Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-03-18
Cupid's Sorry Break.

AI.Gr tEe cloBe OF the regular WsSkiy
prayer meeting q. Allegheny Avenue Bap.
tltt Church, Wednesday evening, when all
the younger members o! the flock had either
gone to their homes or been invited to step
cut, the emsnipg membe!s. together with
thu trustees AID dsacons resolved them.
selves into ccmmittse OF the whole to pase
upcn the question OF the resignation Of their
pasto Rev. Edward Johnson, which had
nsen Requested By certain officers.
Behind the request there is tory OF nI.
pastoral conduct that las st rred the COM
mnnitg.
The story, as told By one CT the members
CT the church, 10 this: Sometime In the lat.
ter psrs OF June last ne young wife of Broth.
er Johnson died and the child, to which she
had given b'rtb, followed the mother In a
few days. The sympathy of the whole con-
gregg on weDt ous to tae pastor, aud all
the more so. because be bore bis os5 With
such apparent fortitude. There was deep
eympa!hy fscm the female portion OF the
N msmbership-o!d ard ytung doing their
beat to emoo!h the pathway OF their beloved
pastor.
"Wher, la Augu:t following, they saw
the!r pastor onteE with tia young ladies' into
the erjoyments of the school picnic; and,
later, wben on lsbcr day bs was the life OF
their e1cuis' son to Cape May on the stesm-
boat Rspuosic, they hll sgreed that he was
only se:ting them all good example Of
chsertrines1 in this lie which, In turn, al
should follow.
"Rsv Mr.. Jchnson's wit, too, was Q; m
meaded when 1t leaked oultlet " hills walk
lag with one of the young ladies Of his flock
he had imprinted a kiss npon her cheek,
and when she exclaimed why, Mr.. John
son. hs said, Never mind. I'll take 1t all
back snd kiesed hsr again.
Summer passed aud Ir JoAnstn set-
tied down to his ministerial dUt es. BE
came sud went, tls Members welcoming
him tc their homes at o.! times. Little was
known CT his personei life ard no one
dreamed that lie ges seriously cogitating
matrimoDy SO soon after his bereavement
Great was their astonishmeut. therefore,
9hen t became known that he and Miss
Anrie Reed, Of Kensiogson ard Allegheny
aveuues, had been married In Camden.
Mis- Reed had bat recently been made a
member OF the charge oD letter from the
FraIkiord Avenue Baptist Church. and the
marrisle waR TO have been kept secret
for ct least one year.
t,o great FOR Miss Reed to keep secret and.
mothe. the whole affair, adding that
s.roy tee certificate, because 1t was 'in-
formal as be had forgotten bis mothers
Chrisiiaa name. Ths BRIDES mother in
sisted that the marriage should at once be
made public. This vas Wednesday, two
weeks ago, bet as Mr.. Johnson had gone
on pleasure trip to Lewlstown, Mfflln
county, be could not at once be ssen. Mrs.
Reed wcu.d brock no delay, however, and
sert her daughter to Deacon Edward Blood
with hers story OF the marriage and for his
advice. Mr.. Blood took the matter up and
st once set Out himself for Lswitt1WD,
bringing Bro her Johnson back on the follow.
irg Saturday, Ga Sunday evening, at the
close Of the service, Mr. Johnson surprised
the congregation by announcing from hepu!-
p!t that be would be absent for few days
on wedding trip.
"Es q Brother Joonson released swarm OF
bees in the church there could not have
been o greater buzzing. Ali tongues ap.
reared t, be running at once and when the
members separated t. go to taelr hcmss
there waa los one. from oldest t, youngest.
but knew that the pastor and Miss Rsed
were already married.
Nothing daunte6. however, on Monday
evening second msriisge between Brother
Johnson aud Miss Reed was solemnizad by
Rev. Charles T. Morgan, pastor o! the
Frsukiord Avenue Baptist Church, and
duly advertised ss having taken place. 1t
wou dn'd be SO bad, but when one OF the
descons asked him Brother Johnson denied
the marriage and tals 30 far destroyed the
confidence OF the members in him that they
could no longer st ur d ar his teachings. and
snme requested him to resign Philadelphia
Record.