The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-12
PASTOR Was NOT CHOSEN
Penn Avenue Baptists Couldn't Agree
on a Candidate.
NEARLY THREE HOURS DEBATE
Rev. Charles T. Morgan. OF Philadelphia,
Was the Popular Choice Decided to
Set Aside tho Present Candi.
dates and Begin Anew.

The Penn Avenue Baptist church con-
gregation met last night in the lecture
room of the church and made an unsuc-
cessful effort to elect q pastor. From
$50 to II o'clock there was a great am
cunt of debate. balloting. argument and
parliamentary resort, but the final ac-
ton was to wipe from the slate all the
candidates for the pastorate, and in
structions were given the pulpit COM
mittee to continue Its work and bring
new material before the church.
Rev. Charles II. Morgan, of Philadel-
phia, pastor of the Spring Garden street
church, was the popular choice Of the
meeting. On the first ballot he re-
ceived 1O5 Of the 14S votes cast, but was
six votes short of the Ill necessary to a
choice Four of the candidates were set
aside or the second ballot. and on the
third ballot only two were voted for. but
the result was proportionately the same,
Mr.. Morgan falling three votes short or
the number necessary to declare him
the choice over Rev. s. T. Ford, of Syra-
cuse.
The business meeting was preceded
by prayer meeting conducted by
Arthur L. Collins.
Luther Keller as moderator presided
over the business session, which, when
called to order, revealed about $50 per-
sons qualified to vote and possibly a
hundred others who were members
or whose age disqualified them from
voting.
Milton w. Lowry and Arthur l.. Col
Inns were appointed delegates to the in
vestigation to be held today In Jermyn
regarding the charges preferred against
Rev. d. ]. Williams of that place.
Report of the Treasurer.
According to a resolution recently
passed by the board of trustees, ]. w.
Browning. the church treasurer, read a
statement of the finances of the church
for the eleven months ending Dec. /.
1t showed receipts of $5,S59.19, disburse-
ments of $5,SJ6 55 and a balance of 81. Ga
against an Indebtedness Of $1.640.3O. AL
lowing for receipts and expenditures
during the current month. the treasurer
estimated deficit of $1,000 on Jan. /.
AS soon as Moderator Keller an
nounced the election of q pastor in Or
der the name of Rev. Charles r. Morgan
was put In nomination by J. L. Stelle.
Before 1t found a seconder Mr.. Lowry
moved that the pulpit committee be in
structed to call more candidates. and
Lemuel Amerman added an amendment
providing that the election be postponed
until more candidates could be heard
The motion Tad amendment comprised
the first gun of the minority against
Mr.. Morgan. The motion was tabled
| on Nr. Browning's motion by a vote of
1O6 to Al, which nearly revealed Mr..
Morgan's support and opposition.
A motion by B. F. Fillmore to vote by
ballot was carried. and in answer to an
inquiry the moderator announced that
any church member over twenty years
of age could vote ant: that three-quar-
ters of all the vota, cast would be nee
essary to choice.
Then were read the names of the fol-
lowing candidates: Rev. Charles II.
Morgan, of Philadelphia; Rev. s. 7
Ford, of Syracuse; Rev. ]. w. Good
hugh. of Bryn Mawr; Rev. III. L. NJ. T.
Haynes, of Troy, N. T.. and Rev. ]. G.
Walker of Philadelphia. In addition to
these, Rev. Warren G. Partridge re-
ceived one complimentary vote on the
first ballot and Rev. Mr.. Smith. who had
not been officially announced as oan-
didate, two votes. Mr. Browning, Mr..
Collins, Mr.. Lowry, d. ]. Thomas and
Mr. Stelle were appointed tellers. The
first ballot was as follows: