New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-17
DIR. BOWDISH STATES THE CASE.

THE CHURCH FULLY AS PROMPT IN ITS ACTION
AS THE CITIZENS OF KINGS COUNTY.
From letter from the Rev. Dr. W. W. Bowdish IN
THE Brooklyn Eagle"
-. l watched with intensest interest the great
speeches made at the Academy of Music ana
appreciated the manifest surprise on the part OF
the great multitude of people when it was said
that John Y Mckane was a member of the Method
ist Episcopal Church and superintendent OF one
of the Sunday schools of this great Church
was made tremble with sense of shame that
never knew before in all my life that such state
ments could be made and that they were allowed
to pass unchaengeG and unexplained
1t was stated that both of the political parties
had gladly claimed this man Mckane, and tnat ne
had served them well in State and IN Nation"
way crtclsng his supremacy at the ballot-box IN
Gravesend til within the last ten days or nn
last election. He has been held in confidence anu
in companlonship with those who have come n,,, TO
by the suffrage OF the people. Not a line has been
written the nor has bs wpya w Se now his
ticed frauds have come to the light OF an outraged
bHG b Of o rs sne ASK s w Church 20 the
now so wicked man, Why did you not have e., ms s
You have lust found him out in such a way that
the people without distinction of party demand no
an unquestioned determination to enthrone himself
and dethrone the people whose rights he has tramp.
the great Methodist Episcopal Church that her min
istry have usually stood in the front line OF every
connving az wrongdoing when known nor have they
compromised with any legislation that should con,
cea WrongdOers. What ask is time 10 put
in operation the proceedings that shall bring this
man TO justice 1t was stated that the people woulu
proceed slowly but surely in the execution OF ne
laws to punish this man Ana al Ra5te w ToG so Pe
that he would not submit TO any lengthy uelaE IN
his case The case demands very careful procedure
if Justice is administered 1t should be upon HIM
and others FOR their alleged crime against the rsht
of suffrage. So, gentlemen. We demand time to Ley
establsh TO- get is cause and the crime well in
hand. and then it's Judgment will be pronounce ed
And | VIII venture the opinion that as the ciVlI
Will be bribed. the court Of the Church
Will not be bought, though the earth were a globe
1t has been said that Mr. McKane does not
swear ne doG3 not dTn nSs p cSs C ar
this is said by those who have seen him and by
those VINO know him most intimately; VINO can n
extent that specific charges be preferred against
him? i have. heard those ask this question, who
have the authority to formulate charges and call
the court for the triai OF this man The fact +,
this in either political party till now, and so
has It been in the Church. OF which he has been a
the clear light OF outraged public sentiment. and
neither political party will claim him neither VIII
ship. because Of his faults and his practised frauds
50 will i be in the communion Of the Methodist
ship when he has been convicted OF such wrongdoing
Wicked profanity for one Of the Citizens sent to
s rues a ws the a
church. and he heard McKane wickedly profane the
name OF God, and saw him exhibit kind OF con-
duct that wicked in the extreme, even with
intent to main. and possibly murder. For it was
by McKane's orders for the arrest of these watch
ers sent by order Of the Supreme Court to Graves
end. that they had to fee for their lives and they
We're warned yarns not to return upon the penalty Of
limits Of his police jurisdiction. This conduct IL
actonable within the law Of the discipline OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and now the case can
proceed TO trial with the surety that a righteous
verdict will be reached and just punishment will
come Let the people know this who have been dis
posed to condemn the Methodist Episcopal Church
for allowing Mr.. McKane to remain for so long
time in fellowship with the Methodists Of Gravesend
and with all MethOdists the world over; and that
he has continued 50 long-a quarter of a century,
the superintendent of the Sunday I'm the in
divdual church of which he has been acceptable
member-for no charges have been preferred against
him up to this date-the Church will execute her
discipline in this matter to the last letter OF the
law, though the entire membership OF that one
church shall withdraw from communion and the
church edfice be RACED to the ground, and the
church no more forever have name and pas
torate within the limits now covered by its mem
bership