The times., 1901-06-12
A SHARP CHURCH DEBATE
First Presbyterian Members Dis
Cuss a Possible Removal.

What promised to be a rancorous debate
over the question of the removal of the
First Presbyterian Church to Washington
Heights, at the outset Of a special meet
ing held last night in that church was
toned down to a more or less animated
discussion of the proposition, through the
Reed-llle rulings of A. +. /. Leckie. the
presiding officer of the sessions, who held
the argument closely to such actual mat
ters as We're before the meeting for con-
sidoration. The meeting was called eX-
pressly to consider the advisabiiity of
removing to some more favorable loca-
tion in northwest Washington.
This matter was presented to the meet
ing in resolution offered by F. G. Cold
ren, TO the effect that the future interests
of the church and the cause of Christ
would be advanced by i removal to
more favorable location as soon as the
way was made clear. The resolution also
provided for the creation of a committee
| of seven. to investigate the subject, and
report back to the church
a substitute blanket amendment
was offered by Theodore f. Sar-
gent. which expressed the view
that it was not now advisable
to remove the church from the present To-
cation. Mr.. Sargent's resolution also
| conten plated a vote of sympathy and as
surances of friendly regard to a small
band of Presbyterians who have secured
| the permission of the Presbytery to or
ganize church in the coveted location in
Washington Heights.
A third resolution, first offered as an
amendment to the first resolution, and
subsequently withdrawn as such, ana re-
offered as a substitute to Mr.. Sargent S
! resolution was offered by Charles /. Du-
Bois. On the acceptance of the latter
| resolution as n blanket to the SarS 2nt
resolution Mr.. CoIdreu withdrew his pro
position, and the Dubois resolution was
adopted as follows:
Be it resolved. That If at any time in the fl-
ture the way be clear Tor this church TO remove
to a more uuoccupiod field IN the Northwest
we believe it TO be the part OF wisdom 10
| entertain faycrably proposals from that section
| looking TO the removal of the FIRST ChGrch 10
| that locality, should II be decided that the
best interests OF the church at that time cdH
! for action.
! seven be named by the chair for the purpose
Of making enquiries and investigating, 10 report
! back 10 the church.
The committee appointed by Mr.. Leckie
/ consists of Col. J. p. Low, f. G. Coldren.
| Charles J.. Dubois. J. F. Tufts, DR., II i.
Mann Mrs. isabelle Ashford, and Mrs.
Mary c. Hine.
1t appears that for the past year some
thirty Presbyterians have been holdlnB
meetings in carriage house On w ASH
ingtOn Heights owned by George irueS-
dell Mr. Truesden has granted the use
OF this room free of charge. This little
band now see their way clear to erect a
church in that locality and nave opttlHe1i
the consent of the PTeSbytery to that emo
This new church has already selected It's
pastor and chosen officers, and the pros
pccts for the establishment Of the new
church are most encouraging.
IL further appears that the officers OF the
First Presbyterian Church have peen IoL
some time considering the adVlslplllly OF
removing TO the northwest, and have had
in mind particularly the location IN
Washington Heights. On the announce
| rneut OF the little band of their intention
TO start a church, certain potential mem
I bers of the First Presbyterian ChuFch ap-
/ preached them. with propositions TO
ANA lgamate under the banner or the
I First PRESBYTERIAN Church. These over
lures IL is understood were not entirely
agreeable to the independent band. whose
without hiRdrance. II was practlCaIly
acknowledged by the presiding oihcer,
I Mr.. Leckie. that a conference mad been
held yesterday, and it IS TO be surmlSed
/ from the direction of the arguments last
night that the results were not auSplcIOuS
/ for amalgamatiOn.
During the course of the debate at the
I meeting last night there were evidences
! that there IS distinct Schism in the
! First Presbyterian Church. The younger
/ element numerically the stronger, adVo-
bers of the older faction have set them
/ selves strongly against the proposition
and have made strong effort To charge
! the ruling powers of the church with an
attempt to interfere with the rights OF the
/ small band which has secured the privi-
] legc TO organize the church In Washing
I ton Heights These older members have
I been attending the First Presbyterian
Church for the last half century and are
/ bitterly opposed TO its removal The
I younger element consider that the hnan-
I s{. les q
I il remove TO a location where q Weather
! congregation can be secured
/ Mr.. ColGren, insupport of his resolution
/ stated that he had no wish 70 present
/ a disturbing suggestion, and urged upon
/ the congregation that the church was uu-
! able to raise enough money iu ITS present
/ location to run il even on its present
I economic basis. He stated that the com
/ pensatiOu paid to the pastor was made
/ quate to the service rendered, and plead
Cd for the removal of the church TO n
! location where the financial support would
J be forthcoming. He considered that the
I field in Washington Heights provided
/ space for two or three Presbyterian
I churches. Referring to the proposed es-
I tahlishmcnt Of a church there by the band
{ who have secured the privilege from the
/ Presbytery, hc said that il twas not the pur-
/ pose Of his resolution 70 lnlure any people
! IN any possible way. The First Presbyte-
! ran Church would be happy to join with
/ il if found feasible but this was matter
[ upon which the committee which his res
I oIution contemplated would be expected
/ MIR. Sargent. opposing the resolution Of
! fcred by Mr. COIdreu and supporting his
/ blanket resolution, declared that the field
/ had already been pre-emptcd by the band
/ which had secured the permission of the
! Frcsbytery, and that this band Was cnti-
tied to the location. The presiding officer
here ruled the speaker out of order, rep
I rcscntiug that the resolution offered by
Mr.. Coldrcn did not contemplate any In
/ reference with any other people, and that
| Mr.. Coldren had expressly voiced this
! sentiment in his argument.
Mr.. Sargent urged that his argument
was in order. as he proposed TO-. show
| that the pre-emption Of the ilelf shut
| il out as an available location for the
First Presbyterian Church. He went on
to discuss the financial difficulties Of To-
/ eating and erecting a church In new
, gers for assistance would be necessary.
/ and suggested that the church, by re-
moving, would only be adding to it's finan-
/ cial load He denied that the church was
. in financial straits, and presented the
fact that heretofore 1t had been repre-
bcttcriug its financial conditions.
w H. Fletcher started an expressive
/ speech which was promptly sque!Ched by
/ Mr.. LcCkie, who ruled him out Of order.
Mr.. Fletcher commenced with a state
rnent that the First Church had proposed
to head off the little band which has Sc
cured the privilege to start a church in
| Washington Heights, with the purpose Of
securing the location itself. Here MIR.
| LeCkie interfeTed, and stated that the
! speaker could not proceed without unani-
| NOUS consent Of the meeting. Unanimous
consent was moved, but strong protest
from j. F. Tufts effectively disposed Of
the motion. Mr.. Fletcher was disposed to
! be bellgerent and stated that the presid-
ing officer objected to the facts Of the