Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-06
.MV. I. \, BROWN
RESIGNS PAS|ORA1E.
FRIENDS PASTOR UNABLE TO GET
ALONG WITH OPPOSING FAC.
TON IN CHURCH.
YEARLY MEETING NOW
IN COMPLETE CHARGE
Resignation Goes to General Supsrin.
tsndent Harry r. ksatss. Who Takes
Charge Of Church Until Differences
Are Adjustsd-Atfair Terribly Mixed
Other Details.

In one of the worst mixed church
muddles this city has ever seen, the
Friends churcn-noted usually for peace
and harmony-stands today without
pastor, and the control of its own at
fairs vested not in the church, but in
the Iowa Yearly Meeting. Rev. E. H.
Brown, who has been pastor OF the
church since Sept. II, 1910, resigned
Sunday, following the path taken by
Rev. Ellyson r. Purdy. Rev H. w.
Pilot, Rev T. H. Doan, and Rev. \.
NJ Hodgin, his predecessors within
nine years.
Echo Of Old Trouble.
The action of the pastor dates speci-
fically from the trouble of last Noven-
Der, when the finance committee of
the church wanted the pastor to con-
sent to a reduction of 5000 in salary,
at the same time agreeing to apply all
monies received from outside sources
to his salary account
According to the pastor he was
promised a salary of $1,000 when he
began his work here. This was 5000
more than the church had ever paid
last year the finance committee e
formed the pastor, SO he says. that II
could not raise more than $500. and at
a business meeting held in November
a resolution to reduce the salary was
adopted. The pastors resignation fol-
lowed, effective Dec l. Later a tenn
porary truce resulted in the pastor
withdrawing his resignation and keep
members of the church say the feeling
has been very intense all the time in
tervening
Resignation to keates.
While in reality the formal resigna-
ton OF the pastor was made to Mr..
keates. as general superintendent Of
the pastoral evangelistic. and church
extension work of the Iowa Yearly
Meeting. a, Des MONIES last Thursday.
It's presentation was not made to the
church until Sunday morning.
keates Makes Statement.
In connection with the resignation
Rev. Mr.. Keates. who was here to
preach both morning and evening.
made the following statement:
IA the morning service Rev. E.
Howard Brown presented his resigna-
ton as pastor of the Marshalltown
meeting to take effect Immediately.
Both the members of the yearly meet
ing board and myself regret the neces-
sity of such course. but after a con-
sultation with Mr. Brown, who waited
upon me in Des Moines on Thursday
last. decided TO accept the resignation
and il is now matter Of record
1T will be remembered that in No
vemher last, because of an adverse re-
port by the finance committee Of the
church as to the pastors support Mr..
Brown resigned the pastorate, but was
later induced to withdraw it in the
hope that peace and harmony would be
restored. This not having been real
lied. and the church being threatened
with factional strife which could only
lead to disaster and reproach, and
which none would regret more than
himself. he asked that his resignation
be finally accepted
in laying the information Of his ac-
ton before the congregation, Mr.
Brown spoke feelinsly Of the support
that he had received from the church
as whole. and particularly referred
to the general kindness manifested to
him and his wife during the severe
illness Of their children, and the try
ing conditions thru which they have
been passing during the past weeks
He is an able preacher, peace lee
turer, and temperance advocate, and
has gained many friends during his
stay in this city who wish him Cod
speed in his future sphere Of service
His plans for the future are not ma
tured
The regular services of the church
will continue to be held and the meet
ing for the present will be under the
care Of the yearly meeting board"
Not Enough "Holiness."
That preachers of the Friends church
in Marshalltown do not preach enough
holiness" to suit a certain faction in the
church. appears to be one cause Of the
troubel the pastors have had, according
to the pastors themselves This was true
in the case Of Rev Ellison r. Purdy who
resigned: also with Rev. H. W. Pilot,
who left the Friends and became a
Baptist A lack of the holiness" doc
| trine from the pulpit also entered in
to the designations Of Rev. z. H. Doan
and Rev. n. NJ. Hodgin both of whom
however remained in the church.
! Members of the church also say that
there is liberal element in the church.
an element that believes in dancing,
card playing, and theater-going in
moderation. and this is opposed to
good old Quaker doctrine. Rev. Mr..
Brown took decided stand against
! these amusements and that helped in
! cur the enmity of the more liberal eie-
! ment
May Decrease Membership.
That the membership of the church
may decrease as a result of the open
rupture between the Brown and anti
Brown factions, is feared by some of
the members. Rev. Mr.. Keates appears
to have healed over the threatened
breach in a measure, and it is hoped
by the church that the membership
may be kept intact, or nearly so. How.
ever. that there must be a wedding
OUT process before the church will
ever be harmonious again. is admitted
by many. The church has a mem
bbership ct present Of 241
Brown Not Polite.
That Rev. Mr. Brown is not politi
in the administration OF church affair
is admitted by even his own bes
friends in the church. His ttempera
ment, however, is given by his ad
mirers ASIAN excuse for his out-spokel
qualities. which have made enemie
lwithin the church and outside o