The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-07

ment at Winters, but the evidence
shows no intentional falsehood.
RECOMMENDING
l. In view of the irregularity of the
action of the elders. in dismissing Les
lie r. Drake as pastor, without the
| consent or ratification of the congre-
CATION, the committee would call spe-
cial attention to the custom which pre-
walls among our churches in the calling
and dismissal of preachers. While the
! elders or the Official Board, acting as
the organs of the congregation conduct
| the negotiations with ministers, both
| in calling them and in reference to
| their resigna tons. the action is sub
mitted to the congregation itself for
| its decision The neglect of this rule
| is likely to produce confusion and strife
| in our churches The arbitrator, there
fore, recommend that the question as
to whether Brother Leslie r. Drake
| be retained as pastor of the church be
submitted to the vote of the church
at its regular Lords Day meeting, Feb
ruary 6, 1898. The vote should be by
/ ballot. yes, or no, and if it shall appear
that the church, by a practically unan-
| imous vote, is in favor of retaining
Brother Drake as it's pastor, that he be
accepted as such until the end Of the
year for which he was elected. But If
1 a respectable minority, in the judgment
| of the arbitrator, be opposed to his
remaining pastor of the congregation,
| then we decide he should resign at
once. and unreservedly, in the interest
of the unity of the church, which he
should earnestly seek to bring about.
| II The committee feels bound to say
| in conclusion that both in the charges
and charges there has been too
much tendency to call in question the
motives of each other, and there has not
been sufficient charity, We think, in CIV
! ing the most favorable Interpretation
possible to certain acts and utterances.
We sincerely hope that those who have
! opposed each other in this trial may
have the Christian charity to seek per-
sonal reconciliation at once by such
mutual concessions and such mutual
forgiveness as will tend to promote and
to keep the unity of the spirit in the
| bond of peace.
BEFORE THE CHURCH.
After the findings had been read and
the congregation dismissed the mem
| bers gathered in knots of half-dozen
and discussed the situation. In some
| instances the discussions were fraught
with the most intense bitterness, and
instead of pouring oil on the troubled
waters the Arbitration Committees re-
port seemed to have stirred up per-
sonal feelings to extraordinary Depths
and gave cause for wordy wars which
were not at all dignified.
The church was filled in the evening"
and the sermon delivered by Rev. Mr..
Mccullough was a masterpiece, being
addressed both to the pastor and to the
congregation. 1t was intended to form
a bridge over which all disaffected par
1 ties might travel to a full and final
reconciliation.
After the service Rev. Mr.. McCul.
Tough reverted directly to the late trial.
and again explained that the Arbitra
ton Committee had deemed it best to
leave the question of the retention or
dismissal of Rev. Mr. Drake as pastor
to the congregation to decide by ballot.
He said it was the duty of each men,
Der 20 examine his or her heart and
to vote for what they conscientiously
believed to be for the benefit of the
churcn and the cause Of Christ. If
tered by asking the pastor to resign and
seek another field of usefulness, they
ought to do so without hesitation.
| Mr.. Mccullough said that once dur
ing his youthful days in the ministry
he had been in a situation similar to
that occupied by Rev. Mr.. Drake and
that he had stepped down from his
pulpit and sought another field, and
nod <n1 70. lyn no h Of
forts had not been in vain.
| He then explained that each person
wishing to retain Rev. Mr. Drake as
pastor would write his or her name
upon a ballot and under it the word
Yes" while those who favored his
resignation would write No He
called on the deacons to distribute bal
lots, and the settlement of the difficult
ties between the pastor and a few men,
bers of his flock seemed to be within
sight.
ANOTHER HALT.
While the deacons were bestirring
themselves to carry out the programme
prepared by Rev. Mr.. Mccullough, Mr..
Fortman, one of the members of the
congregation, arose in his place and
spoiled everything. He said there was
one charge on which the Arbitration
Committee had not reported 1t had
probably been an oversight, but he
considered it one which should not be
allowed to pass.
One Of the main charges against Mr..
Drake, Mr.. Fortman said, was that he
had obtained money under false pre-
lenses. He did not-and he felt GER
tain that many members of the con-
gregation did not-feel like voting to
retain the pastor until the Arbitration
Committee had investigated and re-
ported on That charge, which had found
no place in the findings. If the COM
mittae had overlooked the charge, he
felt it bis duty to move that the charge
be recommitted 10 the committee for
its consideration, and that it be re-
quested to investigate and report on
the truth or falsity of the charge.
Three witnesses who are now pres
emit continued Mr.. Fortman "sus-
tainad the charge, and / don't feel like
voting until the Arbitration Committee
has considered their evidence
Pastor Drake was on his feet in an
instant. He concurred with what the
speaker had said respecting a report
from the Arbitration Committee. He
wanted the charge probed to the bot
tom ard complete and thorough in
vestigation made. that his character
might be freed from any suspicion. He
heartily seconded the motion. and re-
quested his friends to vote for it,
Rev. Mr. Mccullough said the charge
must have been overlooked by the com
mittse.
Mr. Fortman again said that three
,vi4,1 aSSac had -l1hSfa pfiafed fba nla roc