Decorah-posten., 1885-09-16

body as to the power OF the minis
tiers and representatives thus assem-
bled officially in attendance upon the
SYNOD from the Wisconsin district
to elect a president for the district.
The Rev. j. B. Erich, who was
then the president of the Wisconsin
district and whose term would expire
at the close of hat session of the
Synod, also refused to continue to
perform the duties of president. On
motion of o. Torrison temporary re-
lief was gained by the adoption of
following:
"Whereas Rev. Rasmussen has
found it necessary from valid reasons
to refuse to accept the presidency
and this his refusal is accepted by
the Eastern district by the resolution
to proceed to a new election
"And whereas Rev. Ellestad who
was elected alternate has in writing
refused to advance
rand whereas Rev. Erich also, on
account of the different opinions re-
garding his right to do SO, refuses
to hold over as president until his
successor in Office has qualified as
it is termed
"Wberas by these respective re-
fusals of Rev. Rasmussen, Ellestad,
and Erich we would have no pre-
sident-
Therefore / move that Rev. Erich
is hereby requested to officiate as
president until a regular election &C.
cording to our constitution can take
place".
Rev. j. B. Erich thereupon con-
tinued to serve IS president, and, in
his capacity as such, made a report
to the Eastern Cor wisconsin, d.
strict Synod assembled at Rocheacri
in 1885, in which report he made
reference to the question of the pre-
sidency of the said district Synod.
Efter some preliminary proceedings
the Eastern district proceeded to
the election of a president to ell the
vacancy on conditions as follows,-
"lst.-Both parties agree, imme-
diately after the election to let a
committee of arbitration decide the
legal question of Reu. Frich's right
to hold the office of president be-
yond the presentSynod meeting, and
whether an election to fill uacdRcy
at this meeting is legal and Just,
to which decision both parties de-
clare themselves willing to submits.
"2nd.-As members of this COM
mitee of arbitration the Synod hereby
elects Prof. Carpenter of Madison
(Wis.) "and Judge Willett of De-
corah" Qowa), "the third member OF
such committee to be agreed upon
by the two afore-named members,
said third member to have no pre-
vious knowledge of the matter, and
to be a resident neither of Madison
nor Decorate.
"3rd.-Until such decision is rem
dered Rev. Erich shall remain in
Offices.
"4th.-If the decision be that Rev.
Erich has no right to hold the Of
fee beyond the present Synod meet
ing, and that the election held at
the present meeting therefore is le-
gal and just, then the elected can
didate enters upon his Office imme-
diately after the publication of such
dicisiona.
5th.-(trovides for the election of
agents to conduct the a~rbitration) }.
"6th.-The committee of arbitra-
ton shall also determine whether a
person who is not a voting member
of the Synod is eligible to the Of
fee of president, or to an Office with
which he gets the right to vote, and
such other questions pertaining to
this matter as the committee may
deem necessary to submit for arbi-
tration".
7th.-Participation in the election
was not to be taken as a concession
either way.
An election then followed result.
ing In 63 votes for Rev. P. A. Ras-
mussen, so votes for Rev. j. B. Erich,
four members not voting.
The constitution provides for two
classes of members for the districts
and for the Synod. 1t is sufficient
for our purpose to class them as
noting and non U0ting members.
Section z, of Chapter III, of the
constitution provides as follows,
"Voting members are .
"Of district Synods
"a.-Pastors who belong to the
district and serve congregations be-
longing to the district.
6.-Lay representatives chosen by
the congregations of the district in
accordance with sections 8 and As.
Section 8 provides "that every con
gregation connected with the Synod
shall be represented at the district
Synods and Synod meetings, in ac-
cordance with the rules prescribed
by this constitution" &c &c.
Section 4 provides that members
of the district Synods are,
"d.-Standing members of the
Synod who belong to the district. i.
"6.-Chosen representatives of
congregations belonging to the Syn
cd, and situated within the district.