The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-21
upheld THE PASTOR
Congregation Of Rev. August Lanse's Church
Refuses His Resignation
RESIGNATION OF -FOUR ELDERS
They Severed Their Relations with
the Church Because the Pastors
Resignation Was Not Accepted.
Miss Laura Pfeifer, Who Preferred
the Charges, Did Not Materialize.

A quietus was last night put upon
the slanderous gossiping against the
character of Rev. August Lange, of
the Hickory Street Presbyterian
church, which has been freely circu-
lated among the congregation by GER
tain disaffectsd members of the
church.
A few months ago Mr.. Lange began
to realize that contingent OF the cou-
gregation was working against him
and be concluded that there was moth
ing left for him to do but sever his re.
lations with the church. Four Of the
elders became openly opposed to him,
and they left no stone unturned to
initiate against him. They were Peter
Hartman, Fred Kellerman, Jacob En-
ich and John HUM, ST., and recently
they insisted that Mr. Lange must be
deposed.
Their chance came when Miss Laura
Pfeifer, a sister of Mrs. G. L. Wiss-
waesser, complained OF the uDdue IA.
miliarity of Mr.. Lange on one occasion
Of her visit to his house She asserted
that the preacher demeaned himself
seandalously toward her but she re-
sented his insinuations When these
four elders her story they demanded
Mr. Eange's resignation. The remain
der Of the board of elders however re-
fused to heed the gossips and took no
notice Of the attacks on their pastor.
Mr.. Lange denied in toto the
charges preferred by Miss Pfeifer and
in this way the matter rested for few
months.
THE FIRST TROUBLE.
A TRIBUNE reporter interviewed Mr.
Lange last night after the meeting. He
said that one Sunday a few months ago
he delivered sermon on the Lord s
prayer. His remarks were excepted
to by these elders and they waited upon
him to change his treatment of that
particular subject to the way they
thought it should be dealt with. His
refusal was the beginning of the temp.
est, and since then his every action
has been observed with close scrutiny.
The trouble became so prominent that
Mr.. Lange decided to resign, and after
the morning services last Sunday he
read his resignation from the pulpit.
The elders waited upon him, those
who had confidence in him, and re-
quested him to reconsider his deter.
nination. which he steadfastly refused
to do. So they announced a special
meeting for the subsequent Thursday,
which was last night, TO take action on
the resignation. The church hall was
packed with the members of the con.
gregation and Miss Pfeiter was expect
ed to be on hand and substantiate her
charges against Mr.. Lange.
All eyes turned toward the door an,
ticipating the advent Of Miss Pfeifer,
but she came not, neither did the ell
ders who were to press the charge.
The resignation was read and vote
taken 1t was voted not to accept the
resignation without dissenting vote.
A surprise was then sprung when
| the written designations of the -four
reoalcitrant elders were read. Some
one moved to lay the designations on
the table, but there was no second t.
it. Then a motion was made to accept
the designations and it was unani
mously carried.
The next thing in order was the elec
tion of their succsssora Seven names
were placed in nomination and the
vote showed that the following foul
had received the highest votes: Charles
Heisner, Charles Schench, Jacob F
Miller and John Schneider.
AT this point Mr.. Lange, who had
been present throughout the meeting
ready to answer any aspersions agaius
his character When he saw that there
was unanimous sentiment permeat.
ing the meeting confident in his up
rightness he addressed the congrega
tion thanking all for the manifestation
Of good will and stating that he re
voked his resignation and would labo
on for the spiritual welfare of the
church.
Mr.. Lange then offered prayer ant
pronounced the benediction.