Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-02
The Plan Submitted.

I'VE addressed ourselves therefore to the
| effort to secure unity in the church by rec
oncilng the opposing parties After care
full deliberation We agreed upon the fol-
lowing plan:
a The present pastorate to continue for
six months, or until November l. 1904.
.'2. All parties to agree to cease discord
and gossip, and to refrain from all accu-
sations against each other.
80. All to continue to worship together
peacefully here, and to do all in their power
to conserve and promote the interests, well
fare and unity of the church.
"a. During this interval Vt is our hope
that the Eastern Church will become quiet
and united, and so the future OF the churcn
be conserved
After telling of the presentation of this
plan to the pastor and six commissioners
and securing their consent, the report says
the congregation was acquainted with this
action 1t states, however, that subse-
quently these men receded from their po-
sition but later gave their assent anew.
The report then refers to the formal pre-
senta ton of the question to the congrega-
ton at two congrega tional meetings, which
were reported in The Star at the time, and
to the final rejection of the committees
plan by vote of II to 35. The first of
the congregational meetings referred to
held April 20 and the second April 81.
Proceeding, the report says:
Upon request of the session, the chair
man of the committee moderated a meet
ing of the session duly commenced on Mon
day evening, April 25. All the members
were present The important business was
the correction Of the minutes of a meeting
of session held on April 5. In October last
certain members of the session had rendered
their designations, which had not been ac-
cepted, but were still pending On April 5
one of these elders gave notice of the with
drawal of his resignation. Thereupon,
another elder rose to protest, and moved
that all the designations be accepted. While
he was on his feet two other elders inter-
jected notice of their withdrawal of their
designations Though they were speaking out
of order, since another had the floor. neither
the moderator nor any member of session
called them to order, nor made any effort
to protect the speaker in his right to the
floor. Discussion followed upon his mo-
ton to accept the designations of the three
elders. The vote was taken upon all three,
This was incorrect, as one of the three had
presented his withdrawal before any ac-
ton was begun, and he remained a MEM
Der of the session. Three elders voted to
accept the designations and five not to ac-
cept; two of the five being the two whose
Withdrawals had been interjected. The
moderator ruled that both they and the
other elder whose resignation had been
first withdrawn, had no right to vote,
though giving at the time no reason for
that ruling. Asked his reason at the meet
ing of session on the 25th, he replied: Be
cause they were no longer members of
session. n-+ "a. - .-e-.a- --~
Matter overruled.
1.-The chairman of your committee mod
Grating this meeting of the session, over
ruled that reason, since the very question
which this vote was taken to determine was
whether or not those elders were members
of the session, or should continue such.
He ruled, however, that two of these men
were ineligible to vote on this proposition
that concerned themselves. The vote ac-
cordingly stood a tie, three to three. In
the absence of a casting vote by the mod
orator the motion was lost the resigna-
lions not accepted and these elders re-
manned members of the session.
Although the other members of the COM
mittee We're not present at this session
meeting the chairman reported his action
in full to the committee, and it was APP
proved. He instructed the clerk of session
to enter the minutes according to the above
rulings. and to append a foot-note setting
forth the history of the transaction.
your committee have given all diligence
to the business intrusted to them by pres
bytery. We have sat In all, some ten
hours besides having numerous confer
ences. We have acted with entire unanim-
ity throughout, and with conscientious de-
termination to deal impartially by both
parties and by all persons concerned. Our
Increased knowledge of the facts and con-
ditions has .deepened and confirmed our
unanimous conviction that the plan pro-
posed by your committee offers the sole
hope of the peace and harmony and pros