The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-15
PASTOR VERSUS TRUSTEES.
THE DIsszSsIoss THAT THE REV. MR. cAmn
BELL CAUSED BIZ LEARNING AND PRAcr1s1No
TOO MUCH,

THE DIsszNsIoss THAT THE REV. MR. cam.
TOO MUCH.
The troubles which have been rife for several year.
past among the members of the lse United Prssbyte
rian church, situated at No 4S4 West Forty fourth
street, have assumed phase Three four years
ago the PASTOR the Rev. Mr. q. Campbell. becoming
sirous OF larger income than the salary which he
then earning $4,000 per annuml began to study med
cine a. the Long Island College Hospital and in courss
OF time received bis diploma He Immediately began
to practise his profession and announced TO hia
practitioners that he would render them his servcoa
for half the usual rates. HIS congregation. nota
withstanding this generosity on tho part
the doctor-pastor did not take kindly to hia
new scheme and protested against mis- continuing
TO practise bis new profession in conjunction With
the performance Of his clerical duties Al another
time Mr. Campbell was asked deliver four extra
mons during the year for the purpose OF raising
funds TO be placed in the church treasury which
needed them, but this he declined to do, and also
fused TO allow any other preacher to occupy his pulpit
for the These and oher disagreeable actions
the part OF Mr. Campbell tho OF the church
say, led TO dissenson and dissatisfaction among the
members and caused twenty or thirty families 10 leave
ago last March, when attempt was made to reduce
the pastors salary This attempt failed the trustees
uecueo 10 increase the pew rents MY per cent In order
tQb
ABLE TO PAY THE SALARY.
The church al this time was indebted 70 the
preacher $500 his pay for 1874, he offered
cancel the debt provided the should be raised
moro than twenty-five pcr cent THIS agreed TO-
but still the income OF tho church was found made.
quae 70 meet tho pastors salary in full Ia fact there
is sill 81 0l0 due Mr.. Campbell On the Goth OF last
March tho regular meeting to elect three trustees 10
place OF those whose terms OF Office had expired was
held, but without result MIR. Campbell nrst do
manded thai either he or one Of the elders Of the
church should preside and. when this was accodcd TO
by tho trustees by his contsnd,ng that all the attend
ants at the church. young or DID, paying or nonpayng
should be entitled to vote. The trustees, however
claimed that oly persons twenty-one years OF ags
should vote and the meeting was broken up.
Eight days later another meeting of the congregation
So 600 10 $500 Mr. Campbell accused the trustees Of
causing this vote IRON personal malice and appealed
10 the Second Prcsbytery OF the United Presbyterian
church OF New York, OF which he is himself the Mode
ralor The Presbytery to have met at the Forty
fourth street church Monday last to take action In
sne and formally resolved that the Presbysery had
no power To act IN the matter and when the Prcsbyass
put in an appearance at the church doors they io.
Them locked aud the church inaccessible. They
ADJOURNED A DANCING HALL
In Forty-thlrd street. where Mr.. Campbell presided
Al this meeting It was resolved that the action o. the
Pres5ytery in the lawinl and regular discnarSe Q!
its functions was s'un- Presbyterian, disregard
and contempt OF the right OF the Presbyter
and an act Of usurpation which the Pres
bytery does mos. emphatcaly condemn" The
reduction OF the pastor salary was declared uncOust
tutona and therefore null and void and the church
recommended 10 cite the offending trustees before
II for trial. according TO the laws OF the Church The
Prcsbytery also made investigation into the affairs
OF the church and declared that there were grounds
for discord among the members. The meeting subss.
qucntly resolved itself into church session, aud
elected place OF the three trustees whose terms OK
pired last March, Mcssrs. John Crawford, James
Rowan and Robert Armour.
Tho old Board Of Trustocs, which numbers nine,
contend that the Presbytery has power in the tenn
poral Of the church. and claim that the reduc
ton Of the pastors salary by the session OF the church
was perfectly legal They say they have legal advice
the subject aud intend to stand the ground they
have maintained so tar They also that the
ton OF the three trustees was illegal
Amer the services IN the church yesterday mornins
Mr. Campbell read the resolutions which were adopted
by the Prcsbytery condcmning the Board Of Trustees
The Board had handed in 70 Mr.. Campbell TO- DO read
from the pulpit call for meeting 10 be held on the
Goth inst Tor the purpose OF electing the three trus
tees, but the preacher declined to read IT, whcreupon
one OF tho trustees his seat and read Il LIN
said that meeting 10 try the Board, as recommended
by the Prcsbytcry will bc held the 23d insL Tho
trustees firm in their belief that they have done
right and say they will stick to their present course