Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-02-06
PARsoN PARSONS ONCE MORE.
He Has a Lively Time with his Church at
East LonEmeadow, Mass

A long series Of dsagrerahle dev-lopmepts con
nected with the pastorate Of Rev. y i. Parsons at
East Longmeadow, Mas. reached a climax 10 d
council OF Baptist churches hell 10 Springfield OH
Monday The point at issue was thu refusal Of tn.
church 20 grant Mr. Parsons a l,tter Of dismissal
The charges against him related frs, To- his char
acter second 70 a los of confidence. Ia his word
third. 10 refusal 10 account for money entrusted 10
him; fourth, unchristlan conduct al communion.
nfth, a. MS action % causing division Ia the
church sixth, speaking evil of a nroth.-r seventh
his general department ami conduct Several Of
these charges wrr- either waived or d dismissed as
the hearing pr gress'-d bea Endicott conducted
the case Tor tine church. and Mr. Parsons with one
or twO friends. vas bis counsel Tn. r,-s ms for
refusing 70 give Mr. Parsons a ritter Of dismissal
were given those already enumerated Mr.
Parsons was accused OF not keepiug his r,rornis.
70 resign IN May last remaining until the ,-tb Of
August, and even Yet retaining the parsonage m
his Possession one witness said that Mr. Parsons
had borrowed letters and money from her husband
and did not return them. and s1m, Of IN. tnoD.r
vas still due The charge Of failure % account
Tor money entrusted 10 his care had reference toa
church Improvement society formed two years
ago, and Was apparently due more 10 loCs..' ttIsi
less methods than anything else His upchristian
conduct al the communion Table consisted in helm
ing himself 10 The elements instead of waiting f6r
the deacons 10 serve him The charge ia regard
10 his general department and conduct had refer
ence 10 language used by him unfit 10 ~ r.r.aat
I'd. He WAS als0 charged with being out driving
late al night with a certain school mistress and
with occupying an unreasonable length Of time
IN making the journey on such occasions i.t ,y...p
Springfield and East Longmeadow The nosf
serious charge related 10 Mr.. Parsons's conduct
towards Mn. l. J. Potter member Of the church
choir Ms Potter testified that in October. iss9
she accompanied the pastor and his family 10 a
wedding Al Hartford. Conn While sitting In an
upper room MI Parsons made remarks L. her IN
doubtful import, and on the way down s.atrs mn
his arms around her neck. drew her head on ms
shoulder and kissed her saying bet this be a s,-
cret. Nj. Parsons denied all these ACCUSATIONS
and Ms Parsons testified very decidedly apainsf
the truth OF Mrs FOtters story Mr. Parsons In
his testimony, told. according 20 the Surinpfi..l1
Republican report how a Methodist ninisf,.r in
futney. Vt, had been writing 10 the pastor of th,.
same denomination az East Iongmeaior uDLind
letters about him Parsons which hal i---n tbs.
serd Of all the diss.nsiun
Incrr were numerous spicy, not 70 say fxciting
incidents connected with the hearing ou+. Of tb,4
developments being that Mr. Parsons opponents
a. one time brought Pinkerton detective from
Boston To- keep watch Of him under the ptiis. of
Btblr agent The council in its findings refused 10
put AL the blame on either side but cs-nsrrd both
sides saying that the unwise action OF the R..y
Mr.. Parsons ha1 much 20 do with the d-ulorahl-
condition OF thing in the church. and that cen
should be given 10 the church for the. rnanp.r
ana spirit OF is dealings with Mr. Parsons " Both
sides were recommended 10 exercise Christian
charity aud forgiveness and The side that refuses
ship
The Springfield Republican says that the ont
come was distinctly favorable 20 the eN-DastDr
while the Boston Globes correspondent utof.s
one OF the ministers saying: Enough tssti-
mony has been heard 70 convict any man an
earth II Is needless 10 say that the affair creates
no end OF gossip and scandal In the local church
MI Parsons seGIrrience at LOngmeadOW s-ems
% be somewhat similar 10 that which he had al
futney, where he was settled heforr moving ID
that place
May the best side win