The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-16
WILL ELLIS Be CaO5EN2
Trouble Brewing in the Centen
NAL Church of Oak
land.
The Pastor Dares Any One With
Aught 10 Say Against Him TO
Speak Out
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL.
Q08 RroadMav Dec L.

908 Broadway, Dec. 10.
The Centennial Presbyterian Church,
which has been in charge of Rev. John w.
Ellis, DID, is all wrought up over the
question of installing him as Its pastor
meeting was held Sunday evening
which was of such a nature as to cause
weeping in the congregation and request
by the pastor for any one who had aught
to say against him or his character to
meet him after service. The matter all
came out at the meeting OF the Oakland
presbytery this afternoon at Berkeley,
when the question of installing Rev. Mr..
Ellis as pastor of that church was reached.
Elder George S. Prosser reported the
financial condition of the church, and de-
clared that the expenses were running
behind while there was a debt of about
$500 being carried. He declared some of
the trustees favored closing the church
entirely. This WAS the cause for DR..
Ellis to declare that the church was in
debt when he went into IL about two
years ago, and that he had been paying
$6O month on 1t.
There was considerable reference to
troubles and opposition to the installation
from some OF the church people, when,
finally, DR.. Coyle said he believed it was
time for Elder Prosser to make spec fic
charges. DR.. Ellis turned on Elder Pros
ser and asked: DO you say that morally
1 am a bad mani" But Elder Prosser
was not ready to explain his position, so
remained quiet. DR.. Coyle insisted that
any objections to the installation must be
of definite character, and urged the
presbytery to install DR.. Ellis as pastor,
and if any one did not like him they
could leave.
DR.. Ellis. who had been pacing the floor.
could restrain himself no longer "If any
one knows anything against me. !" he said,
man, woman, angels or devils, am
here
Motions were piled one on top of another
until Elder G. A. Bordwel, in perfect sim
certify, inquired of the moderator: Where
are we att" Some wanted the charges to
be made specific right then and there,
while others wanted the whole thing re-
ferred to a committee for investigation.
In favor of the latter DIR. Coyle said I'VE
don't want to go any further herr or there
will be another big church scandal as
reproach on religion.
The question as to whether the installa-
ton should go on or whether there should
be an investigation If the charges was
finally referred TO com mittee consisting
OF the Revs. R. F. Coyle, III. B. Mcbride
and G. q. Bosdwell.
The committee reported unanimously
to request DIR. E lis to take the call under
advisement until the spring meeting of
the Presbytery, and the report was adopted
unanimously. This was considered as ex-
pressing Judgment to the effect that if
DR.. Ellis was read Alright he could decline
the call before that time.
DIR. Coyle in speaking OF this action said,
at means that during this time an at
tempt will be made to harmonlze all fac
lions. This trouble has nothing to do
with the trouble DR.. Ellis had in San
Francisco but is only the old troubles of
this church again being aired
Miss Eleanor Teitsworth, who has the
largest Sunday -scnool class in the church,
told the following story:
The trustees last Wednesday met and
by vote of 8 to decided 10 call DR.. Ellis
as rastor The objection was made to
paying a salary OF $1,000 DR.. Ellis then
offered to accept $1,000 year. Sunday be
said from the pulpit that there was
spirit of unrest, gossip, backbiting and
talk going on in the congregation about
him and If there were any present who
had anything to say about him or his
character he would like to meet them
after the service. He closed bv saying
that the teacher of one of the largest
classes in the Sunday-school was doing
the most talking.
''My mother took exception to this and
decided to have it out with him. She
went up and he met her with an open
hand which she refused. He has done
many things to iniure nv feelings. I bave
taken my class Saturday afternoons to
decorate the church only to find Sunday
that he had rearranged the whole thing
He complained because [ did not
have the class memorze certain
verses, but instead had them commit
the psalms to memory, saying
was ten years behind the times Frank
5. Hastings is our assistant superintendent
and he has tried to get rid OF him. Once
he went to Mr.. Hastings saying that he
was aware his father was Ill and if he
wanted to remain away they could get a
substitute to fill his position. He has
changed the choir from a chorus to quar-
tet. so as 10 get rid OF number OF young
people who sing"