The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-06
WOULDN'T SHAKE HIS HAND.
PASTOR MIELER's OFFERS or PEACE
REJkCIED BK mrs FOEs.

A Lively Ti-s Las, Nisht ~ TIE Hsu,ns
Rsrsr-es Chsreh-Ths Ysu.e nsi-tstsr's
Opys-ssts Declare Hs Coasts Down Hiii
with the eirIs. s-s His Fris.ss ssy Cs--
sidersbig Harder Thires or ats Aeeu-srs.
The committee Of inquiry. consisting Of the
Rev John A. Todd Of Tarrytown. the Rev.
David Cole OF Yonkers. and Elder Francis
Bacon OF Bronxville. that was appointed on
Monday at the Reformed Church elassis at
Yonkers to Investigate the accusations made
against the Rev. George II. Miller Of the Hol-
land Reformed Church at 156th street and
Elton avenue. began its investigations last
night In the lecture room OF the church before
about 300 members OF the congregation. The
older and more sedsts members OF the con-
ereeatlon accuse Mr.. Miller OF coastinR down
hill in the winter with the girls and OF riding
bicycle In the summer
They also accuse him Of neEiectlng his FAM
lily. although Mrs. Miller. when che heard Of
this. protested that she had no complaint
whatever to make The fight against the
pastor was started By Mr.. Robert Dorm.
q merchant OF 1855 Third avenue. by
Mr.. Henry Fisher. and By q Mr.. Rel
benschnsider. all OF whom are among
the most prominent members OF the church.
They we're present last night and. with the
In one corner OF the room and succeeded. de-
spite the fact that the pastors friends outnum-
bsred them three to one. In making things de-
cidedly lively.
Dr. Todd and DR.. Cole are both strangers to
the members OF the church. never having
been in It before. DR.. Todd opened the pro-
csedlngs with brief speech. IN which he said
that he hoped that the members would come
to some amieable agreement before the meet
ing was ov o
The inquiry was on In earnest whom stout
German woman rose up ana sskedipermissio
to say few words. She was Mira DIR. Van
Deerinc and the widow OF Pastor LANCE. the
rector Of the church up to the time OF his
death. three years ago.
II have heard" she said. that people have
been going around saying that my late hus-
band was q drunkard. Pastor LANCE was
not q drunkard. He drank his beer and
wine like q gentleman. and never to
excess 1 will not allow the dead
to be slandered. It 10 shame and Disgrace.
Pastor Millsrp she exclaimed turning to that
gentleman. who is . very young man. did
you for one. ever pass q remark about my
husband being drunkardP'
Before God. 1 did not" responded Pastor
Miller In solemn tones.
Mrs. Van Deering wanted to 60 on with her
eulogy OF the late Pastor LanRe. but DR.. Todd
requested her to sit down. rs there Was other
business to be attended to.
DIR. Todd said that tho names OF the men,
bers would be read from the church books. and
that those In favor Of the pastors remaining
in the church should respond yes" to
their names. while those against him should
answer no" Several names had been read
when Mr.. Dorn's name was called. He got up
in his seat and yelled mo - in tones that
~ - tat ~ kha h,y NJ
Fisher. in response to his name. said No"
In an equally en- phstio manner. and whom his
wife's name was called he said: she isn't
here. but II she was she'd vote the same way
do"
At this juncture Mr. John Lertz. q promi-
nent member OF the church. got M and said
that m any persons had been kept away from
tho meeting by threats that they would be
sued II they attended.
"suedw a: exclaimed Dr.. Todd. What do
mean" said Mr.. Lertz. that 9. young
woman came to me and told me that she had
to MIR. Miller had been told that they would 6s
sued II they cam. TO the meeting. wouldn't
ears. Pm one OF the oldest members of this
church, but ! haven't been treated right.
Nevertheless. I'm not either for or against the
- Who was this young woman who told you
looking young woman who had been fdGet-
ing around IN her seat got un and ven. out,
piled. That was her that Just went out-Mlss
into the church, but she refused and The meet
ing went 3D.. When Miss Annie Schaefer's
that M Gs
: was |! scs as * NJ born. and to Which 2So
The people who signed that didn't know
what they were doing" she said. They were
] know OF people who wers visited before |
breakfast aud made to sign that paper without |
dozsns Of names Of persons on that paper who
are not members OF the church. some ofthem |
are dead and Otas ,E. are forged
never placed II there. My brothers nameis
there and they, never wrote them there or
Pastor Miller 'es ella N cd that he wasn't at |
all suEnri,ed while his friends smiled; The
Ehrich was then called. He voted sg .inst the
pastor. The latter said that he wasn't mem |
Der Of the church. oh. yes l am" said Mr..
When were you last in the church," asked
Il don't remem ber." replied Mr.. Enrich.
Hnmph. guess YOU don't" said the pastor:
name was called. and then looked dsnantly
approval: and Miss, stsrk, was about 20
say more when M Carl Bendorf rose
Ing conducted In the right way He thought
hat German as well as English should be
spoken in the meeting and that all hands
should get chance; DE accused Pastor Mil
sr OF unfairness and was starting of on long
list Of other accusations when DR.. Todd order
Pastor Miller then rose and said that the
name OF Philip Illig. which was on the petition
against him. had been wTonRfully placed
here. as Mr.. llliK Was In Chicago. and had
been for months
The name OF Frederick Rice. he said. was
also signed by some one else. as Mr.. lice had
been dead for some time These remarks ere-
ted ssnirstIOT and he people were getting
ma would see that those who signed
hess names were punished, IL all WAS as the
'astor said. When the calling Of names was
'vsr about twenty persons arose at once to
protest because their nAmes had not been
cad. They were not read because they are
But We have contributed to the support OF
b 70 church for year," said half dozen voices.
DIR. Todd and DIR Cole decided that only |