The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-26
FRIENDS OF
DR.. KEIGWIN.
They Win Eldership Eiec-
ton and West Church
Will Continue to
Prosper.

2 A threatened breach In West Presbyter-
han Church was prevented last evening
when at congregational meeting friends
of DIR. Keigwin completely routed the
opposition. It was an eldership cleo ion
~ which four men, Dr. d. W. Lang.
Theodore W. Triggs. Warden r. Hum
phrey and Frank Sheppard, mbcrs Of
tho church who had pledged their support
TO DR.. Keigwin were overwhelmingly
I elepsd to oldsrsh;ps.
The meeting was most animated one.
II was the largest OF the kind ever held in
the church. 24O members of the church
being present. Pastor Keigwin presided.
He announced that the meeting was for
the purpose Of electing four elders to sue
ceed Charles Baird anu James Morrow.
deceased, and Robert Schultz and c. II.
Evans resigned. The elders in charge
ver0 Isaac Baird, NJ. d. Crossan and J.
p. Beiville. DR.. Keigwin did not an
nounoe tho fact that Mcssrs. Crossan and
Baird were opposed to his ministry and
wero to remove him from the pastoral
IN tho event Of their success at the cleo
tion, but tho friends of DIR. Keigwin were
informed on the subject and they voted
acoordinly
After DR.. Kogwin announced that the
meeting was open for discussion, John
Crozier obtained tho floor and suggested
that the congregation change its manner
OF electing elders. Under the present sys-
tenn the elders are elected for life which
system Mr.. Crozier considered very I'M
satisfactory one. For the betterment of
the Kingdom of God in this church and
for the community at large, he said Il
favor the adoption of the rotary system of
oldership election" There was II second
to tho motion and it was subsequently
gone Into.
Isaac Baird, clerk of The session, at the
suggestion of Dr. Keigwin. announced
that the three elders had decided to recon :
mendt 0 the congregation the names of DR..
w. r Springer, John Il. Hutson, Charles
NJ. Bowers and Warden r. Humphrey for
election to the vacant eldcrships. DR..
keigwin and Mr.. Belville, the latter the
only elder favorable to Dir. kelgwin, an
nounced that the congregation was not
bound to recognize the selec ion of the ell
dsrs and while the names of Mc,srs.
Springer. Hutson Bowers and Humphrey
were put In nomination only Mr.. Hum
phrey a friend of DR.. Keigwin, was elect =.
Cd Both DR.. Springer and Mr.. Hutson
were regarded as opponents Of the pastor
ard their election to the beard would havo
placed the cl urch control in The hands of
she pastors enemies Mossrs Baird, Cros-
san. Springer and Hutsol, Il minority
representation of the board But the
friends of the pastor had their sleeves
rolled up.to prevent such plan. They
nominated Dr.. f. W. Lang, Frank Shep.
pard, 4. N. Ocheltreo, Warden r. Hum
phrey and Theodore W. 1riggs Flieuds
OF Mes,rs. Baird and Cr,ssan nominated
Messrs. Springer and Hutson and they
were allowed to be nominated. Mr. Bower,
Ben jamn Reed and Joshua Carpenter,
all friends OF Dr. Begwin declined nomi-
nation. Victor Hughes was elected clork
and Willard Chandler and Howard Hin.
derer were appointed tellers. The ballot
was taken and it showed the folio wing
result: Dr. Springer 40; J. r. Hutson,
81; Warden Il. Humphrey, FOL; DR. +. W.
Lang, POP Frank sheppard 1876; Theodore
w. Triggs, l0I L. NJ. Ochetree, 10; j. l.
Carpenter. /. The vote cast was 40 DR..
keigwin announced that I'll votes were
necessary TO elect and as Dr.. Lang, Mr.,
Humphrey, M Sheppard and Mr.. Triggs
hnd received that number, no decl .reu
them elected elders
The new board is now cOmpos of ].
Bolviie, Dr. f. W. Lang, Theodore W.
Triggs. W r, Humphrey, Frank Shep-
pard, friends of this pastor, .and Isaac
Baird aud NJ. W. Cros5ln, his enemies
1t is said that members Gf tho church will
demand the designations Of Measrs Cros.
san and Baird In order that the work at
West Church may not be intcrfered wit H..
The objection against Dir. Kelgwtn was
shat he WAS receiving tOO,much salar
AR. keiswih is paid $500 u yoar, but Tor
many years he has returned to the church
xaD, thereby reducing his salary to 1000
The congregation has had no trouble in
paying the salary and IA tho church is
prosparing every way, tlr friends of he
pastor saw no reason why he should be r.
moved Under DR.. keigwin's ministry
the church has become the most prosper
Gus one Of Is denomination in the CITY.
sad the election OF last evening will low
the pro pcrity to continue had it resulted
IN tho ei"e'ion of opponents ct the pastor
enemies to tho eIderships there won d
probably have been i split in the church.