The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-09
PARSONAGE QUESTION
HAS BEEN SETTLED
First Presbyterian Manse to Be Sepa'
rated from the Church Lot.
CONGREGATION DIVIDED ABOUT IT
Matter Was Decided ut n Meeting Of
the Congregation Last Night..Isaac
Post aud George II. Catlin Resign
from the Board Of Trustees..Suc.
cessOrs Not Chosen Yet.

The Presbyterian church will not
build its parsonage on the lot recently
purchased at the corner of Olive street
and Madison avenue from the Scranton
Gas and Water company. This was de-
cided at special meeting of the con-
gregation last night. 1t was further
decided that the trustees purchase
house and lot separate from the new
church lot
The designations of Isaac Post and
George II. Catlin from the board of
trustees were made known at last
nights gathering.
EX-Judge H. A. Knapp and l.. 7.
Mates were, respectively. chosen chair
man and secretary of the meeting, and
prayer was offered by tn pastor, Rev.
James Mcleod. d. d. Soon after the
meeting began it was apparent that the
parsonage site, which has really been
no unsettled question since the congre-
cation decided to build its $3.50, 900 edi-
flee, was received In three different
ways. One element approved building
the parsonage alongside the church and
on the lot: another element disapproved
that idea, but was opposed to building
anywhere until the necessary. funds
were In hand, while the third and finally
successful division advanced the action
which was finally taken.
A letter from A. W. Dickson, who was
out of town, was reau by W. r. Storrs.
The writer expressed himself as opposed
to locating the parsonage on the church
lot, but willing to abide by the action Of
the meeting. Mr.. Storr's seconded Mr..
Dickson's opinion and expressed the be-
lief that the church structure ought to
| cost $50,OOO more than the amount de-
cided upon, and, as the congregation
might eventually think as he did, he dis
approved any step toward parsonage
building until the money was provided.
He did not think the lot sufficiently
large for the two structures.
READ FROM THE MINUTES.
Judge Hand read from the minutes
the past actions Of the congregation on
! the matter. The minutes showed that
the last action was during September
of last year. when 1t was decided to
build the parsonage on the church lot.
but to defer operations until the money
was raised or until the building COM
mittee was instructed to let the con-
tract, the plans and specifications hav-
ing been already approved by the COM
mittee.
Judge Hand moved that the building
committee proceed to let the contract
for building the parsonage at a cost of
$4,000 and that the $500 now in the
building fund Qess 81 900 due for a paw
ing assessmenD, be used for the purpose
and that a mortgage of $1,000 be given
for the remainder.
The discussion which followed lasted
about half an hour, Mr.. Storrs finally
Offering to Judge Hands motion an
amendment that the action taken In
September be adhered to. The amend
ment was lost and so was the original
motion, the latter by vote Of Is to &c.
Mr.. Storrs then made a motion that
the trustees instead Of the building COM
mittee buy a house and lot in suit
able location, the cost not to exceed
$4,000 nor the purchase to be made until
the money is secured by contribution
$500 being now in the building fund
The motion prevailed by a vote Of e
to 12.
RESERVATIONS WE'RE READ.
At the conclusion Of the meeting the
designations Of Mr.. Post and Mr.. Catlin
Of the board Of trustees, were announced
by F. Z. Platt, the secretary Of the
board who suggested that the resigna.
tlons be acted upon. James ]. H. Ham.
ilton raised the point of order that a
special meeting could not consider the
designations or elect the retiring trus.
tees successors.
Judge Hand was of the opinion thai
the rules of the church. which were
destroyed by fire, provided that the
trustees could act upon designations anG
fill vacancies on their board. This view
was not questioned. The meeting ther
adjourned.