Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-07
A MINISTER'S MISSTEP.
Rev. Nybladh's Expulsion from the
Swedish Lutheran Church ana the
Reasons Thereror-.The Results.

Rev. Nybindh's Expulsion from the
Swedish Lutheran Church and the
Reasons Therefor The Results.
An unfortunate condition of affairs has
sprung up in the Swedish Lutheran
church at Galesqurg, and one that in a
great measure complicates and interests
the people of the congregation of the
same denomination in Moline. Rev. Mr.. |
Nybladh was, by action of the synod of |
Moline recently expelled from the church
in that city, of which he was member,
and barred from attending Augustana
college. The reasons assigned by the
committee for this action were TOO in
innate associations with a woman while
attending Augustana college, and irreg>
larities in his money matters" The dea>
cons Of the Galesburg church have since
taken this matter up and peremptorily
discharged Mr.. Nybladh from the pasto-
rate. and are preparing charges which
will be finished soon and will in subs
stance conform with those preferred
against the gentleman in Moline.
The action of the ecclesiasts appears
not to have met with the approval of
all the members of the flock, and a
large mass meeting including msny ladies
was held at the republican headquarters
at Galesburg Tuesday eve ming to make
some arrangements for MIR. Nybladh's
future and to prove to him that he still
has many friends remaining in the church.
A committee was appointed to investi-
gate his debts and settle them if possible.
and another committee was commits
stoned to make arrangements for Mr. Ny
bladhs entrance into Knox College. A
subscription was taken up during the
meeting which resulted in the rails
ing of 1915 for. Several speeches
were made by different persons and
nearly all soundly rated the deacons for
the hasty steps which they took in dis
missing him from the church. Mr.
Nybladh also made few remarks
and closed the meeting with prayer.
Mr.. NYbladh is reported as saying that
he wished to have the affair investigated
relating to the woman. He says he has
tried to find the woman referred to, as
well as the committee who brought up the
charges, but has failed so far in doing so
He denies his association with her 10 any
way and that the committee had no evi
dence FOR that of which they accused him
concerning the woman. As to the money
affairs, he admits being in debt about
$500, but AYERS that it WAS necessary in.
debtedness connected with his course
while at Augustans college and since
He had been receiving SIS per month
from the church while in Galesburg.
The following special dispatch to to
days Chicago Times from Galesburg fur
nishes additional facts IN connection
with the case:
The First Lutheran church was crowd
ed this evening with people anxious t.
hear the charges against the Rev. c. A
Nyblsdh, who was last week expelled
from the Lutheran church at Moline ant
from supplying the pulpit of the churcl
here because Of alleged scandalOus init
macy with woman while attending
Augustans college here. as well as irreg
ularitles in money matters.
The Rev. NJ Nelson, of Henderson
read an official statement from the churc
council at Mobile, giving an account 0
ing of the council, Nov, Is. Nyblsdh wa
charged with the paternity of the child c
Anna Anderson. and of having mortgage
TO her his books and an organ that di
not belong to him. These charge
Nybladh denies Two letters from til
woman to Nybladh were produced
which she charges bin with the psternit
of the child OF these letters Nybad
at first denied all knowledge. but 6
length admits that he read one of then
Andrew Peterson was delegated by tn
council to visit Mrs J. A. Garges at Roe
er's park. She and her domestic sal
that Anna Anderson gave birth to a chi
at her (Mrs. Garge's) home June 2S. 1873
that the woman asserted Nyblsdh was i
father; that letters have passed betwee
Nybladh and Miss Anderson; that u
latter had consulted lawyer to recovt
damages from Nybladh. and that perso
answering Nyblsdh's description hs
called at her house Nov, Is. inquiring fl
Anna Anderson. When confronted wi
these facts at the second council meetin
Nov. 90, Nybladh confessed that he hi
mortgsged the organ to Anna Anderso
and had been advised to prevarcate by
friend. but again denied the paternity
the child, or ever having been at Mr.
Garge's house
Then the Rev. Lindeblad, of Molin
and the Rev. NJ. Ranceen, of Chicsg
accompanied Nyblsdh to Mrs. Gargt
house, and both she and her d.
nestle recognized Nybladh and we
quite positive that he was Il
man who called at the house inquiriI
for Anna Anderson. His hair, they sal
was shorter when he first called, but d
council. in its third meeting, Nov. 2
reported that it learned from Galesbu
that Nybladh had his hair cut befc
making the first visit to Mrs. Cargo.
The committee also saw the Chica
lawyer who collected the money for An
Anderson on the mortgage on the orgs
At this third meeting the council, thin
ing the proof conclusive in spite of n
bladh's denial of the paternity of t
- child, expelled him.
The reading of this statement to t
congregation tonight produced de
. impression and was listened to with de
interest. The only thing that Nybla
can do now is to appeal to the conf
ence. He left here last night, saying th
he was going to Chicago to see An
Anderson and get from her a writ
statement affirming his innocence. I
friends here say that nothing more v
be done until the statement is forthco
ing.