The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-01

baptlst Church case ADVERSE Co new
Willis j. Tucker-He Surrenders His
Ordination Papers and Is No Longer
Clergyman.
The decision of the Church Council
called to judge the case of Rev. Willis j.
Tucker of South Windham, has been
made public. 1t sustains the charges
against Mr.. Tucker in every particular.
Tuesday evening the decision was COM
municated to the Free Will Baptist
church at South Windham, but was lis
tened to only by the element opposed to
Tucker. His friends were conspicuous
by their absence.
The case is very peculiar. Mr.. Tucker
formerly lived in Monson, Maine, and
there, at an early age, IS or 10 years, he
married young lady of Is or IS. They
did not live long in happiness, and final
ly the wife obtained divorce, alleging
cruel treatment and immortality on the
part of the husband. He was absent
from the state, and did not finally, OBJ
pose the decree.
After this, young Tucker was convert
ed, entered Bates College, and was final
Iy ordained TO the Free Baptist ministry
by the Piscataquis Association. He
married an estimable young lady in
Monson, and appeared to have begun
life anew
His first pastorate was at Hampton, N.
H., where he had some trouble. His
friends say that he denounced the sell
ing of liquors in some of the summer
resort hotels in which wealthy members
of his congregation were interested, and
thereby gained their ill will. Others
say things less creditable to the pastor.
However, when he came to South
Windham year or so ago, there seemed
to be nothing against him, and he was
cordially received by the members of the
Free Will Baptist church. A few months
ago, however, certain grave charges were
whispered against the pastor. Present.
ly they became SO definite and serious
that some of the members of the church
led by Mr.. ]. J. Grant, of the church
committee, felt that theyLcould be ig-
nored no longer. Mr.. Grant went to Mr..
Tucker and frankly told him that he
was charged with making improper pro-
posals, the complainant being "a South
Windham woman, So or go years of age.
Mr.. fuckers reply was not satisfacto-
ry to Mr.. Grant and others in the church
who stood with him; neither were Mr..
fuckers subsequent actions. In few
days the papers chronicled that Mr..
Tucker had Disappeared from South
Windham, and it was later reported that
he had returned. At the time the
charges were first made, he did leave
South Windham and went to Boston.
He explains that the charges discouraged
him, and that he decided to secure en-
ployment in Massachusetts, and support
his family there. But his friends in the
church at South Windham rallied to his
support, sent him word that they had
confidence in him, and he returned. The
factions in the church became very bit
ter, and Mr.. Grant was roundly denounc-
ed as the author of the trouble by Mr..
fuckers friends.
The bitterness of feeling pervaded the
whole community of South Windham.
Finally both factions of the church
united with Mr.. Tucker in asking for the
appointment of an ecclesiastical council
which should listen to the evidence and
come to some conclusion as to the adj
visibility of Mr.. fuckers further contin-
uance with the church.
Accordingly the executive committee
of the State Association of Free Will
Baptist Ministers appointed an ecclesias-
teal council, as follows: Professor An
thony of Bates College, Rev. Mr.. Stacy
OF Auburn, Rev. Harry Lowden of North
Berwick, Mr.. E. HI. G. Bradbury of Saco,
and Mr.. c. D. Rendell of Auburn.
This council met at South Windham.
May 10th, and investigated the case. The
charges made were that he had used
language and been guilty of conduct I'M
becoming Christian gentleman.
The Council has rendered it's report.
The evidence taken was exhaustive and
voluminous. The report sustains the
charges against Mr.. Tucker in every
respect. Itrecommends that the pastoral
relations between Mr.. Tucker and his
parish be dissolved at once, and that he
be requested to relinquish his ordination
papers. His church is urged to procure
pastor Immediately and proceed with
its legitimate work.
Mr.. Tucker yesterday forwarded to
Rev. Mr.. Cate, of the Plymouth Free
Baptist church of this city, who is presi-
dent of the Maine Free Will Baptist
ministers conference, his certificate of
ordination and complied promptly with
the resolutions of the Council.
Mr.. Tucker is man about 40 wears of
age, and has an excellent wife and
family of children. His fami ly have the
sincere sympathy of the people of South