The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-14
OBJECT TO THE ELDER
MethOdists Did Not Want DR..
Ford ReappOinted.
THEIR PROTESTS WERE VAIN.
They SAY His Spies Prejudiced the
Bishop by Measurements - Too
Many Arkansas Preachers.

Many Arkansas Preachers.
The reappo.ntment by Bishop Bowman
OF Rev. T. 3. Ford as presiding elder OF
the Seattle district OF the Methodist Epis-
copal church at the close OF the late con-
ference in this city was made in spite OF
many vigorous protests on the part Of both
pastors and laymen from all parts of the
district. While in the city the bishop was
repeatedly visited by committees repre-
senting the members of various churches,
but while il Is not known that any OF the
committees wers treated discouTteously by
him. he disregarded their wishes entirely.
AS "A last resort committee OF ladies'
waited upon the bishop but II Is said by
Ford's opponents that the spies for the
presiding elder. who have been watching
their every move, anticipated them and
gave the bishop 10 understand that the
daucing element of the churches was about
TO call upon him TO ask that Ford be re-
jected. This information was justly calcu-
lated TO arouse the ire OF the good bishop
and IL any discourtesy was shown by him
II was surely al this juncture.
Protest Sent to the Bishop.
At any rate Ford was reappointed. and
the tactics credited to him 10 secure the
place are only those OF which the men,
bers OF the church have long declared him
capable In the first place, before Bishop
Bowmsn left the East a letter was for
warded TO him asking that he be trans
ferred 10 some other district. IL was
signed by a large number of laymen and a
good showing Of pastors. They simply
presented their grounds for objection,
which are that his methods OF superintend-
ing the district were not satisfactory, that
his management was poor and that the
opposition had assumed such proportions
that at least two whole churches had re-
fused TO contribute to his support or TO
recognize him as a superior. The mem
bers themselves are in dozens of instances
opposed 10 him, and several OF them have
placed themselves on record as saying that
they Will not contribute a cent for him.
Then comes the charge that he is weed
Ing out the regular pastors and bringing
in his friends. namely. a number of Ar
kansas preachers, at least four or Eve be-
ing now in important pastorates in the
Seattle district. This charge means more
than might be understood upon the sur
face, for the Arkansas preachers are not
thought 10 be up TO the scale OF intelli-
Eence which should be required. When
ever a pastor gains the displeasure of the
presiding elder. while ii is not in his power
10 remove him, the presiding elder can
make IL so unpleasant that the pastor will
be glad to leave Then. with his own
friends at his back. the presiding elder
can rule the district TO his own liking
Such in the written petition. il was
charged has been the disposition OF DR.
| Ford but when Bishop Bowman reached
this city he claimed 10 have not received
the letter and to be totally ignorant of any
opposition.
The Opposition Is General.
Dr. Ford's opponents are not confined to
any one church in this city, nor is anv
one church even taking the lead in the
matter. The opposition dates back to the
/ time when DR. Ford first appeared in Sc
attic and It has been growing ever since,
and the laymen wish 1t distinctly under
stood that the affair Of DR. Johnson and
! Rev. Mr.. Nichols had nothing whatever to
/ do with it. They even waited patiently
/ for one year after that incident 10 let il
! quiet down, so that Il could not be said
f that that affair had anything 10 do with
+ the case. on the contrary DR. Ford's
+ friends who. 1t is asserted. have the blsh-
op 5 ear. and who, IL Is said. may be found
only among the Arkansas pastors have
given the bishop to understand that this
was all there was to the opposition. DR..
Ford himself Is said 10 have been active
/ IN creating such an impression and 70
+ have employed spies to further his objects
: and 10 watch the movements Of his enc
mics.
/ The leaders Of the petitioners say that
they have nothing personal whatever
against the doctor. Whenever he il an
nounced 10 preach however. II Is a we'll
known fact that tire audiences are very
slim This IS accounted for by the general
opinion that Dr. Ford is not an interesting
public speaker
viii Await the Next Conference.
Ills first appointment as a presiding ell
der was made by Bishop Bowman wears
ag'. and they have been very friendly
/ ever since The laymep here 40 not object
70 this. but think that the bishop should
nave been considerable enough 10 have
made the transfer which they have asked
i is the policy % Nethodfsts. however
= ABIDE by the decision Of all conferences
ana as tAe appointments are only for one
j year they make the best OF II until tho
me Tor the next session rolls around
rms, = IS understood. VIII he the course
70 be- pursued In the present instance.
II mas become 4 common rumor for
months past that the removal Of DR.
George late pastor of the First NJ =
cahre7 vas due O. Or. Ford Il was
learned Yesterday thar this was not tho
case. on the contrary they were very
friendly - the ,last ard Dr. George was
removed hv the act-on Of the lsymcn. In
me case ~ ~. Levi Gilbert the el,ora7+
predecessor Of pr. GEORGE. the case ,ras
oiEfrent some " the leaders in the pres
en- movement We're not in D1sitto7 ~
AahN ;iA INSIDE facts H. THAT time. out
s'nerai'y reported That the presiding
t.ief male - 50 Ur0i@ssguf FOR ~ 4 learn
et doctor. that hc took the frs- or-,,-
tur.tv - leave
A. meeting 70 the ofi.-al board ~ the
l.F~t NJ r, church last evening the ,,f,t.Ff-
lt'n q, N" a"3-r waS condemned and Do
l,N't3 &s li IS iaf U'mman express ION
fha' t1a Methodist c1u~-n settles its ,vr.
+ troubles without the advice ~ tho ,,Ib
If. ~ the same time none have n 5e..~,
taaf the pHrl.' Pc w.s.nfcrmai as 20 the