Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-13
ELLIS STILL HANGS ON.
NOT ALLOWED TO HANDLE THE
COLLECTION MONEY.
A Break in the Central Presbyterian
Church Congregation-The Pastors
Resignation to be Requested.

The San Francisco Examiner of Mon
day has the following:
Central Presbyterian church is in a
bad way generally. 1t is in debt $27 900,
and the congregation is divided. The
pastor, Rev. John w. Ellis, is charged
with being the cause of all the trouble.
A week or two ago DR.. Ellis was tried
before the presbytery of San Francisco
and found guilty of having misappro-
priated the funds borrowed for the pur-
pose of repairing the church. Many of
the congregation believe that the ver-
dict of the presbytery was just. and
that their pastor is unfit to hold the
place which he occupies. There are 9TH
ers, however, who cling to him and re-
gard him as a prosecuted man.
For two Sundays the pulpit was occu-
pied by strange ministers, but week
ago several of the elders requested DIR.
peal from the judgment of the presby-
terry to the synod of the Pacific was
decided. He complied with the re-
quest and preached on Sunday week
ago and yesterday. The attendance on
both occasions was small. Two of the
most prominent members of the church
Henry Hufschmidt, president of the
board OF trustees, and Hugh Frazer,
treasurer of the church--did not appear,
and many less prominent sought other
churches. Yesterday but seventy-three
persons occupied seats in the big build
ing. Of these twenty were members of
the church, the rest being strangers.
The usual number who attended worship
previous to the scandal was between 150
and 200. The offerings fell off in pro-
portion. scarcely enough being realized
in the morning to pay the expense of
opening the church. and in the evening
certainly not enough to pay for the gas.
AS small as the amount was, however,
the pastor was not permitted to handle
it. The trifie was gathered up by an Of
ficer of the church, and taken to Treas
urer Frazer.
DR.. Ellis realizes the 'disagreeabe
position she occupies thoroughly. When
spoken to concerning the absence OF the
Hufschmidt and Frazer families, he
said:
81 understand their motives thorough
ly, but bear them no ill-will."
''Do they remove the offerings now
and take them to the treasurer?"
eyes," said DIR. Ellis, with a smile,
"they do. 1t does not amount to much,
Pm sorry to say, yet they take it right
away"
In preaching on church affairs last
night, the minister called attention to
the meeting of the congregation called
for next Wednesday evening, when it
is expected the fate of the Central
church and DIR. Ellis will be settled.
He took as his text Pauls words to the
Romans.
'sIf possible, if it lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men."
In his sermon DIR. Ellis did not tell all
that would occur on Wednesday night,
although his final appeal showed that he
was fully aware of what was to be
brought up. An effort will be made to
secure a request from the congregation
for his resignation. If it is successful,
DIR. Ellis will retire and a new minister
will be called. Should the congregation
decline to ask for the resignation, he will
continue to hold. This will force the
retirement of many members of the
church.
II it is decided to consolidate with
some other Presbyterian church, for in
stance, the First, of which DR.. Mckenzie
is pastor, DIR. Ellis must go anyhow, as
no minister could act with him in view
of the judgment of the presbytery.
A member of the church said last
night:
1--WE must get rid Of DR.. Ellis five are
to exist as church. Our best members
decline to listen to him, believing. he is
hypocrite and totally unfit to fill the
pulpit. Our congregation has run down
to almost nothing. Some people come
out of curiosity to hear him preach, but
they will fall off soon. There is no doubt
that his resignation must be had or the
church must close its doors.N