Evening star., 1895-05-27
Three Members Expelled From the
De Facto Body
BECAUSE THEY ACTED With THE OTHERS
Latest Phase of the Controversy in
the Parish.
AWAITING THE CONVENTION

of St. Marks parish, peace has reigned in
the parish SO far as visible eviden ,es go.
The members of the so-called de jure ves-
try and their friends announced their pur-
pose to leave the question of the legality
of the election to the diocesan convention
which is to meet in this city Wednesday,
the main point for decision being the ques-
ton of the right of attendants at mis-
sion to vote in a parish election The ques-
ton will be raised when the delegates
elected by the two vestries claim seats in
the convention. The de jure vestry has,
however continued to perform such func-
tions as it's members deemed essential in
order to maintain their contention that
they were legally elected. They have met
on the nights fixed by the law of the
church for meetings of the vestry, and
have on such occasions notified the rector
of their meeting, but, of course, have re-
ceived no recognition from him. 1t was
believed that the affairs of the parish would
not be brought to the public attention again
until the meeting of the diocesan conven-
ton.
A New Excitement.
However the vestry recognized by the
rector decided to bring the matter to
point, and has created a new excitement in
the parish by declaring vacant the places
on the vestry filled by Messrs. NARROW.
Hillyer and Wood, three of the old vestry-
with the de jure vestry and have declined
to recognize the legality of the de facto
vestry. The seal of the parish has con-
| tinued in the possession of Mr.. Torbert,
the former registrar, and who claims to be
a member of the de jure vestry. Mr.. Tor
bert has declined to surrender the seal or
the parish books to the de facto vestry.
Mr.. NARROW, who has acted ever since
Easter Monday with the de jure vestry, Is
treasurer of the parish, and has in his pos.
session all the funds. He has declined to
| recognize orders upon him as treasurer
emanating from the vestry whose election
he disputes but there has been no inter-
ruption in the business affairs of the
church, as the regular charges have been
approved by the de jure vestry, so that
payments could be made by the treasurer
without seeming recognition of the other
vestry. One of the first acts of the de
facto vestry, after it was officially recog-
| nized by the decision of the rector, was TO
vote an increase of salary to the rector,
but far this increase has been inopera-
tive, because the treasurer has not recog-
| nzed the legality of the vestry that voted
Resolutions of the Vcstry.
| The de facto vestry met Friday night,
and as a result of their deliberations that
night, Messrs Hillyer, Wood and NARROW
each received Saturday from Mr.. Charles
B. Fonda, who signed himself registrar
of st. Marks parish, copies of the follow
| ing preamble and resolutions adopted FRI
| day night
| Whereas. Messrs. w. H. NARROW, l.. A.
| Wood and w. R. Hillyer, members of this
vestry, have, after due notification, failed
| to attend any of it's meetings since the
meeting of April 49, 1895, and
Whereas, 1t has come to the knowledge
| of this vestry that these gentlemen have
attached themselves 10, and have declared
| themselves members of a certain body of
| men, who style themselves the vestry of
| st. Marks parish, and whose p1etensons
are inimical to the best interests of the
| parish; now, therefore, be it
| Resolved, That the registrar be and is
| hereby directed TO notify the said gentle
| men, in writing that there will be special
| meeting of this vestry, held in St. Mark s
| Parish Church. on Saturday, the 25th day
| of May, AID. 1895, at o'clock pm, at
| which time and place they are requested
Resolved, That the failure of either said
| gentlemen to attend the said meeting, with
such excuse as the rest of this vestry will
| allow, will be considered as a refusal to
| serve upon this vestry.
Resolved. That a copy of these resolutions
| be transmitted to each of said gentlemen.
| Messrs. NARROW and Hillyer appeared at
| the church Saturday evening, but not to
| attend the meeting, as they were request
| ed They remained there only long enough
| to hand to Mr.. Fonda their reply to the
| resolutions.
The Reply of the Three.
This reply, which was signed by Messrs.
| Wodd, NARROW and Hillyer, "vestrymen of
st. Marks parish said:
Personal regard and courtesy to you
must be taken the sufficient excuse for
our acknowledging receipt of your note of
last night purporting to convey informa-
| ton of certain preamble and resolution
said to have been adopted the same day
at some meeting of the vestry of ST. Mark s
| parish. Is there not some mistake in re-
| gard to the essential facts stated in the
communication?
| 1T is true. therein said that We are
| members of the vestry of St Marks parish
| In fact, We We're elected and took the oath
| OF such office more than a year ago, and
| have not since been voted out. We have at
| all times since been ready and willing to
| perform and have performed our duties
under such election and qualifications and
| the fact that we have done so is conclu-
sive PROOF that we have not refused to
serve
Let it then be distinctly understood that
We do not refuse to serve as vestrymen
In accordance with the law Of the case
| and in all kindness and respect we pro-
| test that ii. does not lie in the power of
yourself and your associates, nor in that
| of any vestry in the diocese, to make our
| failure to meet you, any more than our
| failure to accept the rectors invitation 10
| take tea with him, a refusal to serve as
| vestrymen.
I've were present at the last -egular
| monthly meeting of the vestry, on the sth
| instant. and at that meeting the ADJOURN
ment was taken to the next regular month
| ly meeting. in June. And we have never
| been advised or notified since then that
any special or adjourned meeting of the
| vestry has been called by the rector, or
| Qecause Of his refusaD by any two ves.ry-
| men. If we had been duly notified of any
| such meeting we most certainly would not
have absented ourselves. and if for any
| cause any of had in such case been
| absent we would thereby merely have made
| ourselves respectively liable to the penalty
| affixed by section XIV of the vestry act
| where excuse for absence is not allowed by
| the rest of the vestry. We deprecate sny
| such conclusion that stated in YOUR
communication as one unwarranted by law
| and beg to subscribe ourselves"
| This reply of course, assumed that the
| vestry with which the three vestrymen
| have been acting was the legal vestry
| Their Places Declared Vacant.
This morning each Of the three vestry-
| men named received from Mr.. Fonda no.
tice that their places had been declared
vacant. The notice was in the following
| words:
Pursuant to the notice OF special meet
ing of the vestry of ST. Marks parish, to-.
| wit !,