The Portland daily press., 1883-05-01
REV. D. W. LELAcHEUR.
His Trouble With the Pine st. church.

Two years ago, in the spring OF 1881, the
Methodist conference met in Congress street
Methodist church in this city. When the day
came for the appointments to be read it was
found that Rev. d. w. LeIIaeheur had been
assigned to Pine street. Mr.. LeLacheur took
charge, there was full attendance at church
and everything appeared to be harmonious In
the latter part of the year Mr. LeLacheur
made strenuous endeavors to raise the church
debt and accomplished great deal in this d.
rection. Still there were many who did not like
his manner and who were only kept from ex-
pressing an adverse opinion to him. BY the
thought that he would he sent away at the
close of the.year
AT the last quarterly church meeting OF the
year the question came before the official board
as to whom they should recommend to the
bishop for the pastor during the coming
| year. Remarks were made in favor OF the re-
turn OF Rev. MIR. LeLacheur, and it was pro-
posed to take an informal vote to ascertain the
prevailing opinion of the board. Rev. Mr.. Lee
Lacheur, who was present, arose at this point
and stated that he was not a candidate for
pas tor of Pine street church, the coming year:
he then took his hat and left the room. After
he had gone the informal vote was taken, re-
sulttng 6 in favor of Rev. Mr.. LeIaehenr and
II against him. 1t was then proposed to make
the vote formal which was done. Before the
vote was recorded Rev. Mr.. LeLaoheur ap-
peared at the door and and requested that the
fact OF his declination be put on record first;
his request was complied with.
a few daye altar fhfc eharo xsa.a e3r.,. -
dissatisfaction among some Of the church.
Several of Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur's partisans
asked for letters of dismissal A petition was
put in circulation asking the bishop TO reap
point Rev, Mr.. LeLschsur as pastor of the
church. TWAS seen that there was difficulty
ahead and compromise was proposed and
effected. 1t was agreed to send a representa-
tive of each faction Of the church to argue the
case before the bishop and presiding elders.
This was done when the conference met at
Augusta last year. DIR. G. l.. Holt represented
Kew. Mr.. LeLacheur's friends and Mr. B. Nj
Eastman those opposed to him. II was ex-
pecied that the bishop would decide TO return
Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur, in which case tie
church made up their minds to make the best
OF it; but Mr.. LeLaeheur was not sent 10 Pine
street. and at his own request was placed
among the supernumeraries.
Soon after this Rev. Mr. LeLacheur was
very i'll in this city. When he recovered, it is
claimed by the present members Of Pine street
church, he went round among his friends de-
Claiming against the ''rlng" in Pine street
church and declaring that it must be broken
up he didn't care whether the church was
broken up with it or not Last Fast day, ON
the occasion of the annual Sunday school cleo
ton, caucus of Rev. Mr. LsLacheur's friends
was held before the meeting and list of cam
didates prepared. These all belonged to the
supporters of Rev. Mr.. LeLaeheur and printed
ballots bearing their names we're distributed:
this list of officers was forthwith elected With
out opposition. In short time after this, not
withstanding the success of Mr.. LeLacheur's
friends. thirty-on of this faction asked TO be
dismissed from the school, and besides others
requested letters of dismissal from the church.
the trouble appears TO have been an undue
amount of partisanship fer Mr.. LeLacheur
and unpleasant disputes among the members
with relation to his merits and dement's
About year ago, nearly eighty of the Pine
street church having received letters Of dis
missal, meetings were begun in Vaughan street
ward room, under the change of Rev. Mr. Lee
Lacheur. The new society apparently prospered
AMI parish was formed with legal charter.
A chapel has since been erected on the corner
OF Vaughan and West streets and good sized
congregations have usually been in attendance.
Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur having yesterday morn
ing been suspended for year by the con-
ference on account of characterization stated |
that he should withdraw from the conference
and continue to preach. BY this he means |
that he will continue in charge of the |
Vaughan street congregation. 1t is reported !
that the members OF the Vaughan street church /
are willing to follow the advice Of Rev. Mr..
LeLacheur in whatever direction it leads.
NOTE FROM REV Mr. JAouEs.
The action Of the Maine Methodist Confer
ence at the late session at Lewiston in the case |
of the gentleman above named, having at
tracted very general attention, allow me 10 |
say to his friends that no charge of heresy or |
of immortality was preferred against him, but |
of violation of ecclesiastical polity only
The select number of fifteen to which |
was committed the investigation Of the |
charges, decided that the authority Of the con- |
ference demanded the temporary suspension /
Of the respondent from ministerial services /
and privileges.
Upon the announcement of this decision 1
MIR. L., rather than abandon the work which /
for twenty Two years he has so successfully l
prosecuted, BY leave stated to the conference l
that he retired frvm its jurisdiction.
1t Is understood that Mr. l.. will remain in
Portland and at once organize at Vaughan 1
street an Independent Methodist Church.
April goth. PARKER JACQUES.