The herald., 1893-11-05
REV. WIGHT HITS BACK HARD,
The Ex-Pastor of the Central
Christian Church Replies.
And Gives Some of the Good Brothers
Straight Talk.
He Claims that tho Wishes of the Church
Have Been Badly Misrepresonted.
Resolutions Which He
Questions.

about the Rev. Frank A. Wight OF the
Central Christian church. 1t wai
charged first that he had been guilty oi
certain misdemeanors, and in yester-
days HERALD was printed set OF reso-
lutions preparatory to being adopted by
the church.
Mr.. Wight in his reply below gives
his version of the case.
EDITORS HERALD: By your permission
| would like to reply to some statements
| in today's HERALD. In reference to the
resolutions that were claimed to have
! been passed by the Central Christian
church, have been assured by those
present that the resolutions were not
adopted by the church, as no affirma-
! tive vote was taken, either Tor the
resolutions or for withdrawal. Further
more, l will say that they are false. l
never was forced to resign, but resigned
from my own choice.
The church, at it's regular meeting, by
a vote tnat was unanimous, with one
exception, refused to accept my resigna-
tion. thus nullifying the action OF the
board; for, according to our church
policy, the church is the final appeal.
Under these circumstances | was called
east by the dangerous illness OF my
father, and returned as soon as practica-
bic. On my return, found that
goodly portion OF the church were
meeting in Union hall, corner Seven
teenth street and Grand avenue, where
they had been for one month. ard at
their invitation | have been preaching
for them on Sundays.
As to the article published IN the
HERALD last June, while | was on my
way east. will say l never saw the
article until 10 days after 1t was pub
lished and then / was 5000 miles away.
l gave no information to the reporter,
for the reason l gave to him, that the
matter had been fully adjusted and it
would have been breach OF trust Tor
me or anyone to give information under
the circumstances.
AS to my aft rming or denying, l most
emphatically deny large portion of
what was alleged in that article. This
whole matter has been fully settled
once before the only tribunal that had
any jurisdiction in this case, and that
was at the meeting held at the Central
Christian church, June 9th. Repre-
sentatives were present, either III per-
son or written statement, from every
church where / had held meetings. Ur-
gent invitations were sent to all who
had anything to present to be present.
After full statement from the repre-
sentatives present, and the reading of
the written statements, the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved by the congregation of the
Central Christian church and the other
brethren in Christ here assembled, that
Brother F. A. Wight has our utmost
confidence and sympathies; that we
fully accept and believe his explsna-
tions; and that not scintills of evil
dence has been adduced against him, as
a gentleman, Christian and preach
er of the gospel. Adopted unanimously
by every person present.
Signed by the chairman, @. H. Owens.
This was tne settlement of this case.
Ample time was given, for everything
that was claimed against me had oc-
Cured one year or more before. This
meeting was the time and place for
everything to be presented. Yet if
new evidence has been brought to light
and the brotherhood think that farther
investigation is required, there is law
ful way for them to proceed, viz. To
meet me and select some tribunal that
will be competent to sift this matter to
the bottom. | have no time or taete to
follow up every story that is being ped
died by gossips, and l have nothing but
contempt for such an unlawful procedure
as that which occurred last Sunday at
the Central Christian church. Three
men, and one of them not member oil
the Central church, draw up resolu-
tions and palm them off as being the
voice of the church, when they know
that ii full and fair vote had been
taken they would have been over.
whelmingly defeated.
The whole secret OF this trouble has
been the interfering of outside parties,
who would have served the cause much
better if they had attended to their own
congregations. Let me cay in conclus.
ion that the inaliensble right of man
to be tried by his peers, to meet his ac-
cusers face to face and give all the test-
mony searching examination and to
speak in HE own defense, l claim as
mine. Before any proper tribunal where
such rights are granted l stand ready to
appear. Until that time comes | shall
rest, where every one else must Justly
rest, upon the decision given at the
meeting, June 4th. Most respectfully,
FRANK A. WIGHT,