The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-15
FAITH IN THE PASTOR.
First Presbyterian Church Will
Retain DR.. Alison.
THE OPPOSITION is oUTvoTED
He Denies Informal Charges and an
Open Vote supports Him, but
His salary Is Reduced.


| has for some time been shown by num-
| Der Of members OF the First PRESBYTERIAN
| church, came 10 a head at a general meet
| ing OF the church on Tuesday evening.
| with the result that resolution express
| ing continued confidence in him and ask
| ing him 70 return without delay was
| adopted, though with a large opposing
| vote.
| Each Of the two sides is reluctant to
| make any statement about this unfortu-
| nate division, each fully realizing that
anything like partisan discussion would
sharpen the antagonism which already ex-
| lists, and thereby initiate against the inter-
| ests OF the church as whole.
The question is really not a new one. for
| although it has never before been brought
| to so sharply defined an issue. yet IL has
| been talked of before within the circle of
the members themselves, as a sort OF fam
| lily quarrel
This summer DR.. Alison went East for
| his vacation, zod is still in Yonkers, y. y,
visiting his son. who has pastoral charge
| at that place. Shortly after his departure
| the same sort of talk began. and the more
| IL was discussed the larger the question
seemed. At length, while no formal &C
ton had been taken, and no formal
charges preferred, the elder of the church.
| F. H. Whitworth, who is friendly to the
| pastor. wrote letter to DR.. Alison inform
| ing him of the state OF affairs AS nearly
| as he could put them into definite and
| tangible shape, the charges were that the
| pastor was reserved in his manner that
| he had misrepresented facts. in stating to
his own people here that he had had a
| call from an Eastern church. aud by stat
| ing to his correspondents in the East that
| his membership here was nearly 1000.
| when in point of fact ii is about ZOO: but
| most particularly that he was dictatorial
! and domineering and wanted to have
things his own way. a lengthy reply was
| received from the absent pastor, vindicat-
| ing himself point by point against the ar
| ticles OF this informal Impeachment. The
| point as TO his GOODNESS of manner he de-
! MED the charge Of hyperbole as TO the nu-
| merical strength of his church he refuted
| by stating that he included in his state
| ment the reserve membership roll of the
| church; the charge of prevarication about
| his Eastern call he met by referring to DIR.
| Stewart, WOO stated that he had heard
! officers in a New York city church ask DR..
Alison whether he could not be induced to
| come back East.
As TO the final charge of being "heady
| and high-minded," DR. Alison expressed
! his amazement that members of mis- flock
should bring such railing accusation"
| against him, when one of the specifica-
tons in their original call extended 10
him three years ago was that they want
| ed leader He ventured 10 remind them
that even the auxiliary societies of the
| church. such as the Young Peoples So
ciety of Christian Endeavor, had urged
| him TO come by saying, Lead. and we
will follow" He reminded them that
| they had put their call before him on the
| ground that their peculiar and irnpera-
| tive need was for a young and vigorous
! man who would at once assume an ag-
| gressive leadership.
! The moderator presiding officer OF
! the meeting was Rev. Calvin Stewart, u.
| D.. of Sumner, president of Whitworth
| college. and the clerk was r. II. Thomson.
After some financial business had been
| transacted and the designations of a.
Robinson, W. VI. Calhoun, w. d. Field,
| c. +. Crane. Charles Pagan and Mont
gomery Russell deacons presented and
| referred 10 the session, extracts from DIR.
Alison's letter 10 +. II. Whitworth were
| read.
The following resolution was offered by
Samuel Ramsey:
| Resolved. That we hereby express our
| hearty love and esteem for our pastor,
| Rev. Alexander Alison. and cur apprecia-
ton of his labors amongst us, and that
| We hereby urge him 10 at once return and
carry forward the work that he has so
ably done for the last three years"
| over this resolution ragged a battle.
| which. though friendly SO far as personal
! feeling was concerned. was earnestly and
ably fought.
As a preliminary but important point.
! the question was raised as TO how the vote
|
and aye and no vote by roll call, insisting
that each member OF the church ought to
be willing thus to speak out his senti-
ment. strong minority insisted on a
written rather than a viva voce vote, ar
guing that some members might timidly
refrain from expressing aloud the oppo-
sition which they really felt. So the roll
| OF the church was ordered called
/ In discussing the resolution before the
| question was put DR.. g. T. Whitworth.
| +. II. Whitworth, W. II. White and S
Ramsey supported the measure. while l..
7. Turner, c. II. Hagan and DIR. James
Il. Eagleson opposed it. The main argll-
ment of the opposition. as presented by
Mr. Turner. was that the letter addressed
70 Or Alison did not represent the real
ground Of complaint against him. and
! that tho charges therein enumerated and
| specified were in a measure side issues
| Moreover. the opposition objected from
the first 10 going on with the proceedings
in the absence OF Mr. Alison, and TO the
| fact that only portions OF his letter had
been read as well TO the fact that Mr.
| Whitworth was in no way authorized 10
present such charges for DR.. Alison 10
! reply 20.
Those advocating the resolution en-
| phaSized the points made by him in his
letter and urged the good work lone hv
! him during his passionate of three years
IN looking after the business interests of
the church. in promoting the erection az
handsome building. and IN al 3ing a.
! members 20 the roll
| At length the question was ordered
put. and when the roll cali ended she tally
showed i6o in favor Of the resolution and
! IS against II.
| The moderator took occasion TO con
| graduate the meeting on the good temner
and spirit displayed on both sides. and
urged united and harmonious support
OF the pastor He said that opposition TO
a pastor was no new thing and related
an instance Of New York preacher VINO
| had se~ved one church for fftv wears
Vet was aware every Sunday that ne was
| preaching 20 members who objected 10
| him.
After some discussion Of the finances
| opportunity WAS given for voluntary sub
| scrlptions 70 the interest fund which was
responded - as follows. W II White
80, &. T.. CS2ne. So. n Gilmore. So. W
Z. Ballard. 800 after which the follow
/ ing resolution was offered by w II
| White and, with very little debate, was
| adopted.
Resolved. That II is the sense u this
! meeting that It is impossible for this
/ church 10 pay its pastor salary cf over
I se.l0o per year. and that Or. Ramsey Mr.
/ SNalley and Capt. Ballard ~ appointed
| A committee 70 convey this resolution 10
! pr. Alison. with the request that he ac-
| cept u until our financial condition Will
/ Justify a higher salary"
The above-named committee was In