The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-04-06

The long smouldering differences be-
tween Ebert Russell, head of the Bib
lical department Of Earlham college
and. until recently. the college pastor,
have been famed into flame by the
resignation of Mr.. Russell from the
college faculty, which will be acted
upon at called meeting of the board
of trustees Of the institution to be held
Wednesday morning
According to Earlham authorities,
the matter has been brought to head
through the clash Of activities of the
West Side Friends meeting with the
college faction in that congregation,
which caused the resignatiop OF Muir.
ray Kenworthy as pastor of the West
Side meeting, and Elbert Russell's res.
ignation as college pastor. reported re-
Gently. ss'~4--~e'-'- e--e-s --
Opposes Movement
1t is alleged that Mr.. Russell does
not believe in the separation of the
college from the West Side congre-
cation. and that if the latter erects a
church off the campus the students
should look to that as their church
home.
The board Of trustees CT the college
has long been opposed to the union of
the college religious activities with
that of the West Side Friends, alleg-
ing that the two can not work har-
moniously for apparent reasons. The
trustees want the college to return to
the former custom of holding Sunday
services in the college chapel for the
student body.
The fact that Ebert Russell is the
only available person who can act both
as college pastor and as head of the
Biblical department, and that his res
ignation as the former makes it impos-
sible to keep up the Biblical depart
ment separate from the college pas
torship, on account Of the limited
finances Of the college, has caused the
college authorities to intimate to Mr.
Russell that if he insisted upon his
resignation as college pastor, his res
lgnation as head of the Biblical de-
partment would have to follow.
Refuses to Reconsider.
Much pressure has been brought to
bear upon Russell by his friends and
friends of the college to get him to re-
consider his determination to resign in
both capacities, but he has refused to
withdraw his resignation. This, 1t is
alleged by the college authorities, is
the only reason for the rupture.
It is a wellknown fact, however,
that, on account Of Russells liberal
religious tendencies, he has been the
mark of the ultra-conservatives among
The Friends in the two yearly meetings
Indiana and Western-having over
sight Of the college affairs, and it is
positively alleged that two of the pres
ent trustees of the college, Leander
Woodard of this city, and Edward
Woodard of Western yearly meeting,
we're elected to the board for the only
purpose of eliminating Russell from
the faculty.
"A 80.
Cause Of Action.
The college authorities deny, how
ever, that there are any "doctrinaP
reasons for the present break, stating
that it is merely the result of the
muddle the two factions in the West
Side Friends meeting have found
themselves.
1t is further alleged that, while both
DR.. Robert l.. Kelly, president of the
college, and Professor Russell, deny
absolutely there are any personal
reasons for this action, that the lat
ter's resignation is based on serious
differences between the two in the
matter of college administration. and
that since DR.. Kelly is employed by
the trusees to administer the affairs Of
the institution, and since he is doing
50 without any protest from the
trustees and that, hence, he must be
acting in accordance with their plan
Of administrative procedure, that Pro
fessor Russell's opposition to certain
phases Of DR.. Kelly's administration.
makes it imperative that some de-
cisive actor. be taken, since it Is not
possible for the two to act longer In
harmony.
Either Kelly or Russell.
1t is, in fact, alleged, that it has
come to the place where either Russell
or Kelly will have to go.
1t is further alleged that Professor
CONTINUED on Page Three.)