The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-11
Matters Reach n Climax at n Meeting
of the Congregation at the He
brew Temple.
PROGRESS NOT SATISFACTORY
CHURCH ANXIOUS TO APPROXIMATE
FORMER USEFULNESS.
Rev. Meserve Presides at the Meeting,
but Soon Retires-COngregatiO
May Unite.

The pastorate of the Plymouth Congre-
gational Church, which has been held by
the Rev. II. c. Meserve since June, 1900,
when he succeeded the Rev. Frederic T..
Dewhurst, was terminated unexpectedly
last night at a meeting of the church men,
bers. The meeting was held in the Hebrew
Temple, on North Delaware street, where
the congregation has been holding its serv-
ices since its former edifice at Meridian and
New York streets was razed for the Fed
eral building. Fifty-fve members were
present, and the action in terminating the
pastorate of the Rev. Mr.. Meserve was
unanimous.
The meeting was called for the purpose
of considering the purchase of new church
site. After thorough deliberation the
gregation was unable to agree upon such
purchase In consequence of the delay in
acquiring a site and the lack of progress
toward church building ii was known that
the pastor the Rev. Mr.. Meserve. was de-
sirous of severing his relations as pastor.
He had stated that it was his expectation to
retain the pastorate only until he had es-
tablished the church in a new building.
Since there was no immediate prospect of
that realization it was deemed best to sever
was also decided that the salary of the Rev.
Mr.. Meserve should be paid until the end
of the pastoral year-the second Sunday
in next June-in full.
A committee was appointed to confer with
a committee from the North Congregational
Church in regard to the possibilities of
coalition.
PRESIDED BUT LATER RETIRED.
.I,<
Mr. Meserve presided After the inability
of the members TO agree on new church
site he retired and Prof. Junius B. Roberts
took the chair. The trustees of the
church, through Albert Rabb, chairman,
presented a set of resolutions setting forth
the conditions of affairs in the church and
proposing the severance of the pastors re-
lations Jan. 1. The resolutions were dis
cussed and unanimously adopted. The Rev.
Mr. Meserve was not present after he left
the chair.
1t was explained last night by members
of the church that the action taken. while
unexpected, was really the elimination Of
a sentiment that has been developing for
some time. There was no intimation of a
reflection on the pastor and no acrimony.
but the members have felt for some time
that the silent condition of affairs. the in
activity and the uncertain future were op-
Grating to the injury of the church. The
members are mostly those who participated
in the church during the pastorate of the
Rev. Oscar c. McCulloch and have expected
succeeding pastors to be a man of meas
urably the same capacity of the Rev. DIR.
McCulloch. The impression was deep that
the Rev. Mr.. Meserve, while a man of at
tainments and capability, was not inspiring
the progress and activity along the lines
desired. and that IL was but just 10 him
and the congregation that their relations
terminate. There was a lack of affinity be-
tween the pastor and the spirit of the
church is the way one member expressed Ii.
The taking OF the church property by the
government year ago was depressing.