Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-11-25
ROW In A CHURCH.
A Evansville Congregation Which Seems Dis
satisfied With It's Pastor-They Say he
is Cold and Naughty and that Life OF
Cslibacy Has Dwarfed His Mentality.
sps iat 10 the Register.

CATION tomorrow than he has seen for
months.
He has persistently refused to talk
about the matter, but 10 the REGISTER
correspondent he said to-day that he
would not answer the letter OF w. D.
Massey. that be did not deem it worthy
OF notice and would proceed the same
as II 1t had not be written.
"Despite this assertion there is every
reason 10 believe that ii is causing the
reverend gentleman no little uneasi-
| ness. He had the session together in a
special meeting Thursday evening that
lasted far into the night. Those who
| attended preserve sphgnx-like silence
on the nature OF the proceedings but II
| is known that it was not altogether bar
| monious. Three of the members OF the
board are unalterably opposed TO what
they denominate Mr.. Holidays tYraD-
nica methods aud they will not vote
| for any resolution Endorsing him.
The mem ers of the church are about
evenly divided. This conclusion Is
reached from the fact that Mr.. Massey
claims that three-fourths of them are
with him and favor Mr.. Holidays res
| ignatIon, while the pastors followers
say that he is supported by at least sew
enty-fve per cent of those who are
regular attendants at the services and
regular contributors TO the expenses.
The opposition are not respectable in
point OF numbers. but they include
many of the most influential members,
men OF wealth and standing. And
there are not few women who have
dare to come out openly aud advocate
change in the pastorate It's true now
ever that their ranks have been depleted
Mr.. Holiday has been summarily sus-
pending them, two of the most notable
Instances being Hon. w. r. Matthews,
Deputy State Inspector Of workshops
and factories, and Stewart Speer,
prominent merchant aud politician.
BOtn OF these gentlemen have large
families aud for their sakes he was
urged not 10 pGbllcly expel them. tie
persisted, however, and said that he
would not be swerved from bis duty De-
couse the persons interested were men
OF means. 1t was suggested TO him
that neither his duty nor the rules Of
the church required this public excom.
municat!On, but be replied that he did
not have TO be told his dnty nor In
formed on the rules Of tho Presbytery.
Iii this uncharitable spirit that has
caused such wide dissatisfaction. Other
churches OF the city are striving 10 In
crease their mem berShip, while Mr..
Holiday seems anxious TO reduce his 10
beautiful and select few. In the ten
years OF his pastorate the accesslons
have amounted TO thirty more than the
Withdrawals, the explosions aud the
deaths
Mr.. Massey, who is the leader OF the
opposition, said that with the right kind
of a pastor the embershiD would have
doubled in that time.
The trouble with Mr.. Holiday" be
said to the REGISTER representative,
lis that he is Geld, formal and uncom-
| panionable. Instead of drawing people
TO the church be drives them from IL.
Especially IS this true OF the young.
'Fne percentage OF Young people in our
church is not half that OF any other
church in the city.
HE does not know the members per-
sonally. or the 275 / venture the as
sertion that he has never recognized
not attend Sunday school and be has
never given one Of the young scholars
kindly word or friendly recognition.
ale ought TO get married. The
right kind OF wife would cure him, |
think, OF great many Of his objection
al BILE characteristics that probably come
from a selfish, cynical bachelorhood.
He says that he cannot afford To keep q
wife in the style that be desires on his
present salary, and that Is another
reason why the congregation should
give him his release.
'He has also said that he has had
calls from other churches where the
salary is nearly double. For goodness
sake, why doesn't be accept one of
them? IL wider fields are yearning for
his services we, as Christians, should
not seltishIy insist on his remaining
with US. thereby reLarding his useful
ness. A larger salary would also allow
him to marry, and we ought not assume
the responsibility OF forcing him TO live
life OF ceIlbacy tina: may result 10
dwarfing him morally, mentally and
physically.
but all that am coDtending for IN
this fight IL that the congregation be
given a chance TO be heard on whether
he DO retained as pastor or not. III
majority favor his staying shall say
nothing more, although | sincerely be
lieve that his days Of usefulness as
minister in this city are over. told
him that much.
II also suggested to him that 1t would
- b
grsgation and better for the cause OF
Christianity is he would quietly retire
without precipitating this public fight.
He thinks IL would be better for him
and the other two considerations would
not have any weight II they clash, 10
his opinion, with the former"
Aren't you afraid, Mr.. Massey, that
he will bring action against you for
lioel? He can claim damages on the
ground that the letter you sent TO the
members OF the congregation has
tendency TO injure him financially and
socially"
mo. am not afraid. Under the
Ohio Jaw the truth is not libel, conse-
ouently there is nothing actionsble In
that letter"
"Are you going to take any further
steps 10 the natter"
Certainly. II an opportunity is not
given the congregation % be heard. !
shall draw up petition, addressed to
him calling on him to resign and TO IL /
will secure the names OF great major
ity OF the members. Then | will pre-
sent a second petition TO the Presby-
terry asking that the congregation be al
lowed to determine whether there
should be q change in pastors or not"
There was a meeting OF the Young
n...i.,. s-onintu Of fha chnrch LAST