The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-04-25
STOOD BY THE PASTOR.
Presbyterians Vote for Rev. Ferguson
29O to t03-He will Resign-SO
Will the Elders.

The congregational meeting held at
the Presbyterian church last night to
consider difficulties between the pastor,
Rev. II. Clay Ferguson, and the session,
was unusually well attended The meet
ing did not open until 8 o'clock owing
to private meeting of the committee of
Presbytery with the session beforehand,
but the congregation were in their seats
long before that time. Rev Mr.. Fergu-
son and his wife were present and occu-
pied seats up near the front The expec-
tation of a stormy session was not real
ized Everything passed off smoothly
and quietly.
According to the ruling of the commit
tee from the Presbytery, no discussion
was allowed upon the part Of the mem
bers of the congregation on either side.
This ruling no doubt suppressed many
utterances, which might have created i'll
feeling and possibly have precipitated u
cyclone of windy words.
The services were opened by Rev.
Boyle of Salem. The congregation sang
Coronation" and prayer was offered by
Rev. Anderson, Of lisbon.
REV. BOYLE EXPLAINS
Rev. Boyle then rose and stated the OBJ
ject Of the meeting. He said: "The
committee is here to represent Presbytery
and not to do their own will. We have
been sent to investigate the trouble and
If possible get at the cause of it and root
it out We have met with the session,
and have endeavorcd to give both sides
due attention. The matter has been dis
cussed sufficiently by all interested, and
the committee does not propose that any
discussion take place tonight. 1t Is sim
ply necessary for the congregation to eX
press their sentiments by casting ballot
You should remember that this is "A very
solemn act Ask God to let you lay aside
any selfish feeling and to act to the best
interests of the church. BE not turned
aside by any rumor you have heard, and
vote your honest convictions. If the
work of the committee Is not satisfactory
report it to Presbytery but don't talk
about it here. The question to be voted
on is "Are you astisflcd with the present
relationship between pastor and people.
If so vote yes /; if not vote no.
Rev Mr.. Boyle then requested that only
members of the church vote.
The ballots were then distributed to the
people by the committee.
The action of Presbytery was read, rec
ommending that the committee be APP
pointed TO visit Canton, obtain a vote and
find some solution of the difficulty.
The members were requested to use all
the time desired I'm preparing the ballots,
and If the question was not fully under.
stood have it explained to them by the
committee. 1--WE think, " said Mr. Boyle,
that both sides have been conscientious
in this matter and if any mistakes have
been made in the conducting of affairs,
we are to blame for it"
The congregation then proceeded to pre-
pare their ballots
THE ELDERS WERE JUDGES.
The session was invited to the front to
act as judges. They availed themselves
of the opportunity, and occupied seats
overlooking the ballot box. They were
granted the privilege of challenging any
one not entitled to vote. No one was
however.
The congregation was then requested
to come to the ballot box one by one and
deposite their votes. This occupied about
fifteen minutes time After the ballots
had all been deposited, it was announced
that count would be Immediately made.
A few people left the building but the
There was considerable suppressed ex
citement in the room during the counting
by the committee and when they signified
that the result was ready every ear was
strained to catch the words of the speaker.
THE RESULT OF THE VOTE.
Rev. Mr. Boyle stepped from the table
where the ballots had been counted, and
that 1893 ballots had been cast.
OF these 290 were for Mr. Ferguson and
103 were against him.
At this announcement the audience
broke into loud and continued applause.
As soon as it had subsidized Rev. Mr..
Ferguson stepped to the platform. He
said that he had preached in that congre-
CATION for five years, and had done his
best 81 have done my duty" said he,
' but have made mistakes. feel greatly
pleased at this action of the congregation,
and think that it is great expression of
their appreciation. have stayed in the
fight for principle. do not think few
men should run "a church, At the fall
netting Of the presbytery, however, in
tend to ask for the dissolving of the rela-
tions between me and the people"
Rev. Ferguson was applauded durig his
speech and received liberal applause on
being seated.
The congregation was then dismissed
Many remained, however, to congratulate
the pastor on his victory General salts
faction was expressed at the result on the
part of his friends.
THE SESSION TO GO.
After the congregational melting ended
last night, the session and the committee
held confab. In the afternoon the com
mittee had been presented with petition
signed by $50 members Of the congrega-
tion, asking the resignation of the elder
ship. The reasons given were that the
session had, without the consent of the
congregation, gone before Mahoning Pres
bytery and asked for the removal of the
pastor that they had refused to allow the
congregation TO participate in the COM
muniOn on Easter Sunday, and that they
had created general discord in the church.
Their removal was suggested as the only
means of creating peace.
At this aftermeeting the elders were
commanded to resign in a body by the
committee, This they promised to do.
The date of their resignation has not as
yet been decided, but it will be announced
from the pulpit soon. Several of the
elders were seen this morning and stated
that they were perfectly willing to step
down and out at any time.
A prominent member who is in touch
with the session stated last evening,
however, that an adjourned meeting of
the session would likely be held soon,
when some new developments might be
expected.
The vote taken last evening had no
legal force and was simply an expression
of the people. The Presbytery alone has
the power to dissolve the pastoral relation