The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-04-19
DIR. MUHLENBERG'S LOVE STORY.
The Sad Romance ,vitb which President
Bnchannn WIS Niso Connected.

The Snd Romance with which President
Buchanan was also Connected.
The fact of an interesting but sad
romance connected with the early life of
the late DIR. William A. Muhlenberg has
often been limited at, but its full details
had never before been published until
they appeared in the obituary notice of
the distinguished clergyman and philan-
thropist as published in the Lancaster
(Pa.) Bteltigencer. The engagement
of marriage between President James
Buchanan-then a young lawyer of Lam
caster - and the beautiful Miss Ann
Coleman, of that place, was terminated
by the suicide of the hapless young lady,
because, it is said, her parents objected
to the marriage. A similar attachment
existed between her sister, Miss Sarah
H. C,leman, and Mr.. Muhlenberg, at
that time-fifty years agO-rector of st.
James church in Lancaster. Her father,
Robert Coleman, a proud and wealthy
citizen of the town, also objected to this
marriage, although he had been mainly
instrum entail in calling the young rector
to his charge. His course produced an
unpleasant feeling in the church and the
congregation divided into two parties,
espousing the cause of the rector and the
haughty father respectively. While par
tisanship was stillrunning high Miss Cole
man di4I-of consumption, as herparents
said, but of broken heart as believed
by most people of the town. This sad
event bu intensified the division in the
church, of which Mr.. Coleman was a
leading member, and en- June 49, 1926,
Mr.. Muhlenberg communicated to the
vestry his intention to resign on account
of reasons which it was unnecessary for
him to state. A committee of five was
appointed to confer with him with a
view to get him to reconsider his deter
mination, but with thanks for their kind
ness he declined to do so in more lengthy
letter, in which he stated that his course
was taken after due deliberation and
that it was not necessary for him to enter
into details regarding his motives he
trusted that they were pure and such as
he could think of with complacency "in
reference to the great day of accounts.
At the same meeting a communica-
ton was received from Mr.. Edward
Coleman, brother of Miss Sarah Cole
sman, the reading of which was deferred
until future meeting. On June 26,
1926, the vestry received the more per-
emptorv resignation of their rector,
dated New York, June 26, and asking
that it be received at once. 1t was ac-
cepted, and the wardens were instructed
to draft reply expressing the sorrow
OF the church at his resignation. After
ward, the same meeting, the letter
OF Edward Coleman, previously laid
over, was read. 1t announced to the
vestry that "in the event of all connec-
ton between the Rev. Mr.. Muhlenberg
and st. James church heing dissolved,
absolutely and forever, on OF before July
l, aud not thereafter, the sum of So, 900
(Which, but for circumstances not neces-
sary now to dwell upon, would have been
left to the church by our departed sister,
Sarah H. Coleman) will be placed in the
hands of the trustees for the benefit of
the church by her heirs and legal repre-
sentatves." The offer was signed by
Edward Coleman for himself and the
other heirs of his deceased sister.
A committee was appointed to inform
Mr.. Coleman that such dissolution of
the connection between Mr.. Muhlenberg
and the church had taken place. and the
trustees of the church were ready to re-
ceive the money. Mr.. James Hopkins
protested against the appointment of
such committee, and before the reso-
luton to answer Coleman's letter passed
he Withdrew from the meeting. At
vestry meeting held June 80, memorial
was presented, signed by Sarah Yeates,
Margaret Yeates m Catharine Yeates.
requesting the vestry to pass a resolu-
ton that Mr.. Muhlenberg should always
be invited to preach in St. James pulpit
whenever it was uuoccupie1. They said in
their letter that they had not had time to
procure other signers, but they had no
donbt this was the wish of a majority of
the congregation To this the vestry
resolved to respectfully answer that Mr..
Muhlenberg would always have the
courtesy shown him that other Protes-
tant Episcopal clergymen received, but
they did not think it necessary to pass
such an unusual motion. Against such
treatment OF Mrs. and the Misses Yeates
Mr.. Hopkins again protested, as disre-
sPectful to the memOralists and dis
courteous to Mr.. Muhlenberg.
SO the matter seems to have rested;
but, although Mr. Muhlenberg often
afterward preached in the church, he
always stood in the chancel and never
again occupied the pulpit. The So, 600
gift WAS accepted and paid, the COM
mittee appointed to confer with Mr..
@ 'leman reporting that in the prosecu-
tion of their labors they had encountered
grave difficulties, "busy-bodies and
tale-bearers had infused an acrimony
into the unfortunate business which
otherwise it would not have partaken
Of" The committee had endeavored to
as uaga this and hoped that its asperties
would be softened, but they had only
measurably succeeded, and condition
of strife prevailed which was much to be
deplorel.
With DR.. Muhlenberg's death the
last of the actors in this hapless drama
has passed away. The funeral services
were held at st. Lukc's Hospital, and
his remains were placed near that other
institution at st. Johnland, whose exis
tence is also due to the dead clergyman's
Christian energy and thoughtfulness.