New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-30
A MATCHMAKING PREACHER
HIS CONQUEsTs AND HIS SUSPENSION.
MARRIAGE OF YOUNG COUPLE AT SUGAR LOAF
AND HOW II WAS BROUGHT ABOUT

MARRIAGE OF YOUNG COUPLE AT SUGAR LOAF
AND HOW IT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT.
NEwBURG, Dec 20" This trial must end
tonight or 1t Will end without mo-" was the determined
uttcrsnce of n juryman I'm the Of the Methodist
Church against the Rev. H. b. Edwards, local preacher
OF that denomination living in the village Of sugar Loaf
on the Lchigh and Hudson River Railroad rho hamlet
is quiet, unobtrusye place and derives Its from
the conca shaped hill which rises the east from 500
to 1000 feet above tho sea ann is conspicuous miles
around ns the highest point Of land in Orange County
The Rev. Mr. Edwards has been trial He charged
with unmniseral conduct and the ba, for tho charge
against him was laid when. alleged he not only per-
formed the marriage ceremony OF the progressing
daughter Of brother minister against the atePs pro-
test but actually gloated afterward anI, in the
style OF Tweed, asked the heart-broen mother Of the
bride what she going TO do about it, rather, In
precise words, "You can't undo IT," The matter came
up before the quarterly conference the presiding elder
OF the Newburg District, the Rev. DR.. ~ D. Crawford
presiding. 1t adjourned from time to time, and
ended ut o'clock this morning, the session being
tended all night long and into daylight the second day
by tho precpate action Of the uryman who is quoted
at the beginning OF this article
Tho Rev. william Il. Webster appointed by trans
fer from the NevIork East Conference OF 1884 10 the
pastorate OF the church Sugar Loaf His family in
cluded his gOodnatured wife, three little and
only daughter, then eighteen years OF age and
attractive and talented eocutonist she be-
came recognized as valuable acquisition to the society
OF young people In the town. Mr.. Webster displayed
great energy and enterprise he found the church
erty in dilapdated condition and set work not only
to souls but to the church ahd from
destruction by age. flo succeeded ia rebuilding and
arging and rcfurnishing tho parsonage and making 1t
the finest house the village and plimented BY the
presiding elder at the last conference for 40 doing The
church was also improved new organ was purchased
aid witha numerous additions were made to the mem
bershp. In the midst of these arduous abors and fiat
tering the pastor encountered tho Rev II. b.
Edwards the local preacher. who it was charged. be-
came Jealous OF him and his temporal prosperity.
In september OF that yoar young man Of the name Of
Decker made his appearance in the village AS the
teacher OF the public school and kindly received by
the pastor OF tho Methodist Church. Tho latter en-
couraged him in his and he invited to call at
the parsonage and occasionally lie awaited
himself OF tho Invitation. Things moved
smoothly and satisfactorily to all concerned
until after the Christmas festivities when Decker
invited partako OF the good cheer with his young
pupils at the parsonage Some time after this the young
began TO eyince preference for the society Of Miss
May Webster. the pastors charming daughter As
this seeming preference discovered 1t was ac-
corllug to the testimony Of the girl herself promptly
discouraged by her parents. In the winter young
Decker profcssed conversion and united with the church
probation. THIS him additional opportunities
for his attentions to tho pastors daughter and ho was
slow to avail himself OF them so far as the outside
world was aware, matters continued without disturb
auce until spring when tho schoolmascr left the place
70 mn an engagement IN brooklyn. He paid two
flying visits to Sugar Loaf ostensby on business but
managed each occasion 10 tho object OF his acc-
lions Notwithstanding the earnest opposition OF the
girls parents. It charged that the Rev Nj Edwards
boldly avowcd himself to the pastors wife as being in
favor OF tho union between the young people, declaring
80. a.. 40 All in bia IN ~
During the month OF June Miss May teaching IN
an adjoining district and boarding at the house OF one Of
her patrons. Decker followed he gr lie yired her
At her new home aud again hortparents took
the matter IN hand and sought to put an end To It.
Decker WAS called into the parsonage he passing
ono day and demonstrated with. It was then that an
agreement entered by all concerned to the effect
that Decker wa- year seek Tor the hand OF
Miss Miy IA marriage aud That the twain were u remain
simply a. ACC Ialutahc's In order to remove Miss May
from a." ul cucc. that apparently surrounded her she
taken visit to southampton. l. L. aud aft'rwarl
she accompanied hcr I"the Oh l.p 10 Europe oh 'cr
rtuTu they found tina. Young Decker was usagcd as
teacher ~ the sugar Loaf public school and was then
10 o." village: ne dn-nteI HA san l" HoI 'ntHr nov
cycLa hc dropped Decker for good aud their fears
OF ~ marriage were accordingly dispeled Ia week or
two a. the Iquc. oI aNf7 Hrel' niece oi inc 10y. MI
Edwards. NJ Nav Wa permitted 10 spend a night or
no a. n'r po1' ' "ISd H,} BecErr agn renewed
lis - Nj webster and caused her 70 break
.Tns,Gcnt t. III. ci7udcstinc meeting Miss May
-t,it win auntAer friend ANA 70 IL also charged that
beer spcut three evenings AT this house ON the thirt
cycuul Il marriage engagement Was entered INTO. aud
ou the following ulcht the Kew Nj Edward, married
n. couple at neighbour house and hcn cody informed
the hiatt washer duty to write hcrpucutSaoonl IT,
Tue next morning. meeting the brides mother ~ IN"
street I'm front the pm -unHgc the reverend gentleman
acco-:cd her with these words: Ana You tired to
break u the match but you couldn't doIt and no" I've
done 10 and Won can't undo IT.
FolIoNIus TN, charges malc 10 the prcsiling
her ~ uucht.sau and uutuiustcrIa conduct by the
Rev. Dr " Imam -. Thompson. OF Ncw-Ench"l!c, ana
tl,. tr,I vn. begun. Judge GroD ~ MIddrtowu. the
R-y l. L. pInucy and ~chrlvrr OF Chester, appeared
FOR the accused man, while Gideon I'M. 81 ms cry am
,I, nv Ir. " H. Thpmp,on and Charles Il. Norih of
Johns Church. ih' city. had the pros cuil"h III
charge The defendant Justified his action ~ aging
h,t I, ne had not done n other minister would,
and that 10 his knowledge there was no opposition ON the
,t ~ the lr.'. parents 1uc verdict shows. however
that tie iurv thought otherwise n they at O'Clock inns
rorrln. after an exciting an ui-ht session. sustained
The charges and pended the Rev. MI Edwards from
performing the ministerial functions
mon PRESSURE IN SCHOOLS.