The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-30
PAXTON AND ANTI-PAXT0N.
STORMY MEE1INa or THE WEST
CHURCH FACTIONS.


who Retracts the offending Remark.
Dr. John II. Paxton has withdrawn his resR-
nation from the West Presbyterian Church.
but according to the vote last night the con-
greRation is not ready to accept the with
drawaL In the meanwhile he is pastor OF the
church and Ia on n vacation.
An adjourned meeting 10 consider the dues-
| tlon OF accepting his resignation was held by
the cong legation In the prayer-meetinG room
OF tho church last evening 1t was an unruly
gathering and despite the efforts OF the Mod
orator Dr. Frank IT. Marlin. tho discussion at
| times was SO excited and the personalities 80
| singing that it looked as though the meeting
would break up In tho withdrawal OF many
| from the room. The meeting divided into two
factions-the Paxton and the anti-Paxton
forces. On final vote the latter wero in the
majority but the other side promises that the
| result will lie reversed at another meeting OF
| tho congregation.
| DR.. Paxton's resignation was received and
| accepted by n session OF elders three weeks
| ago. On Nov. 10 at a largely attended meet
! ing OF the congregation. 1t was decided bv
| vote OF 30 to 10 that DR.. Paxton be requested
to withdraw his resignation and accept
years lenve OF absence. A committee was APP
| pointed to Inform DIR. Paxton OF this action
and report results at a meeting to be held
| later The meeting held for this purpose last
| evening was much larger than the other
| gathering All seats were filled. and the wide
| lobby in the rear Of tho room contained many
| outsiders who had come In antic ipation Of an
| interesting discussion.
| Tho majority Of those present were women.
many OF whom grow historical when the
critics o; DR.. Paxton became particularly bold
| and outspoken.
After o prayer by the Moderator. in which
| nj. nun apll cal
Chairman l. /. Farchild reported the results
OF tho committees visit to DIR. Paxton at
| Bridgeville. Pa. The report rocited the fact
| that the committee had been strongly I'M
pressed with the sentiment in lavor Of DR..
The committee hal learned authoritatively
| that Dr. Paxton Is now sound IN oody ana
the effects OF the severe surgical operation
which he has undergone. The committee, hav-
| ing advised DR.. Paxton OF the intended visit.
| received this telegram:
Gr.,.fu, for love and EindGsss SHOWN. Useless to
yocn6ls ~" '''''N"' J. K. FIxroN
To this telegram the committee replied with
| another. as follows:
Committee must carry out instructions. Besides we
bring S3gndsni good new, Which you should know
| member OF the Board OF trustees
| Accompanied by Trustee W. II. Granbery
| the conn ittee visited Dr. Paxton and told him
that the numher OF wlthdrawals from the
oSd be M var Se ~ Te
report states that wrong impression that the
| Board OF Trustees wanted his resignation had
e SoY to Rsait6 Finally Dr.. faxton suthor-
lied tho COMMITTEE to announce to tho ION.
gregation his withdrawal OF the resignation
| and to assure all that his absence would be Us
brief as his physical condition would permit.
| whom l. c. Van Clan and others asked whether
the acceptance Of the report meant rs adop;
| ton. The Moderator assured them that II did
| not, and the report was accepted TO bring 1t
| before the meeting after hot debate over
When Judge Hlgley moved the adoption OF
| the report Mr.. Van Clan, young man with an
earnest manner arose from the front row and
| raised tho forefnGer OF his right hand to the
'The responsibility Of the session which re-
| ccived and accepted DR.. PaXton's resignation
| was very great. That session must and should
| spect, and cannot see indgnity heapsd upon
! them. While memUer OF the body Mr.. Van
| With the piety. purity and Rodliness Of these
men. Should cTiticise that session 1t would
| Paxton One reason the'recommendation to ac-
| cent his resignation was offered was because
the session thGuGht the truth should better
Mr.. Van Clan, here stopped moment as
though 70 consider his next remark; and then
raising his right hana in the air said;
| DR. iexton,s shame Is known wherever his
in the history OF the Wost Church. One-halt
! Of the audience arose from the seats, and
STe fh al
talkW stop, stop" one man from the rear
II .et us have the truth" and amid those in
| torruptions there was Kissing that sounded
| like the roar OF the surf. 1t was, five minutes
! before order was restored. and then some one
demanded that the speaker take back his last
II take It back" said Mr. Van CLAN.
-" II was decidedly out OF order" said the
| 81,
much money has been experd cd aud how
| much work has been done By this session. Dr.
Paxton is my friend. and would not do him
40. no." were tho derIsive cries from the
iiu, want the responsibility placed whero
! It belongs concluded Mr.. Van Gian. as he To-
| turned 10 his seat on ~ front row
! that the situation was that Dr. Paxton had
, withdrawn his resignation. and would return
permit When 1t was asked whether his SALARY
would continue during this interval, tie fact
| was disclosed that bT. Paxton, some time ago.
his salarT from $4,000 to $4,000,
President Perkins q mo Board Of Trustees
| here contributed another surprise by saying
/ that gec2rdin. to tho ITegsPrer,s rerort on
VIDE Unless we put our our hands in our our
L. place this church in debt aud We intond to
/ DO cur duty fully" Mr. PERKINS admitted that
l
impression a. tho last meeting that he spoke
J for no trustees IN desiring the resignation 1T
| lT Paxton This admission caused this Mod
| eTat0r to express his surprise
When Trustee Perkins said that he did not
! know ~ a single trustee who Was against the
! report o. the session TO accept ar. lhXtOR's
| resignation. Chairman fairchild OF the last
con uittrc 1un.Hvd M and said:
We found That the Misunderstanding az TO
/ the views OF the trustees had SGT back Dr.
| Paxton : recovery To health. cur committees
I WOuIl have been uuSuc fe-- ful in It's mission il
! ithaI not proved CouclusiyelY u DR.. Paxton
/ that there WAS such a isuudsrstandiug'
| An effort was then made to adjourn the
! meeting. the Moderator eounsellug this
I course. SO that all might have time 10 think
I matters over. motion TO adjourn was after
{ ward Withdrawn.
/ iiuflnE ali THIS discussion Russell Sage who
! SAL close 10 TN. front. had luOEe as though he
4 wanted 10 say something lie half arose sew
| oral times and smiled beamiugly on the audi
! eusp and then on the Moderator Flnnlly he
WAS recognized. lie = arted in after the fashion
| Of an attorney eNpounding the law. and said:
| :" The ,uW Is that Wuen a resignation Is Of
| fernd 10 proper PERSONS II 10 Anal That is the
I way always in corporation mceting- Now
/ Dr. Paxton has rendered his resignation and 1t
| ''Illi. no. 1t isn't" said voice.
You remember" cuutuucd Mr. Sage that
I when Rr.Suap was arraigEel during tho ia
a