Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-16
rnhhsv, a. v. A1anrBoUHNr.
Ae Resigns Hls Pastoraie 10 Enter
JCurDaIism-Why Gae Did SO.

SN"rbahAbn-Why rae uhu so.
fpsclAl D.patch to The Bsltimors rua.
EATON, Nh Odt. IL "A good deal Of
talk bAs followed the departure from
Bsston Of the Rsv. A. W. Lis t5ourns,
pastsr Of the n. Il. ohuroh here, who
went away about three weeks ago. Mr..
Llshthourns waa suti c.ed 10 criticism
bgcsuss he had gone 10 cirous, where,
after looking over the mensgerie, he took
his seat and Witnessed the ring perform
anoes Strict Methodist discipline dUea
not prohibit ministers luokiug a. .
menagelio, but 1t does draw the Iine OIL
the circus. The members Of the preachers
hock knew this, but they also knew thnt
Mr.. Lightbourne was not exactly the GOA
ventional Methodist preacher. He vas
eccentric, sensitive and Independent IN
many of his views. They did not k CIV
exactly what Ia do about the matter, and
did not tske formal action, but thsrs wal
come quiet oritioism.
Shortly after attending the circus Mi
LiRhtb)urne went TO Greenwich, Conu. +,
20 visis mis- father, the Rev James II
Ltghthourne, who is q wrll known
preacher, on the Peninsula White M
Lightbourne was absent the Rev r J.
u. Caldwell, presiding elder Of the EasiOn
| district, visited the tOwa in the regular
discharge OF his duties. The official
members Of the church here sought bis
advice about the circus matter, and the
| upshOt VI the conference was q note from
the presiding elder to the offending minis
ter calling his attention TO the discipline.
This offended Mr. Lightbourne. Upon
aid return his presched sermon in
which Aa aousht to j1stiy his visit TO
'as c.icaa, AID lad Gbiut him generally
10 no vtry keuile manner. He then
9aliHd ulsgtjig If the cfl iisl members
ii HE o',uroh. The msttsr was calmly
liscn3.rd 4ad 81 sDies5l9 tcnoiusion
| y.HehsS
| Nj L'gltb3urt thsn stated, what he
had oitn hiHt.i ct bs'orI, that might
s,cn 50 away on gtoount Of his heath
H. is said o be suffering from spinal
seGss aud to be threatened with Brigbt's
dises'e If the kidneys. He was asked by
his friends to withhold his Yesigpatiau
aud nothing further was heard from him
tor some days.
sabs quently, however, Presiding
L der Caldwell, who resides 10 Smyrna,
Di, Ina received air LishtbourDe'f
rvsisraiiou Of ,he pastnrship in Bsston
aud the suTrei der q Lie parchment oil
oTsdentisls to pSesth Ia the Wilmington
Conference.
At the time MIR Lighibourne went away
frcm Esston he wss accompanied by his
sister aud her husband, and also by {
young woman who was domestic in Mr.
liz btbOnrDs's family, who have sine,
Joined him in New Yo-k Scandal, which
is riffs just now has given voice 10 Rrea
deal oil gossip about M. LiehtbOnrDe sni
another clergyman, b0t 40 all the stQrie
told in olupecloI wi,h shs SifSir are sus
ceptibie Of 81 ieisa'sry explanation til,
majority of tie ysoa' d.scredit them. l
is uniortuuals, toTeVcr, that 90 muol
scandal has grown ont OF the oircum
, staross related, ard Il ia aa;d b pr'iiG
iusry ecclesiastical couit ,coDp cttd " iv
ministers ard FIVE llymen, with n, aid
Ing Bidsr Csld we'll, will jitt the matter
regards tbs otaer minister. Their repor
will be made 10 the Wilmington annua
0 inference.
Presiding Elder Caldwell was here to
day ard preached in the pulpit mad
| vacant by the departure OF Mr.. Light
| bourne. There vas 5 large congregation
present. Nest people seemed TO thinl
the minister wopld make come allu5iOn /
, their late pastor, but he did nos dc 40
He gave notice, however, that the oftioia
, members Of the church yould hold
meeting after the evening services 4
select some one to fiji the pulpit for tn
remainder of the conference year,
Mr. Lighttourne's fFierde epesk Of hin
with affection as Z brilliant preacher
] graceful as RiEin Booth. He ia abou