New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-12
DIR. RANNEY COMES UP SMILING.

THE PROPOSED MEETING TO BE HELD-oNLY
CHURCH MEMBERS ALLOWED TO ATTEND.
After the meeting of the Board Of Trustees
meeting of the anti-Newman faction was held in
Dr. Ranney's house. There were present Deacons
J. w. Ranney, H. NJ. Cummings. g. s. Palmer and
H. s. Croker /; n. w. Josselyu, j. Is. McNab w. A.
Leggett, j. Nicholson and Trustee f. T. Hopkins.
Deacon Cummings presided. DR.. Ranney said:
II seems to be the unanimous opinion of majority
of the church members that council IL the only thing
that settle our difficulties and II Is essential III ordet
to call ose that we should bave meeting OF en rS
TO exclude us from our church building anu
forwarded to the Board of Trustees. I move that a
meeting OF church members be called for Thursday
the trssscton Of ch business as may be deemed neees
sary for the welfare OF our chDrch.
DIR. Ranney added that he believed the trustees
after further consideration would permit such
meeting to be held. The resolution was adopted.
1t was agreed to send the following notice to all
the members of the church
There will he special meeting OF the members only OF
the Madison Avenue Congregational Church. ID the yesty
OF said church. Thursday evening February H. 1888
election church clerk second the ndorselnent or the
superintendent Sunday Mr. Charles B. Brush
third obtain expression from the members OF the
church to the desrabity OF the continuance o. the
Rev. DIR. j p. Eewmans ministry among u.s. fourth 10
advise In present difficulty; hfth For tho tansac-
ton Of such other business as may come before the meet
ing.
The notice is signed by Deaeons Ranney, Cum
mngs Meigs, Palmer and Croker; Trustee +. l.
Hopkins and forty others. go
"Suppo Sc the trustees will not grant you per-
mission to hold the meetingp sand some one to MI.
Hopkins.
."'fhe meeting VIII be held in any event" the
trustee replied.
As regards the demand made by Dr.. Newman's
friends that he had in any way pledged Himself to
pay off the church debt, DR.. Ranney said:
( had several conversations with Or. Newman at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, before decided to tender nim
call TO become pastor with reference 10 the chuch
debt Of $780, 600 He said IL was mere bagatele; that
he had friends would forward and pay that at
almost any time. The Rev. W. X. Davis, our former
pastor, advised us not 20 call Dr. Newman
Unless he would pledge himself 70 pay, that
Mr. Davis at the Buckingham Hotel and
met him again at the house Of James f. Button. They
had long talk about the debt Mr. Davis told Ine that
while Dr. Newman would not pledge himself 70 pay OF
the debt he said there question that friends OF
his would come forward, and that IN three years the
whole debt would BIO paid.
Referring to the misuse of the Poor Fund, Deacon
Cummings said
There was borrowed from this fund Sl75 to pay for
some mating for the church. One sunday morning
last Contender, after tho service, DR.. Newman
called around Deacons Pine, smith,
Meiggs Finch self and said tnat he wanted that
money transferred the society told him we mad no
such socleS. -Four deaeons voted as ne wished. re-
Trained from voting.
Ameeting of the Young Mems Association Of the
church was held at No. 34f Fourth-aye. 1t agreed
to support DR.. Ranney.