The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-29
ASK MRS. GRANNIS TO QUIT.
DISCIPLES CHURCH RACKS Up
THE REV. II. O. DENHAM.
Only Five Of the Congregation Vote to
Accept His Resignation. and Only
the Same Five Oppose tho Grannis

Resolution Meeting . Lively One.
With only Ave dissenting voices out
OF vote Of 146, tho congregation OF the
First Church Of the Disciples OF Christ, In
West Fifty-slxth street, near Ninth avenue
last night gave ringing Endorsement
to and refused to accept the resignation
Of the pastor the Rev. DR.. B. Q. Denham.
BY the same vote and amid scene OF
enthusiasm remarkable in a church meet
ing, the congregation passed resolution
requesting Mrs. Elizabeth b. Grannis, the
womans suffrage and social purity ad-
vocate to withdraw from membership OF
the church
Mrs. Grannls refused to withdraw and
demanded that charges be preferred against
her and that she have her trial In the
regular way. The Rev. B. Q. Denham
took a few days to consider whether he
would or would not withdraw his resig-
nation.
As related in The Sun yesterday morning.
Dr. Denham rendered his resignation on
June IS. There was a small group. con
spic,Io,is In which was Mrs. Grannis, who
were bitterly opposed to the pastor. He had
been subjected to a church trial in Tona-
wanda on charge OF having caused domes-
tic trouble in the family of one Of his flock.
He was vindicated at the trial and when
he resigned did 30 despite an urgent re-
quest from his church that he remain.
Mrs. Grannis said that she had received
letters from the aggrieved parties in the
Tonawanda case. The story OF the pastor r
troubles in that town was set on It's travels
here in New York and it lost nothing in the
telling Other detrimental stories followed
on it, heels.
Pastor Denham resigned and said that
he was going into commercial pursuits
but was not going to leave the ministry.
The meeting last night was called to take
action on his resignation, 1t was held in
the basement OF the church, and Robert
Christie chairman of the board of trustees.
presided. All save actual members Of the
church were excluded.
1t was not difficult at the outset to see
how things were going. Pastor Denham
was IN the vestibue while the members
were streaming in. and he received con-
tinuous ovation. Men and women gathered
about him, shaking his hand. and giving
every indication Of affection and con-
fdenCe.
A, soon "a the doors were closed Mr.
nTLstle iudUe d sl)tefh Ol dtOut twenty
minutes, rehearsing the storie. and strongly
censuring those who had circulated them.
Elder j. h. Bouton then read resolution
to the effect that the church expressed
the utmost confidence in Mr.. Denhan
and requested him to Withdraw his resigna
tca. Ten persons at first voted against
the resolution hut five afterward changed
their voteS, and |. was carried by III to 6.
Then Deacon Francis NJ. Apologize
arose He read resolution that had no
whereases. II went right 10 the point in
these words:
"Rssolrsd That il Is the sense Of this
meeting that Elizabeth b. Grannis should
Withdraw her membership from this church. y
This resolution was received with loud
cheers and shouts of approval Samuel W
Hoke, who had been opposed to Mr.. Den
ham. demanded that rea sons be- given for
this resolution Mr.. Christie gave them.
accusing Mrs. GIanniS Of circulating the
stories nbuut the pastor in the newspapers
and elsewhere. Mrs. Grann- denied that
she had done So When the vote was ia ken
there was another wild scene OF enthusiasm.
some of the members rising to their feet
aud waving their hands with delight when
the result of l4l against Mrs, Grannis to
! for her wax announced
Mrs Grannis did not seem much dis
tlrbed. She arose and said that when she
entered the church she entered il for life
and would not leave it at any ones request
or until charges against her had been made
and sustained
After the meeting Mrs Granri- declined
to discuss the matter MIR, Christie said
it was too soon to tell whether charge
against Mrs Granni. would he formulated.
NIr DE- uhnIn "a id LIE had nothing To INV.