Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-05
UNAVAILING PROTEST
Bishop Fowler Declines to Reinstate
DR.. Naylor.
CONTROVERSY AMONG CHURCHMEN
Methodsm Seriously Agitated by
Now Celebrated Case.
STORY OF THE STRUGG LIE

The Washington public IL already famil-
lar with the superficial features Of the con-
troversy that has been going on for some
time between the members OF the ofhcial
boards of majority Of the Methodist
churches Of Washington and Bishop Fow-
Ter. Bishop Hurst and few Of the local
ministers over the removal Of DIR. H. K.
Naylor from the office Of presiding elder Of
the Washington district.
The final declination Of Bishop Fowler to
change his action in the case was received
a few days ago. and, after considering the
matter. the protesting committee. repre-
senting a majority Of the Methodist
churches. determined to make a public
statement of everything connected with the
controversy for the information of Metho-
dists generally. The document is long
one. and recites the facts connected with
the controversy substantially as follows:
AS the announcement of DR.. MAYORS re-
moval had been made within ten minutes
of the final adjournment of the conference.
and no reasons had been assigned by Bish-
| op Fowler for his action. an effort was
| made to secure the concerted action by the
churches most directly interested situated
in this city and vicinity, with a view to
protesting against DIR. MAYORS removal
| and urging his restoration. Many of the
ministers and laymen were outspoken in
their criticisms of what they declared to
be great injustice and an action without
precedent In the history of the Baltimore
conference. After an interchange of views
II was found that there was a general SEN
timent in favor of giving formal expression
TO the regret felt by Methodists in the
Washington district at Bishop Fowlers ac-
ton. and after several official boards of va
rious churches had made their formal pro-
test against the removal of their presiding
elder II was decided to have a combined
meeting of representatives from each of the
official bodies, which should formally draw
up and announce the sen timent of the Meth
odists upon the case In question. few of
the official bodies wer averse to taking any
such action.
Representatives of Waugh. McKendree,
Foundry. Hamline, Grace Fifteenth Street,
Gorsuch, Twelfth Street. Metropolitan. Ana
costa. Kensilgton and Union Churches,
therefore. met together and determined to
lay before Bishop Hurst, with a request
that they be forwarded to Bishop Fowler
the resolutions passed by the various official
bodies and a letter which had been prepared
for Bishop Fowlers perusal. Bishop Hurst
declined to extend his good offices to the
committee along the lines indicated, and
endeavored to prevail upon the commit
tee to forego its intentions of taking
active measures in connection with DIR.
MAYORS removal A committee waited
upon him and procured his promise to meet
them at a certain hour on Saturday night
The engagement was postponed. however.
until the following Monday. On the morn
ing Of that day the committee received a
letter from Bishop Hurst, stating that he
had received letter from Bishop Fowler
indicating that he would not change the ap-
pointment in which the committee was in
tad md hot ho. llrr -
while. therefore. to take the trouble to have
the proposed interview. The latter how
ever, said that they would call at the time
specified, no matter what attitude Bishop
Hurst might assume in the case. The re-
suit of the meeting has been told In The
| Star.
| Bishop Hurst's DeclinatfOn.
The bishop declined to receive the papers
| and gave the committee to understand that
| whatever action 1t might take would be
fruitless. The committee decided then to
| send the papers and documents bearing
upon the question of DIR. MAYORS removal
| to Bishop Fowler direct. They were ac-
cordingly addressed to him at Minneapolis
where the committee was informed Bishop
Fowler was temporarily domciled. The lat
| ter had not gone west at all. however, and
the mailing Of the papers to Minneapolis
| caused great deal of delay In the final
settlement of the matter The papers sent
to Bishop Fowler were simple copies of the
transcript Of the minutes Of the meetings
of the official bodies where action had been
taken on the subject Of DR.. MAYORS re-
moval.
The churches represented In these pro-
tests were Waugh. McKendree Foundry
Hamline. Grace, Fifteenth Street, Gorsuch,
Twelfth Street, Metropolitan. Anacostia
kensington and Union. The resolutions all
spoke feelingly on the subject, referring in
some cases to the removal of Dr. Naylor as
"a grave error of judgment" character
izing ii as ''unwise. unjust and strongly
tending to Generalization of Methodism,"
or in some other way expressing marked
dlsapproval of the action Of Bishop Fowler.
The resolutions adopted by the Fifteenth
Street Church were especially pointed. The
preamble set forth that I'VE have the
question of a church building in the north
west as much at heart as Bishop Fowler or
any other church potentate," and the reso-
buttons declared. among other things. that
the arbitrary exercise of power by bishops
is detrimental to the true interests of
Christianity and Methodsm and Is intol-
cradle"
Letter of TransmittaI.
Accompanying these papers was letter
1t was dated March 2, 1894. and was signed
by MIR. Alexander Ashley, chairman. and
the other members of the committee.
THE representatives of the official boards
of the various churches in this District"
said the epistle, whose action in reference
to the removal of DIR. H. X. Naylor from
the presiding eldershp of the Washington
district is herewith inclosed, beg to say TO
you. in addition to what is said in the ir-
closed papers. that We are a unit in our H.
dorsement Of the action of the various Of
| fetal boards, and are cogniZant of the fact
| that the papers herewith do but in a meas
ure express the deep regret, and we may
say indignation, with which DIR. Naylur's
removal was met by a large majority Of
| the laity of this district. Without any dis
| position to impugn your motives In this &C.
| ton. and with that same loyalty to the pol
\ ity of our church which has heretofore gcv-
| erned us in our acquiescence In the action
| of the authorities of the church, we are
| compelled to say that we cannot but be-
| lieve that your action was unwise and OF
warranted by any improper conduct or mall
administration on the part of DIR. Naylor
\ and that 1t Will result in great injury to
| the church in this district unless reversed.
| 1T cannot but be patent to all dispassiDn-
| ate thinkers in the church." Ii continued
| that there is a widespread and growing
| restleSSnesS on the part of the laity in ref-
| erence to the unlimited power now vested
] in the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
| Church in the appointment and removal
| of the ministry. and that any unusual and
| especially any decidedly arbitrary, exercise
/ of that power, in the case under con-
| sideratiOn, as we think, cannot but tend to
! increase restlessness and a growing dispo-
sition to INSTRUMENTATION. which may result
( not only in great dissatisfaction, but also
/ in open revolt and separation from the