The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-28
A MINISTER IN DISGRACE.
The Case of Rev. Alexander Il. Crawford, of
Philadelphia.


Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Special.
The appearance of the Rev. Alexander B.
Crawford, recently, before the altar of the
chapel annexed to the Episcopal Hospital at
Front street and Lehigh avenue, in an intoxi-
Gated condition caused great comment among
the congregation His immediate resignation
and his departure from the city were the
subjects of much talk in Kensington, and at
tracted great attention il Episcopal circles.
The facts of the unfortunate case were care
fully hushed up by the church and the hospi-
tai authorities and the congregation,
but the announcement is now made
that Bishop Stevens has signed an official docu-
ment deposing Mr.. Crawfol from the ministry
OF the church because of his drunkenness during
service This document will be received by
every bishop in the Protestant Episcopal
Church. The case now becomes public for the
first time. On the Sunday in question Mr..
Crawford came before the congregation in the
chapel to conduct the usual vesper service at
the customary time. The chapel was filled with
q congregation of nearly $50 persons. Mr.
Crawford acted in queer manner In reading
the prayers of the day he STUN 5ed and STAN
mered, and seemed mentally parayzed. When
Mr.. Crawford left the altar to make his
way to the pulpit, it was necessary
to pass through the vestry room. AS
he entered the door the superiutend-
FASTENED after him The congregation waited
in their places for the coming of the rector and
the delivery of the sermon, but they waited in
vain. A few minutes passed and then Mr..
Crawford, looking very much agitated, came
back from the vestry and, emitting the expected
sermon and the usual collection pronounced the
benediction at once. The services were thus
ended somewhat abruptly. That night the dis
graced clergyman, stung to the quick at his
fault, is said to have penned his resignation.
He held private interview with Superintendent
Knight, and the next day his abandonment of
the position of chaplain to the hospital and
rector of the chapel was decided upon. During
that day Mr. Crawford was sick in bed and for
few days after he did not leave the hospital
The following Saturday he went away from the in
stitution and stad for week at the house of
a friend. He then left the city. He is now in
Dover, N. Ii. No one seems to know definitely
where he got the liquor which made him drunk
Some claim that he had it in his room. Others
assert that he obtained the liquor from the dis
pensary for legitimate medical purposes. The
story has been circulated by some of Mr.. Craw-
.ord's friends that the liquor may possibly have
been drugged by some person opposed to him.
and that in this way he made sick rather
than drunk. Persons who saw him during the
morning say that he was perfectly sober then.
At dinner, he drank, it is said, some beer. Be-
fore the service in the afternoon Mr. Crawford
was in the vestry alone. He became sick there,
and was seen acting strangely just before he
left the city. when asked what he intended to
do, the unfortunate man wrung his hands and
groaned: 1T is my own sin, my own shame, and
must bear it,"