Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-04-24
Congregational Meeting OF ST. Paurs Lu-
theran Church.

Last evening the annual meeting of the con =
gregatiOn of st. Paul's English Lutheran
Church, Of which Rev. DIR. ]. CT Butler is pas.
Tor, was held, and was largely attended by the
membership and attendants of the church
After devotional exercises had been conducted
by DIR. Butler, ard Rev. MI FInkeI of tbe
trst ward Church, the meeting was organized
oy the selecuon OF Mr.. A. =. Pratt as president
and Mr.. j. l. Endule secretary. DR. Butler
read paper from the Church Council refer
ring the communication made to the church by
the pastor on the 18th of April to this meeting
Inc substance CT this communication was that
ne (Dr. B had been waited upon by a COM
mlttse OF three persons, claiming to represent a
large proportion of the membership who in
formed him that il was desirable that he shSuld
change the character of his HinistratIons or
tenoer ms resignation. 1t is generally under.
food, althou Oh II was not stated in the meeting
that the grounds of complaint Were that he was
too Catholic and not Lutheran enough in his
views end that his preaching had a political
bias, &c.-Rep.1
reuaeiions, but il any respectable minority of
the church desired him TO close his connection
with the church, ne would do so, not wishing 10
Re IN the way OF any one Rev. J. Suman
sald mat no action was necessary to be taken
IN view Of the unanimity of the congregation
on the subject. Mr.. J. A. Rheem offered reso-
buttons endorsi the course of the pastor, con-
demning the action of the committee $50 called. J
referred 10, and requesting the council of the
church 70 enforce the discipline against them
II they dq not repent Before the vote was
IN.
Jas. A Ekin asked and obtained leave To read
paper signed by fifty-one persons not MEM
oers. out attendants of the church, endorsing
the course OF the pastor. The paper was signed
among others by Speaker Colfax, Assistant
Postmaster General Mcclellan and himself
Mr.. j. Il. Weaver said that he would like a
vote to be taken on the question of endorsing the
pastor cause, and all present should vote that
n might De seen where they stood Mr.
Rheem's resolutions were adopted by a rising
vote two or three persons only remaining in
their seals.
Rev. Mr.. Finkel here offered feryent PRAYER.
and Dr. Butler addressed the meeting, saving
that ne did not regard this as a trifiing matter:
~ having been stated that this committee rem
resented a large number of members of the
church. He felt than ful that so much ma
nlmIty had prevailed, and rendered his ac
knOwledgements for this endorsement He bore
malice towards none, and would IN the future
as ID the past work for the advancement of
Chrlsts kingdom, and expressed the hope that
harmony would prevail, and that the Church
would prosper even more in the future than the
past.
The resignation OF Mr.. NJ. NJ Rohrer as
member OF the church council and finance
com mlttee OF the Harmonial Church was ac
copied. Messrs. A :. Pratt and A Noon were
Reelected elders, and Capt s T. Thornason
deacon, IN place of Mr.. Rohrer, who, with
Messrs- Geo. Ryneal and II. Keuhling consti.
s,ute the church council, The meeting add.
iourhed.