The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-07-21
0nr Ministers Trial.
isY REV. W. n. HAYWARD.

A good man was our pastor, Rev. Thorn
ton Haven. and one Of no common eloquence
!. Our best-I had almost written good
church members loved him. Tam sorry I,
say that few, thorned by the words which
fell from his lips when he endeavored to ex
cite his brethren ard sisters to
"A closer walk with God," E
regarded him with other emotions than the
fruits of the spirit. .,,r .t.4 1ga "a I., 80
Like all other good men, ne vas carefully
watched by those Who would have been
transported with fiend, like delight could
they have found a flaw in his conduct.
"Welll welli' said Mrs. Monroe, the
wheelwiight's wife, to her husband, as they
sat at :he breakfast table one morning, s'sup.
pose Mr.. Haven did kiss Fanny L.wton.--
She was almost one of the family-what in
the world was the harm p e. ge.e
4 "But," said the wheelwright, "I don't be-
lieve that he kissed her," sg,s; +.
Fanny herself said that he did," replied
the wife.
This seemed to be clinoher to Mr.. Mon.
roe. He deliberately wiped his face with
his handkerchief, and, with downcast,
thoughtful look, and much slower pace than
usual, went to his shop.
He had hardly taken his shave in his
band, and began to ply it on an unfinished
spoke, before Deacon Brown came in. The
Deacon stood a while chewing small frag.
ment Of shaving and talking about this.
that, and nothing. Suddenly he said:
"Bro,her Monroe. have you heard about
our minister o.
| "Yes," replied the brother.
There was not a word spoken for several
minutes. The wheelwright Justly worked
on the spoke-the Deacon looked out of the
window.
At length Mr.. Monroe asked, in low tone
Cf voice
"What Is to be dones"
"Something must" was the Deacon's an
swer, "or the cause will suffer"
And then he walked rapidly up the street,
"What is this story about Mr.. Haven's
improper treatment of young ladies ?" asked
the cynical lawyer Thompson, of Woodward,
the tavern keeper. vH 81,
"Why," said the mixer of sherry cobblers
and drawer Of strong beer, Hthe parsan is no
better than Others" ran
"Have you heard of the sanity priest
Haven's fall ?" was the question of one in.
| fidel to another. b.
"Yes; just as l thought it would be-ha,
ha. ha ~
Something must be done," were the
words of Deacon Brown "and that soon"
he thought, but did not speak.
So from the wheelwright's he went to the
house of another Deacon n-Benton johnson.
He heard the story, and, being an enemy,
believed It, and was determined to deal with
| the offender.
The deacons called on the minister. .Dea-
con Johuson was spokesman. The story in
full was that Mrs. Barnard, grass widow
that is woman whose husband had gone
off because he could not live with her-had
heard, as she was passing ths parsonage
Fanny Lawton say to one of the children,
"You lost kiss from your father BY not
being in the house when he got home this
afternoon from the lower village. and got
IT,"
Mr.. Haven denied ever having kissed the
girl, and suggested that the deacons should
write to Fanny, who was teach ing school.
about twenty miles distant, and get at the
truth Of the matter. Hs1
The deacons did They stepped into the
minister's study end wrote. In few days
there came the reply.
"You ask me if on one occasion the Rev
Mr.. Hsven gave me kiss-where we were
and who were present? In answer I state,
the Rev. Mr.. Haven did one afternoon, while
I was staying at his house in the sitting
rsom, give me kiss No persons but our.
selves were present"
Deacon johnson was elated, and rmmedi.
ateiy wrote to his wife's cousin, young
candidate that there would soon be 4 vacant
parish where he, no doubt, could receive a
call. eat
Deacon Brown was thunderstruck and
disappointed, Fanny Lawton's word was
not to be douated-it was so plain matter
that there could be no mistake. Mr.. Hav.
en-, after all, was wolf in sheep's clothing.
Still the minister denied the charge. He
could not do such thing without being
aware of It. and knew that he had never
kissed the girl. or any other girl but bis wife,
before marriage or since. in his life.
Deacon johnson brought the entire mat
ter before the church. He was excellent on
such cases. The charge contained txo dis.
tilct allegations i'a io
I. Rev. Thornton Haven had been guilty
of great impropriety, which rendered it
exped lent that he should be dismissed from
the pastorate. a2i s saS't
III. He had lied in the matter.
| Fanny Lawton was sent for, and the
church called together. Rev Solon Dick.
inson, the pastor Of a nsighboring church,
was present to moderate the me citing. The
meeting-house was filed. Every member
of the church, except old Polly Stearps was
present. The tavern was well represented.
All these Golfers and scorners, within half
score of miles, who could get there, we're in
attendance.