The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-29

WILLIAM ANDREWS,
'E. L. KNOSTMAN,
Members Methodist Episcopal church
Former Members Otilciai Board.
Manhattan, Kas. Sept 4 t9ll-
To the President OF the Board OF
Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal
church, Canton, ILL.,. the District Su-
perntendent and the Bishop presid.
ing al the Conference in Which Can
ton Lies. Brcthren~The following
charges are preferred against the
work ami character OF the Rev Dr.
j II. Ramsey as minister, who is
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Canton H.. to.wit
LYING Charged to Pastor.
Il. Lying and misrepresentation as
follows:
"(a) on Friday. April I, l9ll, j. X.
Ramsey arrived in Manhattan, Kas..
TO assume the duties OF pastor Of the
Methodist Episcopal ohlrch Of this
city. Immediately upon his arrival
he stated to Dr.. John r. Madison, dis
trict superintendent of this district,
that his salary at Guthrie. Okla,
Nv here he had just been located, was
50. 200 per year On Sunday, April
9 he preached twice in the Method
ist churcn in Manhattan and at the
quarterly conference held In the al
ternoon of the same day he stated TO
the committee having in charge the
estimating OF the pastors salary, ana
to others OF the conference that MS
salary at Guthrie was $2,2G0 per year.
These statements were made Volun'
tarily and contained no qualifications
whatsoever. On the basis OF these
statements the conference fixed his
salary at $40 per week, whereas we
had been paying $35 per week, DR.
Ramsey further states his salary at
Guthrie was TO have been $500 per
year for the following year II he
would consent to stay.
Salary Reduced on Report
Nov. from statements from the
CLERK OF the board OF the Guthrie
church and from statements Of the
district superintendent his salary
was only $4,000 per year and no pro
vision or promise for the following
year had been made. From their
statements no other figure had been
considered.
"(b) Or. Ramsey also stated that
the parsonage at Guthrie was iully
furnished and that he was wholly
without furniture save for mis- piano
library and one rocking chair. On
tho basis Of this representation tAe
(certain members Of it, borrowed FOR
him at his own estimate of the cost,
s400 with which 10 fnrnish the par
sonage in this church l)r Ramsey
was 10 make weekly payments OF $50
4. saU
was paid The money was offered ~
him for but only one purpose tle
Of the parsonage OF the
church. This was the
condition upon which he obtained the
loan AS per his own statement ne
purchased furniture to the amount ot
S228 and drew the rest Of the money
cut Of the bank.
Investigate at Guthrie
"(c) Immediately after the arrival
OF DR.. Ramsey letters, signed ana
unsigned. we're received by the board,
stating things uncomplimentary 70
him as minister. Because ali ol
these letters but one, the anonymous
letter we're signed by men wei
known to different members OF the
board. a committee of whom the dis
trict superintendent was "a member
was sent to Guthrie to inquire OF Dr'
Ramsey's work in tnat church. Up
IN their return they reported 10 the
board that the statements in the lel-
ter were substantially true. AT the
meeting at which this report was
made twenty or thirty members were
present. A resolution was passed
requesting Dr, Ramsey
10 nut himself in the hands OF the
)ishop for a transfer as we felt ne
could not be successful as pastor oi
mis- church The resolution also
stated that the board was not salts |
fed as to his fitness for pastor OF
his church DR. Ramsey promptly re
used to accede TO this request al |
though the resolution and the letter
10 the bishop requested that Or !
Ramseys interests be cared for.
Sends "Untruthful" kilograms
"m the meantime. Dr.. Ramsey |
petitions to be circulated ask !
me the bishop not TO remove him. He |
also dictated telegrams which were
signed bv persons having no pOssl- |
Die means OF knowing the truth ana
who we're only temporarily connected |
with the Clnlfll dHt Ntp So ""N
there now These kilograms did not |
state the facts at all and were wholly |
lntruthfu1 They were sent 10 Bishop |
Moore These actions of DR.. Ramsey
caused the board by vote OF lG TO
4 to demand his immediate removal
and that he vacate the pulpit The
basis of settlement gas: His oDliga' |
lion az the bank 10 be assumed by
he individual members of the boarI
20 disposed TO do so and the payment
Of his salary one week in advance and
Or. Ramsey was TO remain III pos
session Of the parsonage Tor Two
Neeltg and leave TO tho board the
iurniture he had purchased, and ihe
final stipulation THAI neither party
was TO make any pnblic or private
statement Of the trouble. To al oi
these conditions Or Ramsey agreed |
absolutely through his representa-
tive William Knipe
"No sooner was the settlement
reached tnan he began through IN
ferviews and through articles IN th
laily press 10 expose the whole con
rrogersy. lie attended the First
Baptist church. then having a revival