New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28
THE PASTOR CLEANS HOUSE
ONE SWEEP. HE SAYS. DID ALL THE WORN
STRANGE STORY OF THE REV. JAMES HALL MD
HIS PARISH oNERs.

STRANGE STORY OF THE REV JAMES HALL N'D
HIS PARISH ONERS
In This tale OF the Rev. James Halls pastorate Oh
the PRESBYTERIAN Church OF Dellmore' Long lsi"'
and OF the causes that led up to his rc'ignauon ~
allowance must be made for the somewhat excl'eu
statements OF the representatives OF the warning ~
uons for thc people OF the quiet little village 'ie
NIGHTLY stirred mp the and probably mum
her OF weeks have passed before they get Dach '"
their wontcd condition OF somnolency.
About two wears ago the Rev. James Hall resigned
the pasorate OF the Presbyterian Church In Garheiu'
a. j.. after there had been troublous times In tne
parish md he accepted the call TO the church at Bell
moro For five years the church bad not had regu-
lar postor and was supplied mostly by theological
,tudents The membership had always been diVldeu
into two factions and between the leaders Oh inc
cliques and the eyhortations OF the students the
religious family had become rs turbulent as a hVe
OF disturbed bees. 1t at that happy
time that the Rev. james Hall took mp bis abode III
Bellmore, that Is, within ten minutes walk OF the
gloomy breakers of south oyster Bay. Everything
went beautifully until about year ago. when trouble
and opposition to the pastor began and eliminated
last Wednesday with n hearing before the Presbytcry
and the resignation of the Rev. James Hall.
The Rev. James Hall says that he went to Belmorc
for two reasons The first was that he had been work
ing hard and wanted rest. lie seems to be
satisfied that he got II, for be that
he has been frustrating for two years there"
The other reason his longing to get near the
ocean. lie found the church in most peculiar CON
dition and set to work to remedy It.
"For fifteen years" said the Rev. Mr.. Hall ycster-
day, the church had been supported largely by
Home Mission funds. My object while was there
was TO bring the church into condition worthy TO
he supported by the Home Mission funds which 1t
was not when got there. meant 10 leave nearly
a year ago but could not my way to It, At that
time the qlrIelsOne faction IN the church began 10
be troublesome. II grew until January 20 last 10
broke out. ] found | could clean house with one
sweep and did It. ! drove the harpies out clean.
The sunday school OF sixty-hve children regarded
a public nuisance, and wiped it ont OF existence,
sir! Most of the teachers were worthy, honorable
Christians. but I thought II best to wipe out the
whole business
"They 1.-THE fsction) brought the Presbytery down
here last Wednesday 10 rcinstate them trustees
etc. allowed them air their grievances and then
behind closed door, = showed 20 the Presbytery by
facts that these people whom the Prcsbytery re
garded the congregation were utterly unworthy OF
confidence, and that Home Mission funds would be
more than wasted on them had intended to re
sign. as said before and this seemed good time
and could not stay There any longer at the salary
was getting, 500. handed in my resignation.
hear that they bowling about the charge the
moderator, the Rev. Charles Rutherford gave them at
the closing Of the Prcsbytcry meeting. Mr.. Ruther-
ford d been NJ BellnOrc several years ago, ana ne
told them on Wednesday that it was the hardest
place on Long Island. That touched
'cm. He also said that they would
TO stay there If they kept up their
tactics"
Several members Of the opposition who seen
Yesterday told stories that did not entirely agree with
the explanation Of tho Rev. james Hall.
When he here two years ago" 81 the
women who IS not in love with the pastor. said yetcr
10 a Tribuue attendance af church
In the evening sunday used 20 be from 40 20 200
now IL averages between six and twcnty-Quc n drop
Mr.. Hall Is hy years old. and ha~ a wife,
ricd children, bicycle boat a lisp a most peculiar
looking mouth. on the upper lip 81 which he has
mustache cut OF like a blacklngbrish. and tenor
voice. When he sings he opens his mouth wide
that can't his face. and you orghicr hear him
laugh cry while he's preaching When he cries the
con grcgation laughs IrS awful funny to see him.
He's such queer man
Las, New Years night there wns a concert IN
the church. and he sat up front and played the
panlments for the ladies 10 sing and what do YOU
think lie sat up there with nothing o. but a
ceIluoid colnr-no neoktlc nothing. What ID you
think Of that
1t shame the way he acted about Miss
Mary Baldwin. the srlnstcr. you know. that used -
teach class IN the sunday school. She dldl't lke
Told him so Ito told the superintendent samuel self
% write letter TO her iciins her ma, her ,er
do H. so Mr. Hall hrd him aud Miss baldwin ont II
the school. She had nothing To do with getting mp
the petition to the Prcsbycry 10 sever the pastoral
lndohs between Mr. Hall and the congrcgnti' n.
which the cause Of che Pirsbytery meeting on
Wedne siny.7
Mise May Baldwin Jumped a. n she had seen q
mouse when The reporter stated tc object oi his can
and shaking her curls .aid she hal statement TO
make ROYAL +. Harvey who l. the leader of the op
position 10 the Rev. Jane Hall, said Mr. Hall didn't
meeting Of the Ire>byter,. from 10 u. until y.
when he had to give ln ara sad he would leave on
aid. that the minister supported n man WI, was
known 10 nave appropriated some ~ the church,
money tO his own
Meanwhile the Prcsbyteriafi church Of the hardest
place Long Island Is practically without a pastor
a. the Rev James Hall solcmnv declare that ne Will
never preach in that church again.