The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-08-02
CONDUCT Of
PASTOR HELD
UNbECOM|NG
Report Says That Hammond
Preacher Should Quit
His Job

mond at a meeting June 27. repudiat-
ed. a signed contract under which the
trial Of the pastor was TO be conduct
ed. the board of arbitEators YESTERDAY
issued written report censoring tbs
members of the church and hnding the
Rev. c. NJ. smithson guilty of con
duct unbeeoming a minister
The aroitrators recommend that
the Hammond church and c. N
smithson sever their relations as pas
tor and con cation.
Violated SACRED PROMISES
we find also" they add, that e
NJ. Smithson violated his sacred
promise to the arbitration commit
which is a breach OF honor"
The report IS signed BY c. G. Kin
dred pastor of the Englewood Chris
tian church; A l. Zeller. chicaE
Heights. and T. ". Grafton. Indian
apolis, comprising the arbitration com
mittee.
The committee was "hred" BY vots
of the congregation at the meeting ~
June 81. but refused to abide by th,
decision, declaring that q contract eN-
listed whereby It was authorized e
recommend to the congres esati"n
whether it keep or discharge the pas
tor.
WHAT CHARGES WERE.
The Rev C. NJ Smithson was
charged with being ndiscreet in his
relations with women.
At the congregational meeting when
boord of orhitratfor
| with having "dilly-dauied' past the
| time that it should have had a report
| prepared the Rev. Smithson was
given a vote of confidence Sine
then the congreg cation contracted
| with him to remain two years more.
Copies of the report Of the board OF
arbitration are being sent to each
| member of the church by A. Dickin-
son who was dischaS sed as chairman
f the general board at the congrega-
tidnal meeting in June but refuses 10
acknowledge his dismissal. declaring
tlsat the meeting was illegal.
The report of the arbitration board
9TH an introductory note by Dickin-
.pn follows:
Hamond. Ind. Aug. !. 1921.
Dear Brother and Sister in Christ:
am sending to you and to eacn
Church Board a copy of the findings
Of the Board of Arbitration as deliv-
cred TO me by c. G Kindred, as -
lieve that each mem bear of the Board is
entitled to thi sinforplation.
Truly your brother
A DICKINSON,
Chairman General Board
July 18th, 1921
Report OF Arbitration Committee
Hammond Christtsn Church vs.. c
NJ. Smithson-
Whereas. the ELDERS Of the Ham
mond Christian Church and Minister
c. NJ. Smithson chose {. G. kindred
and A. I. zerer respectively, 10 ad-
judicate a difference super-conzreg ga
tional, that arose between them, and
signed contracts dated May 5th 1921
which wese later Latihed at a cor
gregationAl meeting called for that
purpose, and
Whereas, it was agreed by the Ham
mond church and Minister Srniths0n
that c. G. Kindred and a l. zeller
should choose a third member who
was to be minister in good standing
and that this committee. at its own
time and place should be provided
with documentary evidence and vii
nesses TO aid them in forming a con-
= c,usion, and
Whereas. j. was agreed by bota
parties in writing that they would
abide by the findings CT the arbitra-
tion committee; therefore c. G. Kin
dred and a. I. Zeller chose 7. "
Grafton the third member Of th-
committee and called a meeting at il,
Hotel Nee, Hammond. Indiana, Jun
18TH 1921.
After going over the docun erts aaa
hearing the witnesses. ii became clell
to the committee that we would
driven to decision we did not ear
to reach. Minitser smithson w49
called in. a frank statement made IL
him about the situation. and it was
put UP to him to find a way out. THIS
we did by agreeing to resign uncou-
ditionaly and without reconsidera-
ton upon condition that all Officers o.
the congreg alton do likewise Repre-
sentatives OF both sides were brought
before the committee and concurrcd in
the proposition made by Minister
Smithson. After this. the committee
adjourned trusting both parties -
carry out the agreement.
c. G. Kindred and A l. Zeiler
with the concurrence Of T. w Gra.-
ton, called a meeting OF the eonsre-
gation June 27th 1921. to receive IN.
designations and carry out the agres-
ment made June 18th. 1921. wilh
keen disappointment we discover that
the meeting was wrenchcd out OF TIE
comrlittee's hands. turned into a fac
tional congregational meeting cor
trolled by folks favorable to C NJ
smithson. who repudiated the signed
contract under which the committee
was created. Therefore, we the un-
derslgned committee. chosen as Pc
preamble and contract. make the fcl
lowing statement:
We ind said c. NJ Smithson guilty
Of conduct unbecoming a minister and
guilty as charged by the documents
submitted to US. and we recommend
the Hammond congregation and c. NJ
Smithson forthwith sever their rela-
ton as pastor and congregation. Ws
also find that c. NJ. Smithson violated
his sacred promise TO the arbitration
committee, which is a breach OF honor
This report Is made with a deen
feeling OF humility and prayer that
the wound caused ~ the present trou-
BILE may be speedily healed by tho
grace OF Cod
Signed.