Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-11
PASTOR AND PARISH
Resignation Of the Vestrymen of the
Church of the Incarnation.
Statement of the Troubles which
Between Pastor and Flock.

The vestrymen Of the Church of the In
carnaticn, with exception of Mr.. J. B.
Winner, today issued to the members OF
the parish pamphlet containing q state
ment Of their side Of the controversy with
the Rev. DR.. Townsend. the pastor Of the
church. The document is signed by H. H.
Lockwood, senior warden; Hoard Edmon6s.
treasurer; II. Stanley Hinrichs. registrar;
F. s. Bright VIM. ". LanStree, r. l.
Geare and VIM. A. Harvey. The troubles
which have been CONFUSING the Incarna-
ton parish are so familiar to the public
that but slight resume of the points of
difference is necessary at this time. For a
long time there have been serious differ
enc es between DR.. Townsend and the men,
bers of the vestry, which eliminated in the
latter body requesting the pastor to ter
inmate his services with the church on
May 81 last. DIR. Townsend declined to en-
terrain this invitation, but signified his
willingness to submit the entire matter to
Bishop Paret for arbitration, and the latter
designated the oath of May as the date Of
the hearing. On that day the members Of
the standing committee were present as
Bishop Paret's advisers. and the vestry Of
the Incarnation parish were also there
with all the books and papers of the par
ish.- The charges against DR.. Townsend
were filed and the entire matter placed in
the hands of the bishop.
Bishop Paret's Decision.
AS a result of the conference Bishop
Paret announced some days later that the
standing committee. having by unanimous
voice. advised him that the peace and pros
perity of the Incarnation parish would be
best ma ntained by the continuance of DR..
Townsend's pastoral relations, he had de-
cided that such pastoral relations between
the Rev. DR.. Townsend and the parish of
the Incarnation should be continued. In
his statement containing his decision the
|. bishop called attention to the fact that al
the conference in question two papers had
been presented from the communicates of
the parish, whose total number Is something
less than 100 One was protest signed by
149 communicates, expressing their full
1 approval and affectionate regard for DR..
Townsend and protesting against his res
ignation, while the other was a paper,
signed by 102 communing members, re-
QueSting the resignation of the present
members of the vestry. In their pamphlet,
issued today for distribution among the
members of the parish and a copy Of
which has been sent to Bishop Paret. the
vestrymen, whose names are given above,
take issue with the bishop.
Stfn Confirmed In Their Belief.
They state that, admitting the bishops
construction of the question presented to
him for settlement to be correct for the
sake of argument. the vestrymen still
think that they spoke with the voice Of the
communicates of the parish.
1.-The rector claimed that less than fifty
communicates OF the parish had not signed
his protest" says the pamphlet. None Of
the vestry signed it: fifteen members Of the
families of the vestry none Of whom signed
iD communicates of the parish and
123 families, whom the rector last winter
considered to belong to the parish, have no
representative ON this protest. OF the
N SnhScriharS IN q
on the books April 1 last, fifty-two did not
sign the rector's protest, and these gave
last year in round numbers $500 of 81, 700
contributed to the current expenses by reg
ular subscriptions.
Though the bishop entirely ignored
every thing submitted by the vestry in sup
port of their position, though he turned
aside from the question which the vestry
agreed to submit and decided the case upon
a question not at issue, excepting (as shown
by his decision) from his consideration.
the only thing the vestry ever intended to
submit to him, to wit: The differences be-
tween the rector and themselves, and
though he decided the case upon a state
ment of the rector's, which the vestry had
no opportunity to controvert at the hear
ing, and which, as shown above, was false.
still, having agreed to accept any decision
the bishop might make. we shall abide by
our agreement
Announcement of designations.
The gentlemen signing the document an
nounce that they have already resigned
from the vestry. their designations to take
effect upon the election of duly qualified
successors, they are unable to follow the
alternative suggested by the bishop in his
letter containing his decision, which was
that if they continue to hold Office they
shoL-d bury all disagreements and Loyalty
and kindly count the rector as their leader
and follow his guidance and promote his
efforts.
1T would be hypocrisy for u.s." continues
the pamphlet, even to remain in the
church, holding the view of the rector that
We do. and upon the election of our sue
cessors we shall retire from the parish"
In conclusion Warden Lockwood and his
associates submit the following statement:
Eject of the bishops Decision.
That a majority of the jealous workers
in the parish and those best entitled to
voice its sentiments were on the side of
the vestry is best demonstrated by what
has occurred since the bishops decision.
AS stated above. seven Of the vestry will
leave the parish.
Every one Of the fourteen men in the
vested choir will leave the choir and the
parish.
THE superintendent and one-haIf of the
teachers of the Sunday school have
signed and left the parish.
st. Johns Ward of the Guild and the
Choir Guild no longer exist
''All but one of the working members OF
the Apron Basket Ward 0he sewing So
ciety-the women who have done most to
Keep the parish alive) have left the parish.
Nearly all belonging TO the Missionary
Society have left the parish.
More than half the subscribers to cur
rent expenses in both number and amount
have ceased their subscriptions
THE president and about half of the
workers in the church's Chapter of the
Daughters of the King will leave the
parish. e..
, Nearly all the members of st. Andrews
Brotherhood Will retire from the church.
we refrain from any comment on this
record. except to say that it has not been
brought about by any solicitation by any
member of the vestry."
Mr.. Lockwood and his associates ex-
press regret that their self-respect will not
permit them to remain longer under DIR.
Townsend's rectorship, and more especially
regret the severance of the firm ties
that have SO long bound them to the men,
bers of the parish.