The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-09
DR.GEORGEDEF
Kansas City Presbyterians Re-
ject Him as Pastor.
HIS FRIENDS ARE INDIGNANT.
They Say the Moderator's Ruling De-
prived Him OF Majority Hot can
vass of the Country.

Dr. ". r. George, formerly the pastor
OF the First Methodist Episcopal cnarc1
In this city, who, having Switched his al
legiance 10 the Presbyterian faith. sought
TO permanently secure the pulpit in the
Second Presbyterian church Of Kansas
City, which he had occupied temporarily,
has after year OF facilonal fighting that
nearly disrupted that church, been de-
feated in his aspirations D. decisive vote
OF 200 TO IS6 This happened FRIDAY,
May 81
Never in the history OF that church has
the congregation had such an exciting
time in the selection OF pastor. and the
leaders OF the George and an;i-George
factions have been hard at work lining
up their forces with d vim equal to
hotly contested ward primary where ey-
cry vote was needed. The Kansas city
Times. in this connection. says: They
had canvassed and worked and planned
to bring about what they term Vlnoi-
cation OF the minister from unwaTranted
and malicious persecution. On the other
hand. however, the apparently aggressive
anti-George faction. which has kicked up
a tempest which has echoed from Puget
sound, where formerly DIR. George was,
TO 4. Dewitt Talmage's Brooklyn taoer-
nacle. where he Tow is, decided TO carry
on the war till the last gun was fired"
The result of the election was sur
OF the congregation who have had moth
ing 10 say in the fight are thought 10
have brought about the results by a ST.
lent vote. They voted against DR.. George
on the ground that they did not want
Methodist preacher officiating as pastor
OF Presbyterian church, and many are
said to have declared after the contest
that their votes were not Influenced by
the many charges brought against
George IA "a
buted his defeat TO a so-called arbitrary
ruling of the moderator of the presby-
terry. Rev. Charles II. Bruce. who decided
that all communicants were entitled TO
vote, but that no person OF any class
had a vote as a chair holder who did not
hold IL prior 10 the beginning OF the pres
ent quarter, April l. This caused another
ruction, the George men alleging that il
would cut Off thirty-tive George votes.
composed of some of the oldest members
and supporters of the church. If this
was true. these thirty-flVe votes would
have elected George. The matter was fin
ally put to a vote and the moderator SuS-
tanned, This was the beginning of the
end for Georges chances. as the vote
showed that the anti-George men con-
trolled the meeting. and the vote on the
question OF calling DR.. George was soon
showed under by vote as already stated
Of 20l TO 1S6.
The George faction said that the most
notable instance OF the injustice of the
moderator's ruling and the sessions ar
bitrary action was in the case of Mr.
James III. CFavens. Mr.. Cravens was the
first infant baptized in the Second Pres
byterian church twenty-nine years ago
Since then his family has always main
tanned a pew, and during the years Mr.
Crayens attended college his father kept
a seat for him in the church. Since his
fathers death he has been the head of
the family. Recently he had the family
pew put in his name. but under the ruiz
ing OF the session he could not vote be-
cause the change IN the name was made
since April. Numerous other instances
were cited by the George people to show
why they were defeated in their ambi-
ton to have Or. George preside as pastor
OF the church.
Mr. Stuart Gardener who was one Of
the strongest advocates of the PROPOSE
tion to cali Or. George 10 the pastorate.
and who objected strongly 70 the ruling
OF the moderator. stated that because of
the methods used in bringing about the
result the George people were not bound
10 abide by the result. and probably they
would not do so. He said that II the re-
suit had been accomplished without dis
franchising anyone. the George people
would not have said q word but the act
which resulted In changing a majority
into minority would probably he re-
scented. He spoke Of the ruling as arbi-
trary in a high degree
Or. George, who IS in the East. aided
his friends in Kansas city all he could
and wrote bitterly Of the circulars ALLEGED
TO have been sent by Presbyterian minis
tiers from Kansas City warning other e.
clesiastical bodies 10 have nothing to do
with him. He claimed 10 have been
thwarted both in New Jersey and New
York by circulars sent 10 the Presbyte
Ran authorities by his enemies. He also
flooded them with letters Of recommen-
dalton from various parts OF the country
including Seattle, but they failed 10 serve
him, and so far as the Second PresbytA-
rian church OF Kansas City is concerned
Or. George is shelved for the present and
the notoriety given him by the bitter con
troVersy passes into unpleasant church
history.