The herald., 1896-06-18
TIE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
ltPubIiShes Its Declaration
OF independence
1 FREE AND INDEPENDENT BODY
Rev. Burt Estes Howard Almost
Unanimously Endorsed
ONLY FIVE DISSENTlENTS
na Vote OF Two Hundred Members of
the Congregation
ONLY FIVE DISSENTIENTS
No Change OF Greed but a Release From
Ecclesiastical Machinery
The Report Of the Special committee-The
Pastors Open Letter to the Clerk OF
Presbytery-congrat From
the Fiock-FuIl Details

The curtain has rung down upon the
last scene in the long drawn-out fight
between the First Presbyterian church,
or the Westminster, as its antagonists
desired to dub it, and the Presbytery OF
Los Angeles. The fight will continue in
the courts, but in the words of Judge
Mckinley last night, the first Presby-
terian church has no further interest
in the Presbytery." 1t has renounced its
allegiance to the Presbyterian body, and
published its declaration of independ-
ence. There were moments of dramatic
interest in last evenings proceedings.
The sympathy of three hundred or more
members and friends of the First Pres
byterian church was strongly with their
pastor, the Rev. Burt Estes Howard.
but it was subdued, as was MT
ting to the soleminty of the oc-
casion. When all was over, when the
almost unanimous vote of the congrega-
ton had been recorded in favor of Sc
cession and the sustaining of their pas
tor, when the final benediction had been
pronounced, there was a rush to wiring
Mr.. Howard's hand. The church will
still be known as the First Presbyterian,
for that is the title of the Incorporation.
but its bylaws will, of course, be
amended.
At last nights meeting in the hand
some chapel, Judge Mckinley presided,
and after the meeting had been opened
with prayer, the special committee ap-
pointed at the adjourned annual meet
ing of the congregation week ago. re-
ported as follows:
Your committee, consisting of j. w.
Mckinley, chairman. M. N. Avery, ID.
II. Brearley, w. G. Cochran, j. D. Moody,
l.. A. Rogers, A. b. Salisbury, }. S. Slau-
son and George H. Stewart, appointed
June 10th to consider and report at this
meeting the proper action to be taken IN
view OF the circumstances in which we
are placed, pursuant to their appoint
ment, have carefully considered the sit
uation and present the attached minute
and resolutions for adoption by this
meeting.
(Signed GEO. H. STEWART.
Secretary of Committee.
COMNIITTEE'S REPORT.
meeting of the congregation of the
First Presbyterian church OF Los Ange-
les, held on the 18th day of June, 1895,
as per orderly adjournment from con-
gregational meeting of said church, reg
ularly called, constituted and conduct
ed, tie following minutes and resolu-
tonS were introduced, read, duly con-
sidered and adopted:
MINUTES AND RESOLUTIONS.
Realizing the seriousness of the step
we are. about to take, and belieVeinS
that it is due ourselves to guard against
any false or partial Interpretation of the
motives which prompt US, we hereby set
forth the reasons which impel us TO the
appended action.
The First Presbyterian church of Los
Angeles has stood in this city since its
organization in 1874, as the Oldest cnurcn
in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Or
ange counties holding the Presbyterian
faith. She has been potent factor in
the religious life of Southern California.
The mother of PreSbyterianiSm in this
region, she has brought forth many chill
dren, not one of whom can charge her
with an unkind act or an Indifference to
any appeal for moral or material aid.
BY due process of law this church was
created a corpora ton, and as such has
by purchase acquired, and now holds, its
property subject to the laws of the state
and the direction of its members.
In accordance with law and the or
derly conduct of the business of this
church, at a congregational meeting
duly called and held. the trustees of this
church were authorized and directed to
sell its old church property and to pur-
chase another site on the corner of Fig
ueroa and Twentieth streets. And. fur
ther, the trustees by a large majority
vote (132 ayes and rs nays were instruct
ed and ordered to erect a new church
cdifice on the site selected and purchas-
ed. In pursuance of such direction AMI
authOritV tbp
The presbytery of Los Angeles, on the
request of minority of the members
OF the First Presbyterian church of Los
Angeles, has assumed the right to dis
solve and divide this church, without the
notice of such dissolution and division
10 erect out OF its former membership
two new churches; to destroy the con-
tinuity of our life and history; to blot out
our name and foist upon us despite our
protest the unwelcome name of West
Minister and, contrary to civil law and
In excess of its jurisdiction under eccles-
1astical law, as established by the con-
stitution of the Presbyterian church in
the United States of America, has un-
dertaken to divide and distribute the
property of this First PRESBYTERIAN
church, an incorporated body and an.
portion part thereof to each OF the two
new churches.
The trustees of this church, under the
laws VI odlllOrnla are liable in the full
amount for any illegal and unauth r.
lied disposition of the corporate funds,
and each member of the board has beer
and is advised by competent legal coun.
sci that he cannot comply with the said
order OF presbytery dividing the proper
ty without rendering himself personally
liable in the full amount paid out under
such order. Moreover. the treasurer, by
instruction of the congregation, is under
bonds of $4,000 for the safe care anc
proper disbursement of the church
funds. And. further, the trustees have
been and are legally advised
that recognition of the or.
ders of presbytery would endan.
ger the loss OF the whole property by
eScheat to the state
Because, and solely because, of their
refusal to recognize the right Of presby.
terry to dissolve a church, obliterate its
personality and impose a distasteful
name, against the earnest prayer and
protest of a majority of its members
and because of their refusal to leopard
ize large property by obedience to a
mandate of ppesbytery in excess of its
orfhnr.ifV ne sfn nd