Show IN CHARGE OP OF A SIDING ELDER the second ward meeting house was crowded sunday evenin gand many people P le were unable to grain gain an entrance some of whom remained standing in front of the building there therb were probably between tour four and five hundred in the congregation the preM presidency dency of the stake were all in attendance president partridge presided after singing and prayer president partridge explained the object of the visit of the presidency as was waa generally known was to present the name of a man to succeed bishop evari as the bishop of the ward he stated that it had been considered advisable by the presidency to make a change in the bishopric and bishop had presented his resignation which had been accepted president partridge spoke favorably of the good qualities elder had exhibited as a bishop and suggested that the congregation signify their appreciation of elder arides labors by a vote which was unanimously given he further stated that the presidency of this stake had selected a man for the office made vacant by elder arides resignation this selection had been sustained ned by the high council of the stake and approved by the higher authority in the church A petition had however been received by the stake presidency upon which they were unable to take any action elder reed smoot read the petition which was signed by members of the ward the petition in effect set forth that the signers had learned that bishop on account of financial difficulties had been influenced to present his resignation and requested the presidency not to accept it or if they had done so to reconsider their action as the petitioners petition ers were desirous of retaining elder as bishop the petition also stated that the petitioners petition ers were convinced that if elder had erred it was under circumstances over which he had no control and that whatever mistakes he had made were of the head and not of the heart president partridge e again addressed the congregation explaining ithe order of the church in selecting men for office and the duties and privileges of the saints in sustaining those selected to preside by their votes and by otheir falt faith hand and prayers the man whom the stake presidency had selected was a good man and the speaker believed with the support of the people would make a good bishop if however they did not feel to ito sustain the selection made it was their privilege to so signify after naming elak eidler r bengt johnson jr as the man selected for the position a vote was taken showing 90 in favor of sustaining elder johnson and 50 or 57 the tellers disagreed against sustaining him president partridge expressed the opinion that under the circumstances it would be unjust to elder johnson to place him in the position of bishop a as a large majority toad had not nolt voted ether way and the speaker took it sor for granted that those who had failed to vote were not in favor of the appointment the next thing to do was to appoint a presiding elder until such a time as the people of the ward could unite upon some man whom they would sustain as bishop as the presidency of the stake had done all they could do in the ma matter itter elder S P eggertsen jr was there upon 9 unanimously sustained as presiding elder elder eggertsen Egger taen was one of bishop arides counselors the financial difficulties referred to in the petition as the cause of bishop arides resignation grew out of a shortage in his acco accounts grits as county treasurer which posit position ibn he be filled previous to 1897 the deficit has been covered into the county treasury mr raising all the means he could for that purpose by disposing of his hl property and the balance being contributed tri buted by the sureties on his official bond he claims and it is very generally believed belie ved by all his irrespective of parity or creed that he be does not know how bow the shortage occurred As a bishop he has been very energetic in ministering to the needy and helping and encouraging 1 the sick and unfortunate among his rock flock ani and the sympathy of the people over orver whom he has presided has in turn been extended to him in his unpleasant position |