The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-20
TROUBLES OF A CHURCH
THOSE of THE WESTINGHOUSE.
PRESBYTERIAN NOW SETTLED.
Letter from the Presbytery Upon Rev.
Mr.. Hass1er's CIafm-Church's
Financial Affairs.

The annual congregational meeting of the
East Washington-street Presbyterian
Church was held last night. Deacons and
trustees were elected to fill the positions
made vacant by the withdrawal of some of
the officers from the church and where the
terms had expired. The meeting last night
was the first since the split in the church,
which resulted in the withdrawal of one
hundred members, who formed a Congrega-
tional Church. Harmony of the most pro-
nounced type prevailed last night, and a
disposition was quite manifest to go on as
though nothing had ever happened, course
to which the church was recommended by
the Indianapolis Presbytery, which last
week reported on the charges against Rev.
A. L. Hassler, former pastor of the church.
Last night a communication covering the
controversy in which the church has been
engaged addressed to William Yule, clerk
Of the church, by Leon P. Marshall, stated
clerk of the Indianapolis Presbytery, was
read.
The communication embraced a report of
the special committee that investigated the
charge of 'unministerial conduct" against
the Rev. Mr.. Hassler. The committee re-
ported to the presbytery that 1t had ex-
amined many members of the session, mem
bers of the congregation and the pastor
himself. They found that when he came to
the church it was prosperous and har-
monious. and that within a short time dis
sensions arose which resulted in bitter quar-
rels and anonymous letter writing. Mem
bers of the congregation circulated reports
that the pastor had had trouble in former
charges. To the committee the pastor adj
mitted that he had left bitter enemies in
two former charges who had written let
tiers here against him. The committee
recommended that the charge of unminis-
tertal conduct be sustained. but found that
the cause of righteousness" would not be
advanced by the presbytery going into the
subject further, and it was therefore recon-
mended that the East Washington-street
Church proceed as if nothing had happened
in consideration of the fact that those dis
satisfied and siding with the former pastor
were supposed to have withdrawn.
Rev. Alexander UrQuhart has been in In
, dianapOlis nearly a week by invitation of
the session. Last Sunday he preached to
the church and made q strong impression.
He will preach again next Sunday BY "a
unanimous vote the deacons were last night
instructed to go among the congregation
and find how much would be subscribed to
the church If he were formally called. A
vote of lifted hands showed that every one
who heard him last Sunday was well
pleased The consensus was that nothing
was to be gained by hearing a number OF
candidates.
1u6 undHCldl report SIlOW6Q that AeioI yCeiA
81, 31069 was contributed and $2221.50 ex-
pended. 1t was asserted that the church
had not been so badly crippled financially by
Withdrawals but what it would be as useful
hereafter as before the trouble.
The following officers were elected: w.
N Mcpherson, elder; j. l.. Kingsbury,
Irvington, H. A Pryor, William Revel and
William Yule, trustees; K. N. Shaw, Robert
Petrie, James Aitken and Erskin Carr, dea-
cons. Deacon Warren, T. Gipe had been
classed among those that had withdrawn.
1t was stated in meeting that he had not
authorized the withdrawal of his church let
elected. If it is his intention to remain he
will continue as deacon. The statement was
made that letters had been sent to some
members who did not intend to withdraw at
all 1t was explained that some one had
evidently requested the session for church
letters for others without their knowledge.
If this proves to be true some misunder-
standings will be cleared up.