Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-10
vESTRY APPEALS
TO THE PARISH
CHRIST CHURCH BOARD ASKS
SUPPORT FOR RECTOR
APPROVAL OF MEMBERS DESIRED
BY GOVERNING BODY
Recent Publicity Given to Pastors
Financial Affairs Discussed-Plea
is Made for Loyalty to Rec
tor and His Work

to their pastor and the work of the
parish was made last night by the
vestry after a discussion of the finan-
cial affairs of the rector, Rev. Baker
p. Lee, and the recent publicity given
the subject of his personal debts.
The yestrymen stated their position
clearly and asked the support OF the
parish in the work of building up the
church and extending its influence.
They desire that their action in as
suming a portion of the Indebtedness
of the rector, the total amount aggre-
eating nearly 100000. it is said. ana
in raising his salary and applying
s26C0 a year to payment OF depts' pe
considered by the church and approved
Following is the vestrys appeal:
To the Members of Christ Church.
Dear Brethren: The course pursued py those
of your present vestry VINO were IN onics
rrior to the Easter election upon a matter .,
great importance to the church has been called
in question. ,
that we are accountable to you for our action,
we have determined to set forth In full that
which has been done and ask your careful
consideration of the matter.
But before forming judgment-which we
hope will be only after due deliberatlon-We
ask you to diligently try and examine your
selves as we did each diligently try and
examine" himself, before passing upon thls
II there be some among you who. after such
examination, find yourselves to be actuated
by the Christian graces, and who endeavor TO
live according to Christs rule we shall ex-
pect of you the exercise OF that perfect gitt
of charity
IL there be some among you who, after such
examination, find yourselves standing in need
OF merciful judgment, and would ask the
mantle OF charity thrown over some things
DONE we would ask Of you also the exercise
of charity
Invoke Charity
Indeed we invoke the charitable judgment
of every one towards your rector and your
servants the vestry.
We caused to be published in the morning
rapers of June full copies of all resolutions
adopted by the vestrymen at informal meet
ings and finally the resolution duly adopted
by the board regularly assembled on March
30, 1908. These we assume you have read.
Mr. Stephens states that his attention was
first called to the matter referred to in the
minutes of February "a, by an invitation from
& member of the vestry to confer with him
upon the subject. That after several confer
ences it deemed advisable to bring the
subject before the lay members OF the vestry
and take counsel with them
We learned that inquiry with respect to
the finances of the rector had been instituted
al the suggestion Of Bishop Johnson.
You will from the published resolutions
that there three conferences of the lay
members of the vestry at which this matter
was taken under consideration.
matter there set forth, the question of the
resignation of the rector suggested and
discussed. 1t was distinctly stated at the
time that the body then assembled was not
sitting rs a vestry. that 1t had not been called
by the president, and that no resolution should
be passed upon so vital a question the
resignation of the rector without notice to
him, and the assemblage of the vestry after
Que notice. Nevertheless, the matter of his
resignation was discussed and members of
the vestry present expressed their individual
opinions upon the subject, and It was the
opinion of those gentlemen present that If the
rector would voluntarily resign the office Of
rector 1t would, under all the circumstances,
be the best solution Of the matter.
To Notify Bishop
Before the adjournment of that meeting a
member of the vestry requested to report
back the conclusion we had reached regarding
the financial troubles and he also was ex-
pected to state to the bishop the individual
expressions of opinion which had then been
made concerning the resignation of the rector
We make this statement in order that it
may not appear-whch might otherwise be in
ferred-that the bishop had without warrant
taken up the matter Of resignation with your
rector
Finally. on March 30. the matter having
been under consideration for more than a
month, the vestry. for the first time duly
assembled upon the subject, passed the final
resolution of March 80
From the beginning to the end the sub
Ject was kept constantly in mind. At all
times held of the first Importance the
welfare of the parish. and of that large
number of persons brought into communion
with the church by the preaching of your
rector
AS co-workers with the rector we were at
all times mindful of his signal success as
preacher.
AS men we could not leave out of con-
sderation the man, his family and his
future.
Summing up the whole matter after great
and anxious deliberation, we finally, acting
as we believed in the best interest of all
concerned, took the steps embodied in the
resolution of March 80. and we now ask
that you go forward with
Should Support Church
We have determined, if our efforts avail,
that this parish shall not go backward. We
want this church to be unit in the future
as it has been in the past. We want your
confidence, your announcement and your
help, and especially do we ask the active
assistance of the noble women who have
done much for the cause
We ask every member to become a re-
cruiting officer. Let each resolve that by
individual effort some one unattached to
any church shall be brought into our fold
during the year. Your rector will do his
part faithfully, but remember that obliga-
tions rest also upon the congregation. Our
articles of religion declare that "The visible
church of Christ is a congregation of faith
full men in which the pure word of God is
preached and the sacraments be duly ad-
ministered according to Christs ordinance
in all those things that are requisite to the
same"
You are here placed at the foundation of
the visible church. The officers and minis
ters do nothing without you. The
church is not the church of the vestry and
the minister. 1t is yours. Stay with it.
stand for it, Do your best by it. Then will
be realized the hope which inspires us, that
long after all those who serve you now
have retired passed away, this congre-
cation, standing as it does, for conserva-
tive thought in the church, shall continue
to be factor in the moral uplft of this
community.
We understand that some have expressed
anxiety about the financial condition of the
parish. Our revenues now and for the year
just past, Notwithstanding the panic, are in
a very satisfactory condition. We have
assumed obligation except that
shown by the resolution of March 80.
We feel confident with your continued lib
eral assistance, promptness in payment of
dues and with the growth which your
united efforts must produce that the future
will be even better than the past and
finally but most important, we hope for the
increase of spiritual power, the growth Of
intimate friendly relations among you and
that shall stand family united
for the work which lies Immediately before
us OF the laity.
Assuring you finally that we desire in all
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