The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-17
STORM IS RISING.
DIR. Countermine May Encounter
Trouble in His Congregation.
Dissatisfaction Among Members
Becomes intensified.
ASSAULT ON WASHBURN
DIR. Thompson Says Many Pres
byterians Don't Like Attack.
Enmity Toward DIR. Fisk Sup
posed to Be the Cause.

Dissatisfaction with the Rev. ]. D.
Countermine, which has long been
growing among the members of the
First Presbyterian church threatens to
become strong enough to sweep Mr.
Countermine from the pastorate of the
church. His recent violent outbreak
concerning the teaching of evolution at
Washburn college raised a veritable
cyclone of protests from the Presby-
terians of the city. Many prominent
members of DR.. Countermine's own
church do not hesitate to say that they
want no more of his preaching, and
thai unless he resigns voluntarily, the
presbytery will be asked to dissolve the
relations which now exist between him
and the First Presbyterian church.
There has for the past few days been
a sentiment that the elders and officers
of the First church, composing the
local session. should hold meeting to
discuss the matter. but nothing has SO
far been done. If such a meeting were
once called, it would be almost equiva-
lent to a declarat ton of war between
the church and the pastor.
DR.. A. H. Thompson, one of the elders
of the church, was askeu to make a
statement concerning the situation. He
said:
Il realize that there has been a great
deal of dissatisfaction in the church as
a result OF 1r. COu0terIn1neS on
WaShburn college. Many of the Pres
byterianS of the city are friends and
patrons of the college, and they do not
approve of such attacks. There has
been some talk of a meeting of the SeS-
sion, but nothing has been done, and I
think the storm will blow over. Fur
Their than this l do not care to be
quoted
The bitter opposition of Dr. Counter
mine to the teaching of evolution at
Washburn is only the elimination of a
long series of occurrences which have
served to arouse antagonism of the
church to it's minister. DIR. Countermine
has made enemies by his personal fight
on the Rev. d. NJ. Fisk, late pastor of
the First Congregational church. He
has also stirred up strife with the young
people of the church, and made enemies
among the women members by interfer
ing in the management of the mission
airy societies. 1t is charged that his in
tolerance for the religious views of those
who disagree with him has led to DIS
satisfaction among the Sunday school
teachers who meet every week to dis
cuss the Sunday school lessons.
COUNTERMINEAGO GOOD ORGANIZER
On the other hand, even the most
outspoken of DIR. Countermine's enc
mics admit that he is a good 'sorga-
nizer'' and financier. He has been
adding many members to the church.
and has brought it to a good financial
basis When he first took charge of the
church, he divided the city into dis
tricts, and placed an elder of the
church with several assistants in
charge of each district 1t was the prin-
cipal business of those in charge of the
districts to get acquainted with Pres
byterians newly arrived in town, and
get them into the church, also to solicit
new members in every way possible. This
system of work has had telling effect
New members have been received to the
church at the rate of from % to so every
three months during the past year or
two.
PIE r1r Coupternoina,s anapoiaS ~
that this material growth has been at
the expense of spiritual welfare. They
criticise Dr. Countermine'S preaching,
and question his methods used in SOIic-
iting members.
DIR. '.Countermine had rather get a
new member for the church than any
thing on earth, because it adds to his
prestige" said one of the members of
the First Presbyterian church today.
He is not particular how he gets tie
members in. Some time ago a man
cane here to town in bad shape finan-
cially, and wanted to start up in bust
ness. DR. Countermine found out that
he was a Presbyterian, and went to him
to secure him for a member of his
church. If you will join my church,
think / can help you get started in
business, but if you don't 1 don't see
how l can do anything for YOU is the
way DIR. Countermine presented his ar
gument to this man. The man Joined
the church. but I have not heard of
DR.. Countermine doing anything for
him"
Other members of the church say that
DR.. Countermine is too narrow-minded
and bigoted, spiritually, to preach ac--
ceptably to a congregat ton of PresDy-
terians in this age and in this country.
They say that he ridicules and scorns
every form of religious belief except
the one held by himself This fact, they
say. has been clearly demonstrated in
his attack on DR.. Fisk and the evold-
ton theory
Il have been going to hear DR.