A House Divided: The Christian Church Arbitration
A visiting committee of ministers attempts to resolve months of bitter infighting and congregational schisms at Seattle's First Christian Church.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
For months, there has been dissension in the First Christian Church of this city, located on Seneca Street between Third and Fourth. The trouble began last winter when a majority of the congregation desired to substitute another minister for Elder Rufus H. Moss. The dispute grew to such proportions that it became impossible to settle without appealing to higher authorities. A committee consisting of Rev. William F. Cowden of Pittsburg, Rev. K. Wallien of Walla Walla, and Rev. David Wefley of Portland was appointed to settle the differences. The committee inquiry concluded that while neither side was entirely blameless, the majority had made consistent efforts to reconcile or arbitrate, and the minority's exclusion of the majority was irregular. The committee recognized the majority as the legitimate First Christian Church and urged all members to labor diligently to build up the cause of Christ, while advising them to avoid future bitterness.
“It is our judgment that the action of the minority in excluding the majority from the church was without just cause, was irregular and was contrary to the usages of the Christian church.”
Church schisms were remarkably common in the rapid-growth years of the 1880s, reflecting the intense civic and social pressure on Seattle's institutions. Today, as downtown congregations face high-stakes debates over land use and housing, these historical disputes over leadership and property rights echo the ongoing tension between community identity and urban development.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.