The semi-weekly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1879-1882, 1881-08-18
Rev Mr.. Lules from the Browns
Mills circuit, by the Presiding Elder !:

Rev. Thomas II. Lutes, local preach
er, was sent to this charge about June,
1880, no minister having presided here
since the month of March previous. For
awhile things went along smoothly. Mr..
Lutes did many acts Of charity in his
humble way. often working for the MEM
beers of his charge, and for one Of them in
particular he worked eight days receiving
no pay except his meals, He did not
ask pay for this kind of work but did it
out of kindness TO his people. He visited
the sick and poor, and on Sundays he
preached at the County House in the
morning. at Browns Mills IN the after
uoon at New Lisbon in the evening, and
sometimes managed to preach sermon
at Magnolia on the same day, but always
holding services at the latter place DUR
ing the week. He became greatly at
tached to Mr.. and Mrs. Hannum at the
hotel and through them and the guests
the church was often aided financially.
Mr.. Hannum kept his saloon open on
Sundays which did not suit Messrs.
Vaughn & Kinsley, storekeepers, and
William Vaughn, another local preacher,
brother of the aforementioned member
of the above firm took sides against the
saloon, and trouble commenced, as Mr..
Lutes remained friendly to the proprietor
and openly offered no opposition TO his
Sunday business. He occasionally dined
with these people and was at times a
visitor in the barroom. 1.-THE request of
Mr.. Hannum he changed his hour of hol-
ding service at Browns Mills from 8
o'clock in the afternoon until o'clock
in the evening, which change was strenu-
ously opposed by preacher Vaughn and a
few others but TO no effect. The guests at
the boarding house. were very friendly to-
ward Mr.. Lutes and his church and some
of them presented the church with very
nice bible and dozen hymn books. An
other occurrence which caused dissatis-
faction took place on Sunday evening,
July 10Th. Rev. Mr.. Lighthipe, EpiEco-
pal minister at Pemberton, visited here
on that evening and held a religious
meeting in the dance house. Mr.. Lutte
closed his church aud assisted in the SER
vices at the dance house. This bis con-
gregation did not approve Of and openly
manifested their displeasure. His famil-
iarity with the people at the hotel is the
only cause that is assigned for dismissal.
Not that he was guilty of any great
wrong or wickedness, drinking or carous-
ing. but he wds too familiar Nth the people
at the Intel, with whom it is fair to pre-
sumo he kept on good terms because they
gave financial aid to the church. He
raised about $S5 among them prior to his
dismissal, towards paying off a debt of
$50 on the church, but when they learned
that he had been dismissed from the
church by the Presiding Elder, they de-
manded that heretain the money himself
as a portion Of his salary was due and
unpaid. Rev. Mr.. Thompson of Point
vile called on Mr.. Lutes and upbraided
him severely for being $50 intimate at
the hotel,' and it alone seemed to be his
greatest fault TO those who made COM
plant against him. Mr.. Lutes was for
merly resident of Mercer county, is
about so years of age, a widower, and
has always borne good reputation. He
has the sympathy ofthe majority Of the
congregation in his trouble, and they only
blame him for the one act of closing his
church and attending the services in the
dance house.