Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-06
A TRUCE IN A CHURCH FIGHT
Warning Factions of Della
ware City PreSbyterianS.
PASTOR BELL JUST A BIT GAY
And Frivolous, so Say His
AccuSerS.
He Dictated Terms of Surrender and Will
Go Back to IrelaIid--1Iis Pastoral De-
pertinent Under Severe Review.


DELAWARE CITY, July 29.-This pla-
cid river washed town which proudly
may boast of raising more dollars per
capita for the cause of Christianity,
than any community in the State or
Peninsula is deep in the discussive criti-
ci;m of the pastoral administration of
the Presbyterian church. A wide divi-
sion of sentiment abounds regarding the
pastoral rectitude and fitness of the Rev.
James sC. McEwen Bell, who has
brought the trouble to climax by pre-
senting his resignation to the official
board Of the church.
But Mr.. Bell is yet the topic of dis
cussion in every household and he who
has not sided one way or the other in
this churchly conflict of opinions is
rank outsider. Mr.. Bells personal and
pastoral demeanor is discussed at every
hand, and the retiring pastor of the
pretty little church is severely criticized
and again valorously defended. IRE
spective of denomination the church
trouble is the topic of conversation here
and the story of Mr.. Bell and of his
treatment is as familiar to the people of
this town as is the hour of arrival and
departure of the steamer Major Reybold.
But the townspeople are divided in
their sympathies and while Mr.. Bell is
vociferously decried by his enemies he
is enthusiastically defended by his
friends. Public sentiment is about
evenly divided as to Mr.. Bell and his
pastoral work and 1t would be hard, if
il indeed it were expected to cast de-
Gliding vote in this issue Such an em-
phatic stand would require more than
cursory examination or investigation of
the merits or dement's Of his case.
MIR. Bell is probably of different tenn
permanent than the pastors who have
presided over the local flock of Presby-
terians, and perhaps trifle more lively
in his demeanor; q stranger to local
customs and possibly wanting in diplo-
macy, or more directly expressed, in
tact. He had the hardihood to measure
swords with prominent and intluen-
tial elder of his spiritual household,
and while he won in the first passage
alarms he created wound that was
infectious.
He has been variously and informally
charged with various offences against
pastoral propriety, and it has been even
asserted that he permitted himself to be
trapped into an untruthful utterance of
which ii is claimed there is written
evidence extant. Wilfulness and
obstinacy are laid at his offending
door, as are the charges of being gay
and frivolous. Some OF his opponents do
also say that he has had a speculative
| eye upon some of the fair members of
his flock who came to his church to
worship; and again he is charged by
| general report with having appropriated
| the sermons of others to his own use
and palmed them off upon his trusting
congregation as having been evolved
| from his own mental storehouse. Ii is
| further asserted that he is uncouth and
not gentlemanly in his intercourse with
| his fellow townspeoplc.
Just how far this series of charges
can be substantiated can only be known
by indisputable proof. While they are
made with entire honesty and sincerity
they are disputed with equal feryency
and ardor. Both complainants and re-
spondents in this case are entirely relia-
Bile folks, and one would be reckless to
hazard an opinion in the case.
Mr.. Bell, upon his advent into the
church here, his first charge, was re.
ceived with open arms and the most
cordial fellowship. His sermons were
commended as brilliant, in logical con.
clusions and oratorieal deliverance. He
was recognized as having mastery
grasp of the dogmas of his church and a
terse, illumined method of presenting
scriptural truths. His pastorate, how.
ever, unfortunately outlived the high
esteem in which he was at first held
and those who at the outset rated him O
man of mind and eloquence, claim that
he is now prosey and inanimate. Here
came in the charge of plagiarism.
Whether or not the bachelor pastor
was the idolized of the single young
women of his congregation they alone
can tell. There is reports Of most
marked and delicate attentions shown
him, of clandestine meetings and drives
along the picturesque highways. This
was of course regarded as an offence il
a handsome and unmarried young pas.
tor, especially when the bestowal Of
these delicate attentions were of the
richest members of the flock and bear
ing the best names in this section. This
if 1T occurred, may have aroused Ger.
tain aninosity and jealousy on the par
of the young beaux of the city, who, il
is asserted, lent their voices TO the ante
Bell faction. Whether or not this re
port is true, certain it is that the young
Geltic-brogued pastor awakened Ger.
tain amount of feminine admiration ane
is the theme of much discussion.
The public were first let into the dis
cussion of the church's affairs early il
the year, when an opportunity was pre-
sented through letter requesting the
young minister to present his resigna
tion This missive, it is said, was in
formal, and 1t is further alleged received
no acknowledgment or notice of any
kind, except that it may have giveI
birth TO smile of defiance from the pas
tor Then followed other requests of
similar purport and design, and thu
church attendance showed marked &c
crease, and the receipts commensurate,
diminution. Evidently seeing the op
position was gaining strength Mr.. Bel
presented his resignation upon his Owl
terms-pay for months holiday. Al
acquiesence to these conditions may
however, be readily taken as an earnes
and sincere desire of the church official
TO get rid of their pastor at any cost
So he goes September 18th, with pay Il
October 10Th, and by the latter date will
be back upon his native heather, tn,
green sod of old Ireland.
Though short has been Mr.. Bell
pastoral experience in America it ha
been attended with many sensationa
incidents and much discussion. He i
the most debated man in Delaware Cit,
to-day and is alikethe most esteemed ant
denounced individual in this communit,
| of 1900 souls. He has as warm friend