The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-07
THE REPORT NOT COMPLETE.
AND PASTOR DRAKE IS STILL
OUTSIDE THE PULPIT.
Another Days Stirring Scenes In
the First Christian
Church.

Whether or not Rev. Leslie r. Drake,
pastor of the First Christian Church
in this city, will remain in charge until
his year is up is still an open ques-
ton.
The Arbitration Committee, consist
ing Of Rev. ]. H. Garrison of st. Louis,
Mo-, Rev. John Hay of Woodland and
Rev ]. H. Mccullough of !rvington,
Alameda County, who on Friday last
investigated the charges brought
against Mr.. Drake by some of the OIL
Gals of the church. had completed their
report or findings in the case, ana II
was made known that the same would
be read after the morning service yes
terday. AS a consequence, the church
was crowded to the doors.
Rev. j. H. Mccullough occupied the
pulpit, and at the conclusion OF ms
sermon the findings of the Arbitration
Committee were read. While the seN-
Gus charges were declared by the COM
mittee to be not proven or dlsproVen,
Mr. Drake was censured for allowing
his temper to get the better OF him, ana
for giving an account of the matter tor
publication before charges had been
filed.
1t was also decided that the retention
of Mr.. Drake as pastor should be lett
to vote of the members of the churcn,
to be taken upon the conclusion OF last
evenings meeting, the committee mold
ing itself in readiness to advise with
the congregation in case considerable
minority vote should be polled. Ihe
full text of the findings Of the commit
tee is as follows:
THE REPORT.
The general charge is that of untruth-
fitness. dishonesty and conduct unbe-
coming a preacher of the Gospel, and is
accompanied by several specifications
and sub-specifcations upon which the
Committee of Arbitrator find as fol-
lows:
[Specification T.
That the First Christian Church
through and by its Official Board,
on the day Of December,
1897. entered a verbal agreement with
the said Leslie r. Drake, whereby ne,
the said Drake, was to act as pastor OF
said church. for the period Of one year,
providing he should give satisfaction,
the board reserving the right at any
time to request his resignation, when
in it's judgment for any cause 1t deemed
proper: that the said board, in its Ju-
risdiction of church affairs, and for
good and sufficient reasons, some OF
which are hereinafter set forth, re-
ouested the resignation of the SAID
Drake as pastor aforesaid, and in &C
cordance with the terms of said agree
ment hereinbefore mentioned, but the
said Drake refused to resign, and TINS
board was thereupon compelled to and
did declare the passionate vacant; but
the said Drake refused to recognize and
accept said dismissal, and with the in
tent to deceive the members OF SAID
church. and to cast odium and discredit
upon this board, stated this board had
entered into an agreement in writing
with him, whereby he was called as
pastor of said church for the term of
one year unqualifiedly, all of which he
we'll knew to be false and untrue.
The committee find that Leslie r.
Drake was, on the advice Of the church,
called by the Official Board to be
pastor of the church for one year, at
a salary of 81 600 about December D,
1897 The official letter of notification
written by the clerk of the church by
order of the board expresses the terms
of the contract, and the minutes of the
board show the same. This official
letter Brother Drake regarded as the
contract, and had written his accept
ance of the same at the bottom Of the
letter There was an informal agree
ment, it seems, between Brother Drake
and one or two members of the board
that he would resign if one member
of the board was dissatisfied with him;
but it does not appear that there was
any official agreement of this kind, and
had there been 1t would. in the judg-
ment Of the committee have been un-
wise.
The trial given to Brother Drake by
the Official Board was not, in the judg-
ment of the committee, conducted in
proper form; was without due notice to
the accused, who had no opportunity
to prepare his defense, and that the
action of the board in vacating the
Office of pastor was IN undue haste,
and without the authority of the
church. which should have had the OPP