The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-16
TO STARTAN NEW CHURCH.
lEV. ALEXANDER ELLIS NOT
DoWNED BY HIS DEFEAT.

He Looks Upon His Deposition from
the Greene Square Passionate as an
Iuterposition Of Providence The Nj
norit7 to Establish a New Churc of
Which He VIII be Pastor-He will
Hold to the Keys OF the Greene Square
Church Until He Gets his Back Salary.
Rev. Alex Ellis accepts his deposition
from the pss5orate Of the Greene Square
church good-humoredly. He said last night
that he regards his defest as an interposi-
ton of divine providence. Threats, he said,
had been made against his life, in the event
Of his being successful in the election. and,
had be won the day. he would have felt in
constant dread of being disposed Of in q
summary manner.
'WhiIe l recognize the fact said Rev.
Ellis, that the opposing faction had ma
jorlty in the election, vet that majority was
obtained in an unchristian-llke manner. As
far as the depo5itiag of the ballots is con-
cer1ed, things were all right, but it is to the
outside methods that / refer. The opp1sl-
ton went into the country and told the
members there all sorts of yarns about how
i looked down upon them and criticised
their personal appearance, and, as matter
OF course. arrayed them against me- and
me.n
THE Ex-PAsToR's PLANS.
In regard to his future plans, Rev. Ellis
says he has come TO Savannah 10 stay, aud
he does not know any bet er place 70 die in.
he had no idea how many white friends he
had in the community, he said, until the
trouble arose, and the encouragement they
gave him, be said, has caused him 10 be-
come more attached 10 the city.
HE aV-naStOr- said that the urOba bilitv IL
that the minority will not be reconciled to
the present arrangement, and will likely
avail itself of the constitutional right TO es-
tablish a new church. The defeated party
viii ask for letters of dismissal and will
form the new church at all early day,
hoping in short time to be able to erect
a church edi6ce and install him as pastor.
Rev. Ellis does not think there will be any
trouble IN raising funds tor this purpose.
WHAT HE DID FOR THE CHURCH.
When he arrived from Boston in 1882 and |
took charge of the Second church, he said, |
he found it at a very low stand |
ard, both spiritually and Temporarily. |
The treasury was empty, and |
the congregation, which had dwindled |
down to small number, was groan- |
ing under debt Of about $500, while the |
building itself was in dilapldated condi-
ton, and much in need of repairs. In less |
than six months after taking hold, Rev.
Ellis said that the congregation largely
increased and continued to increase until |
the recent trouble arose The debt which
had been standing for a number of years,
was lifted in twelve months and all current
expenses were paid. and small surplus
was carried over each year.
In 1886, Rev. Ellis said, he inaugurated a
movement TO raise fund to remodel the
chhrch, and in about two years succeeded
in getting together about SILL
600, every cent of which was
subscribed In Savannah. In 1889 the re-
pairs were completed, and in August of
that year the church was rededicated, and,
the preacher said, it is to-day as well ap-
pointed place of worship as any in Savan-
nah.
TO HOLD TO THE KEYS.
The church, Rev. Ellis said, is indebted to
him in the sum of s63S Is for salary, and he
Is not disposed to surrender the KEYS
or books until the return of his leading |
counsel, Hon. F. G. du Bignon, unless the |
oeacons come forward with the money in
the meantime.
Until the new church is built Rev. Ellis |
will hold service in the colored Odd Fellows |
hall, on Duffy street, where he had relig- |
lous exercises last Sunday, which were at |
tended by nearly all of his supporters.