Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-02
From the Portland Press May lst.
REV. d w. LELACHEun.
His Trouble with the Pin. q. ch,r.,

His Trouble with the Pine n. ch.,h
Two years ago. in the spring of 1881. the
Methodist conference met in Congress strae,
Methodist church in this city. When the dav
came for the appointments to be read il va,
FOUND that Rev. ID. W. LeLacheur had been
assigned to Fine street. Mr.. LeLacheur took
charge There was full attendance at church
and everything appeared to be barmonion.
In the latter part of the year Mr. LeLacbeur
made strenuous endeavors to raise the church
debt and accomplished a great deal in thi,
directlon- Still there were many whe did not
IKE his manner and who we're only kept from
expressing an adverse opinion to him. by the
thought that he would be 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 tn
the bishop for the pastor during the coming
year. Remarks were made in favor of the
return Of Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur. and il was
proposed to take an informal vote to ascertain
the prevailing opinion of the board Rev.
MI LeLacheur, ~ho was present, arose at
tins point and stated that he was not capdi
GATE Tor pastor OF Pine street church. the
coming year; he then took his hat and left
~''~ NNN'AA' hitci uN hdu SOuc Tile informal
vote was taken, resulting 6 in favor of Rev
Mr.. LeLacheur and IL against him. 1t was
then proposed to make the vote formal which
was done. Before the vote was recorded Rev.
Mr. LeLacheur appeared at the door and re-
quested that the fact of his declination be put
on record hrst; his request was complied with.
few days after this there were signs of dis.
satisfaction among some of the churches. Sew
eral Of Rev. Mr. LeLacheur's partisans asked
for letters of dismissal. A petition was put in
circulation asking the bishop to reappoint Rev.
Mr.. LeLacheur as pastor of the church 1t
was seen that the was difficulty ahead and
a compromise was proposed and affected 1t
was agreed to send representative of each
faction of the church to argue the case be-
fore the bishop and presiding elders This
ia last year. DIR. C. L. Holt represented
Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur's friends and Mr.. b. NJ.
Eastman those opposed to him. 1t was ex-
pected that the bishop would decide to return
Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur, in which case the
church made up their minds TO make the best
OF il: but Mr.. LeLacheur was not sent to
Pine street and at his own request was placed
among the supernumeraries.
Soon after this Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur was
very ill in this city. When he recovered. it
is claimed by the present members of Pine
street church. he went round among his
friends declaimiug against the ''ring'' 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. LeLacheur's friends
was held before the meeting and list of can
Iidates prepared These all belonged to the
supporters Of Rev. Mr.. LeLacheur and printed
ballots bearing their names were distributed:
this list of officers forthwith elected with
out opposition. In short time after this,
notwithstanding the success of Mr.. Leila
cheur's friends, thirty -one 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 for 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 begun in Vaughan
street ward room, under the charge of Rev.
Mr.. LeLacheur. The new society apparent
ly prospered and a 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 yestesday
morning Deen suspended for a year by the
conference on account of characterization
stated that he shonld withdraw from the con-
ference 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 ailling 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 ut Lewiston in the
case Of the gentleman above named, having
attracted very general attention, allow me to
say to his friends that charge of heresy or
of immortality was preferred against him, but
of violation of ecclesiastical polity only.
The "select number" of IL to which was
committed the investigation of the charges,
decide that the authority of the conference
demanded the temporary suspension of the
respondent from ministerial services and
privileges
Upon the announcement of this decision
Mr.. l. rather than abandon the work which
for - years he has so successfully prosecut
ed, bv leave stated to the conference that he
retired from its jurisdiction.
1t is understood that Mr.. L. will remain in
Portland and at once organize at Vaughan
street an independent Methodist Church.
April Both. PARKER JAorEs.
VVlxen.se Ra abroad Debt.