New-York tribune., 1889-11-05
DIR. RYLANCE SEEKS REDRESS.
HE BRINGS SUITS FOR LIBEL AND CON
SPIRACY.
THIS COURSE TAKEN TO MEET VAGUE CHARG Ef
OF IMPROPER CONDUCT WHICH WE'RE
CIRCULATED AGAINST HIM AMONG
MEMBERS nE ST Marks CHURCH.

MEMBERS OF ST. MARKS CHURCH.
There has been serious trouble In the parish OF St.
Marks Protestant Episcopal Church for
several months, growing out Of rumors
affecting the character Of the rector,
the Rev. DR.. Joseph II. Rylance. At fest these
were of so vague and indefinite nature as 10
give them little If any weight but later they became
more tangible, and widespread in the congregation
as to cause a considerable disaifectIon. Finally,
certain members Of the vestry intmated to the rector
that II would conduce TO the welfare OF the parish
he would tender his resignation, the acceptance OF
which, he was assured, would be prompt and unani-
nous In a spirit of what he says was hasty
anger, DIR. Rylance declared that he would resign,
nasmuch he had desire to stay whore he was not
wanted but that he would meet such charges as
might be brought against him and defend his char
acter TO the extent of his power and resources
Upon reflection, however, DR.. Rylance decided not
10 resign, but to face the issue the rector OF
the parish, and to stand or fall by the result With
the aid Of legal counsel and friends, Dr. Rylancc en-
deavored to tho presentation in formal COM
plant Of the charges against his character which
at no time had been more substantial than gossip
and rumor.
Tho charges were, the rlmors went, that he had
been guilty Of improper conduct with certain members
Of his congregation and as these rLmors ahected
tho standing of several women who hitherto had been
held above reprosch. the entire parish was in
tumult.
The rumors we're traced to thoir source, and the
result is that DR.. Rylance has brought sult against
two prominent members Of his congregation for libel
and for conspiracy to slander Unless a settlement
out Of courts is effected, hearing on these cases
will be had tomorrow.
To Tribune reporter who called upon him last
night John Brooks Ieavtt, who is DR.. Ryance's
counsel explained the nature of the suits 4" DR..
Rylancep he said in response to the reporters IN
Quries the plaintiff in libel suit against Nicholas
Quackenboss. lie has also brought a suit against
Quackenboss ard William V. King for conspiracy to
slander him In his occupation as a clergyman. The
former suit Is brought upon letter written by Mr.
Ouactusnboss TO an outsider whose need not ap
pear. Tbis letter charged DR.. Rylance with having
been guilty of improper conduct win certalh uh"ohu-
fed ladies belonging to his congregation ana WIN nav
inc affiliations with the lnhNT.s of the Nineteenth Cen
,, club, This letter also ontaned statement OF the
ontnon of the writer the effect that the charges
,vere true In regard tho conspiracy suit, VIII
saw that We discovered that Bng and ouaekehooss'
during the summer, had busted themselves III lhiofH
ing members OF the congregation indiscnmiha'ey
that the rector had been guilty OF the various oHehces
referred to- We therefore concluded that these su's
we're necessary in order that the character of DR..
Rvlance might be vindcated, especially as we fouhd
mat the charges had been circulated all through tho
na,Jsh and because he had been denied AL chahce oi
vndication In any other way
~Last May DR.. Rylance went to England
for his health The death oil hi' VII,
in the preceding fall affected him deeply, ana
he was worn out and needed rest. during MS
ahsence abroad the defendant King, informed severai
membcrs of the vesry of the church that there was
serous trouble In the parish. What the trouble was
uas mot then explained but littef while afterwaru
King informed the vestrymen that It ailec'eu tno
character OF the rector Still later lie toiu 'he'n "'
the trouble was due to the alleged improper avs "
the rector BY this gradual process 'ho par'S" uo'
came worked UP into veritabie turmoil hins p0'
s,aded the vestrymen that it would be well 10 se'
DIR Rylapce to resign. We are pretty sure VI 'no
motive of King and QuackenboSs IN chVuhahe ~,
stories about the rector. do not r'tt
., uhertv lust now 10 dlscOso "ii'
motive but undoubtedly 1t Will come ou' III ',i0
7 will saw however. as bearing upon MI hlhB po''0
~ the charges against DR.. Rylance, mat NO sAu "
triend Of the rector within month that no Nn"e'
nos friend OF DR.. Rylance, and that thero
WAS no one with whom he woun 'oohot s""A
hands Mr.. King, with the aid of Mr. ouachei'oosS'
od = letter. so vorded as to convey tic lhl'
.ssion hat these charges had been brought peioro
n vestry meeting and that the bclei oi 'l' 'osu'
uas adverse 10 the rector. The truth was ,ha' ''o
was no yesrry meeting, but MI hiha h"' 9''p'
poreu some OF the vestry TO meet i't'i"'a"' -
laid before them some statements wDpoh "i"Nl
stand were not signed ana no hai'es w Mo,'
.,,,an Mr. King said that the charges were 'rue'
eN." ,i,houe investigation, TOOK Mr.. Kings
and
,ro,d and this was all his authority. They aiIo"ou
,, m write 10 tho rector as an lnhlNuusH', ',h,
ietic, asking for his rcs'gna1on' III, O nro-
vosirymen says that such letter Spv w II TO be heard
but no such provision was IN Ihe ieS @si action Of
hy ~ nirv and feeling hurt that he should nave Doe
condemned without ,%,t he %cn dea with the charges
naunn, when he came home, suppoAing .nas 'hes
would willing to gyem m them @ 9uaeRenooss % S who ' had
turn ne AZ amse 10 retain him, and asked him % get
been nas tbe charges, but Mr. ouackenDqssS rP,su @
that he was y eoupf ~ the charges should be furnished
eyer ni:s n@o 'Vp bs has refused to fulfill and to, TO M;
day We have been unable eisy 70 w that there arr
the .Esygs, yssiss Sas' on file With him; Dr. Ey
lance in chsrges the against him of improper con
9ata una, nre fasc and his friends all believe nm
Finding ne ho nroducon and prescntment of the charges
to to 'OrtG the ' bishop he Withdrew Store his reSs ws:
nation un1Sr Sut the vesiry ignored that ant
acceptei' nothng left for DIR. Rylancc TO do to win
dcate himself wbdrawn GHt az D regnaon and we have h
| aceept" - stephen p. Nash that this acceptance wa
n end 9ss ss Of T MY ndasas ind in
doubt ndtr,,aiIon . OF these things What ! hay'
to sSy about them viii be H said 10 c0a out %n
syrrsad ay rd Of the planest dictates OF common iusts
, '' the '0Ti cSSrcs Sr who ns. Ss' G'si si
s; ) Says s,1s's: %r' sssas
overt hscn or more general than particular. While
nave ,p,,,na, act has been charged, Il has been "a,
no no,cg cs'"'h that DR.. Rylance has been gully
',uoroprietles the nature OF which depenaog'
cn tEe con tructlon put upon them IN tho ihint
lp1hhosa who circulated the stories. cannot 60 mt
~ details Of the matter, for, ant he IS inorme' ,a
~ ,be specific charges against hun Dr. hiaine'
| i aghtIng air. These men reiule to ptvuno'
,sh.,r charges and he Is Determined 10 ,hnm ,"n
,he ,hem to do so in order that he may explode mem IN
Vwould add that several of the members Oh ,h ,h
yostry have said that they know nothing about , 'n
matter | am Dr, Ryance's personal irienn, a' s au
~ his counsel. Numbers Of the congiesa,lon ns."
LII IhnIr he