The Evening critic., 1883-02-08
TO RETAIN DIR, RANKIN.
EnthuSiastic Meeting at the Con-
xreuafiOunl Church last Might.

to take suitable action in regard to the re-
cent call of Mr. Rankin to Cleveland
Church, and to pay just tribute to the
pastor who has served them 50 long and
faithfully. At about 73O o'clock the meet
ing opened, and the church was fairly
crowded, when Mr.. Charles Beardslcy. the
president of the board of trustees of the
church, rose and suggested the organizl-
tion of the meeting by the election of the
Rev. DIR. Patton as president, and the sng-
gestion was at once seconded and unan
mously carried.
Dr. Patton took his seat and proclaimed
the object of the meeting, aftel which Mr..
Whttlesy was called upon for n brief and
appropriate prayer, at the conclusion of
which Messls. William Lamborn and Alfred
Wood were appointed as the secretaries of
the meeting.
Mr.. Bcardsley then said that as the
church debt had been prominently men
toned and talked of recently, he thought
| it proper that it should be considered at
| the meeting. The debt was now about
| $500, and lie believed that $500 of that
| sum would be disposed of in a short time.
| He would say further that he believed
| that if the debt were paid it would lift
| trouble and responsibility from the pastor
| which would result in inducing DIR. Rankin
| to remain as pastor Of the church.
| DIR. Presbrey followed in an address in
the same vein, suggesting that at the meet
| ing an effort be made to start movement
for the payment of the debt He had
| pledges from number of people who were
not present to subscribe literally if the
necessary subscriptions were pledged for.
| Mr.. Presbrey formulated Il resolution that
| the movement be commenced at once and
| pledges made for subscriptions. lie sub
mtted printed card which was distrib
uted pledging the sgner to pay given
sum at once, and an additional sum before
November, 1881, provided that sum sufii-
cicnt to pay the entire bonded debt Of the
church, falling due December /, 1881, be
| subscribed.
| DIR. u. Howe Ripley was heard on the
subject. and Mr., Wood and other gentlemen
followed.
Mr. Presbrcy said that he would give 500
at once to start the ball rolling, and 5000
more before November, 1884. He had also
an offer from Mr.. Stuart for 800 now and
500 additional. Mr.. Beardsley offered 800
and an additional SlOO Mr.. Whittlesy
agreed to q similar subscription. Dr. Pat
ton subscribed $500; Mr.. Levi Woodberry,
$500; Elphonzo Youngs, $50 and Mr.
PresbTey introduced Il pledge from Mr..
Boynton for $3.50
The following additional subscriptions
were announced in a few moments: j. b.
johnson, 500; A. n. Skinner and Mr..
Goodall 500; d. Frazer 800; Mrs. Clara
II. Inch, $50 Mary r. Wixom, $40 cash /;
A. +. Gates, so and $15 additional Lavina
II. Chase, $50; Maria l.. Wood So; Thco.
Hausmann, 500; ID. X. Smiley $50 cash
and $40 additional; j. NJ. Rowan, $25
Clara P. Bateman, $40 cash and $40 addi-
tional; Ella J. Plimpton, $50 Mrs. L. Will
son, $40; William I.amborn, $25; John
Tweedale, 500; Mr.. Morrissey, $3.50; Pro-
fessor Bischofi, $1O0; Mrs. Maria S. Krt-
land, $25 cash and $50 additional; Miss L.
]. Wheeler, $25: Mrs. c. G. Bunker, $25; Il.
L. Stevens, 500: Emily L. Robinson, $50
A. w. Riley 500; L. o. Walker, $2j
Alfred Wood $50; L. b. Smith, S35 Hor-
ace b. Patton, $40; b. T. Lightner, $25; II
X. Fulton, $40.
A total of about $500 being subscribed,
the following committee was appointed to
solicit further subscription: DIR. o. +.
Presbrey, Levi Woodbury., Mr.. Lefavour,
Peter Campbell, Mr.. Beardsley, Mr. sam
born L. Morrison, j. b. johnson, J. +.
johnson, Elphonzo Youngs, Mrs. Philip
Inch, Mrs. Tweedale, Mrs Woodbury., Mis-;
Cook, Mrs. Dole, Miss Mann, Mrs. Alfred
Wood, Mrs. Dingman, Mrs. Young and Miss
Patton.
Several addresses followed Messrs. Wood
Bliss, Young, Beardsley and Others speak
ing briefly. Mr.. Beardsley read letter
from the president of the Woman's Chris
/ |
Rapkin's work in the interest Of the tenn
, perance cause in this city, aud gave 9
. glowing tribute to Dr. Rankin as fearles:
: advocate of the right and of reform and
! denouncer of all that was wrong, unjus
,, or impure. He realized the Importance o.
! retaining DR.. Rankin as means of estab
! fishing Congregationalsm firmly in thi
District.
After reviewing DIR. Rankin's career
, briefly, he called upon Llewellen Dean
who spoke at length of the circumstance
attendant upon DIR. Rankin's becoming
u pastor of the church, and his efforts in it
Q behalf since his advent, and the successful
u career of the church since he has been it
minister. He mentioned the constant re
duction of the church debt and the increas
u of its congregation, and showed how noble
l. self-sacrifcing and efficient DIR. Rankin
: efforts had always been. After an eloquen
address Mr. Dean introduced resolution:
+ which were unanimously adopted. ami
y. demonstrations Of enthusiasm.
u Whereas call has been extended by tn
Euclid-avenue Church, OF Cleveland, o., TO on
/, beloved pastor, Rev. j. E. Rankin, d. D., whic
= he has now under consideration, and IN vle'
U OF which 1t Is decorous and proper that til
bers of his church or parish, should In a bt
: coming manner give expression to their fee
= ings and wishes ON the question OF his accep
ance or declination OF the said call; therefor
Q be It
Resolred, by his church, parish and congrt
cation, now In mass meeting assembled, a
!, | follows:
j. First-That when we call to mind how prov
4: Dental were all the facts and circumstance
OF his coming to be our pastor, and his lon
and happy pastorate, and when we conside
: the work he has wrought here, and we loo
i, out upon the opportunities opening befoi
/ him and this church, we cannot bring oui
selves cheerfully or willingly to say that froi
our standpoint we consider the call and its a
@ | tendant reasons and circumstances sunicleI
@ to induce him to decide to leave this churc
!, | and sphere OF labor.
traordinary labor he has done In the NOR
,f than thirteen years Of his pastorate In build
, ing up our church membership from aboJ
- 100 to more than 700; In doing so large part
u the work Incident on paying about threequar
II ers OF debt originally more than $50, 900, an
in unifyiDg and organizing into acluaintanc
and Christian activity his large churcl
: membership, and also his Jealous co.opera
:, tion in Sabbath school work, we have the cor
d hdent hope that II he Will remain with u
N this entire congregation will rally with unite
hope and purpose to his aid and help In a
the manifold obligations and duties tncidei
y | TO the situation.
a Third-That In view OF the valiant au
4 | effective work he has wrought In the tempe
ance cause, where his voice has always bee
IL heard and always has had the true and trun
n | pet ring; where he has been as eficient a
the gentle comforter and personal friend
- | the wayward one as he was bold and cou
y ageous In all open fields OF contest and di
e. | pute where, by pen and tongue, he has dol
< so much, and done II all so well; in Wow or a
IL | this, and the Increasingly important demant
"a | OF the hour at this polrt, we cannot think
~ ought to turn away TO another field or labor.
v FOurth-That slnce this church and its pc