The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-09
PASTOR AND PHYSICIAN.
A Church War that 10 Very Likely 60 b,
Carried into the Courts.

tus touFte.
The members Of the little Forty-fourth
street United Presbyterian Church are In broil
about their minister, the Rev. q. Campbell. 81.
D., who thinks that his salary should not have
been reduced from 5000 to $500. MIR. Campbell
has been for fourteen years the pastor Of this
church. According to the story Of soms OF the
trustees, about two years ago some members Of
his congregation found out that their pastor was
practising medicine, or In the words Of one OF
them, "doctoring around" This discovery.
they say, created dissatisfaction, and twenty
or thirty families quit the church on account Of
1t. Discomfort and disseDsion continued In the
congregation, until Year ago last March, when
an effort was m ade to reduce tho pastors salary.
This failed because, as some Of the trustees say,
the pastor and his sdherents bad persuaded q
major part OF the congregation TO vote to in
crease the pew rents from twenty to thirty
per cent, thus providing for keeping the salary
up to 5000. Murmurs OF discomfort followed,
and IL Is said the church found itself unable to
raise money enough to pay the pastors full sal
airy, and Il now owes him SlOiO on last years
account.
elect three new trustees was held, but without
result, the trustees deciding that no person un-
pew rent, should vote. some OF the trustees say
that Mr. Campbell proven ed an election, and
that they ujourned uncsr protest.
On the 2Sth OF March another meeting was
held and tho pastors salary was reduced from
5000 TO 500. II is said that he protested
ond Presbytery Of the United Presbyterian
Church Of New, York. Of which he Is him
ss tine the u',Sss
on Friday last they met and resolved for
maly that the notice for the meeting OF the
Presbytery and church to be held yesterday was
"irresular aud illegal, and in no way pertaining
to the uses for which they held the house OF
worship In trust" 1hey also directed that the
house IA
the meeting.
The Presbytery demanded admittance to the
the resolute trustees. The meeting was then
held in what was formerly. CuLry's dancing
sided In the afternoon, and It was resolved that
the action Of the trustees in closing the doors
Of the church against the presbytery IN
the lawful and regular discharge Of It's
functions was "unpresbyterian, disregard and
contempt OF the right OF the Prosbytery, and an
act Of usurpaion which the Presbytery does
hereby most emphatcally condemn" The SEES
sion OF the church was recommended to cite
the offending trustees before II for trial accord
ing 10 tue laws OF the church, and the salary re-
duction was declared to be unconstitutional,
contrary to the laws and usaRes OF the church,
In the evening the Presbytery continued its
meeting the Rev, David J. Paterson presiding.
An Investigation was made Of the affairs OF the
church, and the Presbytery declared that the
grounds of difference in the church were Insult
hcient to Justify any dissatisfaction; that there
was good cause for announcement n deter
mined Efforts were made to put the finances on
a better footing, and that the pastor and session
be urged TO remove every cause OF dissatisiac-
ton.
After the Presbytery adjourned, the assembly
resolved Itself into church meeting to elect
three new trustees, instead OF those whose
terms expired IN March last. The full board
numbers nine. John Crawford, James Rowan,
and Robert A mour were elected trustees, and
the meeting adjourned
Some Of the old trustees say that they have
consulted counsel and know that they are right.
They will probably refuse to recognize the cleo
ton OF the new members OF the board. Last
night some OF them were In front OF the church,
evidently prepared to hold the fort, and one or
two police officers fingered near them.