National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-09

present status Of affairs between the rector |
and the vestry. From time TO time the |
REPUBLICAN has given TO the public the |
situation as matters progressed, from the |
introduction OF the resolution, on Jan. 90 |
last, calling for the resignation Of Rev. DIR. |
Elliott, down to date. In order that the |
congregation may become fully posted as
to the condition of the church, financially |
and otherwise, the vestry has prepared a |
statement to be submitted TO them, In |
which the entire case is reviewed and the |
causes given for pursuing the course |
taken by the vestry. Intro
ductory to the statement are
resignation. At the ensuing meeting Of
the vestry, Feb /, the rector in person
presented protests against the adoption Of
the resolutions by pew holders. After
their consideration the resolutions were
adopted. Messrs. Burehell, Davis, Duncan
son, Falls, and Garnett voting In the af1lr-
native and Messrs. McCammon and Pratt
in the negative, Mr.. Corcoran being absent.
Following the adoption of the resolution
Messrs. McCammon and Pratt protested
against the action taken. The remainder OF
the Introductory Is review OF the proceed
ings Of the different meetings aud the gist
OF which has appeared in print, The state
ment of the vestry is addressed to the pew
holders OF the Church OF the Ascension,
and says:
In arriving at the conclusion TO lay before
you what follows, the yestryls not insensible to
the gravity of tho action thus resolved upon:
and 1t ought to be unnecessary to suggest the
yestry's deep sense of the Importance of what
is here done, or OF what 1t deems the very
painful necessity of n step involving the plain
interests ard future welfare, If not the life
itself of the parish. Assuming then, at the
outset, credit for unquestioned Integrity Of Its
motives and the highest sense OF It's great re-
sponsibiltios in the premises, your vestry seeks
here TO set forth, obedlently to itsoath OF office,
without prejudice, iayor, or Affection" the
asking the resignation of the rector. For up.
ward Of thirteen years the present incumbent
rector Of this parish. From his first call to the
parish to the 18th day of July, 1888, he occn.
pied the position Of associate rector our late
beloved bishop, friend, and truly father In
God" being rector. on the day named, but
one week after our great loss by the bishops
death, the present incumbent became rector In
name.
The fortune Of the parish during these
years is attended In part by table showing
the revenues as follows: In 1874, "a, 1890;
in 1876, 81, 147. 81; in 1876, $6,37i05; in 1877,
$5,734.72; In 1873, $5,507.0S; in 1879, &c.
24S61; In 1880, $7,530.80; In 1881, SO, 7S3.01;
in 1889, $5,9s404; in 1883, SO $3.50 10; in 1884,
s5,670.93, and in 1885, S5,473.02. The state
ment continues:
Let 1t suffice to say that the vestry is con.
fidently assured that any continuance, even in
part of the severe financial stress under which
we have been laboring, Is no less desirable than
1t possible, and that without vitalizing anew
of the parochial interests, the parish Will ere
long have but memory OF Its former pros
perity and harmony.
After referring to the handsome church
edifce and the manner by which means
were procured and sacrifices made to secure
its erection the question is pointedly put as
to revenues, and thus referred to:
Examine the list ofpew holders, upon whom
we must rely for our revenues. Counting
laIlt laNNN ~ la
church on the LIST day of February the number
Is in I'LL but 1872. OF the present number, then,
eighty five holders Of pews or seats, or within
have been added TO the church during the past
five years, when the agitation of the debt was
the agitation Of the subject was I at its height
the number of additions has been seventy-lve,
a much greater proportion, regard being had
existence of the building debt having pre-
vented additions to the number of pew hold
ers those additions have in fact steadily gone
on, notwithstanding that debt and its constant
advertisement.
II this is offered as an evidence Of the
growth Of the parish, the vestry asks why
the number continues so small, "only
three greater than when we left the
old building for the new" why
the revenues are less and INSULT
that the answer is too plain to require
statement: "For some cause we cannot hold
those who from time to time join us.n
Less than four-elevenths of the present
holders Of pews have heen in the church
five years, and little less than fye-elevenths
SO long as three years. "There is In the
parish some cause effectively initiating
against the growth of the parish, and even
against its retention Of dimensions once
attained"
What is the cause? It has not been the debt,
o for, as already shown, the, great majority of
mr.
parish in spite of the debt. Not to delay
answer 70 this, we reply: The present rector q
ties Of the successful rector of parish such as
ours? For answer, recall your late beloved and
still lamented bishop.
his predecessor may be conceded scarcely
fair; but how near the administration of his
charge has approached that standard we may
yet inquire.
The vestry then referred to the old church
property and the course pursued to enable
them to make 1t marketable and the terms
imposed by the rector before occupying the
house as a parsonage, contrasting his ac'
tion with that Of others working to realize
the sale Of the ground to relieve the debt
on the new building. Next reference is
made to the associate rector in 1870 apply
ing for the appointment Of an assistant
minister, and IL is shown how he brought
about the accomplishment Of that object In
the face Of carrying the burden ia heavy
debt.
The following Is cited as the ''last flag
rant and most indefensible act of the
rector :"
AS Is well known, there Is an annual election
OF vestrymen on every Easter Monday. Accord
ing to the provisions of the law on the subject
at each meeting four vestrymen of the elgh
are voted out and four vestrymen elected II
their stead, the vestrymen voted out, or any o
them. being, however, eligible for recollection
Notice was given as usual, OF the intended
election last Easter Monday, for the hour of
O'clock p. M. and beyond this designation o
the hour, no other time for balloting was men
on the day In question several OF the parish
toners, including three OF the vestrymen, as
Eembled Mt the church at the hour named, and
after yainly awaiting the arrival of others unit
G:2Oo'clock, they formally organized meeting
and proceeded TO ballot for yestrymen: on
of the vestrymen present was chosen aud actet
ms secretary OF the meeting. The result OF th'
balpling was that one new member was addeC
TO the vestry; and on the asnertainment of thl
result, those constituting the meeting, having
given over all expectation of the attendance .
other parishioners, adjourned the meeting anC
dispersed,
Hardly, however had the meeting been thu
terminated when the rector appeared from tn,
Ncslry room, and, discovering the secretary
who was still IN the church arranging the
minutes of the meeting. inquired of him whal
Lad taken place, ON being informed OF Whal
had occurred, and of the name OF the gentle
man elected by the meeting, the rector, In no
doubtful terms, expressed his open aud IN
qualified disapproyal or the choice madei ant
thereupon, with the aid of cer,ain parlshioner
whom he had procured TO attend, IL ycstrymal
who had arrived after the termination of th'
meeting lust had, and the secretary OF tina
meeting, he proceeded 10 organize new
meeting The result of this meeting las show
by the minutes thereof, the form aud content
of which the rector himself dictated) wa
that of those present all except the yestry
men who had participated In the irs
meeting being by wellacoomplished design
orc more than those In attendance and yotin
nc the first meeting) on the the nomination
and suggestion of the rector, cast their ballOt
for n different parlshioner than the one Jus
elected Amer this result had been declared
nc N 20,