The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-18
FIGHT ON DIR. ALISON.
His Opponents Move to Dissolve
Pastoral Relations,
BUT ARE RULED OUT OF ORDER
Appeal 10 Preshytery Numerousiy
signed-The Pastors Facts Ques-
TONED, but His Ticket Wins.

First Presbyterian church last night the
two factions into which the church has
been for some time divided with references
70 the pastor, DR.. Alexander Alison. had
an exciting. though not emhittsred contest.
as a result OF which the supporters of pr.
Alison gained another triumph. though his
opponents prepared and gave notice OF a
memorial 10 the Puget Sound PreSbytery
which VIII bring the whole subject up
afresh
AS already intimated in the Post-Intelli-
gence-, the contest came I'D on the Ques-
ton as 10 what business was in order
The supporters "a DR.. Alison contended
that the meeting had been called for The
specific business Of electing elders and dea-
cons, and that therefore no other business
was in order. His opponents coatended that
the meeting Was the regular annual meet
ing, at which any ecclesiastical business
was in order. The situation was somewhat
complicated by the fact that up to two
years ago the Congregation had held but
one annual meeting each year. al which
all business, both corporate and ecclesiasti-
cal, had been transacted. Since that time
separate meetings have been held for the
mo lines OF business. The meeting or the
church in its corporate or legal character
was held a week ago last Monday evening,
and II was generally understood that the
meeting last night was 10 attend 10 the
ecclesiastical affairs Of the church. Mean
while the church session issued a cali dated
October STIMULATING that the meeting last
night was for the purpose of e.ecting el-
ders and deacons. There is a standing rule
TO the effect that at a called meeting only
such business may be transacted as is spe-
Gifted in the call.
The Burning Issue Raised.
With this situation. then. The meeting
opened. DIR. Alison conducted the devotional
service. in which he read the passage from
Plasm 1873, "Beh1d, how good and how
pleasant il is for brethren 10 dwell t0geth-
or in unity" but 1t appeared from the sub
sequent developments OF the meeting that
the brethren were not inclined 10 place 700
literal a construction on the pSalmists adj
monition. DIR. Calvin W. Stewart, presi-
dent of Whitworth college, acted as mod
orator. and in the absence OF Clerk r. II.
Whltworth, l.. w. Turner was chosen clerk
pro ten. There was no loss Of time in
springing the question what business was
in order. which was to divide the meeting.
\ ruling from the moderator was at once
called for. He read the call. and ruled that
only the business of electing elders and
deaconS Was in order.
The opposition made two strong points
In debating the ruling of the chair First
II contended that this was the regular an
nual meeting, az which any ecclesiastical
business is in order. Second. il maintained
that the call read by tho moderator was
irregular in that il had not been issued at
regular church session.
The Pastor Is Contradicted.
During the presentation of this latter
point some of the liveliest retoTts of the
meeting occurred. DR.. Alison himself took
the floor and stated that il had been GUS
tomary for some time TO hold a regular
church session just prior to the public ser
vices on Sunday. +. S. Osborne replied
that the meeting referred 10 by DR.. Alison
was prayer meeting. and while attended
by most of the church officers, was not
regular church session.
DR.. Alison replied: II wish TO state that
there has been hardly a single one of those
meetings at which we have not transacted
some business"
II wish to state that that statement is
not correct" said David Myers. rising
from his seat in the congregation. To say
that his comment on the pastors utter
ance created hubbub is 10 PUT II mildly.
Some Kissed him, while subdued murmur
of comment ran around the entire room,
Open Move Against Alison.
Then came the climax of the meeting.
DR.. ]. 3. Eagleson read and offered for
adoption the following resolution:
Resolved. That il is the sense OF this
meeting that il is for the best interests of
this church that tho relations now existing
between our pastor and ourselves he dis
solved"
The moderator ruled the resolution out
of order. whereupon r.. S. Osborne gave
notice that "A memorial embodying the
substance OF the resolution had been pre-
pared, addressed TO the Puget sound pres
bytery. asking for meeting of that body
TO consider tho question. He stated that
copies of this memorial would be placed at
the doors where members could sign
them He made good his word, and from
that time forward members could be seen
quietly visiting the three tables on which
lay copies of the memorial and aftixing
signatures which were TO constitute an APP
peal to the presbytery.
The Alison Ticket Elected
Meanwhile The election came on, ara
here once more the friends Of Or. Alison
showed that they had been forehanded.
new feature in church elections was devei-
oped in the shape of printed ballots Two
small green ballots had been printed bear
ing the names OF the Alison candidates Tor
elder and deacon. and these had been dis-
tributed 10 those whn@wlshed 10 use tnefn.
Various other candidates were placed n
nomination. many Of whom declined but
the green tickets went through without
single break They were as follows;
For eIderS-J < Bushnell, r. II. Houtz,