Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-13
THE WHITE BEAR MIDDLE.
What Is Going to be Done About It-In-
terviews With ReYs. POpe md Thomas.

What Is Going to be Done About It-In-
terviews With Revs. Pope and Thomas.
Yesterdays narrative in the GLOBE con-
corning the ministerial middle growing out
of the religious exercises held under the
auspices of Damascus Commandery at White
Bear lake on Sunday, and involving ques-
ton of propriety as to the right of one min
lister to invade the parish of another without
special invitation, attracted wide-spre I'd
comment, and the query was put on all sides,
"What is he going to do about it?" AS a
matter of course, the pronoun had special
reference to the Rev. VIM. @. Pope, and as
intimated in the article referred to, it was
generally supposed that the Rev. e. s.
Thomas would be taken to task for violating
the canon which expressly forbids preacher
from holding service in another parish with
out the consent of the officiating clergyman.
As general interest was manifested con
corning the upshot of the infringement or
dereliction, and as current intelligence was
lacking in official confirmation, it occurred
to tho GLOBE to seek an answer to the query
by applying to the persons directly interested,
and with this object in view the religious
reporter of the GLOBE started in search of q
solution.
In response to tinkling summons of the
door bell at Rev. w. @. Pope's residence, on
Twelfth street. the writer was invited into an
ante room, where he WAS Immediately Joined
by Mr.. Pope, who extended the GLOBE very
cordial welcome. In reply to a question the
reverend gentleman said that he had read
the article with great interest, and that with
the exception that no was enormously denom-
mated as the disturbing element, it was a
correct statement, founded entirely on facts
Concerning what action he proposed taking
in the premises, the reporter was informed
that while question of propriety and Ca
nonical law was involved, 40 further action
would be taken, and that so far as he was
concerned, it would rest where it was.
WHAT MR.. THOMAS SAYS.
The parsonage of St. Paul's church was
visited and the Rev. T.. s. Thomas was asked
for. Mr.. Thomas responded to the repor
torial inquiry for him, and gave further re-.
Spouse as follows:
He had not seen the GLOBE article in refer
ence to his Sunday services at White Bear.
"But you know its import?"
II do; learned it from Mr.. Pope, whom
l have just SEEM"
in regard to it,
II held services at The Damascus com
mandery encampment last Sunday, as you
know. I did so at the invitation of the
Knights Templars. To be sure the encamp-
ment is within Mr.. Pope's parish, but ao.
copied, understanding, having SO learned
from MIR. Pope, that he intended discontinue
ing his services during the summer. men,
tiOneN hv I.ttor INV irtc fo ur
sent me reply, somewhat adverse to my in
tention, but was at White Bear and didn't
get it until I returned home Saturday. All
arrangements had been made for service
next day, Sunday, and I didn't
feel justified in declining at 80 late an hour
disarranging all the plans of the Knights
Templars.
Mr.. Thomas continued by answering that
ne had no intention of trespassing upon Mr.
Pope's domain, and in accepting the invita-
ton to preach at the encampment he was to
great extent visiting many of his
own parishioners. However, he was free
to confess that if, unfortunately, blame was
to attach to anyone, be took 1t wholly upon
himself. The whole affair was probably due
TO thonghtlessness on his part, as he should
have advised with Mr.. Pope previous to ac-
cepting the invitation. But as stated. he
had accepted under the impression that
Mr.. Pupe was not officiating
just then in the parish. As it
was, Mr.. Pope had concluded to resume SER
vices the Gay he (Mr. Thomas) had accepted
the invitation to preach at the encampment.
Thus If conflict there be, arose.
Mr.. Thomas concluded by repeating his
statement that he had just come from visit
ing Mr.. Pope, and assured the GLOBE that
the affair had in no measure disturbed the
amicable relations which had always existed
between him and Mr., Pope.