Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-05-01

GAILAUDET-A G. ALTON OF TRUSTEE
TO WAIT ON TH SsHI1 Fi,c APPoiSrA"
,regat;opaIp call Of the trustees for q con-
90 -, ,na .<eting, abou. thirty FIVE mem
=, Snres Congregation Of the FirS, Rev.
:, ,.o - iand's) Presby terisn church met
90. <sture-room on Wednesday eseningtO
NJ sd'r the financial condition OF the church,
: Och, as has already been stated in THE
n.AR, is far from encouraging, and which
was recently made the subject OF a discourse
by the pastor. Mr. o. c. Wight, president OF
the congregation, presided, with Mr.. F. B.
Dalrymple az clerk. After the reading of
the minutes of the last meeting, Prof T.. NJ.
Gallaudet, from the board OF trustees, said
they had called the meeting To- lay before the
congregation the condition of the church
and suggested that the committee on the
church debt make statement
The treasurer, Mr.. Theodore F. Sargent
read report showing that the estimated de-
hcit I'm the revenues of the church at the end
OF the present quarter, lending June 30th
Mr. John h. Wight from the committee ON
the church debt, read a statement showing
that the funded debt of the church is 200.
MI Cordial Storrs moved that the commit
tee on the debt pay the $500 collected on vol
untary subscriptions, and the funded debt as
soon as they can raise the required amount:
which motion was adopted.
Prof Gallaudet, one OF the trustees said
the congregation had in the treasureF's report
~ plain and comprehensive statement Of Z! e
III aIcldl cOliltlOfl OF TIE cnOft.D. lie won al
make no reference TO the past; the fact that
The church is in this condition was enougb
Tie trustees had found their resi- onsibiIity
too heavy TO bear, and did not feel author
lied to carry il longer without advising with
the cor gregatiOn. The deficiency in June
next viii be Al 100 or 81 200. Repairs of the
church and other expenses will be necessary
in the meantime, and the trustees them
selves estimate the total def cheney on the
3Oth Of June at 81 800. The yearly revenues
of the church do not exceed $4,000; the ex-
n Hoy i've f@.
amount 10 about So 600 Four months of the
year have passed, and the church has for the
remaining eight months deficit of $4,000 to
overcome; in fact, the deficit will probably
reach 50, 500. instead of 50 600 The trustees
felt that this state OF affairs should be male
Known 10 the congregation; and there could
DE no question that the latter would be un-
wise To allow this state of things to continue.
In answer TO an inquiry the treasurer, Mr..
Sargent, stated that the estimate of the de-
heiency was based ON the superstition that
all arrears for pew rent would be paid.
A letter from six young ladies' of the
church was read by the clerk regretting
the embarrassed condition of the church, and
suggesting that the congregation dispense
with the choir and Organist. They further
said that one OF their number could play or
the organ If necessary, and thus save the ex-
penSe Of hired Organist In conclusion they
said they did not consider the pastors salary
as among the unnecessary expenses, and
hoped il would not be deemed proper 10 re-
duce il.
Elder Patch hated to see the pastors SAL
airy reduced, but the work OF retrenchment
must begin. If the salary of the pastor was
reduced the expenses of the choir must also
be- diminished.
Professor Gallaudet said as painful as il
was to him to do so, he felt inpelled by a
sense OF duty to move that on and after MAY
LIST next tie pastors salary be at the rate OF
1000 per year, or the same as 10 was when
be was called TO the church. (The present
salary of the pastor is g, 500 per annum)
Mr.. q. r. Milburn, soto UOce.-''Make 1t
81 5GO."
Professor Gallaudet said i'll his motion pre-
vailed il would reduce the salary OF the pas
tor this year about S1,100, or about ne-half
Of the derct the church had to meet IL
should be borne in mind that the salary could
be raised whenever it was possible TO do So
Mr.. Harvey Fowler remembered the time
when the debt of the church was SCI 900. and
right.
Elder Frost moved that the salary of the
pastor be reduced TO $500 a year, and the
expenses OF the choir to 5000. (The church
now pays the Organist 500 and the choir
5000 per year, AT the suggestion of Prof.
GallaUdet he amended his resolution by
striking out that part of it relative TO the
choir.
Prof Gallaudet said he must oppose Elder
FrOStS motion, because it was retroactive.
ard the church had no right to reduce the
salary Of the pastor for the four months of
the year he had already served. He pro-
posed to reduce the pastors salary $1,000
while Elder Frost proposed TO reduce IL about
$500.
Elder Patch thought the proposed reiuc-
ton of Trustee Gallaudet was too large
The chul ch for a number of years past had
always had small yearly deficit to make
up The ladies intended to hold a festival
from which probably some $500 or 5000 would
be realized. He certainly could not vote for
Prof. Gallaudet's proposition. 1t hal bad
look, and he hoped the congregation would
not sustain il.
Ex-treasurer f.. G. Church doubted, as the
pastor was paid by the year, whether the con-
gresation had the right 10 reduce his salary
Elder Patch read an extract from n letter
written by Rev. DIR. Sunderland saying that
in the present embarrassed condition of the
church he would cheerfully acquiesce in any
reduction of his salary that might be thought
proper, and that the congregation ought to
have no delicacy about the matter. He fully
appreciated the difficulties under which the
church labOred, and would gladly unite with
them in overcoming them.
Mr.. Cordial Storrs offered as substitute
a motion that the pastors salary be 500 per
month from May LIST until otherwise ordered
by the congregation, and subsequently
amended II by providing for a committee to
wait on the pastor and inform him of their
action.
Mr.. storrs' substitute was lost, the vote
standing II ayes and II noes.
Elder FTOsts motion was then lost by a
vote OF Il ayes to about 20 noes.
Mr. Fowler moved that the pastors salary
be at the rate OF $1,000 FOL the remainder OF
the year.
The chair was about to put this motion
II had not been seconded.
Mr.. Champlin inquired of the chair
whether il would be in order to receive an
unlimited number OF amendments.
The chair thought all amendments offered
in good faith must be entertained, and finally
put the question 10 the congregation and he
was sustained. The question recurring on
Mr.. FOwler's amendment il was put and
carried by vote OF ayes, Is; noes, IL. The
resolution of Prof. Gallaudet, as amended by
Mr.. Fowler, was then adopted by vote 10
TO u.
Elder Patch read another extract from the
letter of DIR. Sunderland, suggesting that il
any means can be used to meet the remain
der of the 500 for the choir II should be re-
tanned until the close OF the year, when other
arrangements can be made.
Mr. Tracy, leader of the choir. begged the
Indulgence Of the congregation while he re-
cited his trials and tribulationS. He received
no pay for his services, consequently was
quite willing that his salary shodld be re-
duced. II they disbanded the choir no one
wouid be better pleased than me, as il had
been constant source of expense and an
noyance TO him. He had been vilIified by
certain parties, Notwithstanding all he had
done. He moved that the pay of the choir be
reduced 10 $50 per year.
Mr.. John b. Wight moved that the choir
be dispensed with for the remainder OF the