Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-22
DR.. MAYORS RE MOVAL
A Strong Protest to Be Made to Bishor
Hurst on Saturday.
Only Two Churches Absent Mt m Com
Churches and the Wherefore.

Inc representatives of the official boards
or all the Methodist churches in the Dis
tr1ct, except Ryland Chapel and Wesley
Chapel, held a meeting with closed doors
at Hamline Church last night to consider
the question of DIR. MAYORS removal by
BISHOP Fowler from the presiding elder
ship OF the Washington district and to
take measures looking to a reversal Of
tnat action. Fourteen gentlemen 'FRONT.'
heht In the laity of as many different
churches were present, and during the
evening they presented papers representing
the action of their respective official boards
"hlch were very strong in their protesta-
ton against Bishop Fowler's course saying
mat 1t was mwarranted, without justifi-
caton and wholly against the expressed
wishes of the churches of the District
w mem these had been read a committee
was appointed to wait on Bishop Hurst
anu request him to receive the general
committee, composed of the gentlemen at
tehulis the meeting, and listen to what
'hey had to say in the matter.
bIsnop hurst inquired how many church.
% tley represented, and upon being inform
eu designated Saturday evening at o'clock
as the time when he would have the de-
i Sreu ,b cHhterenee The meeting, upon learn
ing this, ADJOURNED, after a lively discus
sion or the probable cause and effact OF
LII. MAYORS removal.
The Absent Ones,
ms morning there was some curiosity
70 know why Wesley Chapel and Ryland
Nhapei were not represented at the meet
ing. In the case of Wesley Chapel the
reason is not far to seek" sail a we'll
known Methodist when questioned on the
subject. Not only was the former pastor
OF the church. DIR. Wilson, the direct bene-
Hclary or Bishop Fowler's act in removing
Dr. Naylor, but the former secretarv ~
the Methodist University, Rev c. w. Bald
win, was given the place made vacant NV
me eievauon OF Dr. Wilson to be presiding
eloer. wesley Chapel was therefore made
an interested party, though without its CON-
sent and against its declared wishes The
action of Bishop Fowler has in a measure
tied Its peoples hands and not DESIRING
to become offensive their declaration Of
disapproval, which / am told is as strong
as in other churches. was withheld"
A member of Ryland Chapel after some
hesitation, gave the reasons for the non
representation of that church last night
"Ryland RETAINED from joining with the
other churches In regard to DIR. Naylor's
removal" he said, merely because her
memory of the past in dealing with the
powers that be- at the annual conferences
warrants her belief that this protest like
many others, Will come out only second
best Her own expressed wishes as TO her
own pastorate have been so often set aside
that she feels little interest in joining in a
protest now against the arbitrary action of
the presiding bishop of the late confer
ence. Notwithstanding this declination on
the part OF the officiary the same general
feeling exists in Ryland against the un-
warranted removal of Dr. Naylor as the
other churches have officially expressed"
Bishop Hurst's Attitude.
On Saturday night with the exception Of
these two churches. The general committee
expects to lay before Bishop Hurst a strong
array of testimony in rebuttal of any re-
ports that may have been laid before
Bishop Fowler. and worked to the detri-
ment of DIR. Naylor.
Since Bishop Hurst's return he has de-
cli1ed to talk for publication regarding the
case, but ii is known that he has expressed
himself as being entirely ignorant of the
motives which actuated Bishop Fowler;
that he was not consulted, and that II he
had been the presiding bishop at the Fred
erick conference no change would have
been made. 1t is also understood that he
expressed his cheerful readiness to receive
the committee from the various churches
and do what he could to further its desires
by promptly communicating with Bishop
Fowler.