The Indianapolis journal., 1892-04-08
RATHER STORMY MEETING
Seventh Presby terian Church Makes
Futile Effort to Elect a Pastor.
Rev. Mr.. Moffat Called on One Vote BY
Narrow Majority but the Action Re-
scinded-His Call Abandoned.

The annual meeting of the Seventh
Presbyterian Church was held in the audi
ence-room of the church last night. The
principal business of the meeting was tho
election of q pastor of the church to sue
ceed the Rev. Rice V. Hunter, recently
called to Terre Haute. The Rev. Mr. Dick
erson was moderator of the meeting. aud
Willard Mcclure clerk.
After the opening devotional exercises
were concluded and the reports of the
committees for the year read the
work of deciding upon pastor
was taken ND. A committee of SIX consist
ing of Mr.. Charles Smith. Mr.. s. l.. Curtis,
Professor Afford. Mrs. Mitchell. Mrs
Hoefgan and Miss Hixson. appointed by
the session. reported favorable to the call
ing of the Rev. J. p. Moffat. of Weatherly.
Pa, but when the matter was pnt to the
decision of the church it was seen that
there was considerable genuine opposi-
tion to the gentleman. Mr.. Moffat
occupied the pulpit of the Seventh
Church last Sunday and the Sum
day previous. and seemed to pl ease
nearly every body. but the result of last
nights meeting proves that he did not
please every body. At least IS of the Isl
present. voted mo- when the question OF
concurring in the report of the committee
was submitted.
Mr. Vlnnedge, PRIOR to the casting of bal
lots. made an earnest speech opposing
decision now, for the reason that more
preachers should be heard. He did not
favor selecting Mr.. Motfat until he had
heard several other candidates. although
Mr. Moffat was very good man" said he.
He thought 1t unwise to act hastily. Bet
ter look about and then decide which of all
heard is BEST
The tellers then passed around the little
blank slips and the congregation proceeded
to prepare its ballots. After they had been
collected and carried to the front the tel
lers called aloud the votes one by one.
First the yes" would run along and seem
TO be In the lead, then the noes" would
take spurt. and it looked as though Mr..
Motfat was doomed. Thus 1t see-sawed
back and forth, TO the amusement and
wavering excitement of the two sides liz
ing 1t would have been worth while
| getting up little side bets on the final out
| come. When the last vote lad been called
| aloud the audience he'd Its breath for an-
nouncement. and the moderator said: The
| tally-sheets of both tellers seem to agree.
| and the result Of each IS: Yeas. 7E nays,
5S." There was some band-clapping, and.
| strange to say, a little Kissing, both OF
which were promptly put down by the
| moderator.
The latter then remarked that it would
| be q gracious thing TO do to follow the
usnal custom and make the vote unani-
| nous. but yOurg McGulre. an active work.
| er In the YOung Peoples Society of the
| church. jumped TO his feet and entered q
| vigorous protest, saying that it would not
| do at all. The number opposed to Mr..
be hazardous to the best interests
of the church to do such thing. In other
| words, Fir. McGuire Implied that you can't
undertake to run a church meeting by the
and.A fl At IL
| choose q pastor as you would pound
master. The young mans remarks were
earnestly favored by half q dozen others.
who spoke in quick succession. Prof. Al
| ford. who Is the strong supporter OF Mr. Mof-
| fat, and has been working so hard
| for his election. took the floor
IN reply 10 a statement made by DE-. w. n.
| Wishard. to the effect that the report Of
| the sessions committee was not unani-
nous. and stated In no uncertain tone that
| IL was unanimous but that Seventh MEM
ber who managed To get ON the committee.
was the only one who opposed it," To this
| Dr. Wishard at once replied by stating tbao
his sister had requested to withdraw her
| name from that committee. ehe
had reason to believe that she was the one
referred to "the seventh member" Miss
Wishard herself then briefly explained that
| she had been placed on the committee TO
represent the Young Peoples Society. and
| that it was not through any desire to push
| herself forward at all. Charles Smith. q
member of the committee. then jumped up
and said: ''Mr. Moderator, if any one is To
| blame i am that one 1t was ! who
told Miss Wishard that we wanted her
to serve on this committee to represent our
| society. and l il was who urged and settled
| the matter of her appointment" This
| manly. frank speech of Mr.. Smiths called
forth great applause from both factions.
| and was the signal for the pouring of oil
on the turbulent waters, which up to this
time bad been lashing and foaming higher
and higher every minute; Before Mr..
said that he wished a special meeting
| of the session after the Adjournment of this
meeting. at which time be could present
| his resi- gnation, along with that Of Miss
| Wishard's as a mem ber of this unfortunate
| committee. Then the other members OF
the committee began TO pop mp all over the
house and proceed to resIgnate. Mrs.
Mite. ell said she wanted of. and so did
| Miss llXson and hardly had she taken her
seat until little Nix. Curtis gave notice thas
they might couut him out
Professor Dutnle. viewing the matter from
the point of business collage instructor.
| moved that the matter be laid on the table
for thirty days. He thought that in tho
light of all that had just passed and the
unfortunate feeling that was stirred up
over the matter, no definite action
| should be taken for at least that length Of
time. This seemed TO suit pretty
well all around. It pleased the OPP
position for the reason that they
realized it would give them tlme
|
| nently kill the bill. 1t pleased the sup
| porters, because it would give them time TO
hustle about and win their candidate more
| votes. But Mr.. Laycock offered sn amend
ment to this by moving that further action
! on the call to Mr.. Moffat be abandoned.
!, After q brief mental struggle. during which
| brains could be heard TO crack aud work
all over the house. this substitute
| was accepted. thus forever set
| tling Mr.. Moffats chances for
the Seventh Presbyterian Church of In
| dIanapolis The moderator then announced
| that adjournment was in order. which
| proposition was accepted. The session
| then filed upstairs and proceeded TO do
| something. the nature OF which they re-
fused to divulge to the reporters
The Seventh Church Is in its fourteenth
| year, and. barring the Second. is
the most influential PresDy terian church
| In the city. It's patronage is drawn
| almost exclusively from South side people.
| and as workers and gIyers they have q
| common ealth reputation. 1t paid tho
Rev. Rice V. Hunter 5000 and n parson-
| age.
The Rev. Mr. Mofiat, in question, is q
| native of Bartholomew county. this State
and a graduate OF Hanover College. His
| theological training has been received at
| the Princeton Theologc cal Seminary. whero
he took the regular three years course and
followed IL up with a postgraduate
course This was not TO maintain
hold on the football team. either" said
| Professor Afford. With five years school
ing under such men as James MoCosn,
| President Patton. DR. Hodge DIR Alexan-