New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-03
HE MUSTN'T PRAY IN PUBLIC
A SUNDAY-SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT IN.
DER SENTENCE.
RATHER FRIVOLOUS CHARGES. TO BE SURE. y1
THEY ARE BACKED BY AN INDIGNANT

RATHER FRIVOLOUS CHARGES. TO BE SURE. yul
THEY ARE BACKED BY AN INDIGNANT
NEw-JERsEY PREACHER.
One OF the most peculiar church trials Is at present
going on in New7Jersey that has come to light IN
many months 1t is the case OF the deposed super
nendeft Of the Sunday Of the Dutch Reformed
Church OF BeilevilIe. The first Hearing was on
February 49, and the second on February %. The
villagers talk OF nothing else, and the sentiment Is A.
most all in favor OF the former superintendent The
narrowing facts these
T.. v. A. Brett superintendent Of the
Sunday school for nine years lie and the former
pastor, the Rev. Ralph Brobaw, pulled togerher'
spenddly the number OF scholars increased and every
body seemed as happy duck In mud puddle
But when the present minister the Rev. william j.
Leggatt, came three years ago. things did not move
so smoothly. The superintendent often felt, II Is
said he said, that the pastor was rubbing him the
wrong way The pastors hand grew heavier and
an explosion occurred on December 15 1t was at
meeting Of the Sunday school teachers. called for
the purpose Of discussing the proper Investment
OF $500 which the school had raised.
Mr. Brett. in the capacity Of superint endent, vas
presidIng with proper dignity the meeting, and
he was particularly enthusiastic on the subject tooS
up large part Of the time speaking on H. lie
was growing reslly eloquent when Mr.. Legsatt, who
was an interested spectator jumped and, interrupt
one else n chance TO talk
At the close OF the meeting the superintendent went
up 10 the pastor and, in spirit OF remarkable hui
mllty, remarked that he didn't exactly relish the
pastors words and tone The minister should remcm
Der, he said, that in the Sunday school The superb
tendent above Mr.. Leggatt.
Three days later Elder Whyte called upon Mr.. Brett
and by telling him that II he did not resign theN
would be trouble In the consisory the governing body
Of the church, induced him 10 give up mis- place.
At the next meeting Of the consistory they passed
resolution. copy Of which was officially sent TO Mr.
IIr It. The resolution said that the former supehn.
tendent had nsulted the pastor both as man aud -
pastor in several ways and notified 10 the Offending
member their unqualified condemnation Of is S sa1
advised him to OFFER an ample apology n Che esei =
Of the consistory. at meeting TO be held On JAM
49, This resolution was taken to Mr.. Brett in tue
coattail pocket Of menb OF the conss' ny aud The
tenor Ut ID pleased Mr.. Brett 80 little THAT '~s'a
to show his guest TO the door and the was iSne1
to bow himself out. Mr. III. II sat and
wrote 10 the pastor. lie regretted b 'ihy 70
accept tho kind invitation OF the colssty.y for ths
evening OF January 10, and suggested that ne wouh
be much pleased II SIR. Legeatt felt Meh, " 70
apologize to him. This idea appeared so :" ether
ridiculous 10 the consistory that at tn -e1t meet
a resolution WINS unanimously passed stsans that ~.
Brett "had insult the pastor and s,veFa, members
OF the consistofy and had treated them In an IN
christian manner, and continued so to DO, mo Shefo-
as his wife, Lillian ID. Brett. had urged him in the hrst
Instance this wrong conduct and the corsistoy BE-
neved she upheld him In II ALL and o. such eoudncs
was inconsistent with Christian profession, AMI -
pecally with Christian teachers and adeshr there
fore T. " A. Brett and his wife were directed not 70
speak or lead In prayer in any prayer Icing OF Tina
church or Christian Enieavor society," or to teicn 10
sunday school, until further notice.
on January 10 the consstory met, an. a'ser dep
droxy N n z
were remarkable TO behold In the first they
charged the superintendent with "unehris' pres
sive and arbitrary conduct at the mesu Deem
Der Is.
The second charge accused him OF being gui.ty d
insulting and uuchrstlan treatment Of tho PASTOR.
The first specification said that he spoke untruthfuy
and In anger and with his hat on his head 10 Mr. Leg
gait after the meeting OF December 10. The coz
,istory failed to explain that. Mr.. Bre;ts hat shoua
have been on his feet In his pocket when lie spoks
10 his spiritual adviser
In charge No. Mr.. Brett accused Of seeking
to njure the influence Of the pastor and the cause
Christ and seeking TO Justify hms. for his unchristian
conduct when he knew that the conssory disapproyes
OF his course The fourth and last charge that hs
threatened revoutionize the consistory and treated
with extreme insolencc the representative OF the con-
s,story when lie took him the letter Of reconeils
ton
The trial was set for February -, and on has
Mr.. Brett appeared before Tie cOUslstoty
der the omnous glare Of the parsons replied TO inc
outrageous charges lie said he had already been red
and convicted without hearing by the eonsistory'
and that II seemed to him n little late TO bring
charges against him. ont Of five members Oh us
board three were witnesses and accusers, he said,
and that seemed hardly fair He suggested at INC
close the defence that the resolutions shoun 1e ca
plunged from the record and that there should .;
mutual apologies. This proposition was not mol, n" AZ
With much delight, and the consistory suddenly ds
cared Its intention to adjourn the trial 70 teorua
30, and Mr.. Brett was told that he might eAPcs
TO sec another set OF charges soon.
Before the trial adjourned effort was mad, Y
pledge Mr.. Brett To secrecy, but rising TO nus luz
height he said haughtily: Your card Is secrecy:
mine Is publicity" Tho consstory felt faint sao o.
adjourned. r.h-,
The consstory Was as good its word and on feori.
airy 10 Mr.. Brett gladdened by the site OF syn'
brand new charges carefully tied with PINK nVv%S.
Another hearing was held on February - AZ nv
parsonage. and the new charges against the snP''s
trdent. all OF which Mr.. Brett denied. were reao ~
follows. go ,.v
That on the railroad between Belleville and Jef
CITY on February o he talked In loud tone OF voice
about the acts OF the consstory with view 10 ~
fuenclng the public that Mt meeting OF the Nihaso
Improvement Society he objected To certain psr~ nj
being appointed on committee on the GROUND .,.s
they members OF the society the pastor oeis
one OF them and that the affair had got into 'n'
newspapers. . >s,,v
A petition 10 the consistory asking them 10 niooy
the action In regard 10 Mr. and Mrs. Brett was |gneu
sent to the conslstOry before the trial. II Is behe'r
by many members OF the congregation that Mr Lsst
gntt will have TO resign because Ut these charges au
II Is rumored that Mr.. Brett Will retallate oy Pr
ferng charges before the Chassis against the pasg
and the members OF the consstory for Insulting Language
AM