National Republican., 1883-02-08
Say the Friends Of the Rev. DR.. James E.
Rankin.
Immense Mass Meeting at the Congre-
gationaI Church Last Night
Eloquent Addresses Made and Stirring Resolutions
Passed.
A Handsome ImpromI'tu Subscription q
the Church Debt Fund.

meeting was to express their high regard in
which their pastor is held by the congregation
and to protest against any severence of the
relations now existing between church
and minister by devisiug plan for
tightening his burdens especially in the
matter Of the church debt. DIR. Charles
Beardslcy, fourth auditor cf the treasury,
called tho meeting to order and nominated
Rev. DIR. Patton, president of Howard univer-
sity, for chairman. DIR. Patton was unani-
mously chosen, and the meeting was fully or
gani1ed by the election of Nlessrs. William
Lamborn and A. Wood as secretaries DIR.
Patton stated the objects of the meeting, and
called on Gen. Il. Whittlespy TO address tho
meeting. Tho latter briefly adverted to the
enthusiasm which ever animated the mem
bers of the church., and urged tho necessity of
raising the amount to pay of the church debt.
This debt was now $4,000, having been re-
duced during DIR. Rankins pastprage from
100000 and upward.
Gen. Whittlesey WAS followed by Dr. Boards
ley in an earnest appeal for prompt and enor-
getic action. Mr.. Wolfe, the evangelist fol-
lowed. lie thought it would be good idea
to get up enthusiasm by having some singing.
He reminded his hearers that evaugclisis
were not ordinarily famous for being bur-
dencd with bonds or bank stock, but hc was
deeply in sympathy with the movement, aud
would aid to the extent of his power.
Mr.. Charles II. Bliss made an interesting
address, speaking of the previous history of
the church, and detailed how 1t had pro-
gressed
Mr.. Johnson suggested plan of discharg-
ing the debt by graduated scale Of contribu-
tions.
Mr.. Elphonzo Youngs wanted to got tn o
people TO meet the issue at once. There waG
no reason, he said, that this congregation
should not raise that amount of money and
more. He thought it would be good idea to
appoint committee to visit tho people in
dividually. He was certain there were hun
dreds in the congregation who would be glad
to help in this matter as far as they could. 1t
would bo wise to take away from the burdens
Of the pastor, whose earnest pastoral labors
and great spiritual influence he warmly eulo-
gi2ed.
DIR. Presley said they could settle the ques-
tion at once without recourse to n committee
DIR. Beardsley read from letter from lady
(the prohibition chairman of a woman's tenn
perance union), suggesting plan to pay of
the debt. He didn't think it was practicable,
but thought the temperance cause especially
should uphold and sustain its champions
and who had done more for it in Washington
than DIR. Rankin? Such, indeed, was the
sentiment of the temperance people generally
Not the temperance cause alone had
in him champion, but the cause of
human rights and human advance
appeal to have the debt raised. To do so would
tighten the burdens now weighing DR.. Rankin
down. He wanted especially to keep in this
pulpit man who so often from it had dared
to speak for human rights. The influence of
DR.. Rankin's life and genius was national.
1t extended all over the country; and there
was no calculating the good he was doing
here.
DIR. Presbey here read a letter from Judge
Tarbell, deputy first comptroller of the treas
ury. The judge, he said, did not know the
object of the meeting beyond the eXpession OF
affection for the pastor. His sickness, wrote
the Judge kept him and his wife from being
present. He thought one idea should be borne
| in mind by the meeting-the certainty Of the
| large increase of the congregation in the near
future as the effect of DR.. Rankin's preaching,
Gen. Whittlesoy suggested that as many
persons in the congregation had been in the
habit of paying something every Sunday, not
feeling the pressure of payment by making it
weekly through long period, itwould be well
| to invite their attention to similar action as
regards the debt. He hoped they would not
be deferred from giving in that way because
of the contributions that would be made dur
ing the evening.
DIR. Ripley agreed with Gen. Whittlesey
| He said it was no money consideration that
would influence DIR. Rankin.
| DIR. Beardsley moved that a. committee OF
| ten, with DIR. Presley as chairman, be ap
pointed to continae the prosecution OF the
work. Amended by adding the names of ten
ladies' and passed Before the committee was
named, the committee on resolutions, through
| Judge Dean, chairman. reported the following
series, which We're adopted:
| Whereas call has been extended by the Euclit
| Avenue church of Cleveland, Ohio, u our be
| loved pastor, Rev. J. L. Rankin, ID. d., which hI
| has now under consideration, and in view o
which II Is deeorous and proper that the people o
his charge, whether formally members of hi
| give expression To their feelings and wishes oi
the question of his acceptance or declinaton o
the said call therefore be 1t resolved by hi
| church. parish and congregatng, now in mas
meeting assembled, as follows, viz:
l. That when we call TO mind now providentia
| were all the facts and circumstances of his com
ing to be our pastor, ana his long and happy pas
| toTate, and when we consider the work he hal
wrought here, and When % we look out upon & the op'
| we cannot bring ourselves cheerfully or Willingly
to say that from our standpoint we consider th'
cali and its attendant reasons and circumstance
| sufficient TO induce him to decide to leave tni
church and sphere OF labor.
2. That while we recognize the extraordinary
labor he has done in the more than thirteen year
OF his pastUrate, in building up our church Ipem
bership from about 100 to more than 700, In doini
so large part of the work incident on paying Dou
three .iourths of a debt originally more thai
100000, and in unitylng and organizing into ao
quaintance and Christian activity his larg
| church membership, and, also, his Jealous 20
operatlon in Sabbath school work, we have tn
e5ntident hope that ii he will remain with Tls
this entire congregation Will rally with unitol
heart and purpose to his aid and help in all nv
manifold obligations and duties incident TO th
B. That in view of the valiant and effective worl
ne has wrought in the temperance cause, wher
Ids voice has always been heard and always has haC
| the true trumpet ring; where he has been us ell
cient as the gentle comforter and personal frient
! to the wayward one, us he was bold and courage
oug in all open fields of contests or dispute where
by pen and tongue, he has done so much and dom
| ii all so well; in view OF all this and the in
| creNsingly important demands of the hour Nt thi
point, we cannot think he ought TO turn away Il
4. That since this church and It's people art
very peculiarly and largely interested In the sue
cess Of the Young Mems Christian association, an'
thus fully recognize the Jealous help our paste
has always eheeriully and i-sacrifcingly ren
dered to this branch or Christian effort we deprt
cate the loss that may come To II by the departnr
OF so faithful and valued friend,
8. That, as citizens of Washington, we canno
bear the thought onat one so gifted Hs writer 10
the public press, skilled In verse and song tha
one 50 inteiligently and deeply interested IA al a.
ment, should depart from us 70 reside elsewhere,
6. Th as friends and those united TO u dea
friend hy tender ties and aheelionate sympathie,
rs paris shioneIs bound 70 beloved pastor by n
the sacred memories of peaceful and happy pas
torate and its blessed success its Joys and its hOl
triumphi, and also by the sacred and glorihe
memories of those in tho world beyond, we 81
most sinderely, most aflectonately, most hearth
that we ttust and pray he may not see that tn
path Of duty leads him away from us.
2, That while we thus express our hopes an
ardent desires we do not wish 10 DO unmlndtt
that there are questions in this case, us in an
case OF personal duty, that one can only answe
well when he shall answer II in Gods sight an
by divine help youchsaied in response 70 prayer
and that while we hope aud desire our pastor wi
remain with us, yet, II he shall lind lhatduty CALI
we shall bid him Godspeed, ana our prayers wi
follow him,
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