The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-19

A WelI-Rnown MInister OF the Reformed
Church Accused of Theft and Falsehood.


READING Pa, May 1s-The ecclesiastical
trial Of the Rev. NJ. J.. Fritch OF Reading
widely known minister OF tho Reformed
Church. on tho charges OF theft and falsehood,
will begin at 10 A. NJ. tomorrow at Womels-
dorf, this county, before tho Lebanon Chassis.
The case is ono OF the most extraordinary on
record, and has deeply stirred religious circles
throughout eastern Pennsylvania by reason OF
It's peculiar features and the prominence Of
tho accused pastor, who had hitherto always
borne high reputation in the community. 1t
is strange to imagine well-to-do minister OF
the Gospel stealing pocket knives. but that is
exactly what the Rev. Mr.. Fritch is charged
with doing. Widespread interest attaches to
the outcome OF the church trial. inasmuch as q
criminal trial on the same charges Will be held
at the coming term OF the Berks County Court.
The charges in detail. as reported by special
lnvestl gating committee OF three ministers to
the Lebanon Chassis on April - last are these:
First theft; second, falsehood.
HS on NM aT T @ @ Rev no Tss sss
the hardwsre store Of bard keber 4 Co, 20, Penn
kniyeS . IGst on more than one occasion according
and other goods from the same firm.
TGsSr IL, s ,scG an. charge We assS TR%, he falsely
seven m al a.! from Reading w9qS subscribe s toward
knives h. aIs S s1o: number Of pain, STas.,s and Dc
a number Of years ago made a sIanderous charge
against two ministers OF Reading tho Revs. Henry
Mnsser and j. ". SteinmetZ which became common
talk, he within the last few weeks most emphaticaly
denied ever having said word TO cause such talk.
This report is signed by the Rev. Messrs.
T.. NJ Yundt. W. @. Shaeffer. and ]. X. Funk.
A great cloud OF witnesses they say, will be on
hand tomorrow 10 prove the charges against
the Rev. Mr.. Fritch. The unfortunate clergy
man resigned from tho Chassis Immediately
after the scandal became public. and gave up
his charge. The Rev DR.. D. L. klopp OF Leba-
non has been authorized to act as prosecuting
attorney In the trial. and some other able min
ister will be appointed to represent MIR. Frtch,
who has declined to, select counsel to defend
him. although invited TO do 80. Strong pres
sure Is being exerted upon the classis to post
pone the ecclesiastical trial until after the
criminal court has acted upon the case. but
the trial will doubtless proceed. 1t was post
poned once before. on April %, and the ma
jority Of the ministers constituting the Chassis
are now urging immediate action.
= The Rev, Mr.. Fritch has thus far failed to set
forth any material defence. He said yesterday:
" will not attend the trial, as | have resigned
from the Chassis and severed my relations with
the Church. The haste with which the trial has
been hurried forward is un becoming clergymen
In their treatment of a brother minister. They
should await the result OF the civil trial. and
then would have appeared before them. and
tho ecclesiastical trial could then have gone on
In deconcy and without malice. have not de-
cided upon any definite course. | have been
greatly annoyed by the prosecutions Of enemies.
but am trying to bear up"