The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-12
AT ODDS WITH HIS PASTOR.

BEGINNING OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL Oh
DIR. osMUN, OF MoRRIsTowN-'A VERY Goou
DENTIST BUT VERY POOR METHODIST"
The ecclesiastical trial of DR.. Charles r. Osmun
was begun yesterday at Morristown. N. j.. in the
chapel of the Methodist Church, which thronged
in spite of the rainy weather. The audience wac
restricted to members of the Methodist persuasion
and representatives OF the press. the latter having
been admitted only after a sharp debate. The
court as completed is composed of four
members Of the Mcrristown Church fvS
from the churches in the New Jersey Conference
who are presided by Rev. George +. Dickinson.
of Newark, who seems a fair minded. just in
his decsions the church is represented by counsel
in stephen u. Ransom. of Jersey City. while Mr. j.
c. Allen. of Hackettstown protected the interests OF
DIR. Osmun H. W. knight acting secretary. All
the preliminaries ready, the charges of which
bear striking similarity to those preferred against
DR.. Talmage. read. to which the Doctor pleaded
"Not guilty.
The pastor Of the church, Rev. Shadrack L. Bow
man, was called the first witness. His testimon!
the effect that he had pastor reproved anS
admonished DIR. Osmun, but he had paid attention
whatever. Reproof he parried with a request fof
prayer. and when begged to cease holding che meet.
ings outside the church he retorted with such
pressions intend to tho Lord all my days.
tic rude and captous III his conversation and
did not the witness This pastor) he ought ia
be treated; he refused to obey requests OF Witness
and for words delivered by him during class mect-
ing in the church, overheard by tho pastor, he was
removed from MS leadership. Some of the inter.
views between the pastor and Osinun were very ac-
rimonious the part of the Doctor and all suavty
the part of witness. save i'll one instance whero
they reached the point OF accusing each other OF
lack of veracity and the passage was sharp that
not q boy. but man." "And L.
epithets with YOU SIR" He testified that in spite
his request Osmun surrendered his badge OF
oees Sr ana ina. mas
cipline by signing papers appointing him to posi-
tion in tho Sunday school which was the duty of
another. and the refusal to sign was the first cause
OF bitterness between them.
Z" BECAUSE WE ARE POOR"
He tried to sow dissension among the brethren By
saying vt class meeting to the section of tho
church who there congregated, "Brethren,
know we are showed aside by others who are in
better circumstances in this church than we are
because poor" THAT sentence" said
deponcnt. ''settled the matter OF the leadership.
and removed him, especially he read Scrip
ture to follow up that sentiment" When wit
ness made public explanation to the class the
angry talk that followed after the meeting
dismissed. The cross-examination seemed to point
to the fact that the pastor had determined get rid
of the accused. At the close OF his testimony 10
prssented n sealed letter from the court, which
proved to be deposition from York. Pa. in tho
form OF answers To series of questions propoundcd
by him to corroborate portion of his testimony.
The presiding elder, Rev. Dr. Van Horfie. testified
that while he advised the Doctor to become recon-
cilcd to his pastor aud not continue the meetings
outside. at the time If they not Mctho-
dist meetings they did not trench upon the position
of the pastor and he objection to them.
Malachi q. Allen William Snudden aud Peter Guiick,
who members OF Dr. Osmun's class in tho
church. testified that they left the church at tho
time OF Osmuns dismissal and had been in attend
ance on his meetings since. They had thor own
causes OF grievance which led them away and Osmun
did not lead them. The meetings were held
| by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Christian
| ASSOCIATION, and not Methodist meetings.
| Rev DR. Parsons OF Newark said he had been drawn
into this quarrel, though he was not aware then OF
its magnitude, to his church. as three OF the
| foremost men OF the association were connected
with IT, and in response TO letter from Dr. Bowman
ne had required thcfu TO withdraw from the meet
ngs held by Osmun.
ANOTHER PASTORS EXPERIENCE.
Rev. DR.. ~. W. Bartine. former pastor OF tho
church. testified very warmly that Osmun's treat
ment OF him was very unjust unkind and unchris-
tan. He had one quarrel with tho Doctor. who in
suited him i'll front OF the Post Office in manner
that amazed him, though he knew the Doctor had
violent temper and gave way to it. eve got along
friendly after that but deemed that his temper dis
qualified him for Office. ono thing l will say, that
while think him first class dentist think him q
very poor Methodist" and with this the testimony
for the dsv closed.