The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-05-10
mr. MJ1HLENBERG'S LOVE STORY

nance connected with the early life OF
tho late DR.. William A. Muhlenberg has
often been limited at but its full details
had never before been published until
thew anpeared in the obituary notice OF
the distinguished clergyman and phllan
thron;st as published in the Lancaster
Pa1 7ntezlioeucer. The engagement OF
marriage between President james bu-
chanan-then young lawyer OF Lancas-
ter-and the beautiful Miss Ann Coleman
# that place, was terminated by the
suicide Of the hapless young lady, oe
ca,,se + il said. her parents objected to
t,,a r,orr;aoe A similar attachment ex-
;atod hetween her sister, Miss Sarah b.
Coleman and Mr.. Muhlenberg, at that
time-fifty years ago-rector OF ot' D ahes
church in Lancaster Her father, ROBERT
Coleman proud and wealthy cltlzen u
the town, also objected to this Marriage
although he had been mainly lnstrumen-
tai in calling the young rector 10 hls
charge. His course produced an un-
pleasant feeling in the church ana the
congregation divided into TWO Parties,
espousing the cause OF the rector ana the
naughty father respectively WINE par
tisanship was still running hlgh MISS
Coleman died-of consumption, as ner
parents said, but of broken heart as pc
iieyed by most people of the town. ms
ad event but intensified the DIVISION IN
the church. of which Mr.. Coleman was
leading member, and on June ~, 1870,
Mr.. Muhlenberg communicated 10 the
yestrv his intention to resign on account
of reasons which it was unnecessary Tor MIN
to state A committee of five was ap-
nointed to confer with him with view
n oet him to reconsider his determlna-
tion but with thanks for their KINDNESS
he declined to do so in more lengthy
letter in which he stated that his course
| wac taken after due deliberatlOn ana tnat
i was not necessary for him to enter into oe-
tails regarding his motives; he trustee
, that they were pure and such as he could
think Of with complacency Tin reference
to the great day of accounts"
At the same meeting communication
was received from Mr. Edward Coleman,
t hrother Of Miss Sarah Coleman, the read
mo of which was deferred until future
l meeting On June 26, 1926, the vestry
6 received the more pcremptory resignatl oc
0 of their rector, dated New York, June 20,
: and asking that it be received at once. II
0 was accented. and the wardens were IN
structed to draft reply expressing the
d sorrow of the church at his resignation.
l. Afterward. at the same meeting, the let, :,
n TOR Of Edward Coleman, previously lalo
+ over was read. It announced to the YES
c trv that in the event all connection pc
v tween the Rev. MI Muhlenberg and 81
t. James, church being dissolved, absolutely
1T and forever. on or before July /. and no
10 thereafter the sum Of $4,000 (Which, bu
re for circumstances not necessary now t
lie dwell ,1non. would have been left to TIT
n church by our departed sister, Sarah II
ne Coleman) will be placed III the hanas . !,
in the trustees for the benefit OF the churci
ed by her heirs and legal representative
lis The offer was signed by Edward ooiec,a !:
| for himself and the other helrs u ~
TX deceased sister. .e
lis A committee was appointed to inlorn
he Mr.. Coleman that such dissolution
it the connection between Mr.. Muhlcnper
lar and the church had taken place, ana I'd
tut trustees of the church were ready 10 rt
so ce;ye the money. Mr.. James Hopklr
we protested against the appointment OF sue
re. = committee, and before the resolution
ew answer Coleman's letter passed ne witt
I'D drew from the meeting AT vesti
we meeting held June 30, memorial WI
-ot, presented, signed by Sarah Yeates, Ma
er- raret Yeates, and Catharine feates, r
old ouesting the vestry to pass resoluti.
are that Mr.. Muhlenburg should always
ep- invited to preach in St. James pulp
wn whenever it was unoccupicd. They sa
to in their letter that they had not had TIN
j. to procure other signers, but they had
doubt this was the wish Of a majority
the congregation. To this the vestry
solved to respectfully answer that n
Muhlenburg would always have the COZ
in teev shown him that other Protesta
With Episcopal clergymen received, put III
,en- did not think it necessary to pass such
as unusual motion. Against sucn Ircallle
{ to of Mrs. and the Misses Yeates Mr.. liz
hair kins again protested, as disrespectfulL
can the memorialists and discourteous TO
ties, Muhlenberg.
col, Co the matter seems to have rest
hair but. although Mr.. Muhlenberg often
it. forward preached in the church, he alw'
,use stood in the chancel and never again
re- cupied the pulpit The $4,000 gift '
,ose accented and paid, the committee appol
. of ed to confer with Mr.. Coleman report
erp. that in the prosecution oftheir labors Il
em- had encountered grave difficulties, blu
ZION bodies and tale-bearers had infused
nth. acrimony into the unfortunate busir
;ant which otherwise it would not have
in taken of The committee had end
,e Of vored to assuage this and hoped that
,lex- asperities would be softened, but 7
the onIy measurably succeeded, and col
ands ton Of strife prevailed which was m
-anc. to be depIored.
.lled With DR.. MuhienDerg ueaui e'ie
and Of the actors IN THIS hapiess uIama
ride passed away. The funeral services
spar held at ST. Luke's HospiIai anu MS :.
mains were placed near that other INST
the ton at ST. Johnland, whose existence
ound also due to the dead clergyman's Cf
is in tan energy and thoughttulness.