The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-18
THE PASTORS TALE.
Rev. w. B. McMillin Tells Why
He Left Grace Church.
WHY he OPPOSED THE soClALs.
He Says Thirty of His Flock Took
Letters When He Re-
tired.

Rev. W. B. McMillin, late pastor of Grace
Methodist church, has written a statement in
answer to the article in the Posr-IsTELLIGBN-
CIR few days ago, giving an account of the
troubles in that church His statement Is as
follows
10 THE EDITOR: win you allow me word Of
eAP.ahauou IN regard 10 an article which re-
cenuy appeared in your daily concerning my
zen anu Grace NJ. E. church? I was out OF the
s .hiv a. " me time consequently have not been
now we're II not that the article is so hagrantly
Iaise that feel It would be unjust. both to the
eHuIch ana myself, to pas it by unnoticed.
10 nor Know from whom YOU gathered your
t Information, nor do care. But whoever it may
nave oeen, ne was either ignorant OF the facts,
or wilfully and maliciousIy misrepresented
mem. That there has been trouble in the
churen, and much OF il, not only since became
the pastor, but before, and which VIII continue
LOT some time IN the future is no church secret.
NAT there has also been great decrease in the
mem pershlp," and that the attendance aud in
terest IN the affairs OF the society have de-
creased correspondiEgly in the last lew days ts
also tue Bur that this condition of affairs sis
cue, as your informant states, ''to the stand
tnat the pastor took upon the subject OF church
sociais. MS sentiments being SO strongly OPP
Posed 10 that feature OF church work that he
brought down the antsgonism of so many of his
mock that the tlnsl result was his removal" is
not true, rs will show from the church records
Neither did this occur until il became known
tnGt would not continue as pastor
Inc article also stated that lust before con-
ference "a number OF the strong supporters OF
the church eudeavored to secure the appoint
ment OF another preacher, but were disap-
pointed; and fwhile not relishing their
hLeatment and considering themselves
badly used. the members determined to
mako the best of it for year. and to lend their
support and influence in behalf OF the new pas
tor, In accordance with this idea they got to-
gether the first week, and not only gave the pas
tor dpe reception, but they wiped out be-
tween 1900 aud 5000 of the church debt"
All care to state in regard to the above is that
the financial secretarys book will show to what
extent these opposing members have silent their
support, which is not by any means an envia-
Bile record, but which is public property. Aud
as to their "influcnce" given "in behalf of the
pastor" those who have been in attendance and
assisting in the work know what it has been.
so lar a. soon wiping ont 5000 or 5000 of the
church debt Is concerned, | state positively
that only about ;19j in cash has been paid on
the debt since 1 have been here. Perhaps $50
bills. This is all that has actually beea applied
on the indebtedness. There have been other
donations and subscriptions secured, but they
are all conditional, and cannot be utilized until
those conditions are met; and when that will
be is an open question.
The trouble in regard to the oyster supper
social and church fair did not grow out of the
pro lrlety of these things considered in them
selves, as your informant would have the public
believe, but as to the propriety of holding them
in the church building. We had discussed the
matter freely, and in order to obviate this very
trouble these parties had followed my sugges-
ton OF holding the first ia store building,
the rent OF which paid out OF my own pocket.
Hence, when II was proposed after this to make
the church building place of traffic, spoke
my sentiments in no uncertain terms 1t is
stated that after this "Mr. McMillin continued
to preach, but the relations between the pastor
and his flock rapidly grew less and less cordial,
until the flock threatened to disappear entirely.
Then the pastor was removed"
To those who have been in attendance it is
unnecessary 10 reply to the falsity of the
ton OF the rapid decrease in the audience, and
to those who have not been in attendance it is
only necessary to state that on the first Sunday
preached we had but fifty present, and on the
second sunday stxty-hve Whereas. on the
Sunday before the last on which occupied the
pulpit there were ninety present, and on the
last sunday $50. The increase. in the face of
all the trouble and opposition of the few who
are characterized by the title OF "a number OF
the strong supporters of the church," certainly
does not look as though "the flock rapidly grew ,
less and less cordial until the flock threatened
to disappear entire v"
The former article states that "the member
ship during the last six months has fallen from
about 100 10 twenty-five" 1.-The trouble
is due to the stand that the pastor took upon
the subject of church socials,' etc The de-
crease in the membership is nearer the truth
than some might suppose But that it is due .'to
the stand took on the social question:" as the
article would have one believe, as though the
members withdrew because was the pastor, is
not true. The facts are that not single mem
Der withdrew because OF the stand took, bur
thirty withdrew within week after it became
known that there was compromise made by
which my pastorate was terminated. And
others have called for their letters since The
church record as to membership is as follows:
Members at beginning of conference year. ....S s.
OF these there were nonresident. ..............20
Actual membership present Observation-Disclosures. 65
Gave letters TO those removing from the
cnarge-
Remaining members .........................4 Al
Received by letter up to February 1..........12
Total one week before my disconnection with
the charge and elk weeks after the social
Letters given during the last week of my
pastorate and because my passionate was 10
cease so
Membership at present, some of whom have
CALLED for their letters already -....-.......9
WILLIAM B. MCMILLIN.
A nu mber OF the leading members of the
church were seen yesterday. and they ell said
that the article published in the PosT-ISrELL-
GENCEE giving the details of the trouble in
Grace church was correct. They all wished
their names to be kept out OF the paper, how
ever. for the reason that they did not want TO
become identified in the trouble. Several OF
these persons characterized Mr.. McMillin's
statement above as entirely misleading and iG-
correct 1t was also learned that the resolutions
passed at the quarterly conference of the church
were much stronger than the meeting intended,
and that even those who were willing 10 con.
cede to the pastor his point regard TO socials,
were without exception attendants at the So
cials Mr.. McNiIlIn says IN his statement that
he did not object 70 sociais in themselves, but
YVES opposed 10 holding them in the church. on