Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-12
STAND BY THE TRUSTEES
Annual Meeting Of the Fhst Presbyterian
Church Congregation.
The Old Board REELECTED UnanimO us-
q Philadelphia Church.

The annual meeting of the congregation
of the First Presbyterian Church took
place last night The financial report of
the board of trustees showed hopeful con-
dition of finances, with 1900 on hand, af-
ter paying all expenses for the year, and
the receipt of 5000 from pew rents since
DR.. Talmage came to the church.
The report was approved unanimously
and the recommendations for the coming
years expenses were adopted. The elders
were reelected. When it came to the cleo
ton of trustees. Elder o. c. Wight said
perfect understanding had existed between
the trustees and the congregation On the
late unpleasantness. The past, he thought,
should be buried, and the trustees should be
elected for another year. He thought he
could say this, after having been member
OF the church for forty-seveI years, and
having always its best interests at heart.
He said that past events had resulted in a
definite understanding to the prerogatives
of the board. and the past difficulties, what
ever they were, We're dead and gone; that
In the line Of actual official duty the retiring
board had performed their very great and
difficult labor incident to the coming of DR..
Ialmage. with remarkable faithfulness and
ability; that in carrying on their work there
was yet much to be done, and it would not
be good policy to make a change in the
board at this time. He then moved that the
secretary be instructed to cast the ballot for
the old board. Mr.. E. D. Tracey spoke in
support OF this proposition and seconded
the motion.
There were, however, earnest advocates
OF change in one or more places on the
board, who had most of them entertained
that view for several years. In the discus
sion which followed there was no violence of
speech, no confusion unseemly excite
meit. Mr.. Leckie opposed the method pro-
posed In his usual earnest way.
The result was that Mr.. Wights motion
was carried and the old board was quietly
reelected. This practically ended the BUSH
ness of the meeting. The trustees thus
reelected are R. W; Tyler; J; B. cralle.
L. Dubois, W. H. Fletcher. E. NJ Toman,
Fred. G. Coldren and w. NJ. Newell
DR.. Talmage and DR.. Sunderland both ad-
dressed the congregation, urging peace and
concord. and counseling all to look forward
and upward, and not down and back
1t Is understood that Rev. AdoIos Allen,
since the presbytery dissolved his co-pas-
torate in the First Church. has received a
call to one Of the leading churches in Phil
adeiphia, with salary of 5000 a year,
which is considerable ADVANCE on his sal
airy here. The trustees paid him promptly
February ) the full salary under his con-
tract with the church up to October 1, 1896.
He has given the Philadelphia church no
answer yet, and wishes to take time to
give the matter the most thorough consid-
Grafton.
Nothing was said or done at the meeting
| last night in regard to DR.. Taimages sal
| ary as that was a matter of private ar
rangement with the trustees. 1t is under
| stood that DR.. Talmage originally took the
FIRST Church pulpit on shares. That n, he
| Is to have a certain percentage of the in
crease OF receipts from pew rentals, and
| thus having an interest in his work, can
make of it all that he will.
For the present, DR.. Sunderland has as
sumed the pastoral duties hitherto borne by
Mr.. Allen; but it is believed that a third
co-pastor will be secured before long.