The Washington times., 1904-05-02
PRESBYTERY WILL
KEEP HANDS OFF
Eastern Church Must Settle
It's Own Quarrel.
A SPECIAL MEETING HELD
Rev. Dr. Hamlin Would Have the Ma
jority Patch Up All Diff
ferences.
eve give it up. The congregation
win have % settle their own quarrel

we give IL up. Ihe congregation
will have 20 settle their own quarrel"
This in substance was the decision
reached today in the Eastern Presby-
teriaR Church controversy. by the %
cal presbyter-y. who held a special mcet-
ing TO dispose OF the matter at the As
s>mbly's Presbyterian Church. corner
OF Fifth and l Streets.
After a brief session. which was pur-
posely made short on the ground that,
as Dr. Hamlin put it, the less said
the better. the local Presbyterian min
listers quickly came to the conclusion
that they had had enough to do with
the Eastern Church row already.
Turn Down Rport.
"They have rejected our report" said
the Rev Dr. Hamlin, chairman Of the
committee on visitation, appointed 10
investigate the case by the presbytery.
and there is nothing else for us to do
but to leave the whole matter in statu
quo.
The majority of the congregation. two
10 one, want Rev Thomas Chalmers Eas-
ton as pastor. We suggested, as a COM
u omise, that his pastorship be limited
to six months. but the majority would
have none of it. We do not advise an
investigation for the reason that IT docs
not seem necessary, and, furthermorr,
would likely increase the spirit of dis
sension which now threatens the very
existence of the church.
Recommendation Made.
The committee recommends that the
congregation be allowed to settle tho
whole matter themselves. Those who are
in the majority claim that they can
support the church. Let them alone.
and give them chance"
DR.. Hamlm further asked that the re-
port be approved. and the commit e
discharged from its labors.
Dr. Wallace Radcliffe, of the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
made objection to this latter clause. on
the ground that there might still be
work for the committe to do, but the
final vote was to discharge the coz
Inittee of presbyteTy. as well as TO APP
prove the report.
DR.. Radcliffe then suggested that it
would be a most embarrassing situation
if three OF the elders OF the Eastern
Church who were unfavorable to Dr.
Ea ston remained on the board and that
he could not understand why they per-
sisted IN holding 10 the positions.
Makes vigorous Protest.
This brought DR.. W. F. Gatchen, one
! of the minority elders TO his feet with
a vigorous prOtestation to the effect that
he for one did not intend to hold to
his eldership. and that he would prompt
/ " resign from the church.
] After the meeting DR.. Gatchell said;
There will undoubtedly be a great
! secession from the church as the result
/ Of the retention of DR.. Easton. There
are fully hundred in the congregation
/ who object 10 DR.. Easton, and many OF
/ them, though they have been devoted
| worshipers at Eastern Church fol
years. will now enter other churches.
Predicts Fall of Church.
The majority claim that they car
run the church without US. Well 1 an
not a prophet or. the son of a prophet
/ but l predict that Eastern Church viii
/ go 10 pieces in a year"
! Dr. T. A. Sadler, b. T. Welch. and r
| H Zimmerman were also among tn
prominent leaders of the minority fac
ton present but they kept quie
| throughout The minority claim tha
| their withdrawal will seriously crippl
! the church financially.
AT present there is a debt of $50. 90
/ hanging over the congregation, ant
more than 600 in interest due a montl
aEO is reported unpaid as we'll as $50
| of the minister's salary The congrega
ton originally numbered about 400
The mlnoritys dissatisfaction with DR.
| Easton is on general grounds, the prin
cipal one of which is that he Is too oil
and infirm to properly attend 10 his du
ties
The church is located at Sixth Street
corner of Maryland Avenue northeast.