The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-20
4 CHANGEOF CHURCH
Rev. Butler Will Leave Method
ism for Congregationalism.
PROBABLY GOING TO EVERETT.
D lsaasssGnetasn WITH NsthsAlsA Rules
TIE Chief Casss-His Successful
Pastoral Career.

The fact that Rev. DR.. r. w. Butler, Phi.
D., at present pastor of Grace u. E. church.
intends shortly 70 Withdraw not only from
his present charge. but from the Methodist
Episcopal church, 10 no doubt news 20 his
own congregation - well as 70 members OF
other churches Of that denomination in
she city. yet such Is the case. Dr.. Batter
does not deny that he intends to 30 into
the Congregational church In course Of
time. bus will not say how soon. nor where
his first charge will Be.
That DR.. Butler 10 dissatisfied with the
Methodist church and its rules has been
no secret to his friends for some time. He
never openly stated that he intended to
leave 1t, bat since tho last NJ. e. confer
ence especially he has freely criticized il,
and expressed desire for different field
than that IL afforded him. This desire
seems to have crystaiixed into determine
ton within the past few weeks, tor it is
now stated on good authority that DR..
Butler has been asked 10 take charge of
the First Congregational church in
Everett. and that he has accepted the cali.
and wiz 60 10 that city to begin work at
once.
A PosT-INrELLIGEycER reporter called
upon DR.. Butler yesterday evening to con-
firm the report and the latter said:
II have nothing to say for publication
as yet about the matter. Ii Is true that
the offer you speak OF has been made me.
/ cannot say whether / will accept. In
fact / cannot accept until ] receive q
formal call, which expect tomorrow.
hare said nothing about 1t to my congre-
CATION and do not care to have them
know anything about IL ut present. They
may have heard rumor 70 the effect that
! would take the church ct Everett, as the
offer has been open to me tor some time"
at is true, though, Doctor. is 1t not,
asked the reporter, .thst you are about 10
leave your present church :"
II have been considering It," Was the
reply.
Then you do not deny itf"
"No, not If l conclude TO accept the
Everett offer, but some one in Everett has
been telling tales out Of school. was at
Everett on Thursday, it is true. and the
matter was informally discussed. Have l
any intention of going elsewheref No,
l can say that / have. The Congrega-
tional church ut Aberdeen, where was
pastor Of the Methodist Episcopal church
before coming here. has made me semi
official offer. and 1t Is one would be
greatly pleased to accept, but hardly feel
at liberty to 90 there to take charge of o
rival to my old church. There 10 but one
effect il could have. and that is that 1t
would draw many Methodists there into
the Congregational church, and that
would seem not Just right.
II can say definitely by Sunday next
whether I will go TO Everett. IL is .
young and growing city, and the field 1t
be .aNyer at first than that now paid me.
But. remember, there Is nothing definite
yet ] may remain with my present
church until the end Of the conference
year. will tell you definitely soon."
Then you won't do SO to-dayf" asked
the reporter.
1.-THE field is wide one ct Everett"
DR.. Buffers whole manner during the
interview Was one Of not very emphatic
denial. and in fact he practically admitted
the truth Of the report
Rev. Thomas William Butler, Phi D., Is
one Of the brightest men In his denomina-
tion on the Coast and has had splendid
success In every charge ever given him.
This has been the case in his present one
especially. and its growth since he took 1t
at the Methodist Episcopal conference in
August 1892. has been remarkable, con.
sidering the difficulty it has had to con-
tend with. He was born in Woolwich,
England, in 1855, came to Canada with
his parents in 1857, and was Converted"
at revival meeting In Bartha. Ont, in
1876. He studied for the ministry and
was passed by the conference in 1882 He
came to Seattle in September. 1883, and
attended the Methodist Episcopal confer
ence then being held. A charge a. La
Camas was given him. There he remained
one year. In 1889 he was transferred to
Aberdeen. He practically built up the
Methodist church there from mere hand
fui to large congregation, and it was with
deep regret that Ii was forced to part with
him when he was assigned to his present
charge at the conference In September,