Evening star., 1895-04-30
Rector Meeting With the Two Sets
Of Vestrymen.
A LARGE MEETING SET FOR TONIGHT
A Constitutional Question RAISED
as to Voters.
HOW 1T MAY TURN OUT


the big doors of St. Marks Church, which
will be swung wide open tonight for a
parish meeting that is expected to give the
fullest consideration to the questions at
issue between the two vestries. 1t is feared
by some members of the church, however,
that the church has now got so far beyond
the point where compromise is possible
that the trouble to come will vary inverse
ly with the little bits of Mr.. Torbert's no.
tice left on the doors.
Last night the Torbert or de jure, ves-
try met the rector, Mr.. A. J. Graham, at
his house and the conference which follow
ed lasted until midnight. What was done
none of those present will relate for pub
licat!on. When a Star reporter called ,his
afternoon at Mr.. Graham's house word
| came down from his study that he could
not see reporters today and had nothing to
say in regard to church matters. but that
there would be a meeting of the parish to-
| night where the questions of difference
| would be taken up. and reporters were well
| come to be present and report the pro-
| ceedings.
What Was Done.
From what may be CLEANED from per-
sons who have conversed with the de
jure vestrymen who met the rector last
night 1t is believed that plain language
was the order of the evening. While at
first there was a disposition on part of
both sides to hold the rector up out of the
diSSension, his action in the telegram to
have the Torbert notice torn down and the
tone of his comment on the situation since
| has driven the de jure party into feeling
| that he is hostile to them. 1t Is stated,
however, that the conference last night re-
suited in clearing the atmosphere a good
DEAL and removing from the rectors mind
some unfavorable impressions.
Criticism Is made on some of the rector's
statements. Members Of his parish who
have a respect and affection for gentle
men who are in both vestries object to
Mr.. Graham's remark that he had no need
| for two vestries, and that one was all he
wanted. No small part of the criticism
| heard is addressed to what Oliver Wendell
Holmes called the little pronoun habit"
They respectfully submit that Mr.. Gra-
hams language In regard to the situation
draws, as printer would say, too severe
| ly on the capital I box. This is not en-
tirely intended as structure upon his use
Of the first person singular, but members
of the church insist that the church, its
members, and its vestry were not created
for the rector and that he is rot the CEN
| ter around which the church revolves.
Meeting Tonight.
The meeting tonight will be large one.
Both factions will be out in force ready,
| through their leaders. to present their re-
| spective cases, though Mr.. Graham has an
nounced that there will be no debate. The
notice, as given by the rector Sunday, in
cluded only such members of the parish as
were willing to abide by his decision. The
conference last evening with the de jure
| tion, and today the following notice was
published:
''St. Marks Conferences:
Il hereby request and invite every mem
hnr I,v,t - ,rl-s
who is willing to be guided by the rectors
advice in the settlement of the troubles of
the parish to assemble in the parish church
on Tuesday, April 80. at 1:30 pm, at which
time l shall make a statement for their
consideration. A. J. GRAHAM, rector"
Having heard the Torbert party last even
ing, Mr.. Graham will this afternoon meet
the de facto vestry and listen to their pre-
sentation of the matter. The fact that
Messrs. NARROW. Wood and Hillyer, hold
over" members OF the veStry, sympath
with the de jure or Torbert party, gives a
reasonable probabi of success to the eff
fort to bring about a compromise of the
trouble.
Yet many believe that both sides will re-
main firm in the position they have taken,
and that the rector is not likely to superin-
duce any very great showers of balmy
peace. In the event that a compromise
should be made there is doubt of its per-
manent effect on the question of suffrage
in the church, and to many it seems wiser
to submit the question either to the bishop
or the coming convention, SO that 1t may be
settled authoritatively once for all.
A Constitutional Point.
Somewhere in the controversy another
point of law has been brought up to the
effect that the existing law as to the quail
f1cations of the parish voter is unconstitu-
tioral, and therefore void. The first
amendment of the Constitution of the
United States provides that Congress shall
make no law respecting establishment
Of religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" The old Maryland law defining
what a person must be and do in order to
have a vote In the parish, no matter how
much 1t was re-enacted by the District
legislature in 1873, and affirmed by Con-
gress in the year following, would there
fore seem to be virtually rendered inoper-
ative. This point, it is said, was brought
up several years ago in a controversy in
the Church Of the Incarnation, where the
eligibility of parish voters was in question.
The effect of this point would be to
weaken the position of the Torbert party,
unless the provisions Of the old law We're
accepted as having the force Of precedent
apart from any legal sanction.
Twcnty-Six Cases.
Assistant District Attorney Mullowny has