National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-07
rHE SECESSION FRoM RyLaNp.
The Boilers Z" Hold n Meeting and Form
aa independent society.

Sixty-tw0 persons assembled at Kendall
Chapel last evening In response to a call for a
meeting of those members of the Ryland Chapel
N. f. congregation who were dissatisfied with the
appointment OF DIR. J. :. Deale pastor of that
church, and the subsequent action of the presiding
elder in declining to have change made. Ofthe
number present about half were ladies. and.
as enc of the leaders IN the movement wanted The
REPUBLICAN reporter understand nearly all those
| present represented families 3Ir :. p Keller was
called TO the chair and Mr.. ii. L. Rose was chosen
secretary. The proceedings were opened in good
old Methodist style By prayer by Nfr.J H. Mitchell
| Mr.. W. j. huTtagh made detailed statement OF
! the causes that led to the meeting Mr. ]. X
| Sharpe expressed his sympathy with the move
/ ment. Mr.. Martagh offered motion that the
meeting form itself into Methodist society. indie
pendent of the Baltimore Annual VI. f. Confer
ence, with all details of such society including
Sunday school, class meeting. and other character
istics of the II. F. Church. A motion made by Mr..
George White 70 indorse The action OF the official
board of Ryland Church in Withdrawing from the
church having been carried NJ. MGrtagh's mo-
ton was called up.
Mr. strang, a member of the retiring beard, ex-
pressed his disapprobation Of any action which
tended not to uphold, bus 70 split the Ryland con-
gregation. He thought that when they could hem
orably go back to the church of their choice they
should go back.
''Whatremedy do you propose inquired Brother
Sharpe.
My remedy is this" replied Brother strapg;
Il withdrew my certificate to-day, and propose
TO go to some other church"
And then go back to Ryland next year" inter
rupted Mr.. Sharpe; that's just what we propose
TO do"
Mr.. Barker agreed with Mr.. Strang. Chair
man Keller thought the best plan was to keep to-
gether. If the people we're scattered around among
the different churches il would be impossible TO
ever get them together again. After some discus
sion, Chairman Keller said, coaxingly, May be
some of the sisters would like TO say word. You
know they power. We think so. if the pre-
siding elder does not" Then followed pause,
during which there was buzzing of tongues
among the sisters, but no one responded. Mr.. Muir
tagh said that he would like to have the sense of
the meeting in regard to church goyernnlent-to
know how many we're in favor ofthe present system.
" Do you mean the presiding elder business?"
asked Brother Strang.
u do" said Mr. Murtagh.
The chair explained what The church govern
ment was from the standpoint of the seceders. He
referred to the absolute power of the bishop, and
remarked that the ii. ?. Church had split off from
the parent church on account Of the tyrannical
rule ofthe bishops and the intermeddling of the
presiding elder. "That's where I'm going unless
something is done' concluded Mr.. Keller referring
to the u. P. Church. All those who approved |
the present system of the church government were
then requested to rise, and no one stood up.
"IwOnt put the other side OF the question" said
the chairman. |
Mr.. W. J. Stephenson suggested that Mr. Muir |
taghs motion to form society be amended by in |
serting the word independent" bu; Immediately /
withdrew the suggestion. vote was then taken !
ON Mr.. Murtagh's motion, and it was carried, "a |
voting in the affirmative and in the negative. !
The chair requested those who desired or intended |
to act with the new organization to sign their
names. recess was here taken. during which |
canvass Of those present was made and over thirty
signatures obtained. When the meeting was
called to order Mr.. Keller was elected president |
of the new society and Mr.. Rose secretary. The
appointment of committees was deferred. The
meeting then adjourned until Sunday morning at
nine o'clock, when Sunday school viii be or
ganized and divine services will be held. All the
members of the retiring board of Ryland. except
ing MessrS: Hall and Strang, signed the paper that
was circulated. Among the signatures were those
of Messrs. Rose. Murtagh. Keller, Sharpe Mitchell.
White, Stephenson, William WOrrer. and Francis
Etchberger. If it had been good night" IT,
marked q seceder to THE REPUBLICAN, eve would i
have had at least twice as many people here. We \
have enough 70 fill this chapel"