Daily Republican., 1886-03-25
THIRD EDITION.
THE PASTORS swEErHEARr.
He 10 Satisfied, but His Congregation
Object to Her Age.


No 10 Satisfied, but his Congregation
Object to Her Age.
The New York Sun Of this morning
SAYS: The marriage engagements o.
Miss Sarah Wales to the Rev. Theodore
B. Foster, the pastor OF 81. Luke's
Episcopal Chapel, Brooklyn, which was
q few weeks ago, seems TO
have raised q storm over the head Of
the young pastor. The Wales family,
Consisting of q widowed mother, two
sons and Miss Sarah, have for some
time resided In pretty villa ad1oinin2
the chapel, which was burned down
one Sunday morning q few weeks ago
When the Rev. Mr. Foster was sent 10
take charge Of the chapel by the Rev.
DIR. Vandewater, the rector OF St.
Luke's church, he made the acquaint
auce of the Wales family, aud soon he
went to board NJ their house. Mrs
Wales and her daughter had already
been regular attendants at the chapel.
A year ago the Rev. Mr.. Foster gave
mp boarding and started housekeeping
with his sisters in Pacific street, conve-
niently near the chapel. The close ac-
quAintance, however, he had formed
with the Wales family continued, and
his visits to the pretty villa alongside
besn whisperings among the congreRa-
tion for some time that the prospective
bride Of the Young rector was one OF the
inmates OF the villa. These minors,
however, were generally discreditsd,
the respective ages OF the Rev. MIR. Eos
ter and Miss Wales being deemed an
iusurmountable obstacle to q matrimo
NAL engagement, the former being "a
and the latter his senior by from ten 70
twenty years, according to the varied
reports of the church members.
1t was not until the burning down Of
the chapel and the resolution OF the
congregation to spend ga, 900 in build.
ing a new structure, and also form an
organization independent of q parent
church, that the matrimonial intentions
of the rector was seriously considered.
Qnite large portion OF the ooDgrega-
tion, 1t Is said, resolved amoug them
selves that the Rev. Mr.. Foster would
never become the permanent rector OF
the new church IL he selected as his
bride the lady with whom rumor con.
nected his name. While they did not
wish to dictate to their spiritual d.
rector what course he should pursue in
such o delicate matter, they were very
emphatic In pronouncing It an unpar-
donable error of judgment on his part
to marry lady 10 many ytars his
senior
The age of the lady was the only OBJ
stacle in their eyes, and this they be
lieved overshadowed all the shining
qualities which she admittedly pos
sesseL and which had captured tb,
heart OF the rector.
When 1t was definitely ascertained
that q marriage engagement existed
and that it was the Rev. Mr.. Fosters
intention to fulfill 1t at an early day, Z
breeze Of discomfort swept over thu
hock. An appeal was made to the Rev
Mr.. vandewater to dissuade his assis-
tant, If possible, from his purpose. TIL,
Rev. Mr. VandeWater said last night:
st is true that the engagement of the
Rsv. Mr.. Foster TO Miss Wales ha
caused q great deal of discussion and
comment. He 10 a bright, cultured
young man, one of the very hest assit-
tAnts have ever had, and he has beer
very successful in his charge OF th,
chapel. The only objection In tn,
world urged against the prospective
match is the ago of Miss Wa es, who II
said TO be sixteen years older tRan tn,
Rev. Mr.. Foster have beeu try I'M
to smooth matters over, but the ma
jority of the congregation seem to thinl
thai tue h6V. mar. Foster Ii ABOUT 70 u
most ridiculous thing. 1t seems Z
me at 1t Is purely a matter In whic
the congregation should not interfere
l have been represented as say ing tina
the Rev. Mr.. Foster should resign.
did not say this. What / did say wa
that IL were placed in similar circum
stances, and my congregation were dis
pleased, would not walt long befor
relieving them of nv presence As
suredly, the Rev. Mr.. Foster has RICH
TO marry the lady of his choice, u
matter what her age m ~ be, but, at tn
came time, his congregation do not az
pear to be eager TO congratulate him
The Rev. Mr.. Foster said last ever
ing:
II know where the rumoIs of troubl
in the congregation arose, aud 1 ma
have something to say about them b
and BY"
After the burning OF the chapel th
congregation rented the lar % hall
Fulton street and Bedford avenu
There were two services there yestel
Gay, at both Of which the Rev. Mr.. Fo
tor oficiated.