The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-20
WARM Time AT
CHURCH MEETING
Trustees Of EImWood Temple
Resign and DlSposssSs0d.
REPEATED CALLS TO ORDER.
The Female Members Of the Church Were
In a Large Majority and Made
Things Interesting.

The situation at the Elmwood Temple
was discussed In all its bearings at a
meeting OF the congregation and pastor
last evening and considerable strenuous
business was transacted before the final
adjournment came.
The meeting was the outgrowth OF ac-
tion taken at annual meeling- the
trustees held Dec. 81. last at which 1t
was voted that the church could not
afford to retain the pastor, Rev. E. Tai
madge Root. at his present salary OF $500
a year. and was called by the pastor and
his friends in the church.
About 80 members OF the church wore
present last evening The church mem
bership is 21s and OF this small number
there are very few men. the church being
in fact controlled by the feminine ele-
ment, which is greatly in the majority.
A prayer meeting opened the evening
and at its close the resignation OF Dougal
McAusland was presented.
Mr.. McAusland stated in his resignation
that he positively refused TO serve longer
In his official positions OF clerk and dea-
con; that he was not out of accord with
the trustees and wished 20 remain n
member of the church.
He mentioned the discord in the church.
Its financial distress and his unwilling
ness 10 take part longer In the personal
dissenslons.
After considerable discussion, in which
the female element was predominant and
put their opponents entirely to route. the
resignation was laid over Till another
meeting.
George c. Arnold then secured the floor
and attempted TO make a speech, but was
frequently interrupted by the Rev. r. T..
Root who called him TO order and asked
for his motion, suggesting that his re-
marks would be in order after presenting
the motion
Mr.. Arnold said that at an unofficial
meeting ten days ago much sarcasm and
abuse had been heaped upon his head.
The chair resented this statement and
declared that II was an official meeting.
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
Mr.. Arnold waived discussion upon the
point and spoke OF the financial difficul-
| ties OF the church and the measures
taken by the trustees to straighten then
\ out
A COMMITTEES OF four deacons had beer
appointed to wait upon the minister and
agree on smaller salary.
The minister's salary is about 75 per
cent OF the total income OF the church.
The speaker contended that the efforts
of the board or trustees had been totally
ignored and that the vituperation and
abuse heaped upon them should be re-
acinded from the pulpit
Several women, incensed by the speak
ers remarks. repeatedly roso to a point
OF order and succeeded after a while in
shutting him of.
one woman clamored for immediate ac-
ton upon Mr.. McAusland's resignation,
and said the trustees were guilty OF mis-
representing the sentiment OF the church
body.
a woman then made n motion that Chas.
s. Crosby and George G. Arnold be re-
moved from the board OF trustees.
The motion was followed by n series of
the most bitter personal attacks rfvalling
those OF any political gathering.
The minister's female faction de-
nounced the two gentlemen as detrimen-
tai to the church's best interests
a gentleman who admitted that he
rarely ever attended the church meetings
styled Messrs. Crosby and Arnold as
cancers which must be cut out"
Mr.. Crosby took exception TO the mud
II there might be something more serious
than a war OF words.
He roundy denounced the pastorate
and said there was something radically
wrong since the church membership had
increased but SO In the seven years OF
Rev. Roots presence in the pulpit.