Telegram-herald., 1890-02-25
ST. PlUL'S PARISH IN FIX.
Some Uncorroborated Charges
Against the Lay Pastor.
Bish0p GiliesPis sna the Parish f@h 10
s<SaTs Mr. Ealon's OrctaAtiS1 10
the Ministry.

Z TINS city. bringing letters OF introduc'
ton from the bishop or far away Aigo-
na to the Rt. Rev. the bishop Of West
ern Michigan. Mr. EatOn Was a lay
man of devoted heart and mind. and
vas deslrOus Of entering the ministry OF
the Episcopal Church and of becoming
a candidate Tor holy orders. Ashehad
already had some theological training
and some experience III church work
he was placed ia bay charge Of 1t. Paul.
Church, on the West SIDE, with Rev
Dr. Knapp as nominal rector. Thus
parish has been weak and struggling
one from rs birth, and the field was
therefore, one OF peculiar difficulty
and little hope was felt that Mr.. Eaton
mere layman, could do with Il what
some very able clergymen mad failed "a
do. Particularly AID people shake their
heads in contemplation ot Mr.. Eaton I,
personal appearance. lie Is IN stature
almost a dwarf, weighing less than a
/ hundred pounds, and possessing some
nervous mannerlsms mat initiate
strongly against INN. Indeed, he rarely
lmpresses one on,first acquaintance a
beng person OF strong mind. In many
instances tins first impression Is never
permitted To wear away.
Under these circumstances, and with
the full approval of Bishop Gillespie,
Mr.. Eaton took II. PauPs Church, rs u
/ temporary work, while he prepared
/ himself Tor the ministry. In Il very
| few weeks ~. PauPs Church began 10
| show more vigorous signs OF lie than
/ ever before, and III tcw months the
church was regarded rs III prosperous
and hopeful condition. Mr.. Eaton At
work, within the pulpit and out of IT,,
seemed a different man from the Mr..
| Eaton of small stature and little come
hness. His pulpit eloquence was highly
enjoyed by increasing congregations,
and hls earnestness won many
hearts. All the surroundings
seemed 10 warrant the hope ot
himself and his people that ms ordlna-
ton would take place at as early day
as the law OF the church would permit.
/ The bishop was favorable, and DR..
Knapp has constantly recommended II.
Now man can not be ordained by
the Bishop without the consent OF 4
body called the standing committee.
/ The course of Mr., Eaton : affairs seemed
to run smoothly until his papers came
before the standing committee fort
night ago, VINO declined 10 give their
consent TO his ordination. The mo-
tlves of the standing committee can
not be known III any acton, unless the
individuals OF II choose 10 tell, but the
conjecture IS naturally made IN this
case that they decline 10 pass Mr.. Eat
on's paper chiefly on account or his
personal appearance. The case Is COM
plicated by the fact that the bishop had
assured ST. Pau's vestry that, II they
would provide well tor Mr.. Eaton's
support, there would be no doubt what
ever about the action of the standing
committee. Now that the committee
has taken ground directly antagonlstic
to the bishops desires, the latter Is said
TO feel that the situation Is a very
grave one, both on personal and canon
zeal accounts. Consequently the
bishop wrote very urgent letter to
the committee, demanding that the
vestry OF st. Paul's be heard
before them IN behalf of their man.
Again, consequently, Il meeting OF the
standing committee was called, 10 be
|
st. Mark Church.
Meanwhile, however, complications
arose of a more serious nature stlll. 1t
began to be whispered about that Mr..
Eaton was not as good a man as he
ought TO be. tie was too fond of his
cups, and had drank TO excess on one
or two occasions. He was cruel TO his
family and selfish IN all things. But,
7 oil ,rH IN
female sex had, in some instances, been
sufficient 20 condemn even a hack
| driver. IL Is current report that he had
made improper advances to Mrs. Mohr,
residing with her parents at 40 Davis
/ st. These reports, coming so thick.
and fast, Just on the eve OF an import
ant crisis IN Mr.. EatOn's life, has caused
intense feeling in the parish itself, and
| throughout the West Side. Mr.. Eaton
was seen by a TELEGRAM-HERALD re-
/ porter yesterday, and he brands the re
/ ports, one and all, a. utterly false. He
SAYS that about eight months ago the
conduct of Mrs Monr IN MS family was
80 uuladylike that he fOrebadC her
the house. although she persisted, from
time TO time, IN ntrudlng her presence.
He SAYS that, at the time he rcbuked
her, sne told him she would have ter
rible revenge, and that she has been
silent all these months, waiting to
sprIng these charges at the critical
moment when the standing committee
were about to meet.
Mrs. MOhr was seen at 10 Davls-st.
and both herself and her mother, Mrs.
Taylor. declined to talk. But they
both talked. all the same, and did 1t
both together. They protested that
they had nothing 10 charge against Mr..
Eaton, except what they had told DR..
Knapp, but declined to say what that
was. Yet all the time they dropped IN
situations covering many points of his
T character. Mrs. Mobr denied that she
had ever charged sexual improperly
I against Mr.. Eaton. az the same time
I leaving the impression that there was
/ something awful. x she only cared 10
/ talk. Mrs. Taylor referred O. Mss
Anna Tubhs, who lived opposite, who
was supposed TO know something of the
matter. Mss Tubbs was seen, and she
/ said she hsd no hesitsncy In saying
/ that IIzzle shat ls, Mrs. M0hr was
phen0meuaIlv untruthfui. she SAD
T she had known her many years. and
Z she was known as a girl of this charac-
+ ter. some thought shat Mrs MOhr $
mind had been affected fy TITS, to wI.ch
F she used 70 be- subject.
The people 0f 80 Paul Church feel
F highly ind Elaut that Mr. Eaten should
f be accused l TINS way. because hrs
work has been very successful. and be
has the confidence Of the whole parish.
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