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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 26, 1903)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1903. PASTOR IS UPHELD First Baptist Church Votes ' for Dr. Blackburn. RESIGNATION NOT ACCEPTED After Tnmnltfaons Debate of Charges, Counter-Charges anil Hisses, Se cret Ballot Results 121 to 100 In His Favor. By a vote of 121 to 100 the congregation of the First Baptist Church last night re fused to accept the resignation of the Rev. Alexander Blackburn, the pastor who has been under fire for over two months. Dr. Blackburn accepted this vote as a vindica tion and says that he will remain with the church. Coincident with the submission of the resignation of Dr. Blackburn four of the seven deacons, E. M. Runyon, G. E. Jamie son, H. R. Beckwith and J. G. iTalone, offered to leave their posts. J. G. Malone, superintendent of the church Sunday school, and the superintendents of the Chinese and Savler-street missions also resigned. The church postponed action on these resignations for two weeks. The congregation "wrestled with the pas toral problem for four hours, and at times during the fierce debate charges and hisses -were hurled back and forth and a tumult reigned that provoked the declaration from one member that he "had worked in ward politics In the slums of Chicago, but he had never attended a more riotous meet ing." The Rev. Mr. Blackburn and Deacon Beckwith were involved In a question of veraplty. and the etory of the rupture be tween the deacons and the pastor was glven'-as many conflicting versions as there were persons to relate the incidents that led to the present factional fight The deacons declared their first trouble had grown out..of the rumor of the pastor's reported engagement 'and their efforts to remonstrate "with him and lead him back into the straight and narrow path from which they alleged he had etrayed. The pastor, all unappreclatlve of the deacons' solicitude, failed fo. realize that he was on the wrong road. Pantor 1'lentT- for Support. The Rev. Mr. BlacKburn made an Im passioned appeal for support, and he de tailed his church work, Jrom its Incep tion, paying particular attention to that portion of the time he has pent in Port land. His story occupied neaf ly an hour's time in the telling, and the orators who defended him consumed nearly all of the time that was left. Notice that the question of pastoral re lations was to be brought up last night had been given the week before. As a result the prayer meeting last night was more generously attended than the usual Thursday evening gatherings of the church. There were those joining in the devotions of the congregation who were comparative strangers to the church, and when the "business" meeting was called the church members suggested the pro priety of closing the doors, with all strangers remaining out in the night. The meeting was closed to all save voting members of the church. "A Time for Prayer and TliinUin." The moderator In opening the business meeting insisted that "this Is a time for prayer, not for acting; a time for think ing, not for speaking," but the congrega tion would not agree with him. For hours the members did anything save refrain from talking. Impassioned addresses were punctuated with hisses and hand-clapping, the supporters of the pastor receiving the more, generous bursts of applause. Outside the church rooms a score or more of women and a few men were gath ered. A numer of elderly women who occasionally heard Dr. Blackburn preach caucused on the stone steps and told each other how they would vote If the oppor tunity presented itself. Occasionally one of their number tiptoed to the door to peek through the glass and report the progress of the meeting to the gathering on the steps. One elderly woman relieved the monotony of the discussion of the church fight by reproving a younger at tendant of the church who wanted a younger man to preside. "I don't know whether I did right or not." she said later, "but I just told her right out that men acquire wisdom and judgment with years." And the caucus on the church steps agreed with her that men learned as they lived. Eager Crorrd of the Carious. A small crowd of curious women gath ered about the doors leading to the church auditorium, listening with bated breath to the scrips of oratory that leaked through the keyholes. In the Sunday-school room of the church quite a number gathered to gossip of the struggle and listen to that portion of the debate that found its way through the doors. The street entrance to the auditorium was crowded, and every now and then when the janitor opened the door to let some restless spirit depart from the meeting he collided with a listen ing woman or child. Half a dozen women lound a door in the upper portion of the church building that gave them an oppor tunity of hearing without being disturbed. They pre-empted all the good listening spots, and formed a close corporation that kept away outsiders. The neighbors took an Interest In the matter, too. As long as it remained light the windows In adjoining houses were peo pled by those who found amusement In watching the small crowd that stood about the church entrances. But when It got dark and the weather grew colder, the crowd melted and the windows came down. On the inside of the church one would not have noticed the change in the weath er nor the darkness of the night. The pyrotechnic display of the orators and the heated words that were tossed about dis pelled the gloom and made the 200 odd members lose all thought of the tempera ture. Pastor Submits Resignation. A special committee reported to the con gregation that it could find nothing In Dr. Blackburn's "work or character that called for condemnation. The report was read and laid aside, and then Dr. Blackburn presented a written resignation as pas tor. He Ignored the church fight entirely in his resignation, but when he spoke to the congregation a moment later he went into details enough to satisfy those who wanted the -subject broached. In his speech to the congregation Dr. Blackburn Insisted that he enjoyed his work in Portland: he liked the city and the people, and he wanted to remain here and continue to preside over the Baptist Church. He rebuked those who had criti cised his course, and insisted that he had been open and honest in everything that he had done. James Edmunds, Clerk Veazle, of the church: O. P. M. Jamleson, Captain J. A. Sladen and several others Insisted that tho church could not accept the resigna tion of the pastor. "It would be a dis grace to the church to allow Dr. Black burn to leave," Clerk Veazle Insisted ve hemently, and he continued to Insist that the congregation owed to Itself the duty of refusing to allow the pastor to de part. Mr. Dean endeavored to -counsel mod eration, but he did not find any support lor bis plan. He wanted the two factions to get together and find a way out of the difficulty. Mrs. Drake, who had Just returned to Portland, was the only one who urged the acceptance of the pastor resignation. She thought this would lead to church harmony, , and she insisted it should be aad Pastor Dispute. The fireworks came as a side issue to tho 'dispute over the resignation of Pas tor Blackburn. It was when the deacons endeavored to tell their version of tho strained relations, and when Dr. Black burn endeavored to tell the congregation the way he viewed the deacons' attitude, that the trouble began and the caucus of elderly women on the steps was adjourned and the number about the cracks in the doors became larger. The deacons and the pastor had widely divergent views on the origin of the con troversy between Dr. Blackburn and the rest of the church organization. While tho speakers did not employ the delight fully clear English of the street there Is no doubt but that the representatives of different factions intended to convey the impression' that other speakers had per verted the facts and the truth lay only with the speaker. In the North End they would have said "It's a lie," but at the Baptist Church the speakers insisted that "Brother" So and So was In error. How ever, there was no difference in the man ner of gestures employed to punctuate the remarks. Whenever the speakers strayed away from the simple question of church har mony and the effect of the acceptance of Dr. Blackburn's resignation there "was trouble. It was impossible for any one to endeavor to explain that the trouble has grown out of Dr. Blackburn's remar riage without provoking a heated re sponse that some of the details suffered by the telling. Voters aiustered Tosretber. The debate showed the fact that the vote would be close, and there was a hurried gathering of supporters of both sides. Runners were sent out to bring in members residing in the neighborhood, and more than a score responded later than 10:30 P. M. Some, it is reported, were even brought from beds to vote on the pastoral question, and the closeness of the ote justified these precautions. The usual ' plan in Baptist business meetings is to vote by raising the hand. Last night secret ballots were ordered, and the tellers reported that 121 of the 221 voting had declared Dr. Blackburn's resignation should not be accepted. Then, since it was nearly 11:30 P. M., the con gregation decided to postpone for two weeks the question of accepting the other reslgnatloris presented. Bitterness Still Exists. That bitterness exists still among the congregation was made evident by the scraps of conversation between members as they filed out of the auditorium. "Of course he won't resign. Not he," exclaimed one woman in anger, and her companion responded: "He wouldn't re sign as long as he had a majority of pne," The antl-BIackburn faction crowded about and congratulated the leaders of their contest and planned revenge at the coming business meeting, when the other resignations are to be taken up. They did not attempt to restore harmony, and left the church as soon as possible. "They would never have got that vote any other way," a member of the Black burn faction insisted. "On the question of accepting his resignation many voted with them that would oppose a motion to dispense with Dr. Blackburn's services." j And the pastor safd simply: "I have ' been vindicated. I intend to remain here as pastor of this church." HARBORS HIS HOBBY Binger Hermann Prepares to Work for the People. GATHERS DATA Oft NAVIGATION BOAT "WAS TOO FAST. Captnln of Steamer Is Arrested for Violating Speed Ordinance. Captain C. M. Allen, of the steamer Regulator, of the Regulator Line, Is un der arrest for violating the city ordinance which forbids vessela speeding faster than five miles an hour within the city limits during high water. Tho arrest was made by Harbor Master Ben BIglln. He has been watching the vessels closely since the water has at tained such a height that it is danger ous to create swelle along the water front. The ordinance regulates the speed of ves sels between the northern part of Ross Island and the southern part of Swan Island. City Attorney McNary has satisfied him self as to the legality of tho proceedings, and will bring suit against Captain Allen In the name of the city. The maximum penalty for the offense Is $300. Rosebnrg Statesman Refases to Dis cuss 3Ir. BromtcU's Treatment of Himself, Neither Will He Talk of Federal Appointments. Binger' Hermann came to town yester day. His wife and son are registered with him at the Imperial. Mr. Hermann's advent was regarded by many gossips as having political significance, but he cleared all such apprehensions away by explaining that he came to get informa tion from the Government engineers about harbor Improvements. In the course of the day he -called upon Captain Lang fltt to get useful data. "Ask me something easy," was Mr. Hermann's response when he was asked how soon the four land office jobs in his district are to be apportioned among the faithfuls. "Ask me something easy," he said again, and then replied: "Not the slightest Idea," to a question about who would get the appointments. "Go to the honorable Senators," he added, graciously. "Ask the honorable Senators," was Mr. Hermann's response again, when a ques tion was put to him about the United States District Attorneyship. Mr. Her mann could not be led on to say anything about Mr. Brownell's alleged unfaithful ness to him in the last election. "I do not wish to say anything about that mat ter," he remarked. "No, I have not in vestigated the reports at all. I will not do Mr. Brownell the injustice even of com menting on them." Nevertheless, Mr. Hermann did not indicate by hint or word that he believed Mr. Brownell had been loyal or that he believed the "reports" to be untrue. The story is going about that Mr. Hermann actually Is looking into the "reports," and that this purpose Is perhaps more than incidental to his pres ent mission down the Valley. That Mr. Brownell had tho Clackamas delegation to Eugene instructed for him self instead ot for Mr. Hermann; that he professed loyalty to Mr. Hermann, and was accordingly made chairman of the convention: that he abandoned the con vention to the enemy, and all but lost Mr. Hermann the nomination; that he encouraged his friends to strive for him self after Mr. Hermann's forces went to pieces; that he did little or nothing for Mr. Hermann In the campaign preceding the election; that Clackamas, one of the stanchest Republican counties, was carried by Mr. Hermann's Democratic opponent by an amazing majority; that Mr. Brownell, after it was all over, said th'at Clackamas County didn't want Her mann, anyhow these facts, together with the rumors that 2lr. Brownell gave secret aid and comfort to Mr. Hermann's ene mies, are all very Interesting, no doubt, even to the mind of Mr. Hermann. Of course, Mr. Hermann does not make a special business of investigating the rer ports; he merely keeps his ears open where he goes, all the while studying whether he will support Mr. Brownell for District Attorney. As for the Clackamas gentleman himself, he hopes the delega tion will not recommend him until, say next December. He would prefer to have it rushed to confirmation by the Senate rather than to have it open to protest for five or six months. Mr. Hermann confessed that he was highly Interested In the talk about a new chairman of the State Central Commit tee. However, ho did not have the faint est Idea who would get that position. Mr. Hermann .Is very much devoted to harbor Improvements. This has been his favorite vocation In the past, and will evidently be so In the future. Mr. Her mann desires to acquire so much popular favor this year that renomlnatlon next April will come to him without the fight which he had to wage this last time. "I shall spend the entire Summer," said Mr. Hermann, "studying projects for har bor improvements. I shall visit every port on the Oregon coast, between the Columbia River and Port Orford, Neha lem, Tillamook. Taqulna, Coos, Alsea. Umpqua, Coqullle. Sluslaw. I shall go over them all, and by personal contact learn the commercial needs and engineer ing problems of each. I shall take with me charts and information -which the Government engineers will give me, so that I may know just what Is to be done and what should be done for each harbor. Then when I go before committees in Congress I shall have precise knowledge to Impart to them. This Is what carries conviction to the committees. They rely upon recommendations of engineers, of course, but this sort of testimony has more weight with them than any. "Yes. it will take a great deal of time and effort to reach the places I Intend to visit. You see, I shall have to come back Inland so often In order to go from place to place on the coast. Where will I go first? Well. I think I shall begin with Tillamook and Nehalem. Portland Is directly interested Jn those two ports, if I understand the situation correctly. But, first. I shall return to Roseburg. About the middle Tof July I shall go to Tilla mook. "I have just Inspected the Willamette at two places where Government work is needed right away, namely, at Salem and Albany. At Salem erosion of the bank opposite the town Is creating sandbars out In the channel, to the hindrance of navigation. At Albany the river threat ens to go off into a stray channel, which will leave the town a mile from the stream. At ooth places revetments are needed. The cost of each Improvement, I estimate, will be between $25,000 and $30, 000. Considerable dredging must be done also, for which work a dredge is to be built at a cost of about $23,000. The en gineers are now preparing specifications." Mr. Hermann will remain in town prob ably today and tomorrow. MADE '30,000 CONVERSIONS IN ONE YEAR. RECORD OF REV. R. A. TORREY,? OF CHICAGO. With a record of 30.030 conversions during his absence the Rev. Dr. R. AJ Torrey, pastor of Moody Church, superintendent of the Moody Bible Institute, and successor of the noted evangelist, returned to Chicago re cently after an evangelistic tour of a year and a half In Australasia and Great Britain. Dr. Torrey was accompanied by Charles Alexander, the gospel singer. The evangelists visited Australia, China. Japan. Tasmania, New Zea land, India, Scotland. Ireland and England. "The United States Is the finest country la the world, and, Chicago is the best city," said Dr. Torrey on his return. "I'm glad to get back. We are going to take a vacation and then Mr. Alexander and I will sail for Liverpool. We will devote a month to each town of importance in Great Britain. "Enormous crowds have been the feature of our trip. In Glasgow we addressed 150,000 persons In four weeks,.and In Melbourne one evening 53, 000 persons were reached. We converted S247 persons in Melbourne alone. "New Zealand is the worklngman's paradise. The labor laws of that country seem to have been particularly successful. There are no rich people there, and there are no poor. I have seen the labor conditions In New Zealand, but I still feel that the workingman has the best chance in this country. I do not know whether the system of compulsory arbi tration which has been adopted In that country would work .out in the United States. The conditions are different. "Australia, too. has peculiar labor laws, but they are not working out as they were expected to. Working men must be paid a certain amount of wages under the law. and there Is a fine Imposed on the employer who pays lees than this amount. As a result men who are too old to be worth tho wages paid to younger men are thrown out of employment and forced to fall back on the benefits of the pension law 'before they are actually entitled to them." FERRY SITES VISITED. Executive Board Inspects Those Offered in Albina. In an effort to choose the East Side landing of the new Albina ferry. Mayor Williams and the members of the special committee of the Executive Board went to Albina yesterday afternoon. No site was definitely selected, though many were in spected. Superintendent J. P. O'Brien, of the O. R. & N., accompanied the party through the yards along the water front. The railroad company objects to the proposed site at the foot of Randolph street, and Mr. O'Brien set forth the reasons for this decision. A ferry at this situation would obstruct the yard engines at their work, and for this reason the O. R. & N. de sires that the ferry be placed somewhere else. A delegation of the Albina Improvement Association, headed by President Samuel Connell, met tho officials at Russell street and escorted them about the proposed sites. Tho foot of Russell street was inspected, but the incline at the edge of the water prevented Its acceptance. The party re turned with no more definite decision than when It left Another trip must be made to Albina, as well 'as several to the West Side landings, before the Executive Board can decide upon the question. The spe cial committee of the board which has in charge the new Albina ferry Is 6omposed of Messrs. Howell, SIchel and Beebe. When the sites are selected there will arise the question of purchasing the ground. The property-owners along the Albina water front are not anxious to dis pose of their ground, and the Executive Board may have some difficulty In buying the eite which is selected. The plan of the special ferry committee Is to build or purchase a ferryboat slight ly larger than the W. S. Mason, now In use as the present Albina ferry. NEW WALKS FOR PARK BLOCKS. But They Will Be Laid of Granite Snnd Instead of Cement. To cut the Park blocks out of the en forced cement sidewalk district, the Ex ecutive Board will ask tho Council to pass a special ordinance. The sidewalks around all of the Park blocks are now In bad condition, but the cost of laying ce ment walks would eat a big hole in the repair fund of the city. On the contrary It Is the purpose of the board to lay granite sand in place of the dilapidated walks now on the ground. The sidewalk question came up at the meeting of the street committee of the Executive Board yesterday afternoon. M. Walton, who Uvea at the corner of West Park and Jackson streets, presented a pe tition asking that the walks now on the blocks near his home be removed. If it was not the Intention to replace them with cement walks. In answer City En gineer Elliott was instructed to tear up such walks as were actually dangerous. The granite, which Is practically a coarse white eand, will be laid as soon as pos sible. These walks will be much cheaper and will present a more attractive appear ance than even the cement walks now be ing laid. FIVE LINEMEN AT WORK Forty on a Strike Expect Aid From National Drotberliood. The situation in the linemen's strike re mains unchanged. The five men who re mained with the local branch telephone company at the time of the general strike all over the Coast are still at work, end the delegates of the Electrical Workers' Union have not been able to Induce them to leave work. The telephone company has no con struction work under way In Portland, and, so far the strike has not seriously affected the local office. The union men say. however, that a quantity of con struction was about to be commenced, and that the strike will effectually stop It. So far as the Portland men are concerned there was no cause for a strike, but the trouble was general all over the Pacific Coast, and the telephone linemen In every city except Seattle are out. The 40 linemen who quit work In Port land expect to receive aid from the head quarters of the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers If the strike Is of long duration. The decision of the Western Conference ordering a general strike had the sanction of the high officers of the brotherhood, and financial aid has been promised the strikers. RARE INDIAN BASKETS. B. B. Riclt Has Tito .Beaded Cfcllkat, "Wortb Tbeir Weiffbt In Gold. The B. B. Rich Curio Store, occupying the entire upper floor on Sixth and Wash ington streets, has two Chilkat beaded baskets made at Haines Mission, Alaska. These baskets are the only ones in this country. Mr. Rich Invites basket-lovera to come up and see them. Band Concert TonlRht. If the weather permits, the following programme will be rendered this evening at Park and Jefferson- streets by Brown's Park Band. The concert will begin at 7:43 P. M.: PAP-T I. March, "Dixie Girl" .Lampe Waltze, 'Tout Paris" Waldteufel Overture, "Morning, Noon and Night".. Suppe (a) Morceau Characteristic, "The Dawn of Love" Blndlx (b) March, Humoresque, "Mr. Thomas' Cat" Hall Medley of Popular Airs Mackle PART II. Intermezzo, "Love's Dream After the Ball" Czlbulka Scenes from "The Bohemian GIrl"..Balfe Mazurka Russe. "La Czarina" Gaune Polpourrle. 'The Dazzler" Mackle Twcstep, "Hiawatha." Charles I Brown, Conductor. Meier Sh Frank Company Trunks and Traveling Bags Third Floor. Meier & Frank Company "Vudor" Porch Shades, 6, 8, 10-tt. sizes. Oar "Willamette" Machine at $25 is the equal of any $50 machine on the market. 2d-fioor Infants' Department contains everything for the new-born reasonably priced. Artistic Picture Framing to your order Largest line of moldings Lowest prices. Friday Surprise Sale Of high-class trimmed hats at a fraction of the cost of making and materials. Thirty styles to select from, in cluding many of the most desirable and natty styles shown this season. Beautiful Chiffon Hats trimmed with 18-inch white ostrich plume and dainty black lace. Fine white chip straw shapes, white satin and lace trimmed. New Shepherdess Hats in white. Misses' white chip Straw Shapes, young ladies' Dress Hats, etc. About 260 hats all told. The only surprise sale offering of fine millinery made this season. $7.50 to $10 P) Q values for J SEE FIFTH-STREET WINDOW DISPLAY Excellent Shoe Values $2.18 Summer clean-up of Footwear for ladies, men and children. An economy of rare occurrence is this. Prices down below the cost of manufacturing on many lines of the best shoes in the store, look to your shoe needs at once if you want to economize. Ladies' tan Shoes and Oxfords, about all sizes, regular $3.00 to $5.00 values, sale price.. . .'. 500 pairs ladies' black and tan Shoes and Oxfords, i no all sizes, great values " OQ All our Misses' and Children's Tan f fs" .... , onoes, cousin s mane, sizes 8i to 2, regular $2.00 and $2.50 values Sizes 5 to S for 91.15 pair. $1.50 Men's Tan Shoes, the famous French, Shriner & Urner make, regular $5 r Cf values pOJJ Broken lines of Men's Tan Shoes and Oxfords, $3.00 to $5.00 values for, fr er pair p I J All our Men's Bike Shoes, $2.25 to $3.00 values $ 1 .39 Norman & Bennet's famous Outing Shoes reduced. $5.00 Golf Shoes for, pr $3.50 $3.50 Russian Oxfords $3.15 $2.75 Oxfords for, pair $2.40 $3.50 Slate, elk sole, pr. $3.15 Boys' and Youths' Tennis Shoes reduced to 50c and $lper pair. Special values in Boys' Shoes. The Basement Store Values for today arid tomorrow worthy the attention of every shrewd housewife: 7- piece Glass Berry Set for 29c 500 Glass Jelly Stands only, each ..lie 9-inch Glass Cake Stands, special, ea..32c 8- inch Glass Berry Bowls, great val. . 14c 12-inch Glass Vases in variety of styles, each 29c Glass Spoon Trays, big value, ea 8c 6-inch Glazed Jardiniers, special value 21c 1 -gallon Tin Oil Cans, special, each. .. 16c 1 -burner Coaloil Stoves, special at - 48c Fruit Jars and Jelly Glasses at the lowest prices. Lawn Mowers, Garden Hose, etc., etc. Pure Food Low Priced Phone Private Exchange 4. 1 0-lb. sack Graham Flour 25c 10-lb. sack White Corn Meal 25c 10-lb. sack Rye Flour 25c Saratoga Chips, 3 packages for 25c Postitm Cereal 20c, Fig-Prune Cereal. 20c Grape Nuts, 2 packages for 25c C. &. B. Lucca Oil, quart size 65c 1-lb. can Ground Chocolate for 25c Two 1-2-lb. cans Minced Clams 25c Three I -lb. cans of Peacock Oysters.. 25c Three packages of Seeded Raisins 25c Two packages of Cleansed Currants . .25c Curtice's Blue-label Catsup, bottle 20c 2-lb, cans Pie Peaches, 3 for 25c Durkee Salad Dressing, 10c and 25 c Manufactur I II MTU. BOTH Cft SSjfeJ?1 er's Carpet amples Tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock we place on sale a great lot of manufacturer's samples of high class carpets at less than half regular values. Just the right length for rugs. Beautiful designs and plain colors in Royal Wilton Velvets and Body Brussels. Fifth-street window display demonstrates better than cold type the grandest values ever of fered in the West. Not one piece to be sold before 9 o'clock, but come early if you want the best selec tion. Judging from inquiries made all day yester day they won't last through the day. $3,00 Royal Wilton Velvets $1.8? Piece 11-2 yards long, 27 inches wide, elegant de signs and plain colorings, finest quality, reg ular value $3 yard, sale price $1.67 piece. Royal Wilton Velvet Borders, 22-in.t 1 1-2-yd. pieces, value $3 yd, sale pr. $1.2? piece Body Brussels $1.359 $1.45 Value, Per Yard Sale prices as follows: H-yard lengths 67c piece; H-yard lengths 77c piece; H yard lengths 93c per piece. Borders: It yard lengths 48c pc; Ii yard lengths 58c pc; I i yard lengths 72c piece. $5.00 White Linen Waists $2.95 Each About 115 of the 300 White Linen Waists remain for those who come today The best bargain ever offered in fine white linen Mexican drawn-work Waists Tucked back, side pleats, large pearl buttons, four rows of drawn work down the front, beautifully made, perfect fitting, stylish . and serviceable, all new this season's waists, selling regularly at $5.00, all sizes. Your Choice While They Last CO at the low price of H Meier &. Frank Company Meier & Frank Company Meier & Frank Company