Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-10
FINANCIAL TROUBLE IN FRIENDS
CHURCH CAUSES REV. MR..
BROWN TO QUIT.
LIVELY QUAKER SCENE
MARKS MONTHLY MEETING
Salary Of $1,000 Voted to Pastor Re.
duced to $so0-Action Of Church
Bodies Causes Lively Meeting Of
Congregation - Split in Church
Prompts Preacher to Resign.

At the monthly meeting Of the
Friends church. held Thursday night.
the Quaker spirit, supposed to personify
peace. harmony and good will. broke
down before factionalism and a spirit
of revolt with the result that formal
action was taken cutting the salary Of
Rev. E. Howard Brown which was
promptly followed by Mr. Prown's res
ignation. 1t was accepted by the scant
majority of two out of twenty-five or
thirty.
The majority that voted reduction
| in the salary was even smaller, it being
but one Both the votes. to say nothing
of the feeling shown, give an idea of
the almost equal division of sentiment.
ITS shame" indignantly said one
good Quaker woman this morning. II
| feel like quitting the church. but
can't do that, Pm a Quaker. We never
had better preacher than Mr.. Brown
Salary Cut is Cause.
| The cause Of the sudden resignation
of Rev. Mr. Brown dates back to a few
weeks ago, aitlio It had its real begin
ming last May. when Mr.. Brown was
employed for the new year. The I'M
mediate cause was that his salary was
cut from $1,000 to $500. The defense
given for the reduction is that the
salary could not be raised.
Rev. Mr.. Brown said today that last
| May, when he was employed his salary
was fixed at $1,000, being 5000 a year
more than had been previously paid by
the church. Secure in the thought of
the coming pay Rev. Mr.. and Mrs.
Brown and family came here and es-
tablished their home.
about the middle Of October" said
Rev. Mr.. Brown, 1.-The finance commit
tee came to me and said that it could
not raise the $1,000 year, and that
nv salary would have to be $500, and
that in addition I would have to give
the church credit for every dollar Civ
en- to me by any one"
The preached said he blamed the
committee not only for cutting his sal
ary after it had been fixed by agree
ment. but also for not telling him that
It intended to do so before the yearly
meeting. when pastors had been as
signed to all the churches.
culrnin ates in Meetings.
Some runors Of the committees ac-
ton had found its way among mem
bers Of the church. but the action OF
last night was not expected. Preceding
the monthly meeting a meeting OF the
pastoral body was held. At this SEES
sion a recommendation that the church
cay Rev. Mr.. Brown $500 passed with
but one dissenting vote. This recon-
nendation included reference to
credit for gifts to the pastor.
This recommendation. when present
ed to the monthly meeting. caused
much discussion, feeling, and friction
between members. 1t was passed with
majority Of one.
Being fully conscious of the finance
committees action, that Of the pastoral
body, and also the division IN the
church, rs expressed by the discussion
and shown by the vote. Rev. Mr..
Brown at once wrote his resignation.
It was accepted by majority Of two,
and is to become effective Dec. I. Rev.
Mr.. Brown says he will stay until that
time.
Hold Out Hope Vet.
It Is said that one or more members
of the finance committee had said that
the $1,000 salary would not be paid
the pastor If it could be collected. The
members Of the church who are for the