Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-09
Rev. MT. Billfssan.

A BtatemAnt By a Member of His Church. To the Editor of tho JOURNAL COURIER:
 As the secular press has taken up the case of the Rev. MT. Billman, weuld ask. as an old correspondent, the privilege of stating the case so that false impression may not be made. Killingworth church is indeed shaken to it's center with righteous indignation oyer the treatment received at the hands of the council called te Investigate the orthodoxy of Re%. Mr. Billman, and, if worthy, to receive him into their fellowship. The first day ap- pointed vas so very stormy that only Rev. Howard Billman, of East Windsor, came. The next issue of the Congregationalist an- nounced "that at the council called in Kill lingworth only Mr. Rillman's brother was present." leaving half told truth to Ee in- terpreted unfavofably. At the second coun Gil sufficient number of ministers came to form quorum and were progressing to the satisfaction of the church, when another member arrived, purposely late as it seemed to the people, and Che sequel has satisfied them that their conjectures were correct. Previous to this, by a vote of the council, Rev. MT. BilIman had been invited to make his statement. He was doing so when the new arrival interrupted him and by con tinued Interruptions prevented the reading, the moderator sitting like 8 fgure-head ma. jestic but silent. Mir. Henry Hull became indignant and said, "That man had bet ter go back to Haddam Jail where he belongs" Although the people shared his sentiment, they scarcely approved it's utteranee, but Moses said, ''Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and hon. or the face of the old man" We did so Rev. Mir. Billman presented a letter from Rev. A. H. Ross, who is personal friend of his, saying that council called ss this was could adjudicate tue case, after the reading of which he laid it upon the table. It was opposed by one member. Letters were read by members of the council from men at the West, containing scandalous hearsay reports, not a thing that would have been admitted in any court of justice and no opportunity giv- en for rebuttiDg testimony. The coun- Gil adjourned for four weeks, 8 commit tee of three being chosen to make further inquiry. Rev. Mr. Billman gave them several names of prominent men of whom to inquire in his behalf February 9th the council again convened, but prior to their arrival we had learned the fate of our pastor
 Although we as church are the most deeply interested ones, and should have been the fist informed, we have had the humiliation of re- ceiving our reports from groups on street cor ners and loungers in corner groceries. There was nearly full delegation, and they pro- ceeded at orcs to business. Mr. Charles GrisWold, of Chester was called to the chair, the former moderator resigning. Rev. Mr. Billman and the officers of the church had fulfilled every requirement to the letter, but the council did not seem satisfied Mr. Billman then called for the reading of MT. Ross letter. The former moderator 11-I l. -l T l. in his possession. The scribe also said there was none upon the table and attempted a denial of it's having been read there. Others acknowledged that 1t was read. and Rev. MT. Billman repeated one member's reply to it.. It could be no longer denied, but the letter was not produced. He then asked if they had written to those whose names he had given them. They made no reply. Deacon Nettleton was appointed by the church to act with the council. They would not admit him and object ed to Rev. Howard Billman because he was not in this af s,ciation whiIs Rev. Mr. More, of Hartford acted with them. One was friend to Mir. Billman;!the other, let the public judge. Deacon Nettleton and MT. Nathan Evarts both talked strongly and to the point. One man in the back part of the house spoke out, and once when Rev. MT. Bill man said his church WAS with him there was a slight cheer to sanction his statement. Those were the only demonstrations made. They adjourned to the parsonage to dine, returned to the church and after brief sitting passed the resolution, That the Toledo confer , encs only could adjudicate the case," thus leaving Rev. Mir. Bllmani at sea with a flood of insinuations floating about him, harder to meet ''than whole artillery of words openly leveiled against him." For that he was prepared with primary evidence which could not be refuted.
 It is not presumption in us to retain and love our pastor until he is proven unworthy. He has been to us perfect Christian gentle man, talented beyond anything we could ev- CT dare hope for again, faithful in every duty and beloved by every one in the church and out. We must know bsfore VIC believe any, thing against him. He has told us of the ocean of sorrow he has passed through in his domestic relatiopS, covering everything that was possible by his silence, for his children's sake but the time had come when he would have uncovered his hearts secrets, explain ing many dark passages, if he could have had justice shown him. All ready to stand by him in Christian love and sympathy, ex- tending helping hand, that from the wreck of his desolated hearthstone he may make a pleasant home for himself and his children in Killingvorth M. NJ
 February s, 1884.