Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-06
PASTOR RESIGNS HIS OFFICE1
REV. c. n. BUTLER LEAVES KEEL
LAR MEMORIAL CHURCH.
Departure Demanded After Effort to
Increase Salary-Stormy SEES
sion of the Council.

AS the result Of an effort to increase the
pastors salary, coupled with internal
dissensons, the resignation of Rev.
Charles Fl. Butler as pastor Of the kellar
Memorial Lutheran Church. corner of
Maryland avenue and 9th street north
east. was accepted by a special meeting
of the congregation last evening, the
vote being 80 to 80.
This action is the outcome of factional
troubles growing out of the dissatisfac-
ton Of a large element In the church
with the preaching OF Mr.. Butler. The
Kellar Memorial Church was originally
a mission of the Luther Place Memorial
Church. of With Rev. J. G. Butler,
father Of Rev. c. H. Butler. is pastor.
Father and son were largely instrumental
in founding the kellar Memorial. and the
son has been pastor from It's beginning.
It is claimed by the nenbers of the fac
ton which is opposed to Mr.. Butler
that among other things he was doni-
mated by his father and the policies OF
the church were largely dictated by the
elder clergyman.
The meeting last night was opened with
prayer by the pastor. after which ID. w.
keck was called to preside and DR.. H. II.
Setter was made secretary.
Resignation Demanded.
!. Mr.. Adoph BoWdler read a statement
from certain members OF the church
council calling on the pastor to resign.
Mr.. George L. Beeler read another state
ment making numerous allegations con-
corning the pastors alleged inability to
do his work.
Then was read the pastors formal let
ter Of resignation. IN part, as follows
"As already stated in the note Of Oc-
tober y because Of alleged dissa tisfac-
ton with the pastor, he herewith form
ally tenders his resignation. He is I'M
willing to serve this church one day
longer than the people desire his service
"A church which he has served with
whole-hearted devotion and which has
never been in better condition than now.
In taking this action the pastor wish
es to make a plain statement TO the con-
gregation. The present pastor Of the
church has been with 1t all through its
history from the very inception of the
work in the inauguration OF Sunday
school until the present. OF the SO to
$50 persons received into church mem
bership all have come in under the pas
tors ministrations. His relation to the
congregation is therefore peculiar. When
he undertook the work there was nothing
here-no Sunday school. no congregation.
no church building no enVironment-aii
had to be developed.
After further recital of the work of
the church during his pastorate. Mr..
Butler concluded:
Stormy Session.
1T is for you to decide whether the
Keller Memorial Church. which during
sixteen years has grown and prospered
in peace. shall now be rent in twain
A very stormy session then ensued.
The pastor spoke in his own behalf.
and there were speeches from members
Of both factions before the vote was
taken.
Several proxies. which, 1t Is said.
would have changed the result, were
thrown out.
The members of the church council
are the pastor Rev. c. II. Butler;
Messrs. H. Boesch. II. H. Settler. MD.
and H Weber. elders and Messrs.
George L. Beeler, Adolph Bowdler and
A. w. Cummings. deacons.