The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-19
VOTING FOR ELDERS.
Result of the Second Prcsby-
terrain Church Election.
THE PARSONS PARTY BEATEN
Lively Interest Manifested I'm the Result
Victory for Those Opposed to
the Present Pastor.

Avictory was scored by the anti Parsons
members OF the Second Presbyterian
church, corner Oak and Harrison streets,
last evening. Three elders were elected
who are known to be opposed to the gem
tieman who is now the pastor, Rev. Ben
jamin Parsons.
The meeting was presided over by Rev.
James A. Laurie, of Anacortes, very
solemn looking man. He explained what
detained him--the steamer City of Seattle,
he said, chad been on spree on the Sab
BATH and consequently did not run
between Anacortes and Seattle yesterday,
so he had to take the train. Then, first
offering an invocation, he stated the pur-
pose of the meeting, to-wit: The election
of three elders, one to serve three years,
one two years, and the last one year.
There was very lively interest mani
tested, and it was whispered that
many were present who had not been very
constant lately in their attendance of Sun
day service. On Mr.. Leslie Maxwell's mo-
ton a secret ballot was decided upon,
the members leaving their seats and going
forward to cast their ballots as their re-
spective names were called. Judge
Robert G.. Strudwick suggested that
HOIIiiildblOHS DC i1due. mOueTdLOT
Laurie permitted nominations to be in
order, when fully satisfied that such had
been the custom in the past. Robert
Niven was chosen clerk, and Don Stewart
and John +. Jones tellers, but Mr.. Stewart
gave way to substitute, Mr.. Donald
Mcdonald, when he was chosen as one of
the candidates for elders.
Older David Allen, venerable old man,
who holds the position of clerk of the ses-
sion, called the the roll of names from the
book while the members voted.
The two candidates for the three-year
term were Robert T. Moore, carpenter,
and Don Stewart, a happy-faced timer.
Mr.. Moore was not familiar man, but as
he had been placed in nomination by
Elder David Allen, and seconded by Mr..
Leslie Maxwell, he had the anti-Parsons
support. Mr.. Stewart was nominated by
Miss Margaret Lynch, lady who also
nominated the two subsequent candidates
of the Parsons faction.
Balloting then commenced Session
Clerk Allen got into some trouble by call
ing the maiden names of few lady men,
bers who had been married within year,
which difficulty Pastor Parsons tried fire.
quently to prevent. Matters waxed little
warm once when Mrs. L. Josenhans, for
merly Miss Parsons daughter of the min
ister made an inquiry as to her name ON
the roll. Elder Allen replied that it was
in the same condition as many others.
meaning that the recently married ladies
had neglected to report the fact that their
names had been changed.
'.My wife," said Mr.. Josenhans, arising,
and speaking with some degree of forci-
bleness, sis a member of this church."
Some little friction of similar nature
occurred when the name of Mrs. Leroy
Williams, nee Moore, was called. Even
tually the vote was announced, standing:
Moore, 81; Stuart, %.
Judge Strudwick desired to facilitate
matters by voting for two elders at once.
but a motion to that effect was opposed
plausibly by Elder Ephraim Calvert, and
was afterward voted down.
Mr.. Leslie Maxwell then renominated
Elder David Allen, and Miss Lynch
named Alex. Wright, this for the two years
term. The vote stood, Allen 81, Wright "a.
Elder Allen Immediately renominated
Elder Ephraim Calvert for the one year
term, Miss Lynch proposing Mr.. 7. Josen-
hans, Minister Parsons son-in-law. Some
pleasantly and little pique were INDUCED
in, the object of the well-meaning cham
pions of the Parsons faction being to pre-
vent errors in voting. The ballot resulted:
Calvert go Josephans %.
This finished the work of election and
Moderator Laurie formally installed the
three ruling elders-elect, Messrs. Moore,
Allen and Calvert, at once into their
offices, while most of the Parsons faction,
and Rev. Benjamin Parsons, himself, left
the church.
1t was announced that meeting would
be held Monday, June 1, to ascertain
whether the present partoral relations of
the church were to be maintained in the
future or not.