Daily Republican., 1885-02-21
TAIRD EDITION,
D.Ia~ are Ayeuue Churcm.

Delaw are Avenue Churcn.
L. IL well known fact that for soms
months past much trouble has existed
in this oh. .rch, and from time to time
statements have appeared In certain
newspapers OF this city, charging tht
present Board of officers with misman-
agement of the affairs of the church
Now the fact is that The present Board
of officers came into office last July,
and therefore could not be responsible
for the present financial condition of
the church, In very many Of these
newspaper articles, which claim to bt
reports OF private business meetings,
there Is much of exaggerat on aud false
hood. Evidently these statements came
from certain mem bers of the church for
the purpose of augmepting the difficu.-
ties and creating q public sentiment
against the officers OF the church. Dur
ing these aggravated newspaper as
saults upon the church aud its officers
(for the cause of christianity and with
the advice OF eminent christian men
whose counsel they respect), the
officers have remained silent, pre-
forring to bear the reproaches rather
than spread tn III before the public, but
since the occurrence OF the last few
days and the public statement which
appeared In the Every Evening of Feb.
ruary ~ last, concerning tue prayer
meeting held at the church on Wednes.
day evening last, forbearance ceases to
be virtue. And while we deeply de-
plore the facts in the case, yet we feel
that justice demands that the whole
truth should be placed before the
public.
The statement in the Every Evening
to the effect that the former pastor, Mr..
iHaldeman, had been snubbed by the
officials, and was outrageously treated
by the deacon leading the meeting, was
very highly colored, no doubt to preju-
dice the public mind.
On Tuesday even ing the church held
a special business meeting, for the pur.
pose of hearing full financial state
ment Of the church as il appears on the
church record, from its beginning To
the present time. AT this meeting il
was currently reported that Mr., Haide-
man, who had come Oh from New York,
was about tho building, but did not
come into the business meeting. On
Wednesday afternoon It was reported
that Mr.. Hademan would be at the
evening prayer meeting. In the absence
of a regular pastor, 1t devolyes upon
the deacons TO lead the meeting. Al the
time for opening the m citing, Mr.. Allen.
being the only deacon present, t4oh
charge of the meeting. He consulted
with leading membe-s OF the church
and trustees, who we're present, upon
the propriety of inviting Mr. Haldelnali
TO take charge of the meeting, or t.
preach. IL was decided that II would
be very unwise 10 give the meeting inc
Mr.. Haldeman's charge
On account OF the intense feeling IL
the church between the two factions, il
was thought that the presence of Mr.
Haldeman would be the signal Tor rs
newed tunful. Mr. Allen was therefor,
advisedto hold the meeting 10 the close
Mr.. Haldman well knew the exciteC
state OF feeling in the church, and hi
visit to the church, uninvited by III
Board of deacons, who have charg
of the pulpit supply, was unprol itioui
untimely, and i'll advised. After Tn
meeting had been opened, Nr. Had,
man accompanied by Mr.. s. Il Bal
and other personal friends, entered an
advanced to the front OF the room an
took seat, where he remained uniet
during the reading OF the scriptures /
the leader. After prayer and Singh
again.
Mr.. Allen then announced the NEE
ing open to all present, and earnestl
requested any present who desired
speak and bear testimony for C4rist
do 30 that the meeting was free to al
and that none should say that the
did not have the opportunity 10 speaI
MIR. Jones, a reporter for the Ever
Evening, friend of Mr. Haliemal
arose and requested the leader to inyl
Mr.. Haldeman to the pulpit, az h
friends desired TO hear him again. NJ
Allen replied that the meeting W;
open to all. and if the former paste
had testimony for Christ they wou
be glad TO hear him. Other friends
the pa tor requested that he be invite
to speak. Mr.. Allen said that he wit ht
it fully understood no one desiring
speak for Christ was declared.
Mr.. Haldeman then arose and bepa
TO address the meeting, when Mr. Sin
mons, President OF the Board of Tru
tees, said he had been one to advi
brother Allen not 10 invite him TO Il
pulpit Mr.. Haidemau resumed h
remarks, and II stead of tax ny up IL
theme OF the gosp gel, he did Just VIII
the ON 'ers TX pecied he would do. Aft
stating that lie re ognized hai In Il
Blptlst church any one had the right
speak, ne Ihen began 10 pieaa with II
congregation IN has own behalf, appea
ing TO the syinpathios Of the people, d
mandinF TO know what be had don
and whai all did it mean. ana ref, rr,
70 ms past laDors, having visited the
IN Sickness, buried their dead, and ha
A4H 1f5. A
man bad concluded, the leader aro
and IN Ate some REMARKS IN calm an
Christian spirit, (not IN the excit,
manner reported in Every Eyeuinr
and $ lid that it vas 3ead and lam.u
able condition il w1icI the churcl, VI
placed. TIE members of the cbut,
had 30 often bora testimony that In,
mad Received the light and ruth of n
gospel as few churches had received /
IN view of these facts il was a sad ca
diuon of affairs, and called for ,e.
Initiation and prayer before Cod. an
tnat the church should unite in ear,,a
prayers that the l. nd would sub NJ a
hearts and bring them mo a s1iri,u
conditlon, that they might be I.rrr,.t,
Ipr the Lord's work, and IL The. fGgn
pastor could pour oil upon the trout 4
waters, aud all these troubles be oy,
come, he, the leader, was willing
sta there until mor.ing.
nut dld not say, as reported in 4
Every Evening, that be had learn
NOR under Mr. Haldeman than in ,
the rest of his lite. Mr.. Haidem,
was hen Invited to pronounce the bel
dlcton, AID # after be had rtceiv
the c"ngra'ula 'iona of his friends a,
mad quietly retired tTou4 the church. n
Gl4gracefu scene that occurred won
not nave taken p ace. Ihstcad OF d
ing TINS, he remained and for almt
10 nour he was the central figure
an exciting controversy with some
.he IN GERS until the angry controver,
anu lumu!t became such that the tr,
.oes were obllRed to tuin out the Ugh
In order TO puta SOP to the disgraesf