Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-02
PEACE Dove LIGHTS
Calm Succeeds Storm in Luz
ther Place Church.
FOUR OFFICERS RESIGN
Congregation Names Successors and
Sings a Hymn.
CONFUSION MARKS MEETING
Those Who Quit Office Depart From
the Building, Followed by
Their Supporters.
CONFUSION MARKS MEETING

Rev. DIR. ]. g. Butler. pastor of Luther
Memorial Church, held out the olive
branch to the warning factions in his
church last evening. He seemed to re-
gard them as erring children, and de-
clared that they should be forgiven But
they declined to accept forgiveness. and
left the edifice. Then the dove of peace
settled down over the aSsemblage, and
81 veritable love feast followed. with the
audience singing Where He Leads Me
Will Follow
The meeting was called to consider
the designations of Messrs Anton Heit-
muller. r. r. Barclay and F.. j. r.
Wurdeman, councilmen of the congrega-
ton. Their tenders of resignation had
been read to the assemblage when AL
bert D Spangler, secretary of the coun-
ell, asked leave to read a letter, and
when his request had been complied
with he also resigned.
DIR. j. W. Graham was elected to sue
coed Mr.. Heitmuller. and Charles Shep-
herd and NJ. l.. Frease became deacons
in succession to Messrs Barclay and
Wurdeman. During the progress of the
elections there was some confusion. 1t
was decided not to elect successor to
MIR. Spangler, and to install the newly
Il
day evening. AT that time a successor
To the secretary may be chosen
Opening of the Meeting.
When the meeting began at o'clock
the rooms of the chapel were crowded.
The pastor, whoSis ex-officio president
of the church council, sat at the small
table upon the platform. and kindly
greeted those who entered. Immediate
IL of
muller. Barclay. Wurdeman and many
of their friends
The pastor invoked divine blessing.
praying for peace and asking Christ in
anything to occur that might in any
way mar one of his fairest houses of
worship.
When W. J. Showalter moved that DR..
Butler be made the permanent chairman
of the meeting, DR.. j. w. Graham sec
onded the motion. DR.. Butler waited for
a moment Then he put Mr.. Showalter's
motion and declared that the yeas
were in the majority.
Call was made for a division Many
openly declared they did not believe they
were getting a square deal. They wanted
to know the reason why. standing
vote resulted 126 10 AZ, the motion being
carried.
Suggest a Roll Call.
Friends of the resigning councilmen
suggested that a roll call was in order.
DIR. Butler said that he did not think SO,
glancing at the mammoth volume con-
tanning more than 100 names of church
members.
DR.. Graham proposed the name of Mr..
Showalter as the secretary of the meet
ing. He was declared elected. Calls for
recognition were heard from all Sides
Anton Heitmuller. the .resigning elder,
arose and addressed the chair, but the
sound of many voices continued. DIR.
Butler called Capt. Alexander Scott of
the church council to the chair, while he
left the room for moment. With the
appearance of another chairman the calls
subsidized, but for only a moment
The pastor then returned to the room
and stood to the rear of Capt. Scott. The
matter of accepting the designations of
the four church officers was then taken
up in earnest. Some one called:
IF YOU are sincere in resigning, why
are you raising such an argument? Why
don't you get out and let us have peace"
DIR. Butler announced that the matter
of accepting the designations was before
the house. s. ID. Berger was appointed
one OF the tellers to count the vote He
promptly made known that he did not
care to serve as a teller. He remarked
that at the last church election, wheE Mr.
Heitmuler received a large number of
a teller, and that afterward he had heard
il whispered about that he had stuffed
the ballot box.
Declines to Serve.
In view of this fact" Mr.. Berger
added. II cannot act as teller at this
meeting
l.. D. Alden then arose. He declared,
amid the noise which started as he COM
menced to speak. that he had also heard
that the teIlers of the last election had
nf SIN 6irn hall
For one, he said, he was innocent of the
charge. and he dared any man to come
forward and say that he had been in any
way connected with such thing
Cries of No. Mo- were heard, and
Mr. Alden sat down
Capt. Scott, Alexander Britton and Dr.
Graham were then appointed as the tell
ers. and after vote announced that the
designations bad been accepted by 149
to 90.
MIR. Sbowslter asserted that some of the
members had been spreading a repot that
the church was in bankrupt condition
account of the fact that taxes had
rot been paid for several years. He then
read a letter from w p. Richards Dis
trict assessor, TO the effect that there are
no taxes due upon the church.
The election OF an elder and two deacons
IL fill the positions of those who had re-
signed gas then i'm order DIR. j. w. Ora
ham was made an elder. and Charles
Shepherd aud NJ. H.. Tease deacOns 1t
was decided To wait until the meeting tn
he held Thursday evening TO name a sue
ccssor to Mr.. Spangler.
AS the voting began Mr. Heitmuller de
parted from the building. About forty
of his supporters followed him.
Some one started singing the hymn.
Where He Leads Me l Will Follow
Many men and women pressed forward
and. grasping DIR. Butler by the hand ex-
riair
would come out all right and You are
in the right,
DIR. Butler said the 'DoXoogy, and as
Praise God. from whom all blessings
flow" resounded through the auditorium
handshaking and good feeling were every
where in evidence.
True and Faithful.
From Harper's Weekly.
One does not look for the whole truth