The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-10-02
CHURCH TRIAL OF REH.l PARK.

The Mshonlng Presbytery convened on Tues.
day afternoon In this place to investigate the
charges against Rev. ". J. Park, as to an impro-
per intimacy alleged to have existed between him
and Mrs Elizabeth Hicks. Rev. e. D. Vance is
acting as Moderator, and the other clergvmen are
McMasters, Maxwell Dundas, Grimes, Fry, Evans.
Dtlworth, Wilson, Marshall, Myers, Stockton,
Wright, Krensch, Reese and Moore.
The charges and specifications were preferred
by John +. Clark and were, that Rev. W. j Park
had been guilty Of conduct unbecoming minis.
ter OF the gospel had acted in violation of his Or
dination vows and to the scandal of the religion
he professed in having been guilty of improper
intimacy with Mrs E. Hicks, a member of his con-
gregaion that said Park was in the habit of meet.
ing her before service and remaining with her
long after-that they held other clandestine meet
ines as shown by letters and notes exchanged be-
tween them, that said Park had been admonished
by the elders OF the church. but had received
these warnings with displeasure, that Park had
asked Mrs, Hicks TO seek a divorce and had given
her written assurance Of marriage, thus seeking
to put asunder man and wife; that by denials
evasions and deceptions he had shown himself
unworthy Of the high trust OF the Christian min.
istry by meetings with and visits to Mrs. Hicks in
the absence Of her husband and his licentiOus
scandaous and adulterOus intimacy with her hal
brought reprOach upon his calling and utterly
scandalized the cause whose professed advocate
he is.
Rev, Park who sat isolated in responding to
the charges acknowledged his indiscretion and
weakness, but would be lost to every sense Of
manhood were he to plead guilty. He called
upon God to witness his innocence Of the charges
The accused then asked that in the absence Of
DR.. Bedell, Rev. McCurdy of Wooster, act as his
counsel Mr.. McCurdy at first declined, but
finally consented, H. 8. Martin is acting Of
counsel for the Elders Of the church. Rev. Park
has the witnesses separated
Mr.. H G. Fogle was the first witness-is clerk
of the session Of the church and has custody Of
the records. On June 10Th s. R. Hicks submitted
certain letters and notes in handw iting of Rey.
Park addressed to Mrs. Hicks showing that a
great affection existed between the parties the
notes referred to meetings at private houses, and
the church, reference was made to the domestic
affairs Of Mrs, Hicks and her husband, and their
marital relations; the expediency Of securing a
divorce; there was no direct promise of marriage;
but 1t was indicted by the language; the grounds
of divorce had been canvassed, and watching
Mr.. Hicks to aud grounds for divorce; in one let.
ter Mr.. tark says: You were guilty Of the first
wrong, but was guilty Of the second wrong"
On Wednesday forenoon VIM Rank testified as
to the contents of the letters and notes in the
main corroborating Mr.. FOgle. In the letter
where Mr. Park speaks Of his marriage, and hav.
ing home, and Mrs. Hicks being divorced, she
could find home with him as he had a heart
large enough for two women, that "he could give
her more than she is getting now.
The witnesses were CROSSE xamined. The trial
Is going on.