Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-05-10
A few months later Kirkc was married
to Floss Whatcly, for being ten minutes
behind time. -
DIR. MUHLENBERG's LOVE STORY.

nance connected with the early life o.
the late DR.. William A. Muhlcnberg hMs
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.) Intelligencey. The engagement OF
marriage between President James Blu
| chanan-thcn 4 young lawyer of Lancas-
ter-and the beautiful Miss Ann Coleman
of that place, was terminated by the
suicide Of the hapless young lady, be-
| cause it is said, her parents objected to
the marriage. A similar attachment ex-
listed between her sister, Miss Sarah Fl.
| Coleman, and Mr.. Muhlenberg, at that
time-ffty years ago-rcctor 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 instrumen:
tai l n calling the young rector to his
charge. His course produced an I'M
pleasant feeling in the church and the
congregation divided into two parties,
espousing the cause Of the rector and the
naughty father respectively. While par
tisanship was still running high Miss
Coleman dicd-of consumption, as her
parents said, but of a broken heart as be-
lieved by most people of the town. This
al event but intensified the division l n
the church. of which Mr.. Coleman was a
leading member, and on June 10, 1926.
Mr.. Muhlenbcrg communicated to the
vestry his intention to resign on account
ofreasons which it was unnecessary tor him
to state. A committee Of five. was ap-
pointed to confer with him with q view
to get him to reconsider h determine
ton, but with thanks for their kindness
he declined to do so in q mOr lengthy
letter, in which he stated that his course
was taken after due delibcration and that
it twas not necessary for him to enter into de-
tails 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 communication
was received from Mr.. Edward Coleman,
brother of Miss Sarah Coleman, the read
ing of which was deferred until a future
meeting. On June 26, 1926, the vestry
received the more peremptory resignation
of their rector, dated New York, June rs,
and asking that it be received at once. 1t
was accepted, and the wardens were in
structcd to draft a reply expressing the
sorrow of the church 1T his resignation.
Aftcrward, at the same meeting, the let
ter of Edward Coleman, previously laid
over. was read. It announced to the YES
try that sin the event all connection be-
tween the Rev. Mr.. Muhlcnberg and st.
James church being dissolved, absolutely
and forever, on or before July l, and not
thereafter, the sum Of $4,000 (Which, but
for circumstances not necessary now to
dwell upon, would have been left to the
church by our departed sister, Sarah II.
Coleman will be placed in the hands OF
the trustees for the benefit of the church
by her heirs and legal representatives.
The offer was signed by Edward Coleman
for himself and the other heirs Of his
deceased sister.
\ committee was appointed to inform
Mr.. Coleman that such a dissolution OF
the connection between Mr.. Muhlenberg
and the church had taken place, and the
trustees of the church were ready to- re-
ccivc the money. MI. james Hopkins
protested against the appointment OF such
Il committee. and before the resolution to
answer Coleman's letter passed he with
drew from the meeting. At a rcstry
meeting held June 80, II memorial was
presented, signed by Sarah Yeatcs, Mar
garet Ycatcs, and Catharine Yeates, re-
questing the vestry to pass a resolution
that Mr.. Muhlcnburg should always be
invited to preach in St. James pulpit
whenever it was unoccupied. They said
in their letter that they had not had time
to procure other signers, but they had no
doubt this was the wish Of a majority of
the congregation. To this the vestry re-
solved to respectfully answer that Mr..
Muhlcnburg would always have the cour-
tcsy shown him that other Protestant
Episcopal clergymcn received, but they
did not think it necessary to pass such an
unusual motion. Against such treatment
of Mrs. and the Misses Ycates MI. Hop
kins again protested, as disrcspccttnl to
the memorialists and discourteo'S to Mr..
Muhlenberg.
So the matter seccms to have rcste
but, although Mr.. Muhlenberg often af-
terward preached in the church, he always
stood in the chancel and never again oc-
cupicd the pulpit. The $1,000 gift was
accepted and paid, the committee appoint
cd to confer with Mr.. Coleman reporting
that in the prosecution oftheir labors they
had encountered grave difficulties, busy
bodies and tale-hcarcrs had infused in
acrimony into the unfortunate business
which otherwise 1t would not have par
taken Of" The committee had endca-
vorcd to assuagc this and hoped that its
asperities would be softencd, but they
only mcasurably succeeded, and a condi-
ton Of strife prevailed which was much
to be dcplorcd.
With DR.. M%uhlenberg's death the last
of the actors in this haplcss drama has
passed away. The funeral services were
held ut st. Luke's Hospital, and his re.
mains were placed near that other institu-
ton at st. Johnland, whose existence is
also due to the dead clergyman's Chris
tian energy and thoughttulness.
The Last Melody Of Paul Postal, the
Russian ConspiratOr.
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