The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-10-10

Mr.. SWEET was engaged as pastor of
the First Baptist Church three years
ago. Owing to the fact that he had not
completed his theological course, he was
allowed to attend Crozier Seminary
chester, Pa, every week. Matters went
along smoothly for year; then one
cold winter night Deacon Harrison Dur
gin was reused by Pastor SWEET, who
said he had fed from Chester. where
outrages had been committed in which II
was charged he was implicated.
Deacon Durgin says that Pastor SWEET
left on the first train in the morning for
New York, but soon returned, and the
matter was to all appearances hushed
up. The affair in some mysterious man
ner leaked out and started tongues to
wagging. 1t became town talk. Then
the deacons became alarmed, secured
what they thought was damaging evil
dence and demanded the resignation of
SWEET
SWEET moved among the members and
elected much sympathy among the
younger element The fight became bit
ter, and at length the deacons were de-
posed and new ones elected. John M.
Grant, Chauncey Towne, George w.
Crosscup and Ernest Hemming are the
newly elected deacons.
worse. Pastor SWEET says there are two
men in the church who bitterly opposed
him from the first and were instrumental
l@kns serious S came OF
for an Investigation before council
composed Of delegates from fifteen
churches in the West Jersey Baptist As
ISOLATION. These same two men, when
before the council, were compelled to ad-
init that they could not sustain the
charges. The council promptly exoner-
ated the pastor in these words:
1.-The evidence presented entirely dis
proves the charges of conduct unbecom-
ing minister but added that his &C
cusers had reason for surprising they
charges" This did not settle the mat
ter. A petition signed by forty men,
bers requesting a new trial was pre-
Woodstown last month but 1t was not
acted upon. Mr.. Swett's resignation was
accepted at an exciting meeting last
wees BY the the following vote For accept
This vote. out of a total membership
OF 2l6. was considered legal under Bap-
fist rules and usages This special meet
meeting which resulted in the suspension
OF twenty members who had been Pas
tor Swetts pitterest enemies. These
t.,enty include four deacons who had
twenty years Of service. One of them,
Deacon Durgln, said to-day: "They were
tne Dest members In the church, BY
best members Deacon Durgin meant the
best financially. Besides Deacon Durgin
there were Deacons Lewis Dolby, p. s.
Cone and Moses Powell. Besides the
deacons there were prominent men of
Vineland, such as Myron J. Kimball,
senior partner OF Kimball, Prince & Co,
and President Of the First National
Bank; George w. Lewis, John NJ. Grant,
Chauncey Towne, George w. Crosscup
Frank NJ. Yerkes. the church clerk:
Ernest Hemming and others. These
claim that under the resolution adopted
at the last meeting they were turned out
OF the church.
1t has now leaked out that George w
Crosscup recently rendered his resigna-
ton as Deacon and Treasurer.
Crosscup's name appeared on the petit
ton asking for new trial the other
three deacons, presumably through the
influence of SWEET, have called a special
meeting for next Thursday evening to
accept Crosscup's resignation. Church
Clerk Yerkes says the twenty expelled
members and their friends claim the
meeting held last Thursday disfran-
chising them was illegal and says they
will appear at the meeting next Thurs
day night.
Pastor SWEET preached yesterday, the
subject being the, washing of the
on the following Sunday will bid fare
well to the people OF Vineland and &c
to Melina, N. Y, his boyhood home.