The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-24
A PATERSON PASTORS SIN.
MS PULPIT DECLARED TAC1NT DE-
CAUSE or ADULTERY



-Iiis Pull Confession Of his Quilt aud his
Deposition from the Chistian Ministry.
At Broadway and Main street, Paterson,
stands q little old-fashioned wooden church,
whose antique appearance suggests the archl-
lecture Of half century ago. Over the en-
trance Il written In German and English, Ger
man Presb. Church, A. ID, 1884," the date signi-
Tying the time when IL was repaired after the
nre In 1859. Seven years ago August c. STANCE,
then 10 years Of age, journeyed TO this country
from SAKE wclmar, and lived for a time on a
firm near Bloomfield, N. J. In 1869 he (Stange)
entered the Bloomfield Theological Seminary
TO prepare for the ministry. After q thorough
course Of instruction In the tenets OF Presbyte.
rianism. he graduated from the seminary full
neoeed clergyman OF his chosen denom alton,
and soon received call from the Broadway
Church In Paterson. He promptly accepted, and
was duly Installed pastor in the fall OF 1874.
Young STANCE was OF prepossesslng appear
ancs and winning manners, and was unmarried.
He was highly recommended bv tho faculty OF
tho seminary for plety and ability. lie soon
won the love and confidence Of his flock, ana
became great favOrite among the entire con-
gregation. By his untring industry aud pious
zeal he enlarged and built up tho church and
Sunday school. All this time, II seems by Mr..
STANCES own confession that he was living In
adulterous Intercourse with a member OF his
own hock-Mrs. Pfenebeker-who bore the
name OF Magdalene. and who is the wife OF a
spruce beer manufacturer in Paterson.
All went smoothly until the pious Joseph
was married to highly respectable young lady
Of Newark. This aroused the ire Of Mrs.
pfenebekcr that she Informed tho church Of
her pastors guilt. Ihcfeupon the reverend gem
tleman was cited before the church on an order
TO show cause why he should not he disciplined.
ness ~ :" sten snwn ana on, ua was ordnrad
to he deposed 10y the Presbyiery at Newurk on
Tuesday, the Eth inst, and yesterday the Rcy.
Dr. Westerveit preached the sermon as directed
by the Presbvtery, declaring the pulpit OF the
broadway Church Of Paterson vacant.
A dense fog hung over tho church In tho
morning as the children assembled in the sum
day school. After recitng their lessons and
singing n hymn, the Superintendent Mr.. Nc
Gregor, addressed them briefly about David and
his trials and then dismissed them. Then the
congregation assembled for worship. The ven-
erable preacher, the Rev Dr. westervelt. with
his long snOw-white hair and beard, was escort
| ed BY two members OF the session into tho pull
| pit, which stands high above the coDgregatio
| in the north end Of the church. The conerega-
| tiOn bowed for amoment In silent prayer Not
"A sound was heard save the chrping Of the spar-
| rows as the minister slowly arose. aud stepping
| to the desk OF the pulpit, with lifted hands and
| buried head, uttered an invocation to God Tor
| His presence and hlessing. deep feeling Of
gloom settled upon the people, for they all loved
| their pastor ana felt keenly the approaching Or
| deal. lhc service was conducted in German.
| FIRST there was a hymn tcciting the slnfulness
| o. man; then a PRAYER Of thanksgiving for past
blessings. confession of sin, and a supplication
| for mercy. After this another nymn pointing
| to Christ rs the only Saviour of man, and the
reading Of the lith chm. or Of NJ ttheW. the Eth
| verse Of which-"th the kingdom Of heaven suffer
eth violence and the violent taketh 1t 10y force 8"
was chosen for the text Of tle discourse. A
careful avoidance Of any direct reference 70 the
unhappy pastor W nuticeibie, its object being,
| as the writer was informed, To prevent IL possi-
| tie. any sensation among the congrel atiDn who
| were very strongly attached to Mr. Stange. Oc-
| ca-i0naliy, however, there weeping,
| something was said about those VINO started
out IN the Christi N race with such bright IrOs-
| poets and from whom 50 much had been cN-
| poe cd. but who IN some evil hour had Welded
| to temptation and stepped aside from the
| "strarht and rafrOw way into the forbidden
| paths Of sin.
| At the conclusion OF the services the minister
paused moment. and then. with faltefing
voice, which found "A response In the sobs Of TN
| congregation, recited the facts a. recorded in
| the minute II the lresbytery, T. e., the charge,
| the confession, and the repentance OF Mr..
STANCE. and the res 1lution OF the ffesbytery de-
| posing him, and concluded with the words "aud
| now. ty virtue Of the authority vested in me by
| the Preebyiery Of this church, and In accord
ance with their direction, hereby deCl re this
| pulpit vacant" The weeping congregation then
| sung hymn invoking God's forgiveness Of the
| way @ard. ana after receiving the l., b,nedction,
| slowly went from the church. Little knots
| 4thered at the doors to express their SYM pa
| nv Tor the hearthruken wife Of tncir former
| pnstor, who nece-- fily shares her husband :
shame but who FIRMLY auhercs 10 nun.
| Mr. STANCE has moved to Newark, where he
| lives WITH his ia her-inlaw.