The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-09-26
Yearly Meeting Speaker
Claims Timothy Nicholson
Accused Russell of POliti-
cal Chicanery for Action.
RUSSELL ON FLOOR
Tells Why He Fought Ken
worthy and Tells Friends
How Committee Threaten
ed Loss of Position.

An expose of the alleged methods Of
Truman C. Kenworthy, former pastor
OF the East Main Street Friends
church, to secure his appointment as
Superintendent of the Evangefstic
and Pastoral committee OF Indiana
Yearly Meeting was made at this
mornings session of the latter body.
The resignation of Ira G. Johnson.
former superintendent on account OF
ill-health, had already been brought
to the attention of the Yearly Meeting,
but the recommendations of the COM
mittee as to the readjustment OF the
personnel of the committee and the
appointment of a new superintendent
were not introduced at the time the
annual report of the committee was
made but deferred to the closing busi-
ness session.
At this time the name OF Mr.. Ken
worthy was proposed as superintend-
ent, Joseph A. Goddard of Muncie. as
chairman, Fannie Elliott as secretary
and George w. Bird as treasurer.
Russell Takes Floor.
When the Yearly Meeting was ask
ed to pass upon the committees
recommendation for superintendent,
Ebert Russell. a member of the Earl
ham college faculty and Progressive
candidate for congressman in this dis
trict, made a clear statement of the
conditions which caused him to oppose
this appointment.
Mr.. Russell stated that he thus
spoke out in meeting" because of his
belief in the basic principle of Friends
that free and open discussion should
be permitted of every mooted point
that arose in the society.
Mr. Russell stated that the commit
: 1v - fr
worthy's position through. had virtual
ly threatened him with the loss of his
position on the Earlham college fac
ulty If he opposed Mr.. Kenworthy's
appointment openly.
Boycott Nicholson.
Mr. Russell also further alleged
that S. Edgar Nicholson, editor OF the
American Friend, had been threatened
with the loss of subscriptions to his
paper if Nicholson openly opposed the
appointment.
Mr.. Russell continued to say that
the committee had charged that he
would not dare speak against the ap-
pointment at the Yearly Meeting.
And that is the reason l am doing
it," said Mr.. Russell in a murmur Of
approval from the audience.
Charles Hiatt, a member OF the
committee. stated that he knew OF no
policy of coercion on the part Of the
committee.
James Unthank. former president Of
Wilmington college, stated that he had
been approached two months ago and
asked to say nothing against the ap-
pointment of Kenworthy in the Yearly
Meeting.
Accuses Nicholson.
Timothy Nicholson who. at this
time, accused Mr.. Russell of what he
termed political chicanery." was ac-
cused by James Unthank of making
virulent attack on Mr. Russell and
thus introducing the first personal
note into the discussion.
John KittereI, OF West Milton. Ohio.
stated that, on account of the high
tribute paid the Society of Friends by
Bishop Oldham, that Indiana Yearly
Meeting must maintain that high
standard, and see that free and open
discussion of all mooted points should
be permitted in accordance with the
principles of Friends.
Mr. Kitterel stated that the Oppo-
sition against the appointment OF Mr..
Kenworthy was crystallized on account
of wide spread objection to Mr.. Ken
worthy's suitability for such position
throughout the Yearly Meeting, and
the disposition of the committee to
prevent that discussion was the cause
of it's introduction by Elbert Russell.
Kelly Closes Speaking.
DR.. Robert l.. Kelly, president or
Earlham college and clerk of the year
ly meeting. stated that. in accordance
with the usual procedure of the pre-
siding officer of this body In permit
ting discussion on all reports, the dis
cussion that had just preceded his re-
Continued on Page TwO.)