The Washington herald., 1909-02-02
VOTE STOOD 145 TO so.
Resignation of Three Dissent
ing COuncilmen Accepted.
Before Result Is Announced xem-
bers of Congregation Who saw
Approaching Victory Rush UDOR
Venerable Minister Of the Gospel
and Throw Their Arms About His
Neek-sonss of GIsdness Sung.

The aged and patriarchai Rev Dr. J.
G. Butler was given an overwhelming
tender OF support by the congregation OF
the Luther Place Memorial Church last
evening.
HOpelessiy Outnunbered. HIS enemies
folded their tents Ike the Arabs. and
silently stole away.
They departed with abundant promises
OF carrying the fight into the courts.
Bitterness vas q, feature OF the meeting.
No factional trouble. probably. invoIv-
ing 50 much feeling, has before broken
out in a Washington house OF worship
With II Buffers adherents it vas q
case OF now OF never
Popular Outcome.
The outcome was a popular one. DR..
Butler was sustained and vindIcated by-
vote Of I45 to 60 The test came IN
vote upon the resignation Of Anton Efsit-
muller. F H Barclay. and F. J. r.
wurdemann. After q wordy warfare. in
which protest after protest was register
ed with the chairman, the designations
were pat - the meeting.
Viva voce decided nothing. 50 the ven
ersbse pastor commanded a rising vote
Climbing upon the chairman-s desk l.
?. Randolph counted the votes. but long
before the tedious process was completed
the yeas were embracing each other
with tears in their eyes. They knew they
held victory in their grasp, and. rushing
forward, threw their arms about Dr.. But
ler's neck
a hard. grue3iug contest came before
the business OF the evening vas eompIet-
ed. but al the close the climax 20 an the
1lnseeHlly tempess came.
Leaning upon his saveI and n state
bordering upon exhaustion, Dr. Butler
surveyed his congregation. The ranks
we're thiHned. Tor many had departed.
The vacant chairs affected the pastor
strangely His devoted following was
fearful that the disahectioa would Gauss
their aged preacher 10 break down.
speech by DIR. Butler.
With voice quavering. and his thin
frame shaken with emotion. Dr.. Butler
SAL:
I didn't sleep wink last night for
fear my hopes might be shattered To-
night / thank YOU for your loyalty
7 thank you
Il have never doubted you for mo-
ment- know that many have been
r7-1
hope that al Of them viii return-T pray
that they viii.
As one man the members Of TIE
congregation clspped their hands and
cheered a rising vote OF thanks MS
rendered him- The doors we're closed
upon the throRg in the Railways. and a
circle was formed about the pastor. Zach
one whispered IN MS ear a personal note
Of assurance and steadfast faith.
Then the congregation broke into song
as an outlet to high-strung emotion. He
VIII Lead and VII Follow flooded The
small chapel. and it was followed By
Praise God. from Whom All Blessings
Flow
That was the end The feeling Of tia
earlier evening had been washed away
with hymns. and 1t was decided not 10
cherish resentment against those who
had carried on a losing fight against
Dr.. Butler
The three trustees are out Of Office.
and their successors have been elected.
They are Dr.. 6 W Graham. elder. and
Charles Shepherd and n. L Freese. cfea-
cons. L F Randolph continues as Z
member OF the council. but the vacancy
caused by the unexpected resignation %
A. T. SpangieT. secretary OF the council.
has not been sled.
The opposition was carried forward
with extreme searnestness and stubborn
ness Anton Heitms1n. one Of the trus-
tees who were ousted. Russell Alden. his
legal representative; II. Lerch. F 2.
Barclay. mad several Others were spokes-
men for this faction
Refused the Roll Call.
When the votes we're to be counted the
CRY Of Roll cali! roll CALI" boomed again
and again, but Dr. Butler, grim and de-
,ermined. ignored II.
That question has been settled. h4
repeated. There viii Be no
roll call tonight.
The question Of the roll can was the
erux of the meeting. All
the charges Of mismanagenent. which,
It Is said. formed the basis Of the resig-
nations Of the three members OF the
,ounciL center in the fact that they be-
ieved the roll Of the church has not been
Kept by Dr. Butler as II should have been
"Tf the roll Of our church were rightly
saIled. said one Of the opposition last
night scores OF those voting would bs
found TO have no right to vote
Just before the meeting closed DR.. But
er gave an explanation OF MS action in
refusing q roll call
There are over I,0o0 names fl this.
-on. he said. Many members OF this.
church. In perfectly good standing. are
N other cities Il would be foolish for
ne TO read over Io00 names every tine
! roll cal was demanded. Il was so
plain an attempt to obtain delay that 4
not 10 yield to the demand.
Continued on PaEe >, Column 1.
Flowers OF supreme Merit.