New-York tribune., 1880-01-11
A MASON,S FUNERAL.

THE TROUBLE IN THE SEVENTH PRESBYTERIAN
cuURCII-DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE MATTER.
The trouble regarding the funeral of William A,
Van Dorn which was TO have taken place on We'd
nesday. from the Seventh Presbyterian Church, at
roone and Rdge-ss., is still the subject OF discus
sion. Several prominent members OF the church
DENY that there was any intention on the part of
The PASTOR the Rev. Henry T. Hunter, to refuse the
use of the church because tho deceased was to be
buried with Masonic ceremonies On the other hand
A. J. Case, the undertaken who was 10 charge, and
Theodore b. Case the sexton of the church, main
tain that Mr. Hunter refused to give his consent to
,pening the church. Francis S. Gardiner secretary
IF the Board of Trustees, who has been q member
of the church twenty-iour years. said yesterday:
There is no opposition in the congregation to
Masonic ceremonies at funerals in the church. One
Of the members of the Session, and several members
of the Board of Trustees, including myself, are
Masons. Had Mr.. Hunter been consulted before
hand regarding the funeral he would not, think.
have made the least objection 1t is considered by
many members of the church that much OF the dli-
6cuIty was occasloned 10y Mr.. Case, who was for
merly the sexton OF the church Since ms removal
about year ago he has had considerable feeling
against the pastor and some of the members OF the
congregation. After meeting held ON Friday
evening number of members denounced him as
the cause of tue trouble 1t has been alleged that
there is opposit tou in the church to Mr. Hunter.
This is not true The dissatisfaction is confined to
very few and they are friends of Mr.. Case. his
paople more closely together"
:. :. Smith, another member OF the church, sald
Mr.. Hunter did make some remarks IN the pulpit
when the notice of the funeral was read, but they
were general, and referred TO the Importance OF
funeral notices being sent in early lie also cited
passage from the church rules relating 10 this point.
Az the time he did not know that Mr. Van Dorm
had been Mason. After the congregation was dis
missed several Of the elders inquired who had gwen
authority to open the church for the funeral. They
were told that three of the trustees had gwen their
Mr. Hunter was told that the funeral vas to be at
tended with Masonic rites, be said he was opposed
10 having "a Masonic show Ill his church but lie did
not expect to be guided by his own sentiments In
the Iuatter." . ~
The undertaken, WHO was employed by the Van
Dom family. is A. j. Case, whose place OF business
is at No. 80 Grdud-st. His version OF the matter
is IN direct disagreement with those already gwen:
Mr. Van DOrn," he said. died Sunday morning.!
AS soon as received word of his death wrote out
the notices and went TO see tho trustees OF the
Seventh PRESBYTERIAN Church. Three Of the trus-
tees gave their consent ard then considered 1t
unnecessary TO go further. The notice was given to
the sexton, who took 10 at once to the
pastor then in his study. This was about
10 O'clock. 1t was impossible TO have sent
n in earlier as the death was only known
n short time before After church was ont Mr.
Hunter asked the sexton, Theodore b. Case, II 1t
was 10 be n Masouic funeral. and whom he SAID he
suuposc, il would be- said there should never be a
Masonic show III the church as long as he was
pastor of II. OF course that settled the matter and
other arrangements were made.
Mr.. Hunter Is very reticent regarding the analT,
and claims that the difficulty entirely through
n uilsapprc henslOn.