New-York tribune., 1912-04-19
Church ROW TO COURT
Defeated VeStrymen at ROSlyn
Cry Fraud in Election.
OBTAIN AN INJUNCTION
Bitterness Among Congregation
to Which Mrs. Mackay Has
Given Much Aid.
fBy Telegram to The Tribune.

Roslyn Long Island, April 1S-War
among the vestry OF Trinity Episcopal
Church, for which Mrs. Clarence II. Mac
kay has stood sponsor for the last few
years. has developed so much bitterness
that the Supreme Court has been called
in as arbitrator The annual election OF the
vestry was held ten days ago and three
old members were ousted. Some Of tho ad-
herents Of those who were put out have
filed afldavlts accompanying an application
for an injunction, while on the other hand.
the rector. the Rev. Clinton II. Brewer.
says the methods used at the election were
decidedly political and spectacular-that
FOUNDERS" were gathered from the village
and rushed to the polls.
To-day Harry w. Moore, a lawyer. who
was a candidate for Junior warden, secured
a temporary Injunction from Justice Kelby
restraining the board from acting in any
way until the matter can be heard to-mor-
row. With this injunction are a number OF
afiidavits, some OF which state the signers
voted the Moore ticket, while others say
that when they presented their ballots for
recording the Rev Mr.. Brewer asked II
they had seen the other ballot They IN
variably said NO" and the clergyman
would ask Samuel II. Andrews 70 hand the
voters the other ballot. II they still wished
70 vote their own ticket, the atlidavits state,
the rector would say:
well, | don't know whether you are
qualified or not. Have you contributed to
the church,"
Some of the voters declare that II they
said they did. by placing their offering on
the plate, the Rev. Mr. Brewer would say
this was irregular, as they did not contrib
ute regularly TO the envelope fund. Will
lam Witte, jr, said he was stopped when
he tried to vote. and when he told the rec
tor that he had contributed TO the endow-
ment fund, Mr.. Brewer said:
you are foolish 70 waste your money
in that way"
Mr. Witte said he was told he was not
entitled to vote IL any one else paid for
his pew Another voter said that when ne
told Mr. Brewer he did not contribute TO
the envelope fund or rent pew. the rector
threw the ballot on the floor.
Mr.. Brewer said this afternoon:
Tho injunction petition Is composed OF
downright lies. The canon laws state defi-
nitely that those eligible to vote must be
contributors to the church, but none was
refused II he was qualified. A majority or
those who protest are FOUNDERS who were
gathered UP IN automobiles and rushed to
the church. I had never even seen one
man who wanted to vote. The contestlng
party has repeatedly deAed the church
laws. For long time I have tried TO keep
the church troubles quiet, but the decidedly
political and spectacular methods used at
the election on April 8 have resulted in
the disclosure OF the internal wrangles.
II. w. Eastman, William Witte, jr.; Fred
Davis and Wlllet Charlick held over on the
vestry. Harry w Moore. Il. II. Pietsch'
a. G. Penny and ]. f. Clark were defeated
by the rector's ticket OF DR.. John Mann.
Samuel H. Andrews, William T. Wills ard
A. l.. Cram. 1t is said that the majority
OF tho people in the church are siding with
the rector. and II the court sets aside the
election tomorrow there promises 70 be an
interesting time when another election is
held.