The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-19
A ROW IN GENERAL GRANTS CHURCH.
The Methodist Pastor, DIR. Newman, Out of
Favor with His Congregational Flock.

years the preacher there, the church is fourteen
years old, and many of those who have belonged
to it all that time dissatisfied with its present
condition. They assert that DIR. Newman came
on the understanding that the debt, then of $780,
GOO, was to be paid off; that he was to identify
himself with the church, and be installed pastor.
This, they say, has been put off, and he remains
as at first, merely Methodist preacher under
orders supplying a Congregational pulpit
They assert that the finances are in bad shape,
and that to pay his salary of $4,000, large
sum has had to be borrowed They add that
some of the trustees in his interest have
e 0 of g w b the nro ceufeh nda
off the debt and building a smaller temple
for Dr.. Newman to end his days in, the new or
ganization to be taken into the Methodist fold.
They assert that it is understood that General
Grant has said that unless the church becomes
Methodist he will quit it. Dr. ]. W. Ranney,
one of the oldest and most conspicuous physicians
OF New York; was present last night as senior
deacon and leader of what is called the old party
The Rev. DR.. Newman and DIR. Finch were at
the head of the other party, and both sides
seemed eager for battle. The regular minutes
and reports were read, and DR.. Newman prayed
for selfcontroL 'In all our thoughts deeds
and expressions" said he, may we not offend
against propriety our high professions of piety
We pray that there shall be no strife and no con
tention." There were two tickets in the field
for deacons for the one year term. DR.. Newman
favored the then incumbents, DR.. Finch and Mr.
wright, ana spoke earnestly Gnef re-elecblOu
DIR. Ranney favored the new nominees, It. s.
Palmer and q. S. Croker There were no hard
words and no quarrels, and when it was an
nounced that the candidates of the old
party, Messrs. Palmer and Croker, were
elected, pastor Newmans friends took the defeat
good humoredly. Then came the sensation. Dr.
Ranney took the floor and said he had resolu-
ton to offer and did it with great reluctance
He said that the church was now in its twelfth
year and God had blessed them with an addition
of oplxr 10 hai,s haps lint in 10
last few years the members had been scattered
and are now to be found all over the city 1.-TWO
years ago" said he, ''the church called Rev. DR..
John Z. Newman as pastor. Since then many
have GENE among us; few have united with us.
During all the time we have been scattering, and
to-day 1 find that less than one hundred of the
500 are with us and constantly attend upon wor-
ship here. You remember we extended an in
vitation and call to DIR. Newman to supply our
pulpit and do active duty as pastor and his sal
airy be at the rate Sc, 900. 1t has seemed to many
members that the reason for the decline in our
prosperity has been that the Rev. DR.. John p.
Newman did not accept the permanent pastor
ship of the church. Therefore | reluctantly, and
solely for the interests of the church, offer this
resolution:
Resolved That the services of the Rev. Dr. John
p. Newman, who has supplied pulpit during the
past two years, be discontinued from this date
Low groans, mingled with faint applause
Mr.. Foster said nothing needed to be done
Pastor Newman had accepted the call, and the
resolutions were not only impertinent, but eX-
exceedingly out of place.
Mr.. Hopkins desired all to show their colorS.
He had nothing but friendly feeling for Dr..
Newman, but this was Congregational church,
and as such needed Congregational pastor. 1t
had right to expect DR.. Newman to become a
member and an installed pastor, therefore he
would vote for the resolution.
After unimpoftant remarks by two others, DR.
Ranney again arose, and was greeted with Kisses
when he said he had no enmity against DR.. New
man.
1.-THE idea of an old man like that" exclaimed
a lady member.
well" said the physician, ''thats the first
kissing ever heard in this church. 1 wish to
state that for two years he has supplied our pull
pit; standing as q supply, and nothing more. He
has never, to my knowledge accepted the post of
permanent pastor, to which he was called. He
promised us at the Fifth-avenue Hotel that he
would be a Congregationalist, and that he would
Join our church. He asked what the salary was
We told him $4,000, and he at once began a
movement among his friends for &c. 900. Then
what does he dol He writes manual, setting
forth that this church was to be free and indie
pendent church, amenable to no Christian de-
nomination. That was defeated Ever since he
has been with US, every three months he has re
ported to the Methodist Church his work in this
church, as though we were a missionary society
belonging to that church. Elsewhere, before
Methodists he put his hands on his heart and
said: 4 am loyal. You know it, and I have no
intention or desire ever to leave the Methodist
Church"
Il want to say there is not word of truth in
what that man utters," said DR.. Newman, rising
from his chair and speaking calmly, but with a
tone of suppressed anger.
Il have heart but did not put my hand on
it and say any such thing. There is not word
of truth in any of it. 1t is either a fabrication,
the fancy of directors story, or false report.
When 1 came here the first man to say a word
about my salary that man DR.. Ranney
came in and in the soft, bland manner in which
he gives his pills, he spoke to me of the raise of
salary. Low cries of ''Shame, shame!"l
These are the facts. I have never asked for a
dollar. That man has been supreme here" said
he pointing to DR.. Ranney, land while l wanted
to treat him with kindness, L determined l
would not be under his influence"
Here Mr.. Hopkins called the pastor to order.
He thought it was an outrage. Dr. Ranney had
not called the pastor liar. The chair begged
the pastor not to use strong language about DR..
Ranney
The pastor said: II was referred to in strong
language"
Mr.. Hopkins said: Don't call our senior dea-
con- whom we love and reverence, a liar
Then Pastor Newman went on to say that DR..
Ranney had not been his FRIEND he had spoken
against him and his sons, and if the church had
declined it had been due to DR.. Ranney Now
you can do as you please" said the clergyman.
II have no favors to ask ofyou but ifin the prov
idence food Iremain here and become installed,
all | ask is foreman in your good fellowship =
Dr. Ranney said if he had spoken disrespect-
fully of the pastor he begged the pardon of him
and all others. Then he asked DR. Newman
what he did say about remaining in the Metho-
dist Church.
A voice to DR. Newman-''Will you answered.
DIR. Newmap-Oh, said nothing of the kind
DR. Ranney-What did you sayl
Dr. Misunderstanding.
Dr. Ranney-Then the son-in-law of Bishop
DR.. Simpson tells what is not trues
Dr. Newman-Possibly.
DR. RanneY said he was on the bond of the
church for $50, 600. He wanted to go to church
for spiritual food He wanted to get good; he
was tired of hearing about Socrates and Plato; it
seemed to him the whole drift of things was to
get $20 600 out of the sales Of this property with
which to build a church for Dir. Newman to end
his days in
lively discussion between half a dozen mem
bers followed, in which the expressions 'Politi-
cal gangs ''Cutand dried work, We did not
come here to be blackguarded," Liar" Kick
In q muse . and so Nel.e hnllinl ahnl1t until