New-York tribune., 1905-01-07
HOT CONTEST AT CHURCH.
Pastor Defeated for Trustees-His
Ticket Beaten.

fractional differences which have been growing
Tor several months in the Bethesda Congregational
Church, Ralph-ave. and Chauncey-st., Brooklyn
eliminated last night in the defeat of the faction
led by the Rev. Charles Herald. the pastor at the
annual election Of the church society The exuIta-
uon shown by the winning side and the bitterness
revealed on the other side make 1t almost certain
many declared. that harmony can never be re-
stored When IT all over and the pastors
ticket had been defeated, Mr.. Herald who had been
laboring under great excitement throughout the
meeting. startled the congregation by raising his
hand Tor the benedicton and saying:
The The Lord forgive some of US Tiie Lord humble
of this church.
Many bitter words were spoken as the audience
hled out. Said old man:
They are nice. set When they came into this
the nast some 9f them had 20 borrow money from
They are a fine set Of Christians in this church.
said another
MI Herald. who refused to comment on the meet
Ins' received the sympathy Of only few persons
ne seemed utterly crushed he passed out into
the rain.
The trouble in the church arose several months
ago. when the pastor asked for a temporary as
slstant until the clergyman who was chosen as an
assistant, could take up the work The church
refused the request and Mr. Herald engaged q
woman assistant, paying her himself. He
toned the affair in a sermon, which was far from
pleasing to some of the members. The six trus-
tees resigned.
At a meeting Of the church some weeks ago
Mr.. Herald announced that he would be a candidate
for election as trustee at the annual meeting of
the society. He took that step, he said. believing
he could bring about harmony by being trustee
The pastor and his friends named an entire ticket
including clerk and six trustees He was a can
didate this ticket for trustee for three years.
The opposition ticket won as follows: W. H
Lewis, clerk: J. E. Burnett and Thomas Steven
son; trustees for three years; z Ferris and W.
PhlIIlps, ST., trustees for two years; F. Werfelman
ana w. h Lewis. trustees for year.
Lewis won John T. Houston, the pastor s
candidate, by 20 to &c. On the vote for trustees
for three years. Mr. Herald got 90 votes and John
Hetterington, who with him, 9S, TO Burnett 5
los and StevAnson's So
1t evident from the elaborate preparations
that had been made for the election and the tense
looks on the faces of all that exciting struggle
was expected. Each SIDE seemed suspicious of the
other Mr.. Herald. who acted as moderator, named
the teers and ushers and announced that those who
were entitled to a vote members of the church
and those Of the congregation who subscribed to
pay the expenses of the church. He announced
that he had list Of all such and that just HO were
present He requested all others TO sit on one side
Of the church
After the for clerk had been collected, some
body said he had asked for q ballot and all he
could get printed ballot of the Lewis faction.
Then Mr.. Herald, on learning that printed ballots
had been used by the opposition. demanded new
1T is evident that some chicanery has been used
here" he declared Il want a new ballot, and
going to have it,
somebody declared that Mr.. Herald not acting
as moderator legally, not having been elected He
upheld his position by the church law. The pastor
felt sure of victory at the beginning Of the meeting.