ELDER GRAY'S CASE.

To Be Settled Definitely by the Church Officials.

The Pilgrim Baptist church imbroglio, like the ghost of Banquo, will not down. It will be a blessed relief for both parishioners and citizens when the matter is settled - in fact, it is a consummation devoutly to be hoped for. Elder Gray's friends insist that he shall remain as pastor, the opposition that he must go, while the object of the contention remains passive, and hopeful that in the end right will prevail.

J. W. Smith, secretary of the board of trustees, said last evening: "The church is in a bad way financially. Our collections have fallen off 20 per cent, and the congregation has dwindled down almost to nothing. The officers of the church have asked Elder Gray to resign, but he will not. He has a handfull of followers who don't help the church financially or otherwise. He makes it a point to bulldoze in his sermons, especially the young people. He came to us without a recommendation. One of the trustees wrote to the place where he formally preached but could learn nothing concerning him. He speaks of bringing a suit to compel the trustees to give up the keys, but he will never get them. The deacons and trustees have had a joint meeting and concluded that it was for the best interest of the church to lock the doors. We can stand all the law suits the elder may bring. The law will sustain us. There will be a meeting Tuesday night to decide Elder Gray's case. If he beats us, which is not probable, we will bring charges against him. We intended letting him down easy in case he resigned, but if he persists in his course we shall expose him before the people."