Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-04
Voted Unanimously to Settle.

The Decision of the First Ecclesiastical
 Society, Falr Haven-The Passionate
 Qur sinn-EHoyv the Controversy End-
 ed.
 The special meeting of the First Ecclesias-
 tical Society of Fair Haven, called for the
 purpose of taking action relative to the settle
 ment of Rev. Burdett Hart as pastor, was
 held in the chapel last evening at o'clock.
 The meeting was an unusually large one,
 much interest being felt in the matter. The
 clerk, John 0. Bradley, called the meeting to order, and Henry R. Barnes was elected chair
 man. Applications for membership having been made in accordance with the statutes, the question was raised whether they were eligible to vote at this meeting, and after
 some discussion and an explanation by the clerk, it was ruled that they could so vote.
 Deacon Willis Hemingway offered resolution
 concurring with the church in extending to the Rev. Burdett Hart an invitation to become the settled pastor of the I church at a salary of $9,00O, and appointing 0. 8. Bushnell committee of one to convey the action of the society and | carry out the vote of the meeting. The
 chairman calling for remarks upon the reso-
 lution, the question was discussed very freely l by members who took the negative side of l the question, the speakers taking special care ! to define the issue as not against MT. Hart personally, but rather against the settlement | of any one. One of the speakers thought it
 would be better to live from year to year | with unanimity as had been done in previous years, rather than to settle, as there was | a strong feeling in the church against the | settlement. One of the speakers remarked | that what was wanted was unanimity. If the question was if we were to hire Mir. Hart for one or five years, there would be unanimous | vote for it. He appealed to the gentlemen | present to know if Rev. MT. Hart as settled pastor could preach any better, do any more ! toward building up the church and society,
 and do any more towards getting the church out of debt, than Rev. Burdett Hart could as ' hired pastor. If SO, then himself, and he thought all present, would vote to settle. The clerk inquired if it was known that MT. Hart would accept such call, and Deacon James O. Smith said he could answer that he would.
 After some further discussion the chairman requested the gentlemen to prepare their bal
 lots, yes or TO, and appointed Smith Granniss
 and J. E. Chapman tellers. The names of persons voting were checked off by the clerk
 as they deposited their respective ballots. After all had voted who wished the clerk l declared the following result, viz: Whole 1 number of votes cast 51 yeas 20, noes II. Edward Swift thereupon moved that the
 vote be made unanimous, which was 50 car ried.
 At this stage of the meeting, Joshua E. Chapman arose and addressed the chair, and | said he would move not to allow the daily pa- pers to publish any of their doings, that | enough had already been said. This resolu- | ton brought down the house, and prolonged
 laughter followed. A gentleman moved that MT. Chapman be appointed a committee of
 one to carry his suggestion into effect and pre-
 vent the papers from publishing. Gaughter. | The chairman did not put the question, re-
 marking that the reporters would do as they | pleased. The meeting then adjourned sine die