The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-14
REV. ALEX. ELLIS OUSTED
THE GREENE SQUARE CHURCH
OPPOSES IT'S PASTOR

1I1E 0IEEN6 StI ARE Ca RO6
OPPOSES IT'S PASTOR.
Twelve Hours of Voting by the Con-
gregation Result in Victory TO- the
Anti-Ellis Party-A Majority Of IA in
a Total ote of $50 Decides the Long
Standing Contest - Scenes at the
Church During the Progress of the
Voting.
Rev. Alexander Ellis was yesterday de-
posed from the pastorate Of the Second
African Baptist church by majority Of
seventy-four votes, and the long-standing
troubles OF the congregation have been
brought to an end, for the present at least.
The total membership entitled to vote
was something over 1900, but only $50 Of
the fi0c1 awaited themselves Of the oppor-
tunily of deciding the fate of the man
whoss continuance at the head of the
church caused SO much trouble, and which
once almost eliminated In a riot.
TIE following is the vote:
AntElils. 963
Ellis ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $50
Anti's majority. Observation-Disclosures. -
TIE CHURCH AS A VOTER.
The polls did not open until 10 o'clock
a. M, but long before that hour crowds Of
brethren" and SISTERS" gathered in Gresne
square and the streets surrounding the
CHURCH, and earnestly, and at times ex-
citedly, discussed the probable result Of tue
election. The majority of the sisters"
we're strong supporters OF Rev. Ellis, and
they lost no opportunity TO express Uneir
admiration tor their pastor. On the other
hand, most of the men were strongly
opposed to his retention, and de-
nounced the pastor for having caused
so much dissenslon In the church ty con-
tinuing to hold his position in opposition to-
a majority of the congregation.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock j. Randolph
Anderson, ESQ.,, ald w. c. Hart idge, Esq.,,
representing the ants, and w. w. Osborne,
ESQ, and ". J.. Clay, Esq., for the pastor,
accompanied by W. w. Mackall, Esq who
had been chosen as superintendent Of the
election, and r. r. Richards, Esq, arrived
at the church and took charge OF affairs.
MIR. Clay was chosen tally-sheet keeper and
Messrs. Osborne aud Hartridge took charge
of tue registry lists.
TIE BALLoTING IN PROGRESS.
Mr.. Anderson numbered the ballots and
deposited hem il tie box, and Mr. Richards
had the official records Of the church men,
bership.
A joint committee from each faction was
present at the ballot-box to look after the
respective Interests which they represented.
The Ellis party consisted of Rev. A. Ellis,
II. d. Davis and c. Il. Morse, and r. H.
Thomas. H. Maxwell and A. Drummerson
looked out for the opposition.
The place selected for the election was the
church basement, and at 10 O'Clock the
church doors we're thrown open, and the
large crowd which had assembled outside
poured into the building. he Ellis party
had blue tickets and the opposition white
ones.
LET IN A FEW AT A TIME.
The crush at the ballot-box soon became
too great and the managers ordered
the doers closed until all inside had
voted. This was done and aided much in
getting matters TO move smoothly. Friends
of each faction tried TO electioneer in the
church, but The managers objected, and it
was stopped.
Every man, woman OF child Offering a
ballot was required to give his or her name,
which was called out in a distinct tone.
The list keepers referred to their
document, and if the party's name
was found the ballot was duly
numbered and deposited IN the box. If the
name did not appear on the registry the
matter was referred to Mr.. Richards, who
bad the official membership record in his
possession, and if the name was found
thereon the ballot was admitted.
If, on the other hand, the name did not
appear on either record or list, he or she.
after beng Identified by a responsible
party as a member Of the church, was al
lowed to vote after having the ballot duly
Endorsed by MIR. Rich rds. Not more than
ten or twelve votes were refused during the
twelve hours.
After getting the first crowd out through
the side door on President street, the man
agers had the main entrance opened, and
about twenty were admitted at enc time.
BY this arrangement all further incon-
Venience was avoided.
THE BALLoTING BRISK ALL DAY.
From 10 o'clock until 5 O'clock the voting
was very steady, over 600 ballots being de-
pesited, but after that hour it was rather
tedious ana slow, only little over 200 votes
being cast in seven hours.
As the clock in the church struck 10 last
night, Mr. Anderson closed the lid Of tie
box, and W. w. Mackall, Esq, declared
the polls closed. After thanking the
congregation for its orderly behavior during
the election, he announced committee
of ten, five from each faction, who, be said,
would be allowed to remain and watch the
count All Others were asked to retire, to
which request they promptly acquiesced.
The committee selected for the Ellis side
were II. d. Davis. C. B. Moore,
L L Lloyd, James Patrick ana
Rev. Alexander Ellis. The auti's
were represented by Hosea Maxwell, j. f.
Jones, j. +. Thompson, York M. Milledge
and 4. II. Thomas. The count was com
pleted i'll little over an hour, and Rev.
Ellis left the church almost as soon as the
count of the ballots was begun.
SCENES ABOUT THE CHURCH.
The crowd around the church during the
day was at times between $40 and 400 peo-
pie. Runners for both factions button
holed every col1red person who came along,
and urged him to vote for or against
the pastor as the case might be,
at the same time offering him ticket. The
most persistent workers, however, were the
Ellis Sisters" who stood on the street
corners and at the doors of the church with
blue tickets in their hands, soliciting votes
for the pastor. 1t was an amusing
sight TO see the women take the arm of
colored brother and endeavor to bring him
over TO their side, at times leading him to
the very doors of the church. In many
cases they were met with blank refusals,
and were shaken off with little ceremony,
but good many took the blue tickets from
the "sister" and voted for the pastor.
THE oUT-oF-TowN CONTINGENT.
Members of the church came In from
Daufuskie. White Bluff, Sand1y station
and other suburban settlements to exercise
their right of suffrage Some had old