church thus occupied. a bt1 iorify OF
the elders (the committee take great pleasure
III staiIng) rer0ked their PERMISSION, as will
fully appear by the following communication:
~ AshlNGToN, SABBATH MORNING, Feb
Tmary ll.-Rer- Dr. Sunderland - Dear Bro:
When we were called upon last Wednesday
evening 10 give our vote on the question Of
granting the use of the church for next Tuesday
evening TO the ladies representing the National
Association for the Relief Of Colored Orphans.
we had had no opportunity for ascerraining tbs
views and feelings of the members of the
church and congregation on the subject. Yes
Pruay we were made aware of the fact thai
while there is, with scarcely an exception a
sympathy with the object and a willingness to
contribute TO its support, yet there is a very
strong and general objection on the part Of
those who have been and are among the true
friends and most liberal Supporters OF the
church. including majority Of the temporal
committee and trustees, 10 the occupation OF
the church by the lecturer proposed, for the
meeting referred to. And II is evident that
such occupation would prove seriously in iu-
nous to the harmony and interests of the
church. Under these circumstances we con-
ceiye IT 10 be our duty TO revoke our decision:
nor can We suppose that the ladies, whose
Efforts IN work of benevolence we would
gladly aid, will tail to appreciate our position
or wish TO have anything done that wouIu
produce so much dissatisfaction in the church.
"turthernore, we have on our own part to
say, that when we granted the use of the
church IL was with the distinct understanding
that there should be nothing in the subject
matter of the lecture ncon sistent with the Mace
and occasion, or liable TO reasonable objection.
We now find that the lecture proposed TO be
given has the same title and is fairly Inferred
10 have substantially the same subject matter
as one which this person has delivered in other
places, and which, we learn from the best
authority, is such as we cannot consent 10
have deliI cred in our church"
Signed by o. q. Wight, IL. j. Frost, w. II.
Campbell.
This touching appeal and rerOcatioa of the
previous action of the Session was noticed from
the pulpit by the pastor, IN the following words.
''In regard 10 the notice which appeared in
the papers yesterday for a meeting to be held
in our church on Tuesday evening of this
week, would say TO the Congregation that \
have received this morning a communication
from a majority Of the ruling elders of the Ses.
sion which renders further consideration nec.
essary before a final announcement can he
made in regard to the matter. 1 therefore To-
quest that there may be q meeting IN The lee
ture room tomorrow evening at 6 o'eiock of
the members OF the Session, the deaeous the
temporal committee and all the officers and
members OF the church and conyreg,,ion of anv
Kind to hear and consider a statement which /
wish then and there 10 make them
as TINS notlce contained q request from the
pastor that the officers of the church shouid
meet the following evening to hear aud con-
Sotr statement which he wished then and
mere 10 make them, four OF the elders, both
tne oeacons, all the temporal comniIlee the
trustees and treasurer attended in the conf
cent expectation, after the above notice had |
oeen given by the pastor, that saIeSs further
soh was mad the church could not be so occupied.
AT this meeting, however, ali present were