The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-07
A WOLF N SLEEPS CLOTHING
Fastastie Gamboling Of Venerable 0srgyma
Among the Fair Members Of His Flesk-TAs'
Rev. Horace Cook 0utdone- Arrsigned b.
fore the Bar Of congrega tionai Opinion
He Acknowledges His Weakness

He Acknowledges His Weakness
AT no period or the history OF bridgeport, Conn.
have the residents OF that city been worked up to
such state OF excitement az that occasloned by the
revelations recently made In relation 10 the conducs
OF the Rev. Mr.. Richards. the venerable pastor of
the North congregational church, towards quite .
number OF the fair members OF his mock
principally married ladies, OF them the estima-
BILE wife OF a clerical friend, and 1t is confidently be-
eved that tho most glaring cases OF misconduct on
his part have not yet come to light and never may
1t Is presumed that he would not be disposed to
continue his singular improprletes unless he had
met with some encouragement. alWrYM hIa,
The Rev. Mr. Richards Is gentleman
Of acknowledged ability and eloquence
well as very effective praicher.
The origin OF the trouble In which he Is nov In
VOWED Is variously stated. Nevertheless MS warm
est friends admit that ne has acted with great I'M
proprlety among the ladies OF his congregation ana
that his usefulness In Bridgeport, minister Of
the Gospel, Is aJ an emu.
The following information relative to the affair
has been gathered with great care, from some OF
his most earnest Trends, US well as from those who
have persstently urged mll investigation OF tho
grave charges preferred against him. According to
the aa ts6 & AFkS @Ft&rAh
STATEMENT MADE BY HIS FRIENDS
il appears that about year ago the question pro
pricty OF allowing an Evangelist by the name Of
Potter the privilege OF ning the pulpit as an ex-
horter was brought up. The Young Mems Christian
Association, OF Bridgeport urged IL, while the pastor
and number OF leading members OF the church
were greatly opposed thereto. Notwithstanding
this opposition OF the pastor and Others to the pro-
posed exhortations, the Rev. b. b. Beardsey re-
Tired preacher; Mr.. b. X, Mills, prominent citiz n.
aud hers lii connection with the Young Mems
Christian Association Invited Mr.. Potter. tue Evan
gest to attend the church aud Ofitine In his pccu-
lar line or making This action, so worked
upon the mind and health OF the pastor thai ne
and In fact 1t was surmised by some that he had be-
About Inc same time reports were circulated re-
necting very severely upon the character and con-
duct OF the Rev. Mr. Richards and at q meeting Of
the church ana society some statements which had
been made by number Of ladies' w.re referred to,
"a DISCUSSED AND COMMENTED UPON, Hlt
which led TO an exhibition Of much feeling ana bad
deacons Of the churci,-vz, Messrs. Lacey,
Hm,cks, Jones and uubbell--was appointed TO
4e ar u R,sards the
committee first waited upon Their pastor, Tor
the puri o,e OF hearing what he had to say 10 DIS
own defence relation he reports IN circulation,
ana then the several ladies' who had complained
Of his conduct towards them me compaiinaa mt
davIts and sworn the truth Of The same, while the
Others fearing publication OF Their names, objected
to signing any formal complaints Some OF them
charge Mr.. Richards with exceedingly, lndellcite
conduit "a wards them. The com nirtee after elicit
Ing these facts, and having conversation with Mr..
Richards. who admitted to them that .
propensity to conduct himself with q degree
OF lreed towards ladies. beyond the bounds Of
propnety, was his besetting sill, acknowledged his
grea. ana asked for forgiveness III the matter.
Under these circumstances the committee accom-
panied by the Rev. Mr.. Richards, their request.
repaired New Haven tor the purpose Of conerrlng
with the Rev. Theodore ID. Woolsey, ID, President
OF Yale College, and soliciting ms advice On the
sub ect. President woolscy at recommended Nj.
klchar,is to resign and the committee 10 accept ol
on tue return OF the committee to Bridgeport
MEETING OF THE CHURCH
and society was called to act upon the resignation
OF mir. Richards which vas ihen formally rendered
and almost unanimously accepted. With recon-
mendalion 10 consolation to furnish HIM with
certificate OF commentator Othet chlrches. TO
this course some protested as he would thereby
es ape an Investigation, which was due to the
church and society of which he had onciated as
pastor, but an in, estigat on especially
due to the lady compartments IN The case as nsinu-
aiions impngntn9 their motives had been made.
Alter brief but angry discussion the final action
was deferred for a lew days, when another meeting
was held. AT the opening Of the adjourned meeting
twenty-five new members were admitted In order
taaL lhey might vote on the question.
A resolution TO the effect that the members OF the
North Congregational church and society accept OF
the resignation OF tue Rev. MI. Richards rs Their
pastor was then offered
At this stage OI the proceedings llr. ID. ii. Sterling,
eX-May o the city, rose ami earnestly protested
AGAINST ACCEPTING TIE RESIGNATION
or Mr.. Richards and denounced In bituer terms
those who had instisaed the charges against their
pastor, and offered an amendment 10 the resolution,
10 effect that the Church and Society should not
accept the resignation.
The utmost confusion ensued, and on Mr.. b. X.
Mi, $, an opponent OK Nj. Richards, rising OIer
some remarks he was EN- IN led that although he had
attended worship there for long time his name had
not set been cnr0 leu as member OF the church or
society. MI. Mills name was then handed in rs
Candidate for membership but he was rejected, and
consequently could have no voice in the proceed
lDgs.
chairman If Mr. Richards liad not confessed h s
guilt TO the committee, but they aiied TO get del
mite answer, anu II leaked out that President WOOL
sey lad recommended Mr. Richards TO resign when
the question Of acceptance secured many vocates
aud 4 resolution 10 that effect VAS carried by his
frends. ms oppclen c0ntending that 1t woul pre-
cude an investigation OF Mr.. Richards conduct
being made, at The same time permitting him TO go
elsewhere with a cIeaa record from the consocit-
ton to continue Ills inproprieues. AT the close OF
THE EXCITED MEETING
One OF Mr.. Richards friends made some remarks
impeactng the purity OF the LADIES who had made
Complaints against Mr. Richards when the husband
OF one of them Knocked the speaker down for which
oiienc he was arrested and tined the sum oil severn
teen dollars.
lne most bitter feeling has been engendered be-
tween The two factions IN church, anu IL Is
feared hat long time must necessarily elapse be-
fore the anairs OF the PARISH run smoothly again.
Those who have been Instrumental In biinsing
about the resignation OF the Rev. Mr.. Richards. pre-
sent the origin OF the difficulties In very different
light from that set form by the other SIDE. Mr.
Richards assumed the pastoral charge OF the North
Congregational church, bridgeport, in January
lo66. lie was then about My TO hltytwo years DID,
POPULARITY AS A PREACHER.
lie has a wife, three Sons Zone of whom Is a stu
dent In Yale CollegeD aud two grown UP daughters,
and he one o. the last Ia tile world that
would be suspected OF attempting to do any wrong.
especially among the ladies'. In the course Of
some blitcn To eighteen months after his settle
ment Ia Bridgeport he called al the residence OF
family VINO attended worship at the church ia
question: and during the absence OF the husband
Was guilty OF greaI Improperly OF conduct to-
wards tire WIFE, who, ike "a true woman, at once
communicated the TACT To her husband anu IL was
with gieat dillculty that the latter could be re-
~ aimed from proceeding instantly To administer a
persJna cnastlseincnt u the venerable pastor. IL
va. dc lied TO keep quiet about the AFFAIR; put rom
that time the doors ri mat house were crossed nsaihsl
HIM the family concluding thai the pastor was not
NJ Tor the position he occupied, ana ac'eo accoro-