The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-06-28

! no ulSScTSinS OF CnS DOdrQ OF ar
bitration and the coarollins officers
Of the church who are said to represent
a regime that was in power for many
years. followed tho refusal OF the con-
gregation to accept the compromise"
whereby the pastor and all officers
were to resign without flnding by the
board OF arbitration The arbitrators
were charged with negligence in not
having returned a finding as instructed
by the congregation. According to the
articles of agreement the church would
have been forced to accept the recon-
mendations of the board OF arbitrators
Absence of a vociferous reception to
the Rev. Smithson after the acquittal
by reclamation. indicated to an unbias-
ed observer that the real isa-e was not
the discretion or alleged indiscretion Of
the pastor but a night for control Of
the affairs of the church between two
factions. The uprising was complete
The faction that arraigned itself with
Rev. Smithson wiped the slate clean"
The officers who we're thrown out OF
Office were tho charinen Of the general
board. the board Of elders. the board of
deacons. the treasurer, clerk. and au-
ditor: Messrs. Jesse Beebe. 4. Diskin-
.
Bonnie X. Robertson and Earl Robert
son. The latter requested that his
name be added TO the list when his
wifes name was included in the mo-
ton. Tho discharged officers II is
declared. represent the faction that
brou ght the charges gainst the pastor
ATTORNEYS TAKE THE LEAD
Attorneys Fred Barnett and John NJ
counsel for Rev Smithson. took the
lead after the meeting had been call
ed to order by Glenn S Smith and
Harry Eads had been appointed the per
n1anent chairman.
Attorney Barnett declared that the
charges against the pastor had been
denounced the manner Of trial by the
sessions
ANY man charged with a crime has
the right TO be faced by his accus-
ers." Attorney Barnett said We owe
II TO this community TO clean house"
torney Barnett said:
Brother smithson are you innocent
or guilty Of the charges made against
you?"
PAsToR SAYS HE IS PURE
Il am innocent Of any immortality
whatsoever" declared the Rev. Smith
son
They did not go before the board
of elders TO prefer these charges. At
torney Barnett continued: They have
no substantial charges I think It is
right that we should give the world
p
derstand that the Christian church does
not countenaace any undetermined
methods of getting a person out of the
congregation just because he doesn't
do like favored few want him to do
AS far as the matter of breaking OF
an agreement is concerned this con-
Attorney Barnett said 1T was simply
ton. We didn't agree TO accept a COM
promise We don't have TO accept
compromise.
The board of arbitration hasn't reach
ed a finding This matter has dragged
on for eight weeks and If this con-
gregation wants to FIRE the board Of
arbitration or the officers or the
preacher 1t haA right to do So"
zELLER, KINDRED pIsPLEAsED
After the board OF arbitration was
dismissed and the slate of officers put
before the congregation for removal.
Rev. Zeller and Rev. Kindred with
drew from the meeting. Each took oc-
casion TO tell the congregation that
he disapproved of the action that was
being taken. 1t was plain that the
visiting clersymen felt they had been
treated rudely in that the meeting was
taken out OF their hands.
Rev zeller resented heated re-
mark by Chairman Eads that Rev.
Zeller isn't running this church +" Rev.
Kindred resented the inference BY At
torney Barnett and Attorney Stinson
that the board of arbitration had been
dilatory In not reaching a verdict
SAY PROCEEDINGS LEGAL
Attorney Barnett today scoffed at
charges that the meeting last night
was irregular and the action Of the
was illegal.
Each congregation OF the Christian
church or Church OF Christ is a unit
not controlled by any governing body
but by its own membership" he said.
The meeting last night was 4 meeting
of the members OF the congregation OF
the church. Neither the Rev. Kindred
or the Rev. Zeller is a member of this
congregation and therefore could not
act as chairman Of a business meet
ing. The rule Of the majority pre-
vailed last night and the majority was
so great that it cannot be questioned
EJECTED OFFICERS GRIEvE
Some of the elected officers were
in tears as they left the church. a.
Dickinson. chairman of the board Of
elders and the general board who was
discharged. was one of the pioneer
of the church and before COM
ing to Hammond was a pillar in the
Christian church at Lowell He Is
], nnun as a Rihln ett1dent and a ma N