New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-30
DIR. PAXTON AND HIS CHURCH.
IS HE STILL PASTOR OR is HE NOT

CONGREG ALTON REJECTED THE REPORT OIL
THE COMMITTEE WHICH GOT HIN
TO TAKE THIS sTEP-BITTER
WORDS AT A MEETING
The congregation Of the West Presbyterian
Church held another long and exciting riee',"e
last evening on the subject of the resie'"'0"
of the pastor, the Rev. DR.. John Il. I"N'o"'
A sensational feature was bitter :.:tack vi ~
Paxton by F.. c. Van Claim, clerk Oh TIC e'
sion and the immediate resentment "u
pudiaton of his remarks by nearly '"e 49,
meeting. There was some doubt eApieSs'" 60,
the meeting as to the exact posiuo" II,
church and pastor were to each othei' o"' w
decision of the moderator was agreeap'e " '"'
contention of Dr. Paxton's friends, and the UNI
Outstanding was that DR.. Paxton ha'ihs WIZ,
drawn his resignation at the request Oh '"e
church, was still pastor with years iea'e "a
absence.
The chapel Of the church was eo'''pe'
filled by the members who ATTENDED INC "-
Ing Many stood in the rear OF the Ioo" e
Rev. Francis II. Marling presided. There were
devotional exercises, and then the i'ou@
called for the report Of the committee w",e"
had been appointed by the congregation az 'he
nrevious meeting TO request DR.. Paxton 10
withdraw his resignation.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
Tho roror+ was read by B. L. Fairchild.
chairman of the committee. 1t was In part as
follows:
Your committee. after voting that DR.. Paxton
he asked to withdraw his resignation, became
IMPRESSED with the strong sentiment IN 'he
church in favor of the action taken py rcceN-
ing calls and communications from members
of the church and congregation VINO were u'iape
to be present at the meeting. the sentiment
thus shown was Of character 10 cohi'iin INC
belief that the love and loyalty Tor the "es'
Church and our pastor was OF suincieh' s'ie"s'"
to prevent disintegration. even during so iohs
an absence as year. Your committee LOOK inc
greatest pains thoroughly to inform themselves
and cal state authoritatively mat Ut. TaA'oh
is as sound in body and MIND as any Oh US
and only needs rest sufficient to thoroughly
recuperate from the effects OF the severe su's'
cal operation he has undergone
Your committee determined TO go in person 10
Bridgeville. Having advised DR.. Paxton OF their
intended visit they received telegram as ioi-
lows. Grateful for love and kindness shown
| Useless 70 come with reference TO church Res
| ignation irrevocabe.'
"To this the following Geographic reply was
| sent: Committee must carry out Nhsu'uc''ohs'
| Besides. we bring abundant good news whch
YOU should know. Remember mat no court ue-
| c;das n case in advance OF testimony. We leave
| tonight accompanied by member OF the Board
| of Trustees -. =,
"your committee. accompanied by Mr.. W. ii.
Granbery IF the Board Of Trustees arrived "t
Bridgevle early on Saturday morning. NoVe'h-
Der 25 They Immediately met Dr. PaX'op anu
had an earnest interview with him, which was
prolonged during the greater part Of the day
,both 10 at
presented. and his urgent request that 1t be
Immediately accepted, resulted from his behs
at last convinced that he must accept his phy-
sician's advice TO take an extended vacation ana
the fear that such an absence might have
detrimental influence upon the interests OF the
West Church The committee repeated to him
the urgent assurances from the numerous MEM
beers of the congregation who had communicated
with the committee as above stated, inciudihg
messages and statements from members vi
the Session and Board OF Trustees. and we
urged the fact that the pulpit must necessarily
be without permanent supply for some time ana
that the number Of Withdrawals from the cor
gregation would be far greater II IL were Known
that his absence was 10 be OF a permanent
instead OF a temporary nature. go
..Dr Paxton was evidently impressed with
the tenor OF the testimony your committee were
enabled TO present TO him. but he sun uiged
the acceptance OF his resignation because OF
his understanding Of what unfortunately ne had
been enormously made 10 believe 10 be the
wishes Of the Board Of Trustees. Your com
mittee had however before communicating WIN
Dr. Paxton, been made aware of this unfortu-
nate misunderstanding and had gone TO MN
prepared to prove conciusively That inns ldea
was entirely erroneous; and We We're enabled 10
present to him, through NJ Granbery, copy
OF the minutes Of the Board Of Trustees. when
showed that the only action that board nad
taken in the matter either before or AFTER ms
rcsgnaiion had been TO send 10 him a request
which looked to the continuance Of his pastoral
relations with the church. This necessarily had
an effect and DIR. Paxton, after a long ana
serious consideration Of the matter. withdrew his
resignation requested, and authorized your
committee to announce the fact TO this meeting
The report signed by Il. l.. FairchIld,
c. Hilton Brown and DR.. Joseph Finch.
MR. VAN CLAIMS BITTERNESS.
w IT, CRANBERRY moved that the report be
accented and adopted 1t was decided by the
moderator that the motion be separated, and
that a vote should be first taken on the accept
ance Of the report. The vote to accept II was
unanimous Ex-Judge Warren f.. iigley moved
that the report be adopted.
Mr. Van Claim then arose ana in an excited
manner said More Information Is necessary
in order TO enable this meeting to vote prop
eyly The whole truth should be told. can
moi sit bv and see indignity heaped upon these
men with whose piety and purity have been
impressed. Should ] censure them IL would be
for the extreme leniency which they have
shown toward DR.. Paxton. The reason that
The whole truth has not been told here Is be-
cause Tho session believed that the truth Is not
always best told. DR.. Paxtons shame Is known
mr.revor his name has been heard"
At these words half a dozen rner sprang 10
their feet. and Kisses and cries OF shame"
were heard from all parts OF 'he mouse; IL
,yas several minutes before the general indigna
| ton had subsidized that the moderator could
be heard He ruled the last statement made by
Mir Van Claim out OF order At the request Of the
moderator seconded by many approving voices
in the congregation. Mr.. Van Claim withdrew
his bitter words He then continued his speech
in which he said some more unkind things
about DR.. Paxton. ending with the astonishing
statement: Or Paxton is my friend. never
did him an injury"
FINANCES OF THE CHURCH
Somebody asked what the financial condition
OF the church was, and Mr.. Perkins, chairman
of the Board Of Trustees. said that the revenues