Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-05-12
FALLEN FROM GRACE.

Marietta and Philadelphia-Whisky
and a Widow Being the Cause
of the Catastrophe.
The Philadelphia Press of to-day, in an
article of a column length, gives the fol-
lowing particulars of matter that has
long been the subject Of vague and indefi-
mite rumOr hereabouts
A petty civil suit begun last week before
Magistrate Lennon has been the means of
letting in light on the rather racy career of
gay young clergyman of the Presbyterian
persuasion.
Some ten years ago Rev. William j. Bri-
dells, a young Levite fresh and fragrant
with the true ecclesiastical aroma of a the
illogical seminary from whose forcing bed
he had just bloomed, led to the altar
blushing bride, etc, the daughter of Mar
shall Hall, wealthy gentleman, who then
resided on Arch street above Fifteenth.
Almost Immediately the reverend bride
groom was called to the charge of the
Presbyterian church at Marietta, Lancaster
county, Pa. The sequence of the story
will show that the Marietta parson is not
to-day without enemies, but even they
will admit that for the first five years Of
his pastoral labOrs in Marietta his life was
without guile. Then the tempter crept
upon him in two shapes, both hard for the
flesh to withstand, "inspirins, bold John
Barleycorn and handsome widow.
His yielding to drink is accounted for by
himself in this wise: Some four years ago
he had severe attack of typhoid fever,
and his physician prescribed alcoholic
stimulants, freely administered. 1t was
thus, he claims he acquired the appetite
for daily drains, varied, it appears, in num-
Der after his recovery, just as it is with
worldlings by opportunity sometimes
| sometimes by the condition Of the purse.
How he got into the tolls of the widow it
| is more difficult to arrive at. But it is
| asserted that he was intimate with her
during the last few years of his Marietta
pastorate, if not to sufficient degree to
warrant the use Of the adjective "unduly,'
! at least enough to cause comment among
the gossips, whose name is legion in Mari
eta, as in all country towns. His tippling
was done on the quiet at home. When
special indulgence was required he would
HE him to Philadelphia and enjoy himself
in compny with few choice souls where
secrecy was assured.
The Marietta brethren growing some
what suspicious, the Rev. DR.. Bridells
some two years ago suddenly resigned,
giving rs his reason paltry salary and his
difficult in collecting it. With part of
ten thousand dollars inherited by his wife
from grandparent, tho parson, when first
located at Marietta, had built and furnish
ed house, and this he, upon his depart
ure, sold for $1,000 cash, and another
Thousand secured by mortgage. He pock-
eted the $1,000 and came with his wife to
Philadelphia.
Not long after Rev. Mr.. Bridells was
called to the spiritual charge of the Lehigh
avenue Presbyterian church. He had been
there but short time when his Marietta
widow, who had followed him as soon as
she could, began worshiping with the
Lehish avenueites. 1t was not long before
it was discovered that the widow was
boarding on Locust street near Twenty
first and that her pastor was visiting
her very often. This news finally came to
Mrs. Bridells's ears. She had stood the
tippling, but the woman business was
sole possession of her dwelling, in the
neighborhood of the church. Not long
afterward, when he was sitting alone one
morning in his home, laid up with the
rheumatism, he says, a carriage drove up to
the door, in which was the wife, sister and
another lady he believes to have been his
wife. The sister-in-law rang the bell, and
on being admitted walked up to the par
sons room and told him that she had
como to take away the furniture. won't
you even leave me . bcd?" he pleaded.
He was not even left match box. Furni-
tule cars ard crew of lusty movers
were in the train of the carriage and
in jiffy everything in the house in the
shape of movables was hustled out and
carried away. All these proceedings were
not unknown to the Presbyterians of Le-
high avenue, and they were about begin
ming summary proceedings, with the pur
pose of getting rid of their parson, when
he dnIlclpfiIeu Iueln ny res1SnlnS; giving
indignantly, as his reason, that while they
had promised him thousand dollars a
year salary, he had been attending to the
care of their souls for over year, and had
collected, with great strivings, only about
$500.
Subsequently, however, his conduct was
brought before the Lancaster presbytery,
charges of immortality, drunkenness and
falsehood being presented against him. He
was convicted on all except that of immor-