Morning journal and courier., 1884-10-03
A PASTORS DEPARTURE,

Conc to Winter at Geneva, N. Y.-
 What Prominent Members of COI-
 Iege Street Church Say-They Defend
 Their Former Pastors Good Name.
 A report appeared in last evenings Regis
 ter stating that Rev. MT. Kelsey, formerly of
 the College street Congregational church of
 this city, had left town and that he did so by
 recommendation and advice of 8 number of
 gentlemen connected with the College street
 church, who told him that it would be for
 his interest to do so and that suddenly. The
 report further stated that the advice and rec
 ommendation were given on account of a
 reported scandal in the church when Mir
 Kelsey was it's pastor, which became 'Fhydra
 headed" and had provoked great deal of talk in the church, and which arose because, as & member stated yesterday in a single word ''Mr. Kelsey had too much of pen chant for familiarities with ladies of his church, The report further stated that, needing the advice given, the pastor had un- ceremoniously packed up his household eff fects and departed and would probably be found at Geneva, N Y. The departing pas tor was reported to have said that he could have stayed with College street church if it had not been for one incorrigible deacon, meaning Deacon N. w. Merwin
 - In regard to the reports about NIT. Kelsey, members of the College street church were interviewed last evening. Dr. Darlington, Edward Bryan, of Yale 6 Bryan, MT. Sheldon, of the Second National bank, and MT. Henry F. Peck, of the Board of said that they had no knowledge that anybody had waited upon MT. Kelsey as aforesaid, and these gentlemen thought that if there any truth in such report they would be pretty l seemed to be of the opinion that there was | nothing in the story worth a moments cred l ence Other members of the church said l such treatment of the clergyman would in | their opinion be wholly uncalled for and they | lid not see what business anyone would | nave to deliver such message. Another prominent gentleman of the church said: ftThe whole matter is just this; MT. Kelsey, who las been preaching in our best churches ,ince he left College street church and is in yood standing with the clergy, left with his wife ultimately to risit sister of Mrs. Kelsey who ives in Geneva, N. Y., and who has pressed hem to spend the winter with her Before roinp to Geneva they visited a week or two n New Jersey with friends Also on the yav to New Jersey they stopped in New York to give greeting to another sister of Irs. Kelsey, who resides Tn that city on 7wenty-sixth street, believe, and who with ,er husband was to start for the White fountains on Wednesday. MT. Kelsey does
 lot deserve such treatment from anyone, nd the statements are likely to do him ir- eparable injustice. Arelative of Mrs. Kelsey, sev. Dr. Fiske, who preached recently in the North for United) and First M. E. churches,
 as zone to Ithaca to preach and this was an ddifional reason for his going in anticipa- ;on of a pleasant winter. MT. Kelsey left is boarding place, Mrs. Guernsey's, No. ], ,215 yhapel street, most excellent lady, and vent West simply and solely, in my opinion, ecause he wanted to and without being aid d Gt by any threats, advice or suggestion what yer In nv opinion he will make it hot for [ Rev. e,T' Dr. McLane, pastor of the College treet church, said last night he knew noth- lg to indicate that his predecessor ln the astorate had left town for any other reason