The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-01
Mrs. Osterhout's Right to
Hold Property Questioned.
INTRICATE LEGAL POINTS RAISED
BY the Two Factions of the Young
Women's Evangelical Christian As
sociation-NIrs. Billings' Friends
Come to Her Defense.

result In q DIVISION OF the society.
When the association was organized
many OF the prominent ladies Of the city
were interested in this movement and the
present list OF members includes the
name OF nearly every woman OF wealth
and social position in Providence.
The present trouble, 1t Is said, Is due to
the effort to GUST the present general Sec
retary, Miss Emily l.. Billings.
Since Miss Billings was elected to her
Office she has given satisfaction TO ma
jority of the members. Her whole heart
has been In the work and her sympathetic
her and, almost involuntarily, have re-
vealed their whole lives to her and have
been guided by her.
A NEWS reporter called upon one of the
prominent members OF the association
yesterday, and she admitted that there
had been quarrel in the society.
According to her story the trouble be-
gan about year ago, when Mrs. j. v.
Osterhout was elected president, her sup
port having been given to the dissatisfied
majority. The majority therefore decided
that she should not be reelected.
The annual meeting was held two weeks
ago. After the usual routine business
and that he had discovered, among other
things, that the society had no authority
to elect a second vice. president or gen.
eral secretary, owing to an error that had
occurred many years ago.
motion was Immediately made in
structing the recording secretary to cast
the ballot to elect the president. She
hesitated and was censured so severely
that at last she cast the vote for Mrs.
Osterhout. The members were asked to
ratify the vote, end although it was not
unanimous, the election of Mrs. Osterhout
was announced.
At this point the remainder of the ticket
was counted, when il was found that the
clndietates. of the committee had been
badly knitted, Mrs. Philips and Miss Ma
goon having been defeated.
AS this did not affect the position OF the
present secretary another plan was out
lined, and last week the members re-
ceived the following notice:
PROVIDENCE, r. l., Jan. "a, 1894
special Meeting OF the Providence Evangelical
Young womcn's Christian Association, will be held
at the Association Hail. No. ass Westminster street.
Monday evening next, January 2sth, at half past
seven o'clock.
MRS. ]. v. osrERHovr, President
No hint that the meeting was impor-
tant was given, so that few of Miss Bill
ling's friends appeared. The opposing
faction was not In force. Mrs. Osterhout
stated that she had committed Lawyer
Barney in regard to certain plans
in the constitution and bylaws
had been transacted, the report OF the
nominating committee, which was COM
posed of Mrs. s. s. Bucklin, Mrs. III. G.
Conant, Mrs. c. II. Perry, Mrs. f. Z.
Moulton and Miss Gardiner, was presented
Two minority candidates, Mrs. w. l..
Philips, for second vice-president, and
Miss Hattie 8. Magoon for recording
secretary, were presented, and Mrs. Oster-
hout was nominated for reelection.
Mr.. Barney was present on the platform
and during the evening he decided that
the proceedings were being conducted in
a legal manner.
Mrs. Osterhout then declared the Office
of second vice president and general sec
retary vacant, and appointed committee
to fill the places. Mrs. j. X. Barney, Mrs.
w. ii. Bowen and Miss Ruth A. Haskell
composed this committee. 1t is said that
while Miss Haskell Ia Arm friend to
Miss Billings, Mrs. Bowen's position is as
well known, and Mrs Barney would prof.
ably vote for new secretary.
AS soon as the meeting was adjourned
the opposition faction consulted legal ad-
vice. Mr.. w. b. w. Hallett and other
lawyers examined the case and soon dis
closes strange condition of affairs.
Owing to the silence of the by-laws the
association is under common law, by
which special meeting cannot be called
unless the business to be transacted is
mentioned in the notice. Mrs. Osterhout's
call contained no such notice
1t is also stated that she had no uthority
to call a meeting rs her election was plain.
ly Illegal. A secretary cannot cast a ballot
electing an officer when there is any oppo-
stion. The opposition to her reelection
was very strong.
Knowing that Mr.. Jacobs, who is now
engaged in revival work in this city, was
q man OF the largest experience In the
management OF Christian associations a
number OF the ladies laid the case before
him. He stated that the election of the
president would have been illegal il there
had been only one opposing vote and th; I
the calling Of the special meeting was con-
trary to law. As the matter stands, there
fore, the society Is without president.
The reporter called upon Mrs. Osterhout
at her residence last evening.
At first she was unwilling TO speak but
the flaws in the constitution and
bylaws some time ago and when re-
elected she had gone to Mr..
Barney for advice. He advised her TO call
n special meeting. She had been guided
by him In her actions and her work had
been done in the interests of the society
rather than for the sake OF one individual.
Her only objection to Miss Billings was
that she regarded her as lacking In
executive ability. She had done
great work for the society, but now
that IL had grown beyond her she
believed that ii was her duty to step out
and leave the work 20 some one who was
more able to carry 1t out.
Mrs. Osterhout said that she believed
that her election was legal, but would be
glad TO relinquish the honor il the oppor-
tunity was given. During ber term OF
Office she had tried to take neutral ground
and to do her duty by the society and
she saw no reason why she should with
fruu-fFem anv poaitiOn that abe had