The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-01
REORGANIZING THE CHURCH.
The Fourth Presbyterian Congregation
Elect a New Set of Officers.
1 Proposition to Lift the Church Debt by
Selling Part of Its Real Estate
Favorably Considered.

The members Of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church had meeting of several hours duration
last night, relative to reorganization of the
boards of elders, deacons and trustees. Each
party that for and that against the past man
agement Of the temporal affairs of the church,
had a strong representation. With friends of
the congregation, and those having an inter-
est in the church outside of membership,
there were fully one hundred and fifty
present. The Rev. r. V. Hunter, Of the Seventh
Presbyterian, acted as moderator, and Col. Sam
uel Merrill as clerk. At the outset the general
resignation of the deacons elders and trustees
was presented as follows: Deacons-Merrill
Moores J. M. Alloway, W. E. A. Evans. e. T.
Plummer. Elders-C D. Meigs Dr. S. M. Good,
S. Merrill, J. G. Kingsbury. P. Bond. j. L.
Ketcham Trustees-David Kregelo, P. Bond.
JOS L. Ludlum, c. Fl. Evans and VIM. n. Laird.
It was decided that in electing successors of
these gentlemen no nominations be made,
but that each member be allowed to vote for
whom be or she pleased. 1t was further voted
that two additional deacons be elected, making
six in all, and that those who received the
highest number, with majority of votes cast,
be declared elected
Win THIS 0fOSf IN view, bn0 YOUNG DeSan
first for elders. Eighty three votes were cast,
requiring forty-four to elect. Those chosen
were: p Bond SO votes; DIR. s. NJ. Good, 83; j.
G. Kingsbury. 70; Theodore Somerville "a; c.
d. Meigs, 81; Joseph E. Ludlum, 40
On the first ballot for elders eighty-three votes
were counted, ffty-two being necessary to
choice. but two only successful-Walter
Evans and j. NJ. Alloway-who received ga and
66 votes, respectively. motion was offered to
select the four next highest TO complete the list
by authorizing the clerk to cast the vote of the
meeting There was slight disposition to con
test this, but it was carried, and Mr.. Cathcart,
who received 35 votes, Mr. Mcclellan 90, Charles
Kregeo %, and Herbert Dorsey 3d. were declared
elected.
Following this motion was made that the
clerk cast the vote of the meeting for the old
board of trustees. Mr.. Bond declined to serve,
ss did others. and an effort to push the motion
A ballot was taken, resulting in choosing three
out of FIVE TO be elected. They were Charles
Evans, 50 votes; VIM. Fl. Laird, 46; Mr..
Ferguson, 4S. The two remaining trustees.
Charles Kregeio and d, Mr. Kaufman whe
elected by the clerks vote in behalf
Of the congregation. Aside from those men
toned as selected for the several Offices. many
received votes running from two up to very near
an election. W. w. Ripley moved, in view of
question having been raised as to the legality of
deaeons having the temporal management of the
church, that until the matter is decided whether
they have or have not, the management
rests with the trustees. The moderator did not
think that motion would serve the purpose pend
ing decision of the question, and ruled it out of
order.
preamble and resolutions were then offered.
to the effect that as there was a mortgage debt
on the church amounting to 81. 600, due in Feb
ruary, aud as the furnaces and church building
needed repairs. the trustees be authorized to sell
fifty feet off the parsonage lot fronting on Penn
sylvania street. and $50 feet on Pratt street. 1t
was provided that the property should not be
sold for less than $4,000, and that
the money be applied to the purposes
named. Merrill Moores moved that the
preamble and resolutions be referred to the new
board OF trustees, which was lost on division,
by 80 nays to 20 yeas There was motion
then to adopt, but Mr.. Moores moved to djourn.
which was also lost division of yeas 20.
nays 81. A motion to postpone indefinitely came
from Mr. Moores, which was lost a division
by yeas %, nays 40 He then sought to have
the question laid until
the next annual meeting of the church, in which
he failed. Mr.. Moeres then claimed that the
resolutions could not be voted on without a
reconsideration of substantially the same propo-
sition to sell voted down at prior meeting
The moderator said that there must be
some proof to the present meeting
that the same resolutions had been
heretofore acted on adversely. AS the records
werenot at hand, and several officers did not sus-
tain Mr. Moores in his assertions they claiming
that the present resolutions were not the same
in form, the moderator called for vote, which
resulted in the adoption of the resolutions by q
good majority. After deciding to ordain and in
stall the new officers after services next Sunday
morning, the meeting adjourned.