The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-19
DIDN'T NEGLECT HIS DUTY.
NOT COURTTNG WHEN HE SHOULD
NAVE BEEN ETHOR1ING.

The Rev. Mr.. Howiana ana nis Betrothsa
Reply Indignantly to Stories Priated In
some orthe New York Papers Yesterday.
Tho Rev. Mr.. William Rowland. pastor OF the
81. Johns Protestant Episcopal Church OF Pas
sale. and Miss Florence HART, his hancee.
were highly indignant yesterday over story
which appeared in some OF the morning papers
According TO the story the church bell tolled
last Friday for tho evening service. and the
congregation assembled In the church and
waited. but tho minister failed to appear.
A messenger was sent to tho rectory and
brought back word that Mr.. Rowland was
not there. Then. according to the story.
tho congregation dispersed and party started
out In search Of the missing pastor. and finally
came upon him at the house OF his hancee.
She was seated at the piano. and he. with one
hand on her shoulder. was turning the leaves
OF tho music for her while she sang. When
surprised by the entrance OF the searching
party the story said. Mr.. Rowland. in coniu-
sion confessed that he had forgotten all about
the service at the church. On account Of this
derelictlon. II was further said. Mr.. Rowland
probably would no longer preach from his old
pulpit. It was also said that in view Of Mr..
Howland's divorce from his first wife and his
determination to marry again. contrary to the
precepts OF the Episcopal Church. he had re-
solved to leave the pulpit and become school
teacher.
Mr.. Rowland wns seen yesterday by re.
porter for The Sun at his rectory. He is a
Roodlooking young man. apparently about 80
years old. with fair complexion. He has
large blue eyes and full face with dlmples.
The whole story" no said. glancing over
Q clipping from one OF the papers. lis q ma
llcious product OF tho Imagination. Let mo
say. in tho first. place, have boon pastor OF
ol,s TO-, .tra 4 Nall o,>l 7
have never been absent from n single service
durn. all that time. The Friday after Ash
Wednesday. which is the day apparently
referred to in the story. there was no service
in the church In previous years there has
Ie u BUT th It al, rests With the minister. de-.
cided to omit q services on that day. and on the
previous Sunday made no announcement for
Guilty about tho musical arrangements and
III may be that, some Of the congregation
camStp tho church t tnat day thinking kim there
and cyrould not have got in. am at u loss to
offer any other explanation OF the origin Of the
Mr., Rowland said he could not remember
timo. II he was lie said. he was very positive
for his being found Unexpectedly turning the
leaves for the YOUNG LADY at the piano that
to him OF the matter at all that day. and il any
reference was made to It later. It was in a cns-
ual way. asking why there had been no service
THAT had nothing whatever to do. he sqt,l,
with hs RESIGNATION from Q; the church: His
fE Easter Monday Ths immedate canso for
nouncemcnt Of his engagement to Miss. Iiartt.
which met with unpleasant comment Among
some OF his parishioners. owing to his iirst
MI Howlands first wife was n Miss Henry OF
very fond Of society. and lie. in roctory as
Very Very distasteiul to her. About year ago she
went to South Dakota and applied fora divorce
@ hs Of s1s h there
TIT tIs sSi5 Mrs HSwlaRd seon sitsIxard
ports. HIS become engaged to an army oficsr
It is forbidden by, the canons OF the Episco-
pa GharSn Tor dd divorced person to marry
ST. &c ss
Hartt was announced last December he felt
ccmpellad to tender his resignation.
time H. HSwaed saa and sf thae
merely acted to precipitate matters. AZ for
and becoming school teacher have never
made any announcement to that effect.
sns to is @ MY
nent. and have no immediate intention Of
being married. Before the event takes place
something may occur. to alter the circum-
stances completely and permit the marriage
without any violation OF the canons."
Mr.. Rowland explained that. for example. II
his first wife should marry again. he would
then to ut liberty according to his interpre-
tation OF the canons. to marry without forfeit
ing his place In the ministry.
Miss Florence HART is n tall slender young
woman. with dark hair and complexion. She
has rich contrato voice. and ID the leader Of
the church choir.
day. with feeling. SIr. Rowland has never
been absent from any service at the church.
! don't rcmemb er whether he was here or not
on that Friday. but there was no service on
that day. remember his speaking Of it when
We were singing here together. think that
was on the Thursday previous. I'm sure no.
body called here to look for him. It's true
the door bell was broken Mt the time, and
without coming In. But it's only Somebody's
MALICE that has started the story.
Its true that Mr.. Rowland and are en-
gagged. and TINT he has resigned from the
church. The papers say that he Is going to be-
come school teacher. but there Is no author
tty for that. What he Is going to do is our busi-
ness. The plans are not really settled yet"
eecre'ary Tracy to the League OF Musicians.
- h. n