The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-13
PARSON NEWMAN'S CHURCH.
Action of the Council Called to Pass
Upon the Quarrel's Merits.
mr. newman appears and Delivers Short
Addfe5s-mdicatio that lie VIII BE
Sustained by the Council.

NEW YORK March I'm tne congregational
Council, to-day Deacon Foster, an adhcront of
DR., Newman, said the books showed the pew
rent to have been as great the past year as ever
before in the history of the Madison avenue
Congregational Church. He then argued that
tie only authority thai could call pastor was
a joint meeting of the church and society He
proposed to prove that the meeting called at
Dir Ranney's house was illegal, null and Yoid
that it was attended by weak faction. a mi
nority; that the pretense for calling it had no
solid basis Of fact, and that the precedent of
such practice would be harmful to the church.
He argued these propositions at length. He
said Dr. Newman had been faithful to his
pledge publicly given. This church is as near be
ing non sectarian a church should be- and
in it are Christians of all denomina-
tons, and all who believe in Christ
may.find therein a home. Not q word or act has
Dr. Newman mentioned inconsistent with his
pledge, and yet from the factious 9eacons who
have headed this conspiracy against the pastor
has gone forth a statement that he made an
attempt to change the government of the church
from Congregational to Methodist. or to some
other form of government We affirm that it Is
untrue; of it no-proof has been can be given.
DIR Ranney has publicly asserted that DR.. New
man has reported the statistics of this church
to Methodist conference since he became
our pastor. This assertion is untrue. A similar
false statement has been made TO tho income
of the church and the character of the congrega
ton. False statements have been made as to
the church manual. The trustees of the
society have also been charged with
uSurping unlawful authority over the property
Of the church. All these statements are utterly
false, and have been made to influence and gath
or together those VINO have since left the church
to aid in carrying out their assault the pastor.
Deacon Foster suggested to the council that
the personal record of Dr. Ranney as connected
with previous pdstorates Of the church, should
be considered
the petition signed by alleged pew-holders. ask
ing that Dr.. Newman remain, was made up Of
multiplied names" that all the names of one
family We're used old or young, and that many
signers had only one single sitting in d pew.
DR.. Ranney said that during DR. Newman's
pastorate people came to the church as they
would go to a theater. to hear a lecture,
and he doned that DR.. Newman had over mott
fed him of his acceptance Of the pastorate, as
DR.. Newman claims he did
The moderator remarked that DR. Newman
was ready to be heard, on condition that no Q}:es-
tons be put.
DR.. Newman was invited to the pulpit from
which made his address He thanked the
council for its courtesy. and said he was not a
defendant, and would not discuss the merits of
the case nor nlale any personal allusion, with
one exception Il can only look with sadness
upon the injury this church has sustained by
recent events. and | shall always regret that l
have been even the occasion of such result
The personal alusion | desire to make is that,
inasiuuch the press has fit to herald this
episode as church quarrel
would say that during my two
years pastorate, never have spoken an unkind
word Of any man in this church. Concerning
lo4Nr
knowledge of the facts therein stated. What
over feelings l may have for Wesley r. Davis, l
have long ceased to respect that Methodist med
der who brought that letter here
Dr. Newman told how he had given up lit
erary life to take the pastorate here. During
that pastOrate he had administered the affairs of
tho church in the best interests of Congregation
alism far as he knew how He liked Congre
complexion of the church if he could and he
could not if he would. All persons making APP
plications for membership knew they were join
ing congregational church. DR.. Newman said
lie had recommended, with one exception, |
the reappointment of all the old officers
whose teHms had expired He had esteemed
himself the legal pastor of the church i'll view Of
the statute and the manual. He had understood !
some Of the most eminent members of Congrega !
tionalism considered the installation as only a
form II believe that L remain as pastor of this |
church with the concurrence of those who are |
members of the church Convince me l am !
fore the sun goes down"
DR.. Newman then solemny declared with his
hand on the Bible. that ne had never thought, or
spoken suggested a change in the church to |
xethodism. He was not dependent upon his |
salary from the church. but lie would remain |
with some members of the church So long as he
lived.
After DR.. Newman's address the council went
into executive session.
HsTho remarks of the delegates at the |
secret session were conciliatory. A |
committee was appointed to formulate a re
port, which viii be read at public meeting of
Madison-avenue Church tomorrow 1t is be- |
hcved it was decided chat DR.. Newman was only |
pastor elect, and as such not a member of the !
Congregational body; bnt the report will not
recommend that his connection with Madison |
avenue Church be severed. 1t will, rather, ad |
wise that he be installed as pastor
What Causes the Deacon's Anger.
New York Special.
1t is said that the primary cause of the an
tagonism to the Rev. Dr. J. p Newman. in the