The record-union., 1898-02-28
TOO BIC FOR REV. Mr.. DRAKE
HOW THE RESPECTABLE MI
NORITY LOOMED UP.
The Pastor Steps Down From the
Pulpit of the Christian
Church.

the Christian Church congregation,
and on the announcement of the Ar
bitration Committee that the minority
vote was, beyond peradventure, re
| spectacle entered into an agreement
with the official board of the church, by
which he resigned his pastorate.
| Readers of the Record Union viii
recall the nature of the difficulties
charges and countercharges, investiga-
| tons, trials, reports, col--~a-s--as, etc
that have of late beset the new Chris
tian Church in this city. Several
weeks ago the young pastor, Leslie r.
Drake, was charged with doing great
many things which a minister ought
not TO do. and the charges were duly
aired before an Arbitration Commit
tee, who took two turns at reports anc
findings, and finally put the matter to
vote Of the congregation to determine
by actual count just how bitter the
feeling toward pastor Drake had
grown.
But the Arbitration Committee was
wise in its generation 1t realized that,
did any considerable number of the
congregation vote to expel the pastor,
there would be continual strife were
he allowed to remain, and it retained
the right to determine whether or not
there was respectable minority"
| with the understanding that if it should
so find Rev. Drake should at once re-
sign.
And yesterday morning Rev. John
Hay of Woodland, q member of the
Arbitration Committee. preached a SER
| mon on Love" to the congregation,
and subsequently read to them the lat
est report of the committee, based on
the vote taken to Gust the pastor.
THE MINORITY IS RESPECTABLE.
The vote taken on Sunday night, two
weeks ago. showed 10S for retaining,
and 46 for expelling pastor Drake, but
as some Of the members were absent
the polls We're kept open until the fol-
lowing Wednesday night, when it was
found that the sum total of the votes
cast was POS. and of that number LAG
wished Mr.. Drake to continue, and G2
wanted him expelled, and it was on
these figures that the Arbitration
Committee handed in its report which
follows:
ITO the congregation of the First
Christian Church: Your Committee
of Arbitrators to whom was intrusted
the consideration of certain charges
made by your official board against
Leslie r. Drake. beg leave to make the
following final report:
Whereas. Our former report con-
templated submitting the question
whether Brother Drake should longer
serve as pastor latter the board had
declared the pulpit vacanD to a vote of
the church, and if a respectable minor
ity should oppose his continuing as
pastor it would be the duty of Brother
Drake to resign Immediately, there
fore, as the vote when taken showed
" opposed to his longer serving, while
146 voted to continue his services to
the end of the year, it is the decision
Of your committee that those who OPP
pose him constituted a respectable mi
nority. (Signed, j. II. Mccullough, j.
Fl. Garrison and J. C. Hay"
The report, in view of what had pre-
coded it was short, sharp and decisive.
1t was a simple announcement that the
pastor must resign, and making a vir-
tue of necessity. he proceeded to enter
into an agreement with the official
board of the church whereby he threw
up his job
DRAKE RESIGNS.
Rev. W. A. Gardner of San Francisco.
occupied the pulpit last evening, and
before beginning his sermon on "Rest.v
read the agreement Of resignation en-
tered into between Rev. Mr. Drake and
the board, which was as follows:
Whereas, the Board of Arbitrator.
to whom was referred the matter of
differences between the pastor and Off
GERS of the Christian Church of Sacra-
mento, found that both parties had made
mistakes, and
Whereas, there has, unfortunately.
been engendered a bitter feeling be-
tween members of the Lords family.
Therefore, We mutually agree that
we have erred and We do humbly and
sincerely ask the pardon of all we have
in any way injured by our mistakes or
errors
Furthermore, it is agreed by Leslie
r. Drake. the said pastor, that he now
resigns the position of pastor of the
Sacramento Christian Church: that he
will earnestly labor for the unity and
harmony of the Sacramento Christian
Church.
by the said Official Board: That for
itself and the church it represents. it Will
pay said Leslie r. Drake for his services
as pastor to and including the
9th day of February, 1898.
at the rate of 81 900 per year.
except the 18th day of January, 1898
when he was absent from the city and
church. and the 18th day of January,
1893, when he preached in the Changers
Hall, and the DIST day of February, 1888.
when he preached in Pythian Castle.
I'm testimony whereof we have
her ellrto set our hands this 9th dav of
February. 1898.
THE Christian Church of Sacramento,
by s. H. Phillips, President; William
Fritz, Clerk: Leslie r. Drake. pastor"
ANOTHER MINORITY VOTE.
And then Rev. Mr.. Gardner informed
the congregation that it was fitting that
they choose a substitute to fill the va
cancy created by the resignation of Mr..
Drake. He told them that State Evan
gelist Hastings was ready and willing to
take up the work Mr. Drake had re-
signed. and asked if he would be ac-
cepted.
\ few scattering ayes came back
and then followed an extended rattle of
noes" and for a few moments it looked
as If there was no chance of binding un
the wounds of the friends of the late
Pastor Drake.
But Rev. Mr. Gardner probably reas-
ored that while people would vote mo-"
they might be chary about standing UP
20 be counted. At any rate, he de-
manded a division of the house. and
the Clerk counted thirty-sx willing to
accept the services of Evangelist Hast
ings. and thirty-four who wanted Rev.
Mr.. Drake Cor nobody. and ii was for