Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-10-14
I AIRD tD|T|OH
Ssoirx aoaCirans.

- - - OSes
EAsToN, Nd, Oct. IA good deal
OF talk has followed the departure from
Eas ton OF Rev. A. W. LiRhtbourne,
pastor of the NJ. Z. Church here, who
went away about three weeks ago. Mr..
Lightbourne was subjected to criticism
because he had gone to o cirrus, where,
after looking over the menagerie, he
took his seat ard witnessed the rinQ
performances. Strict Methodist disci.
plia- does not prohibit ministers look
ing At naenagerie, but 1t does draw the
line on the CIRCUS. The mem bers of the
preachers flock knew this, but they also
knew that Mr.. Lightbourne was not
exactly the convon ti0ual Methodist
preacher. He WAS eccen trio, sensitive
and Independent in many of his views.
They did not know exactly what to do
about the matter, and did not take for
NAL action, but there Was rome quiet
criticism.
Shortly after attending the circus Mr..
Lightbourre went to Green wich, Conn.
to visit his father, Rev. James h. Light
bourne. who il . we'll X nown preacher
ON the peninsula. While Mr.. Light
bourne was absent Rev. Dr.. Caldwell,
presi ding elder Of Easton district, visit
ed the town in the regular dis
charge of his duties. The official mem.
bers of the church here sought his ad &.
vice about the circus matter, and the
upshot Of the conference was . note
from the presiding elder to the offend.
ing minister calling his attention to the
discipline.
This offended Lightbourne. Upon his
return he preached sermon in which
he sought to justify his visit to the cir
Gus, and laid about him generally In no
very gentle manner. He then called
. meeting of the official members of his
church. The matter was calmly dis
cussed and an amicable conclusion
reached.
Mr.. Lightb0urne then stated, what he
had often limited 1t before, that he might
soon 70 away on account Of his hea It'll.
He is said to 10 suffering from spinal
disease and to be threatened with
Bright's disease Of the kidneys. He
was asked by his friends TO withhold
his resignation, and nothing further
was heard Of him for some days.
Subsequently,, however, Presiding
Elder Cald well who resides in Smyrna,
DEL, has received Mr.. Lightbourne's
resignation of the pastorship in Easton,
and the surrender Of his parchment, or
credentials to preach In the Whining
ton Conferences.
At the time Mr.. Lightbourne went
away from Easton he WAS accom- panied
BY his sister and her husband, and also
by young woman who was o domestic
In Mr.. Lightbourne's family, who have
since Joined him in New York. Scan
dial, which is rife just now, has given
voice to great deal Of gossip about Mr..
LiRhtbourne and another clergyman,
but ~ all the stories told In connection
with the affair are susceptible Of satic-
factory explanation the majority of the
people discredit them. 1t is unfortu.
nate, however, that so much. scandal
has grown out Of the circumstances re-
lated, and 1t 10 said preliminary &C.
clesiastical court, composed of minister.
and laymen, with Presiding Elder
Caldwell, will sift the matter az regards
the other minister. Their report will
be made to the Wilmington Annual
Conference.
Presiding Elder Cald yell was here
to-day and preached, I'd the pulpit made
vacant by the departure of MIR. Light
bourne. There was large congrega-
zion press,it. Most people seemed to
think that the minister would make
some allusion TO their late pastor, but
he did not do 80. He gave notice, how.
ever, that the official members of the
church would hold meeting after the
evening services to select some one to
fill the pulpit for the remainder OF the
con ference year.
Mr.. Lightbourne's friends speak of
him W ith affection as q brilliant preach
er, graceful as Edwin Booth. He is
about 20 years old. People of all de.
nom nations here concede his talent
The young men generally are his
friends. He appears to have been fond
OF many sports, though physically dis
qualified to indulge in them. 1t is
stated that he is going TO enter journal
ism in New York city.