Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-25
B0SSED THE PASTOR.
Rev. D. S. Mulhern Gives His Reasons
for Resigning From the
THIRTY-SEVENTH STREET CHURCH.
A Trustee Says There Was String to the
Resignation.
TROUBLE IN A BAPTIST CONGREGATION

seventh Street Baptist Church, has resigned,
because, as he puts it, he was bossed too
much. An endeavor had been made to
keep the resignation and its acceptance from
the general public, but it has finally leaked
out. The Thirty-seventh Street Church has
one of the largest and wealthiest congrega-
tions in Lawrenceville. The pastors resig-
nation was offered and accepted at the con-
clusion of the morning services on Sunday
the 14th inst.
Mr.. Mulhern was interviewed yesterday
on the causes which led to his resignation.
The gentleman deplored the fact that the
matter had gained publicity, and then went
on to say that few persons in the church
had endeavored to deprive him of the right
to exercise his privileges and had become
altogether too oficious, and he therefore
deemed it best, in justice to all parties, to
relinquish his position.
"The reason events repeat themselves so
often in the history of nations" Mr.. Mul-
hern said, sis because the fountain-head of
the evil was never removed. The great
rebellion will never be repeated for the
reason that slavery, the cause which led to
it, has been crushed; but had this not been
done we might nave another Civil War.
Churches are very much like nations, and
events in their history often repeat them
selves.
COMPELLED TO RESIGN.
For many years there has been trouble
in the Thirty-seventh Street Church,
much to the regret of its members
and members of all other denomi-
nations in this part of the city. There
are some excellent Christians in the church,
and it grieves them that these disgraceful
scenes are repeated. have no doubt but that
the public by this time is in full sympathy with
the members and wonder why the disturbing
elements are not eliminated IN the interest of
peace. Ministers have given up their homes
church only to find that they are to
se,s- ee made the. the tools OF few and
religion laughing stock to those who judge it,
not by its inheren: principles, but by the con-
duct of those who shamefully abuse its teach
fully for eight months. was compelled to re-
tiers ont"
At this point Mr. Mulhern expressed indic-
nant surprise that true Christians did not stand
by true pastors and put tc rout the vulgar
spirit which, he said, predominates in the
church.
MIR. Mulhern continued: 81 was induced to
succeed Rev. j. K. Cramer, who held the posi-
ton for year, and was then glad to get out of
it l found the church in a condition not
equaled by that in which l leave it, but my
ceaseless energy in well doing could not be
brooked by this vulgar spirit. which will rule
or ruin. After doing all l could to merit the
appreciation of the congregation gave up in
disgust, my work having met with the
disapprobation of the few" l rendered
my resignation to the congregation and out
OF over 200 present seven voted four to |
accept and three to reject The rest of. the |
congregation was undecided and many were |
IN tears, but was persistent in my desire. and |
took the action of the meeting as final After |
the vote had been taken, one of my friends |
moved reconsideration. but discountenanced |
this. and told them would resign whether |
they willed that way or not w. F. Maxon. |
Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, moved that |
my resignation be accepted, and he and three |
others voted in the affirmative, and those not |
voting were understood, under the Baptist |
rules, to be in favor of the motion. |
A DIRECT DENIAL.
Mr.. Maxon was seen at his residence and |
asked if there was any trouble in the church, |
but replied in the negative. He said Mr.. Null |
hern did not give any reason for resigning nor |
has he given the three months notice which is |
required in the Baptist Church Mr.. Maxon
continued: "It is customary for minister to
give due notice. but when Mr.. Mulhern ten
dered his resignation he stated that it would
take effect on the last Sunday of this month
and last Sunday substituted Rev. Thomas
Lord, of Allegheny, in the pulpit"
When Mr.. MaXon was informed that the pas
tor resigned because he had been "bossed."
he laughed and said: "Why, he had as much
latitude as could be consistently given him and
no one. TO my knowledge, has nterposed any
to anything he ever did. Mr.
Mulhern is a friend of mine. and am really
sorry he has taken this method to air his griev-
ances. A gentleman very prominent in the
oh mr. aud yvhO aif 10 hara l
told me that Mr. Mulhern had come TO him
while both were attending a funeral, shortly
after his resignation. and said he did not want
TO resign, and regretted that he had taken the
step"
do you mean that he rendered his resignation
with string attached to it?''
''Yes; exactly So" replied Mr.. Maxon. His
are without the slightest founda-
rion, and any member of the congregation
will stand by me when make the assertion
that the statements embodied in the interview
are falsehoods. His remarks tend directly to
place the Board of Trustees in a very unenvi-
able position, and voice the sentiments of the |
other members of the church when state
that his charges are untrue. and no ono else
will be worse off by his indiscreetness than
himself. He's
GOING TO HIS OWN FUNERAL
in making such broad assertions. have had a
very high regard for Rev. Mr.. Mulhem and no
one esteemed his friendship better than myself,
but the episode will alter my opinion greatly
his resignation will not make any perceptihle
change in our congregation. 1 don't think that
be can draw away a single person from the
church. When he offered his resignation and
stated that he would not serve any longer we
believed him to be acting in good faith, and as
further evidence that he wanted his duties to
tease immediately he gave the congrega ton no
as to what he intended To do"
Mr.. Thomas Chaplin, President of the Board
of Trustees, said he thought Mr.. Mulhern had
been indiscreet in charging the board with dis
HE received the same compensa-
ion for his services as did Rev. ]. X. Cramer
Ind IL was paid to him regularly every month"
'aid Mr.. Chaplin. "The church is in as -four |
shing a condition in regard to membership and
financial standing as when Mr.. Cramer was
pastor. and no better"
Previous to Mr.. Mulhern taking charge of
he Thirty-seventh Street Church he had calls
rom several other places, among others the
calvary Baptist Church at Homestead. At one |
ime he was pastor of a large church in New
ork. and during his 20 years in the ministry
las conducted a number of churches in that |
fofn # I,a l