New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-22
AGAINST A MUTUAL COUNCIL.
THE ANTI-NEwMAN PARTY NOT WILLING.
FIVE py.ooys ANSWER THE LETTER OF THE POUR

1N1a
have east ,n tbeir Lon with the antNewman party Inc
five deacons wished a meeting OF the o""i. -.
Gently but the secretary, who "a in the ""o'''y
10 cali H. because he said the proposed pi"o, 80
DIR Ranneys orfce-was not men'ionou " - -.
while the pastors study was SCI "o
all meetings shouh be held ,,,. ,o..,r
On Tuesday the four deacons seuV 'u0 i7
10 each one OF the five deaconsi ,,.,
" ,,. Uo the undersigned deacons OF the Maf-
ID .veone Congregational Church, hereby ehes our
son h'omu tost asinss inc proposed council when we
nnderstand is about 20 be eaIied as resu n W vs.. I6
iesnSs e,con and others for the following reasons
ErsYou have done in that meeting al that gu re-
st connci TO do. YOu refused TO listen to US al the
psT monthv meeting of the Board OF Deacons when we
proposed TO leave the church dcnles to me ol n11
OF DescOps and Trustees or our church tns Piopoon
was rejected by the votes OF you five delcOns. -,
SerOnd-We again at this time appeal 10 you ana re-
Quest that the council necessity, shall be mutual
one, and not OK parte: , - ,o
suited aud the Harvard Room meeting was noi caieu ~
OF the Board was the SIGNATURE OF the chch
Four-Many members of the church have informed US
that they were not notified OF that meeting
Ff6h-Notice OF that meeting was not published from
the pulpit of our church as required by our manual ~
Sth-Of the 10 In favor OF the council at that
meeting a large majority nOtentitled 20 vote on
the question Of council, and those who Gd VOC eA-
pressed sentiment adverse TO the ministry otour PASTOR
Sesent-The council SIS proposed to be called is entire
Ing is representative of large majority Oh inc seH
We propose in the name Of Christianity and for The
sake OF peace harmony and justice and as vital measures
es Of the entire church and society that mutual coun-
eli shall be held. and therefore prepared 10 lo
indOrsiug those whom you have selected anu w
call such additional representatives a, We may ueen
Ne shan await your answer until Thursday February
nanei 4 smith clerk of the Board OF Deacons, Grand
Union Hotel FJry-seeOndst. and Park-ave 10Irs I|'
j P1si b p sF Fosfrn Tah 6R%O fiTS
Deacons OF the Madison Avenue Congregational Chnicu
DR. RANNEY's REPLY.
In reply this letter the following reply was received
yesterday by the four deacOns:
BRETHREN: Yours OF February 10, 1884, received In
reply to your first proposition we would state Inc ea
son Tor oar declining submit differences TO the ar
bitration of the Joint Boards of Deacons and Trustees
was because could not recognize any action hal ne
they having been elected by the society to look after the
temporal affairs OF the society As to your sdeonu ,
quest. would say that as the meeting heid at inc
Harvard Rooms February H. 1854, was a
authority premises, but are acting under the in
sructOn of the church and consider the council apon 10
wee to the entire church, having given full notice TO
all church members to he present and also Of the p
winch meeting called; and are not
10 held responsible for those who declined TO attend
Therefore the cOGll WIN 9e by no means "a U ~ and
any members of the church who may feel aggeve AS 10
your third statement although we do not consider u
sary Board of Dcacons should nave been convened
for the purpose OF calling meeting OF chIch menper
yet by our letter Oh February to the citih oi si
we requested him 10 convene the board and he refused
compliance, it eminently proper that any several
members should exercise their right 10 csl t1' oJC'
meeting Prior 70 said meeting OF February II, ISL,
had church clerk any election nv inc hcttil vi
January 81 lSSi' was unqlestoh9ly llleEsi, LII @ v
10 your fourth statement we would say, having hdd
complete roll Of the members OF our chuicn we saI an
Invitation to each Of you and to every one whose address
could possibly be found and there was notce OF ss1
meeting published in the following papers OF tne h"S"l
February II, 1884, to wit: TRIBUNE, i,mGs botd' H'
Herald and Dliy Ipdicdt0y As your ffth statement,
reply that the manual contains no provision a. TO tue
calling Of church mectng except for the purpose OF
changing the manual.
The first clause Of your sixth statement must deny
in toto, and to the latter clause we quite agree WIN
your statement Your seventh proposition is answered
by our reply your second statement In answer to
your last proposition we say that we earnestly desire
and FOR e accomplishment Of that object ths ecceIias
under instruction of the church meeting alluded to above
We have authority TO act as you propose Yours truly
e. s d fadSTf Il 5 NJ c VI SSSt'' !" D.
q. b. MMGs
DEACON FOSTERS TONGUE LoOsED.
In referring to the reply to the letters asking TOT ru
tual council deacon Foster said:
The answer of the Ranney Deaconsfor they are his
shadows-is very weak, and one Of them did hold an
the Ranneyites proposed to call is purely an exparte
council; but he, gave up his opinion when . d.
he was not the highest authority on the qqes- !
ton This answer shows plainly Udyo 1na ar tb ney
Sa.d Committed themselves TO Dr. Ranney4 side before
they were named in the council This Is what the
Ranuey party call fairness and TINS Is what they lhmk
will settle the church difficulties; but Ineyer knew |
packed jury to be satisfactory One of the Ranney
party does not ,h hesitate 5oe oorDc for
them If SO. why should they want to change III OF
they don't, Dt II only SHOWS now extremely tA
parte this council is to be The council cannot be any-
thing but ex parte for the reason that Ve out OF nine
in their own way. and to answer their own pre- |
yiOusly cutand-dried questions without ever con |
of Dr. Ranney does not meet request in
example OF obtaining the signature Of the church clerk
the cal for church meeting, and them says Dr. Ranney
the church had 10 clerk on February H. because the
meeting OF January 81, when clerk elected, was an
illegal meeting, II that is true then the old clerk
held until new clerk was elected |
Hence the Ranney answer is not true.
The result of the Ranney answer Is just ths mat we
can meet and carry Oh our Madison Avenue ChuT1h aud
they meet and carry on their Harvard Rooms Church
and there viii end; aud If they Will only sick 10 hcr
room shall he satisfied. want 10 see council that
will represent the Rtnuey faction meet and declare ITS
ton made TO those five deacous II tue ministers
stand il, am sure we can. The Ranneyites know
the church wnen they called the Harvard Rooms meet
they have their church. ana now let them support it,
those five deacoIs 10 say inns time they have
thorty 10 act in the premises. When thcy look their
record and read ther letter 10 the Board Of Trustees ask
ing the yestry for meeting they VIII see that they
claimed tu authority by virtue of being the majority of
the Board OF Deacous. am glad they have at last found
uuder Instructions. If the said the instructions
all came from man, IT would have been nearer the
truth, should ike 10 put about Is ofthe WHO voted
Tor tns council under oath ana have no doubt they
the time may yet come.
DIR. RANNEY REMINDED OF A STORY.
Dr. Rsnueys ankle better yesterday; but It was
worse nine O'Clock last night when TRIBUNE reporter
called 10 learn the next move by the dattNewman
party. Deacons Cummings and Meigs, and
trustee FoTter sat with tie senior deacon dis
cussng the letters nissive which being prepared
calling the council mutual pare from differ
points. DIR. Ranney said that committee was
retarded in calling the mutual council because
had not answered the letter IN holding the
council in the church building. letter requested an
answer to-day. ~"
''WiIl the Council be called "a originally de,crod T.,
spite OF the protest that received asked The ronnr
OF Dr. kanney " '"' 4OPo''ci
This council as authorized at the Harvard Poo,s nil,
be called he replied. How could The commits W." VIZ
pointed ny Tue cDuIch take notice the urntest ~
four individuals They say We ] am reminded ~ tho
bOy's story, which began The dog and / and fethcr