New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-07

PASTORS RESIGNATION REJECTED BY
WEST CHURCH CONGREGATION.

WEST CHURCH CONGREGATION.
The congregation Of the West Presbyterian
Church. at meeting held last night in the base
ment Of the church. decided by a vote OF 132 to
81 not to accept the resignation Of their pas
tor the Rev. Or. Anthony II. Evans This Is
an overwhelming victory for the adherents OF
DR.. Evans and the trustees Of the church. who
have done all they could to secure his removal.
and who have constituted the backbone OF the
movement against him, were practically showed
under Or. Evans would not say last night
whether or not he would withdraw his resigna-
ton in view of this almost unanimous demon
stration in his favor, but 1t is thought by the
congregation that he will certainly not persist
in his request to be severed from the church.
The congregation is in a Jubilant frame OF mind
over the result Of the vote. and this is chiefly
because none Of them expected such a tre-
mendous majority FOR the pastor. They are
mingling with their congratulations expressions
Of strong disapproval OF the action Of the trus-
tees In the whole matter. and many hints are
being dropped as to the advisabity of the re-
mova OF the latter.
The features Of the meeting were It's brevity
and the absence of bitter wrangIings and long
drawn-out speeches It had been expected that
the contest would be bitterly fought out to the
end but, contrary to these expectations, the
meeting lasted not more than half an hour, and
the speeches were short, temperate and few In
number Another feature the exclusion OF
reporters.
The Rev DR. John Balcom Shaw. acting as
moderator. called the meeting TO order shortly
after 8 O'Clock. and after offering a prayer SAID
that two things should be considered before the
discussion was taken up. The frst was the
selection of a secretary for the meeting ana
Edward c. Van Claim. the clerk of the Session.
was unanimously selected for this post
"The second thing want to lay before you,'
said DR.. Shaw, rs the question OF the exclusion
from this meeting Of the representatives OF the
press and all who are not members OF this con-
gregation. The news can be giv-n out IN the
shape of a short formal statement from ;e
secretary OF the meeting. II there Is no DEBATE
on the question, will somebody put the motion
Debate having been efectually discouraged.
the motion was put and carried and the report
ers filed out Incidentally. the secretary Ed
ward c. Van Claim. refused to give out the lor-
NAL statement after the meeting until urged TO
do so bv DR. Shaw The reporters obtained the
news by other means. The gray-whiskered sex
ton who assisted the reporters in every way pos
sible in their exit, Immediately tackled piece OF
naper on the door which read, NO reporters
permitted here
The discussion was begun by William D.
Campbell
II beg that you will not accept our pastor
resignation" he said. and that you VIII not Id
yor the report of the trustees ask 'ha' !ou
do not concur in their action The pastor was
not aware Of the financial dfhculues OIL ""'o"
the trustees have spoken. They we're not com
1 hat- haI
couId have been easily arranged. You cannot
vote against him on that score. DO not let MIN
leave us"
Mr.. Campbell delivered a short euiogy OF III
Evans character He was followed by Henry
Bramhall Wilson who spoke in the same s'rd'n
These two short speeches comprised the whoie
dohate and the motion to reject the pastors
resignation was then put by Mr.. Campbell
r,snr vote was decided upon. and 132 persons
rose at the call for those in favor OF the mo
,ior II vac noticed that the twenty five per
cons who opposed the motion rose slowly ana
,o,uctantIv and seemed unwilling TO stand up
and no counted against such a great majority
.s soon az the result of the vote was seen the
congregation broke into loud applause ana tne
bandshakng and congratulations when ioi-
lowed lasted for several minutes
The rest Of the congregation, still happy ana
oxcitad over tho victory, passed out more SLOW
,v 4 largo number of them went to the mousse
of Dr Evans where large jollihcation meeting
was held and the pastor was sho"ereu WI"
concentrations Or. Evans. when seen d. III nrS
bo,,sa after the meeting by the newspaper men,
said: .ho. is all can
say" ..o soo,sion ," he was
asked. .,i % tho MANY
,yho have treated me so WELL -.
When asked as TO the probability OF ms WIN
drawing his resignation DR.. Evans sald tha' @ ne
could not give any answer as 1t was sun 700
early to decide. ,., ,.,.,s,, Inc,
The trustees came in for no little criticism laSt
riqht cts about time the trustees moved OUT
was one remark overheard. Nothing can w
done toward their removal. II there shouid oe
rovement in that direction. until the electioit IN
NAV when the term of office OF at least one
trustee-Edward H. Perkins. jr.-expires some
- Dr Evans's friends last night said that he
would surely fail Of reelection. and also that
dctermIred effort would he made to oust tussell
sage Mr.. Sage did not attend the meeting last
night.