New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-01
DIR. RANNEY AND DIR. NEWMAN
THE SENIOR DEACON SUFFERS DEFEAT.

looked down smilingly upon the upturued faces of
nearly eight hundred bowling, screaming, gesticu-
lating members Of tho congregation. DIR. John z.
Newman, the pastor, sat in the midst Of tho uproar
and cOnvorsed with his wife. The two
men were the only persons in the
crowded and badly ventilated room who
! seemed TO remember that church meetings were
generally supposed to be conducted like other as
semblies of civilized people. The of all this
eXcitement was DR.. Newman. Several days ago
the following notice was sent to every member OF
! tho church:
NEw-YoRK. January 2G, 1ssl-There viii he special
business meeting of the members of this church on
superintendent Of tbe 5nnday-school, Clerk of the
Church and NE iupSqeioa Of such other business as may
| regularly rome before said meeting.
1t was signed by the deacons, and the italicized
portion was extremely suggestive to those who
| knew what hotbed of dissension the usually
, peaceful church had become. There was to be
fight between the friends of the pastor and those
who thought that DR.. Newman was receiy-
| ing too great salary, who said that as
he had not accepted the permanent pastorate he
was not pastor at all, and W no finally cried with
| uplifted hands that he was still Methodist, re-
| fused to become anything else and OF that
! time considering a call to Methodist church
which was about to be built in Brooklyn. DR.. Ran
| ney headed the macontents, and led them on to de-
| feat with camness that was remarkable.
THE BATTLE BEGUN.
| 1t p. m. the doors Of the lecture-roOm were
| thrown open, and the crowd which had been be-
spattering each other with mud outside continued
| their pleasing occupation within. Dr. Ranney as
| cended the platform and in few words announced
the object of the meeting to be for the election of
superintendent and clerk, and to deliberate upon
| Dr. Newmans relations to the church" a tremor
| seemed to go through the Assembly; women wagged
| their heads and moved their faces conyuisiyey;
| nine talked loudly. until Peter DE Witt sprang
to his feet and observed that before any business
was transacted 1t would be well to confirm DIR.
Ranney as the chairman. A voice in strident tones
nominated Senator Mcdonald.
Dr. RanneyIa senior decon Of this church and am
going to be CHAIRMAN Of this m meet i you please
"AIcDonad."l
Mr. DE Witt-wel, if there's going to be dispute sub
init the choice Of o chairman ~ a vote.
yoi &c accSma9 %ab We will voto by ballot
brother, and only members Of the church viii be allowed
to vote. We shall 80 along this thing by the laws and
pPeSeTbins yotinT by b@i.5 go ana sit down" etc
Well brothers bisses can talk long and as loudly as
< woman's yolce-Its only the backsliders who
causing this discord-no the members Of the church.
Mr. De witt want TO fight this matter OF Newman
OUTPUT want to 10 it in an honorable manner
Dr. RanneyBrehren let US proceed to the election OF
n moderator. or a chairman.
voice. move We adjourn.
but object 70 allowing the outsiders who are IL rms
any word In the business OF the church. We nave
TCries OF Oh Ah ~ The senior deacon has right the
chair because we do not you know, acknowledging
have any pastor [Crles OF shame shame wl He is
not even member Of the church and therefore cannot
possibly have any word In this matter The members CT
the church have urquestOned right 10 Sote here, but
A voice-Not pew holderql
Deacon CuInmings-N0! lCrios OF "Yesl MOTT
Mr. De Witt thought it singular occurrence that
such large number Of strangers SHOULD be present,
and he not disposed 10 Let outsiders govern the
members OF the church lCry of "kGht"i Deacon
Cummings rose deliberately and, opening foIiai-
dabe volume proceeded tOread section OF ecclesl-
astcal law, whereupon he was requested to sit
down."
Deacon Cummines-why not allow DR.. Ranney to re-
main as chairman
&" Good good . and enthusiastic chcernsj
DE- Ranney dumping 10 his feet and waving his arms
excitedy senior deacon, declare this meeting 70 be
dissolved and ihe congregation continues tits delber
atoms will be Illegal and without oroe SHOULD suggest
that the members so to some other place and hoh thc
meetidg. lGroans.
should out There not person ~ tue crowds ABOUT
me whom ! before. Let us have peace and
harmony. Let us act as Christians t. Oh, sit down"I
TIE CHAIRMAN SUPERSEDED.
DR.. Ranney refusing to listen to any further mo-
tons the crowd gathered about the platform and
discussed the matter with him. He turned his back
on several and attempted to descend from the plat
form, but he was hemmed in more closely by the
crowd. Finally a voice, sepulchral in tone,
| nominated j. L. Maston as chairman. The
nomination broke all chances OF agreement
between the warning elements, and DR.. Ranney,
catching his chair cOnyulsiyely by its back,
shrieked: Il say this meeting Is dissolved.
Again a voice nominated senator Mcdonald and
the gentleman appeared Oh the platform behind DIR;
Ranney. The nomination was put to the vote and
Mr. Mcdonald was elected by acclamatOn.
Senator Mcdonald stepping up 10 DR. Ranney1-Doc-
tor want to take you by The hand. don't want the
charmanshp Of the meeting IN any way Tor think that
not as savages But will say that have been elected
Chairman shall act without fear or favor
Dr. Ranney-Thats all right, Senator, but beg leave
to say that am still chat man OF this meeting cry
"YOu said that you dissolved the melting dld not
I said AT IslOu
some indication Of harmony In proceeding 20 tne eiec
clerk of the Church shall read the ro Of membership
and those present vote as their names are called
DR.. Ranney proceeded TO prepare himself for the
work before him by taking of his oyercoat when
his rival shouted above the dim OF discussion IN
the room: 81 think that should say that have
been elected for the benefit of the crowd" -
Mr. SEYMOUR think that this rabhle should DC dis
A VOICE. nominate Charles B. Brush as the superin
tendent OF the Sunday schOoL
The nomination was carried by acclamation with
the dissenting voice of one venerable but decrepit
old woman.
yoice-we nominate Thomas Grill as clerk of the
Dr. Ramney-we object and
A thunderous aye" drowned DR.. Ranney's
remarks and he sat do9yp. Then q voice moved
that the peetng should be adjourned.
person in the rear Of the churchWho arc these
strangers
and the church Lsh cries froia the women. 'No! not
much -, - --..,.- ~, !.
villa
elected and take the affairs OF this church into consd
Grafton strengthen them out and then we wl sec Dr.
Newman's position ia this matter
yoice-An In favor Of indOTsing Dr. Newmans ac-
tons in this matter, and willing TO support him n he
remains as pas or signify il by saying aye" rous-
ing and overwhelming aye followed by succession
of cheers and 3" tigers that shook the church,
Mr. De Witt IlOye adjourn.
DR. Ranney stepping forward to tee mont ~ TIE plat
forml--I direct Nlr. smith, the present clerk or the
Church not under any consideration 70 give the books
TO auy person And hnsy declare this meeting to DO
adjourned subject 20 tue call Of the Board 4 Oetc0ns
IL .l.,s q Ia
congregotion until the lights were put ont. " DO
YOU regard the meeting rs a legal one Doctor|
asked a TRIBUNE reporter of DR.. Ranney
No, Sill" was the reply; mot LEGAL IN any
sense
FROM THE NAVY TO THE AdYORS OFFICE.