The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-28
DIR. ALDERSON'S CHURCH.
What Members Say About the DIS
agreement Now Drawing TO an End.


The following communication, signed
"Church Member" reached the JOURNAL
office this morning relative to Dr. Alder
sons resignation as pastor of the First
Presbyterian church.
The statement published as to the
cause of the resignation of Dr. Anderson
does not do justice to DR.. Anderson. The
majority of the members are the doctors
friends and the trouble has been caused
by a small minority in the church who
should have been Influenced by a spirit
of humanity if not Christianity, not caus-
ing their pastor any additional sorrow
when his son is SO dangerously ILL"
The resignation will be acted on at the
annual meeting of the congregation at
the church Monday evening, The church
has nearly 800 members.
At the meeting a year ago a vigorous
fight was made on DR.. Anderson by some
of the prominent members of his
congregation. A resolution was in
troduced by MIR. John Macdonald
asking that DR.. Anderson be not retained
as pastor The resolutions only
charge was that DIR. Anderson was
not a competent man to fill so important
a pulpit The resolution was defeated,
and one of the members told a JOURNAL
reporter this morning that Mr.. MacDon-
aid had not attended the church for some
months.
"The resolution had but 100 supporters
out of the entire congregation" said
Treasurer DR.. Magee. Though circular
was sent to each member of the church.
l think that the opposition has almost
entirely been removed. The financial
condition of the church should prove
that. Last year by hard work
we were unable to raise the So,
500 salary and were compelled to
borrow balance of $500. This year,
aoliOifatin0 and with
out any announcement from the pulpit.
all the expenses of the church will be
paid out of its present assets and there
will be balance of over $50. 1t was,
at least. folly to charge DR.. Anderson
with the poor financial condition of the
church last year in the face of the hard
times generally"
Members of tho church who expressed
themselves as for or against Dr. Anderson
this morning to a reporter objected to
being personally quoted.
ut is family affair."" they said, land
while the papers have right to 1t as
matter of news, we don't care to create
any more feeling on either side by the
use of names"
One of the most prominent and sue
cessful business men in the city, trus-
tee of DR.. AIderson's church, agreed with
DR.. Magee, but said:
eff l had been in DR.. Alderson's place
last year would have resigned. l am
friend of DR.. Anderson"
A business man who was of the board
of trustees las. year and was one of the
leaders in opposition to the retention of
DR.. Anderson said:
There ia no doubt the opposition to
him had greatly do with his resig nation.
It is true. however, that he has been in
bad health. The Nom bership
ia too great for a man of his health and,
IL obi
DR.. Anderson ia one of the best Chris
tiau gentlemen alive he is manifestly
untitled for this large and leading
church. l don't think he will ever
suit a western congregation. We read
more in the west and demand more. We
are awake We want fire and eloquence
and while Dr. Alderson was good pas
tor he was not good preacher l know
that every one of the ten elders of the
session are heartily in favor of accepting
the resignation as the best thing for both
DIR. Anderson and the church. That the
opposition has died out is a mistake. 1t
| is stronger now than it was last year and
would undoubtedly have shown itself
again"
| Two members of the session, both of
them of the highest business and social
circles, said these statements were true.
One said: "The statement that the
trouble was caused by a small minority
| is not true. The statement that the ma
| jority of the members are DR.. Alderson's
friends is perfectly true"
| The resignation will not take effect
until September 1st at the earliest.
Lincoln Post Attention.
All members of Lincoln Post, No. 1,
| G. A r, are requested to meet at the
hall tomorrow, sunday, at 2 o'clock p.
m. to attend the funeral of Comrade
| Rhodes By command of
J. 81. MILLER, P. c.
| Attest; J LEE KNIGHT, Adjt.
Peerless Steam Laundry Peerless
/ Siam,