The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-20
uAD MOTT AS MANY VOTES AS HE
MIGHT HAVE WISHED
FOR.
CENTRAL PARK M. E. PASTOR
is OPPOSED BY A LARGE AND IN
FLUENTIAI. PORTION OF HIS
CHURCH
CHANGES
POSSIBLE
OTHER
That BishOp Warren May Make In
Local PuIpIts at Next Months
Conference.

Although the congregations of the
Methodist chuches have no voice in
the choice of their pastors, there ap-
pears to be q very secular-like row in
progress among the members of the
Central Park Methodist church over
the selection of a successor to Rev.
William Mckinley, who has success
fully filled the pulpit for the past two
years, and the fact that Rev. VIM.
Mckinley is more than likely to sue
coed himself and is quite DESTROYS OF
so doing does not seem to have acted
as oil upon the troubled waters, but
has led to considerable feeling among
the members of the congregation.
The trouble started over year ago
and from a cause wholly outside the
church For a number of years the
trustees of Hanline university have
been contemplating making the insti-
tuition a university de facto, by adding
the necessary courses to the classical
curriculum now in force at the fnSti-
tuition, namely departments of medi-
cine, art, law and theology. Last fall
the College of Physicians and Sur
geons. of Minneapolis, was incorporat-
ed as a part of the university as a
first step toward the plans of the
trustees, who also decided to erect a
theological seminary, and then and
there elected Rev Mckinley dean of
the new department. 1t was expected
that this department, would have been
in active operation by this fall, and
when the members of the Central Park
congregation learned that Mr. McKfn-
ley would give up HIS pulpit at that
time to accept the new position to
which he had been elected, the ques-
ton of his successor at once arose and
has been discussed almost continuous
ly ever since Owing, however, to the
financial depression Of the past year,
1t was decided to put off building the
theological seminary for the time be-
ing, and then it was that the admirers
of Mr.. Mckinley urged him to remain
in his present charge until such time
as he should be called upon to act as
dean of the new institution.
Mr. Mckinley was perfectly willing to
continue as pastor Of the Central Park
church, but the discussion regarding
new pastor had assumed such pro-
portions, that. one faction of the con-
gregation refused to listen to such an
arrangement as was proposed and in
sisted that the time had come for an
other man to take charge of the church.
According to the rules Of the Methodist
church, the different churches, as rep
resented by the quarterly conferences,
have no voice in the selection of their
pastors, except to recommend their ap-
pointment by the bishop of the state
conference whose power in such ap-
pointments is absolute. He may act in
accordance with the recommendations
set before him, or he may disregard
them entirely. Last Monday the quar-
terly conference of the Central Park
church, consisting Of II members of
the congregation, held a meeting at
which the subject Of the retention Of
Mr.. Mckinley was the chief topic of
discussion. A report of the meeting
appeared in an evening paper, and ac-
ccrding to the statement of a gentle
man who was in attendance upon the
deliberations of the conference, was
garbled story of mistatementS.
THAT meeting" said the gentleman
TO whom reference Is above made, was
an executive session, and do not feel
at liberty to make public its affairs.
but the statements of an evening paper
concerning them is erroneous and in
correct. In the first place, it announces
tnat the conference decided to extend
call to Rev. DR.. Forbes. of Duluth
by vote Of 26 to 8, a statement mani
testly untrue, as there are not MANY
more than half that number in the
BODY, and besides Methodist conere-
cation does not call it's pastor. It NAV
recommend, but the pastors who are
assigned to the different churches are
selected by the bishop of the state con-
ferences at their own option. AS q
natter of fact the entire proceedings
II the Central Park quarterly confer
alce carry no weight whatever. and
Is more than likely that DIR. McKin-