Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-06
CHURCH vESTRY AIDS REV.
BAKER P. LEE
INDIGNANT REPUTATION FOL.
LOWS PUBLISHED ATTACK
Governing Board Of Christ Parish
Submits Report on Pastors
Financial obliga-
tIons

ERECT tnaL Lne TeCIOIs nov AohSi Il
Lee. had been asked to resign the pas
torate because of the involved condt-
tion of his personal finances.
Not only was II denied that the REQ
for had been asked to resign but q
declaration made by the bishop re-
pudiating the statement that he had
asked Rev. Mr.. Lee to quit his pas
torate was shown by vestrymen. Wes--
lev Clark, one of the vestrymen, had
quoted the bishop as saying ne deslTe9
that the rector resign. The attested
minutes of the vestry's meeting snow
the bishop did not make this state
ment. according to the majority of the
board.
The facts in relation to Rev. Mr..
Lees finances andSthe attitude of the
yestry are set forVin the following:
A special conferte of the yestry OF OK
office of Judge A. M. Stephens. Wilcox
block. at A D. m. on Monday, February
"a. 1908. to discuss the rector's en-
barrassing financial position caused py
his personal Indebtedness, said 10 ag-
pregate $28,000 or more; also to con-
slider the matter of a $250O chattei
mortgage given by him on his personal
effects. this latter demanding imme-
diate attention In order to avoid un-
favorable public comment.
To Arrange Finances
Those present were w. D. Woolwine,
nresiding as vice president of the COR
poration, and Messrs, A. M. Stephens,
e. T. Earl, Wesley Clark, X. ID. Grant
George Chaffey. Ben Williams. c. A.
Rockwell, w. B. Shaw and George w.
Parsons. After q full and free dis
cussion Mr.. Earl moved, seconded by
Mr.. Rockwell, that committee or
three be appointed by the chair to take
up the matter of the rector's finances
and arrange a plan for their manage
ment.
The motion was unanimously adopt
ed and Messrs. Earl, stephens anu
Clark were appointed as such COM
mittee. A motion then prevailed. mace
by Mr.. Clark and seconded by Mr.
Earl. that the vice president and Sec
retary of this corporation be and they
are hereby authorized TO negotiate
loan of $4,000, and directed to give d
note of the corporation for the amount.
the money to be used In paying OH
chattel mortgage or mortgages given
by the rector on carpets and his otner
personal effects at the rectory, taking
security therefor by purchase OF the
chattels in such form as they may
deem best. The committee of three
appointed, before adjournment OF the
yesrry, stated they would not act IN
the matter of buying the furniture ex-
cept upon q report made by them TO
the vestry, and further formal author
ity in the premises. this course oeing
approved by the vestry. Adjourned.
GEORGE w. PARSONS, secretary.
Second Conference
Adjourned conference of Christ
church yestry. held at Judge Stephens
office February 29, 1908. Present;
George Chaffey, presiding. A. M. Ste
phens Wesley Clark, r. ID. Grant,
Alex. Mills C. A. Rockwell, George W.
Parsons.
A letter from Mr.. Lee with reference
to his personal expenditures in connec-
ton with church work was then read
and discussed.
Then followed a report of the COM
mittee of three appointed at the meet
ing of February "A to submit a plan
for regulating the rector's finances.
In the absence of Chairman Earl.
follows: THAT we can see no way of
being of any financial benefit to Mr..
Lee in his financial trouble, owing to
the amount necessary to be raised at
once in the premises"
The committee by request was dis
charged, on motion of Mr.. Rockwell
seconded by Mr.. Mills Adjourned.
GEOhlIE w. 1AfSoO1NOs SeSIttois'
Bishop Quoted
A special conference of the vestry-
men of Christ church parish was held
at Judge Stephens office on Friday,
March 6, 1908, at 10 o'clock a. m.
Present: w. D. Woolwine, presiding,
and Messrs. George Chaffey., Wesley
Clark, William B. Shaw, c. A. Rock
well. Alex Mills, r. d. Grant, A. M.
stephens and George w. Parsons. Alb
sent: E. T. Earl and Ben Williams.
A verbal statement was then made
by Mr.. Clark of a conference between
the rector and Bishop Johnson, as re-
lated by the bishop to Mr.. Clark, dur
ing which conference the bishop stated
he had requested the resignation of
Mr.. Lee as rector of Christ church, and
that Mr.. Lee had declined to accede
to his request.
On motion of Judge Stephens, sec
onded by Mr.. Parsons, committee or
three, of which the chairman shall be
one. was appointed to confer with the
rector concerning his relations with
the parish, this committee to report to
meeting of the vestrymen to be here
after called, and to request the rector
after this conference, to call meet
ing of the vestrymen at an early period.
Unanimously adopted. and Messrs.
Stephens, Earl and Woolwine were ap-
pointed as such committee.
GEORGE w. PARSONS, secretary
After this conference the secretary
exhibited a copy of the above minutes
to the bishop for his approval, and the
bishop wrote out and handed to Mr..
Parsons the following statement of his
interview with Mr.. Lee:
"That he had told Mr. Lee that the
vestry were disposed to ask him to
resign and that he, the bishop, had
asked for the interview to advise him,
Mr.. Lee, of the fact. Mr.. Lee said that
such a statement would not secure his
voluntary resignation. That he would
not retire under fire. but that he would
contend for what he deemed to be his
rights"
Increase Salary
plan to increase the rector's SAL
ary and make provision for his indebt-
edness was taken up.
A special meeting of the vestry was
called and held at the office of Albert
M. Stephens, $50 Wilcox building. on
Monday, March 80, 1908. There were
present w. d. Woolwine, vice presi-
dent, presiding, and George w. Par
sons, secretary pro tenn, and Albert M.
Stephens George Chaffey. c. A. Rock
well, W. b. Shaw, Alex Mills and E. T.
Early; Wesley Clark, Ben Williams and
r. D. Grant being absent from the city.
The committee report, being the first
thing in order, was made by Mr.. Earl.
1t was moved, seconded and adopted
by unanimous vote as follows:
First-That this corporation will pur-
chase from the rector and his wife all
articles of furniture and household fur