The San Francisco call., 1897-02-02
REV. DR.. ELLIS
PREFERS CHARGES
Accuses Two Elders of
Attempts to Grimm.
ate Him.
Stormy Meeting of the Presby-
terry, Resulting in a Pas
toral Deadlock.
S quel to the Strained Relations
Between the Doctor and His
Church
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL. |

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
908 Broadway, Feb. l.
The Oakland Presbytery met in the Gen.
tenniaI Presby terian Church tonight with
eighteen members present and a very
large attendance of lay members OF the To-
cal organization. The call was for the
consideration of the report of a special
committee appointed at Berkeley last De-
cember on the relation of Rev. DR.. Ellis
and the church.
DR.. Ellis read the following sensational
charges against some of the deacons of
his church:
To the Presbytery Of Oakland, Fathers and
BrethreE-GREETING: In behalf of the sess ion
| and ia the interest of Centennial Presbyterian
Church l herewith transmit to you facts
which call for your serious consideration.
As session we are powerless to discharge
the duty incumbent upon US under the law of
the church, and our effort to discharge our
duty is without effect, and for cause 10 wit:
want OF harmony and co-opera tion among
the ruling elders of the session, as will appear
from the following facts:
On the evening of January 6, 1897, the ses-
sion convened 10 try to secure peace and recon-
ciliation in the church, to which meeting
three OF the young people were invited. The
| them some OF their friends. The meet
| ing became q scene of confusion on account of
want of harmony and unity among the ruling
elders. The chief cause OF excitement and
confusion being the conduct of Elder G. 5.
Prosser and Elder II. S. Hastings. The former
by word and spirit sought TO criminate the
moderator, the pastor-elect OF the church, and
the latter sought TO criminate both pastor-elect
and the presbytery.
Referring to the action of the presby terry of
December 16, 1896, Elder II. S Hastings de-
nounced the report OF the presbytery bearing
upon the interests of the Centennial churcn
as ga weight over our heads" "a ring in our
nose" ga gag in our mouths" The result was
that the young people were defiant OF the Ses
sion and declared tn cir intention to soremain'
and are doing so at the present time.
These facts i relate for the information of
the presbytery, praying for such direction as
the wisdom of-your worthy body may afford as
to now to proceed in the discharge OF duty and
Tor the we fare OF the church committed 10 my
pastoral care, and for such relief as TO your
judgment seems best am sincerely,
JOHN W. ELLIS.
The report of the special committee
made no recommendation, but asked the
Presbytery TO decide for itself. The De-
Gem Der meeting decided that the relation
existing be allowed 10 stand until the
spring meeting, in April. DR.. Ellis has
neld the call for eighteen months without
installation, and refused to surrender or
ask for installation.
Tonight the Presbytery reconsidered its
action at Berkeley, and then the trouble
began.
E der Prosser then stated that large
mum mber of the members did not want Dr.
Ellis installed, and then read petition OF
two deacons all of the elders and a ma
iority of the trustees, besides ninety mem
bers, asking that the call extended eigh-
teen months ago be returned to the con-
gregation.
Elder Warren thought the request reas-
enable and should be granted. If the
doctor wanted 10 be migh ht keep the call
four years aud then not accept
This brought DR.. Ellis to- his feet with
the charges. A motion to request tie re-
turn of the cali TO the Presbytery by Dr.
Ellis was voted down after lengthy and
heated discussion and the motion to give
the doctor until the spring meeting 20 ac-
cept or reject the same was defeated.
This put the presbytery in a peculiar
position and caused lengthy de bate as
to their exact position. Moderator Brush
OF Alameda states that DIR. Ellis must
either accept or reject the call at once as
the presbytery refused to grant him any
further time.
Dr. Ellis then asked that it be referred
TO the congregation for a vote, stating
that he would know what to do in that
way. de stated positively time and again
that he did not want nor would be in
stalled. He accepted the call with the
understanding that he would have until
April to complete his work, when he would
leave.
Before the vote was taken and after Dr.
Ellis charges against the mem bers of the
church had been read the moderator
stated that No one can be biased by
promiscuous charges made without proof
at this stage of the meeting"
Mr.. Prosser then asked the chair what
relation existed between the church and
DR.. Ellis, but no one could answer him.
1t was suggested that the congregation
hold a meeting Wednesday night next to
consider the matter. When the meeting
adjourned at II o'clock it was with the
understanding that they meet at the call
OF the moderator.
In the meantime the relations of the
pastor, the congregation and the presby-
terry 10 each other are indefinite, out as
an elier expressed il, I'VE just know
enough to keep US quarreling."
Mr.. Hastings called on DR.. Ellis Just be-
fore the adjournment and notified lin
that he would be held strictly to account
if he gave the charges to the press.
DR.. Ellis simply replied, 81 am ready to
swear to them"
Both gentlemen are well-known Chris
tian men of standing, and they replied
that they had the entire confidence of the
congregation, and that no such charge
will ever be proved against them.