The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-12
HENRY D. JARDINE'S CAREER
A Man Who Began Life as a Burglar and
Subsequently Entered the Ministry.
The Libel Suits at Kansas City and the Ex-
element They Caused-Preaching with
the Aid of Two ReyOlyers.
st. Louis Globe De m ocrat.

The Rev. Henry ID. Jardine, who committed
suicide on Sunday by taking morphine. was born
in Canada West about 1843 His sister married
Mr. Pritchard, who lived in Rochester, N. T.,
who was engaged in the manufacture and sale OF
trunks Young Jardne lived with the couple and,
for some time, went to school in Rochester. At
Mr.. Pritchard and other business men. Here an
event happened which had disastrous effect on
his after-life. When seventeen years Of age
he and a young companion committed bur-
glary on Mr.. Pritchard's store, and be-
ing found guilty, Jardine had to serve
two years, from June %. 1860 to June 90 1862,
in the Monroe county IN. " penitentiary. At
the expiration of his term he removed to New
York city, where he became tutor to number
of children,o of good families, and also worked as
a reporter on either the Sun or the Tribune. In
the course of time he came to the conclusion
that he was called to the ministry He stated in
later days that he had laid before Bishop Hor a.
ito Potter the full circumstances of the sin of his
youth, and that prelate babe him go forward and
receive orders. After graduating from the Gen
eral Theological Seminary in 1875, he was or
dained deacon by the bishop, and developed what
are known as high church or ritualistic tenden-
cies
He came to ST. Louis in August, 1875, and took
charge of the missionary Church of the Good
Shepherd, at 2847 South Ninth street During
this time it was known as the Catholic Church
of the Good Shepherd" He was remarkably
we'll versed i'll church history and canon law. He
may be remembered as one of the disputants in
the great religious controversy carried on in the
columns Of the Globe Democrat. He ran afoul
of the Rev. 9. f. O'Leary, of De Soto Mo-, chal
longing that gentleman to prove the authenticity
of a passage quoted by him. He offered, IL the
passage were authentic, to make his submission
Immediately to Bishop Robertson, calling upon
Father O'Leary in turn to submit to Bishop
Robertson if the passage were bogus. Father
Phelan, in his paper, intimated that the hsto
rian, Darras who had given the quotation, was
not wholly reliable IL his own church Mr.. Jar
dine carried ritualism to the furthest limit. Cru
cifix, candlestick, all other paraphernalia and
modes and forms of worship supposed to be the
special property of the Roman Church, were in
troduced by him. He was known by the title
which the Irish have caused to be applied to
every Roman Father"
When he left this city notice was published
in the Church News of the removal of the OBJ
jectionable ornaments from the church. His
great determination of character brought him
into conflict with members of his congregation,
but his learning and character were held in es
teem Roman Catholic priests. who generally
have not much regard for ritualists had great
regard for him, and gave him credit for sincerity
Jesuit father once remarked to Globe Demo
crat reporter, II know that he has made VOW
of confluence, and 1 believe that he kept it faith
fully" He sept and cooked in his vestry, to save
expense to his church. and leading rector of his
own denomination remarked some time ago. He
could live on penny day, and would do any
thing in the way of selfsacrifice for what he be-
lieved to be the right"
While at this church he supported and educat-
ed two young men who were in training for the
ministry. One of them is now a successful
priest, the other died before com pleting his
course in the General Theological Seminary of
New York.
In 1879 Mr.. Jardine went to Kansas City
where he became rector of st. Mary's Church.
He followed out the same line of doctrine and
practice. Troubles came upon him. The aues-
ton of church property became a troublesome
one, and rival st. Marys Church. distinguished
by the sufix First Wa rd," was established. In
1884, he got into difficulties with some of his
vestrymen. One he communicated for drunk
enness, and Bishop Robertson communicated
him. only to ha ve the reverend rector pronounce
sentence once more. Vestrymen began TO pre-
fer charges against him In the fall of 1884 an
interview with a vestryman Of st. Mary's
Church was published in daily paper In the
interview it was stated that letters had passed
between Bishop Robertson and the vestryman,
and that in one of his letters the Bishop had
said that the charges of heterodoxy, which had
been preferred against Father Jard1ne. dwindled
into insignlficance compared with the
charges of immortality made by the vestry-
man in of his letters The interview
took place as reported, and the letters, the con-
tents Of which were given in the interview were
read to the reporter by the vestryman. Father
Jardine made sweeping denial, and
affirmed that the interview had never taken
place, but was the work of one Of his opponents
in the church. Not satisfied with a public
denial he entered suit against the paper for $780,
900 damages for defamation of character. His
petition stated specifically what was scarcely
limited at in the interview, and gave charges in
detail.
Shortly latter the libel suit was instituted
Jardine was acquitted by an ecclesiastical com
mittee appointed by the Bishop to inquire as
to whether he should be presented, which was
known to be friendly to him, by some of his
vestrymen. Then Mr.. Shea, one of the vestry-
men opposed to him, issued circular, speci-
hcally charging him with immortality, and he at
once entered suit for criminal libel against the
author.
When the first libel suit was called for trial,
the defense filed an amended answer, specifically
stating what it could prove. Messrs. Peak g
Yeager, attorneys for the prosecution, objected
to the admission of the amended answer unless
it was acknowledged to be justification of the
The question was argued at length
by Messrs. Peak q Yeager, for the prosecution,
and Judge Brumback and Colonel Wofford for
the defense. Judge Slower overrued the obiec-
ton, and the amended answer was admitted on
the construction commended for by the defense
A continuance was asked for and granted
Next came the account of Jardine's life as a
convict, and the history of the crime for which
he served a term in the Monroe IN. Y. peniten-
tiary. Jardine's attorneys in the libel suit at
once withdrew from the case, and Jardine was
strongly urged to resign from the ministry. He
did send in his resignation having made public
statement of the case, but the vestry refused to
accept his resignation.
Friday. Oct. Is, 1885, Judge j. H. Slower dis
missed his libel suit against the paper for want
of prosecution. The case, after being continued,
at Jardine's request. at the previous term Of
court, was set for Monday, Oct. IA When the
docket was called Mr.. Yaeger announced that
his firm had withdrawn from the case. and no
longer appeared for the plaintiff. The defense
announced itself ready for trial. and Judge
Slower asked if there was any one present to
represent Jardine. There was no reply. and the
case was then informally passed There were
several cases ahead of this one on that days
docket, and they occupied Thursday and great
part of Friday. AS it had been announced that
than hn T. ~