The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-12
REV. JOHN p. NEWMAN.


New YORK March 1l.-Twentyon one churches
of Eastern States have sent delegates to the
Congregational council called by Deacon Ranny
of the Madison-avenue Church They will ex-
anime the question whether Rev DR.. Newman
shall remain pastor of that church. Rev II. NJ.
Dexter was chosen moderator. and discussion
Immediately began as to whether the council
had been legally called. Jas. D. Foster offered a
formal protest against the calling OF the council,
which action he claimed was illegal and void
This was signed by al the trustees except one
and by Gen Grant and others The moderator
refused to receive the protest unless its signers
were shown to be members Of the church The
moderator said the question was whether the
meeting which called this council was regular
and had that power, and the church manual
must decide that. Recess.
In the afternoon the council resolved that
while they regretted the irregularities in calling
the council, yet they consider themselves u
council called by the Madison-avenue Congrega-
tional Church
The first proposition is ''What is DR.. New
mans relation to this church" Cours ellor Alb
bolt distributed presentation Of facts on be
half of the church" to the council and made an
address reviewing the history of the church
The presentation stated that in several Inter
views with DR.. Newman, he gave the commits
sioners assurance that he would accept
permanent pastorate, and would
ization, but would administer its affairs
Loyalty as a Congregational church, according to
the usa res Of the denomination. The clause in
the printed manual reads: The pastor shall be
elected by majority vote of the members of the
church and of the pewholders, and the same
shall iX,the amount of salary
DR.. Ranney gave it as his belief that this clause
was not in the original manual
Rev. MIR. Hepworth said that was a virtual
charge of forgery and should be investigated.
iadf l,ath cid aa1af To i'm
ply nc such charge. Mr.. Abbott then asked to
see the paper shown during the morning as con
tanning the minutes Of a meeting held in June.
1888. 1t was handed him, and he insinuated that
no such meeting had ever been held
Mr.. Hepworth again arose, and said this was
the second time dishonest motives had been i'm
puted to Dr. Newman and he would ask, for the
sake of the Christian religion that such imputa-
lions be omitted.
MIR. Abbott responded that Mr.. Hepworth was
the only one who had said anything about unfair
motives
Rev J. c. Rankin, of Washington, moved to
ask the Newman party to throw any light they
could on the statements of Mr. Abbott
This was carried, and Deacon Foster said
among other things, that the committee had
heard the entire manual read before they adopted
it and had it printed.
Deacon Cummings said ninety of the lis
members attended the meeting in the Har-
ward rooms, and no one voted who was not a
member
DR.. Ranney said he had four interviews with
DR.. Newman on the subject, and was always put
off Deacon Cummings had two interviews
AT the evening session Mr. Abbott spoke of the
decrease of membership and funds since Mr.
Newman became pastor; he also spoke of the
melancholy spectacle in which General Grant
the great soldier of peace-was made to appear
in this warfare Mr.. Abbott concluded with Il
statement that he was authorized to say that
certain members of the church would pay the
expenses of the church for one year, including
the pastors salary, if Dr. Newman would retire
DeaconJ. P. Foster disputed Mr. Abbotts facts
and figures.
DR.. Newman win be present at the session to-
mOrrOM.