The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-14
DIR. M'LE0D NOT ACCEPTED
His Proposed Call to New York Pre-
vented by Determined Few.
Lively Meeting Of DR.. Crosby's Old Congrs-
gation-Mrs Billiards. Adverse Let
ter Caused Sensation.

seems to be having as much trouble as one
or two local churches in selecting pastor.
Its committee chosen to recommend pas
tor reported in favor of DR.. James Mcleod.
Mr. Milburn's predecessor at the Second
Presby tcrian Church in this city. tho is
we'll and favorably remembered here, and
is now preaching at Albany, n. Y. The
congregation met on Wednesday evening
to vote on the recommendation, and the
New York Tribune gives this account of it,
AFTER long and heated discussion be-
tween the members of the Fourth-avenue
Presby terrain Church, last night. the unan-
imous opinion OF those present was that IL
would DO inexpediert to issue call to the
Rev. DE-. James Mcleod, of Albany. The
result was surprise and a disappointment
TO q large majority of the church menb beers.
but the minority was so determined, and
expressed itself so forcibiy. that in the in
terests of peace and harmony the majority
decided to yield their preferences. The con-
gregational meeting was called 10 order at
the close of the regular church prayer
las, of the Romeyn Chapel, in Fourteenth
street. q chapel of the FOurth-avenue
church. Walter Edwards acted as clerk.
After announcing that the business of
the meeting was TO act upon the report OF
tho committee which had presented the
name of the Rev. DR.. James Mcleod as
pastor of the church, Ralph Wells read u
letter from the Rev. DR.. A. V. Raymond. of
Indianapolis. strongly recommending DR..
Mcleod for the place. Police Justice
Charles n. Taintor then read q letter from
George h. Sterry. q member OF the COM
mittee who was not in favor of DR.. Nc
Leod. in which no spoke strongly against
Dr. Mcleod, calling attention to tho tact
that there was decided minority, and as
sorting that 1t would be folly for the
church to call DE-. Mcleod under the cir
cumstances. Justice TaintOr said that he
did not share the sentiments of the letter.
and said that Mr.. Sterry wrote in the letter
that he had pnrposely stage away from
the meeting. Walter Edwards, the Rev. T..
/. Cutter, Dwight ElmendOrf, EllasJ. Her
rick. Zophar Mills and Justice laintOr spoke
earnestly recommending DIR. Mcleod. Mr..
French said that there must be some good
reason for opposition, and nome radi cal de-
feet in DIR. Mcleod. and SO he was opposed
to him. Mr.. SprOul and Mr.. Schaif also Op-
posed his election. Upon request. DR.. w.
T.. Billiard read a letter which he had re-
ceived from an aunt OF his living In Indian
apolis. IN which she spoke IN unqualified
terms against DIR. Mcleod. She said. among
other things. that when he began his pas
torate there he had full church, but
preached his congregation away until he
spoke to empty seats; that he was usually
In debt, Notwithstanding his salary of
$1,000 per year and that he was lacking In
in ellectuality.
Walter EDWARDS closed the debate. urging
DR.. McLeod's election, and showing that the
charges were not proven, and that they
were directly contradicted by other letters
from equally Trustworthy sources. He re-
viewed the whole situation. recalling the
Sunday services when DIR. Mcleod preached
for the Fourth-avenue Church as a supply
so accepta bly,, not long ago. and reviewing
tho uniform success of bis iabOrs wherever
he had been. The vote was then taken, o
large number of those present declining
TO vote. The result W as fOrty-seven in favor,
twenty-s six opposed.
'Zophar Mills then moved to make the
election unanimous. but a member of the
minority raised the point that Mr. Mills
was ont of order. as he had voted with the
affirmative side. Dr. Billiard then made
the motion and Justice Taintor spoke Ions
and earnestly, urging the minority, in view
of the evidence presented. which he de-
clared was overwhelmingly In favor of DIR.
Mcleod, TO make the call unanimous.
When the vote was cast thirteen voted in
the negative. Upon motion. the commit
tee on pastor was discharged with thanks.
The Rev. Mr.. Cutter then appealed for a
new vote. moving that the original com
mittee of nine be appointed TO extend a
call to DR.. Mcleod. This was carried by a
moderate majority, but Justice Taintor
Immediately moved to reconsider and up-
on motion the previous motion was laid on
the table. After another futile attempt TO
win over the minority. Justice TaintOr of
fered the following resolution:
"In view OF the decided stand and of the
strength OF the minority, we believe II ineXpedi-
ent TO extend call 10 the Rev. DR.. James Nc
Leod. OF Albany.
"Ralph Wells. while keenly disappointed
at the fallure OF the congregation TO elect
DR.. Mcleod. concurred in belief with JUS
tioe TaintOr and seconded the resolution,
which was unanimously adopted.
zone of the elders of the church, after
the meeting. said: This leaves us all in a
mn ar A ahtf M wi m m
doubtedly hurt DR.. Mcleod, but what else
could we do? DIR. Mcleod is u gentleman
and man, as well as a clergyman, and he
would never have como 10 ns in the face of
such a decided minority. He Is no figure
head that We can play with, and 1t leaves
us In distressed condition. Our commit
tee on pastor Is discharged. and it Will be q
long time now before We can ali agree On
anybody. The first thing We will do will
be to get n new comm ttco ct work."
The Albany Journal of recent date has
this paragraph about DR.. McEeOa:
THE report that Dr. james Mcleod, of
the First Congregational Church of this
city, is to he called TO New York city TO Oc-
byrerian Church. for SO many years filled
by the late DR.. Howard Crosby, will be re-
ceived with mingled pleasure and regret
By DIR. McLeod's many admirers In Albany.
DR.. McLeod's friends In AibaDy-whO are
by no means confined TO his church-will
be pleased with the prospect OF his adj
vancement to the pastorate of one of the
leading Presby terrain churches of the me-
tropolis and the Nation, but at the same
time they would regret his loss to tho pull
pit which he now occupies and to our city.
Here he has done great work and made
for himself a high reputation. While not
advised as TO the certainty of the call be-
ing made, or rs to DR.. McLeod's intentions
and plans, it looks very much as if Albany
would lose one of it's leading divines."