Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-17
CHUHCH DIFFICULTY.
TIE TROUBLE AT ST JoHyS CHURCH.

Contest Be.Neep the Rector and veS-
Observation-Disclosures s"aii.m in Ma.Sinsson-Frnyer.
for the Dead--A Difficulty about the
7! ChanCei and about the frescoing-
The Respective Rights Of Rectors and
| yestrymen.
The old and time honored Protestant Episcon7'
| Church known as ST. Johns, located at t.
corner of II and 10th streets, opposite Lafayetts
/ Square, which has ior years been attended by
some Of our mos Influential and wealthy c-,i-
i zens and Government officials, has for some
| months past been undergoing extensive repairs,
| and in connection with these some serious mis-
Understandings have arisen between the Rector,
Rev. j. Vaughn Lewis on the one side and the
Vestry of the Church, composed of Messrs
Albert Ray, VIM. 5. Huntington, General
M Michler, archibald Campbell, and J. G..
the Parishioners each side has friends
and advocates. A few months ago it was
decided by parish meeting that the interior of
and the Vestry accordingly were charged with
| the duty OF experimenting the work, but in the
grosecution thereof the ideas OF the Rector and
| hard feeling, which has increased daily until
| yesterday. when parish NEE ting was held at
O'Clock y. m. at the church, in accordance with
| the following circular:
80 ne PGCtsaioners Of 81. Johns Parish, Wash
AParish meeting having been called for Tues
day, November 10, 1869, at p: NJ, the under
| signed, on behalf of number of the gentlemen
OF the Parish, desire to urge upon your atten-
| ton the necessity of the attendance Of all Pa
to the Parish will be submitted. His desired taat
erery peW shah be represented. 1t is understood
that financial questions will not be brought for
at thls % W SeTy kresPestfg
Smith, L. 5. N; w. II. Philip; A. A. Harwood
| U. 5. N; JAS. Alden, U. S. N; Geo. Clymer, U.
| 5. N; Geo. G. Schaeffer.
| Washington, d. C., Nov. 13, 1907
IT, a
friends OF the vestry that the Rector is strong
| ly inclined TO ritualism, as year ago last All
Souls Day he announced that the cOngre CATION
could pray for the dead and ON Good Friday last
| black. The troubles continued until on, of the
vestrymen resigned, and MIR. William S. Hun
| thought then that the difficulties would be
allayed, as Mr.. Huntington was looked upon as
strong friend and in sympathy with the
Rector. Upon entering upon his duties as
yestryman however, it seems that Mr.. Hunting
ton became convinced that the vestry was acting
intgOOd faith, and tor the good Of the parish.
Mr. Lewis is native Of Vermont and has had
charge OF the parish about foCr years having
ceeded Rev. DR.. Smith Pyne. He is regard ID
as minister OF superior attachments, and &
always drawn large congregations to listen TO
his sermons. A short time since a pastoral
letter was issued BY Mr.. Lewis, advising the
Pensioners o. certain facts touching his official
relation to the paIish, in which he says:
1.-The yestry Of st. Johns Parish has, per-
sistently, during the past summer, set at naucht
every request, disregarded every remonstrance,f
and &c red every protest, which my sense Of duty
required me to make, until 1 feel that l am
stripped OF every vestage of my lawful jurisdic-
ton, and amnot responsible for any of the acts
of said vestry. That 1 have patiently endured
thee things until endurance has reached the
verge OF untaithfulness, We yourselves are wit
ness; for doubt If there be ten Of you who have
so much as heard of a rumOr Of serious disagree
ment between the vestry and myself.
The rubrics place the music of the church
under the sole direction of the Rector. 1t is an
open question whether the civil law does not en-
power the vestry to determine who shall per-
form the musical parts of the service. But
granting that it does, the vestry must evidently
exercise that right in such a way as not to inter-
fere with the rectOrs privilege. g. they must
the rector may direct.
conceded the doubt in this case to the vcs.ry.
for the sake OF peace; and only requested that
should restore the kind of music which deem a
dissertation of Gods house. i specified exactly
the sort of music that desired, and my reasons
Tor desiring II. The vestry engaged quartette
that could not, or would not, learn to sing the
Psalter at the Sunday school service ON Sunday
al terncCn, and my Sunday school arrangements
are so broken up that shall not resume the ses-
sions of the school until can repair the damage
by the appointment OF a competent choir. [
have little faith in Sunday schools, except as a
means OF bringing the children to church. BY
four years hard work had trained my children
TO praise God They had learned to come to
Sunday school for the church service. They
name protes. ac.en oe ie t9
The rector claims that he had nominated an
organist competent to go on with the work Of the
Parish, who would attend the daily service, train
the Sunday School and a volunteer choir, and
provide such hired singers as might be necessary
fer Loco per annum. The vestry engaged a
that the vestry held a meeting and set on foot
active measures for the repair of the church
during his absence, but upon his return he adj
dressed letter to them stating that the meeting
was informal and he had therefore requested the
Register to call meeting IOr Saturday, July
3lst. He opposed the enlargement of the church
for the reasons stated, and made other suggcs-
tons relative to the proposed improvements.
At the meeting on the 31st of July the resOlu-
tons passed previously were reafirmed and rat
of the church, which was laid over, but subse-
quently agreed upon by the vestry. On the sd
Of August he sent written statement to the
veruy protesting against the enlargement of the
to enlsrge it without his sanction. The remon-
stance was disregarded, he says, by the yestry
and the improvement made.
To this letter the vestry made a reply stating
that they desired no controversy with the Rec
tor, bnt thought the questions raised by him
were i1judicious and unfortunate for the spirit
ual and temporal welfare Of the parish. They
denied having 'set at naught every request,
disregarded every remOnstrance, and deted
every protest" made by the rector; but, on the
contrary, state that they have endeavOred to
conform to his wishes. They charge him with
having desired to make alterations in the
church which involved expenditures that they
did not feel justified i'm making. They say that
the rector nominated q committee on music
consisting Of Messrs. Campbell, Hunting
ton, and WetmOre, and they employed DR..
Caulheld to organize . suitable choir, beliey-
ing it to be for the interests Of the church.
They claim that the members of the church
urged the improvement Of the church, as the
rector did not call meeting Of the committee
having this matter in charge. The rector was
absent from the city, but upon his return he
was notified Of the action Of the vestry, and ap-
peared satisfied. They charge that the rector
urged alterations in the chancel which would
have cost 81 500, and 50 500 additional for paint
ing They further claim that the alteration i'm
the chancel was adopted as the most feasible plan
after conference with several prominent archi-
tects and engineers
The vestrymen quote the act of 1898, organ
izing the diocese, to show that they had tine
right to make the improvements. which act is as
follows:
"And be Il enacted, That the vestry of each
parish, for the time being as trustees Of the
parish, shall have an estate in fee simple in 81
churches and chapels and in all globes and =.
lands, anS shall have a good title ar -vshst
all other d1Operty heretofore h. - estate In
Church Of England, or WI; oh . .sa to the
belong to the said Churc,. nov. srali hereafter
estant Episcopal Church, in Massnsd the Prot
shah be lawful fOT su"' -. - .sfyi land, and {
adysnt- property as they may think .n s
.-geous to the interests of the parishio, 80
and they shall also have the property / n I'll
books, plate and ornaments belonging to al
and chapels, or any Of them"