The morning call., 1894-03-19
HIS DEPARTURE VERY SUDDEN
A Presbyterian Congregation In
terested.
STRANGE CONDUCT OF A PASTOR
He Leaves His Fiancee and His
Church For the Work in the
South Sea Islands.

Without word of farewell to the men,
beIs of his former flock. Rev. w. ID.
Nicholas, assistant pastor OF the First
Presbyterian Church, has suddenly de-
parted on an ecclesiastical prospecting
tour. He sailed for Honolulu by the Aus
traia on Saturday afternoon.
I'm going to take little sea trip for
my health" was the only explanation he
vouchsafed to the cashier of the Palace
Hotel when he relinquished his room aud
| squared his account, an hour before the
steamers departure. That the reverend
| gentleman's determin alton to try the ocean
| cure for his complaint was somewhat hasty
| is the opinion of those who observed his
! leisurely movements until The last moment.
! The divine is an ardent devotee OF nico-
| tine. and he spent Saturday morning in
smoke and thought. About L O'Clock he
rushed down to the office, paid his bill, got
together few pieces of luggage, and an
hour later was steamIng down the bay.
His fancee, Miss Edna Groves. remained
behind She occupied her accustomed
| place in the organ loft OF the First PFesby-
terian Church yesterday morning and took
| her usual prominent part in the musical
service. albeit her appearance seemed a
/
riage to the clergyman, who is her senior
in years but her junior in inches. Was
originally set for the second week in
April, bat there will certainly be post
| pOnement of the ceremony.
The departure of their former assistant
pastor was fruitful topic of converse
| tion among the congregation who wOr-
shipped yesterday in the fashionable
temple of Presbyterianism on the corner
| OF Van Ness avenue and Sacramento
street. Mr. Nicholas absence and he
manner of his leaving were considered the
more remarkable at this juDcture because
of his undeveleped plans in this city.
| During the pamy days when there was
| smooth sailing under the joint regime of
DR.. Mackenzie and Mr.. .Nicnolas, after every
| evening service Miss Groves came down
from her choir seat and waited in the
little passage at the rear of he pulpit
simultaneously Mr.. Nicholas would slip
down from his official post and join the
waiting singer. Then together they were
accustomed to leave the church by a side
entrance. This same exit was also popu-
lar with other couples.
One OF the elders went to Mr.. Nicholas.
and told him that his conduct toward the
pretty soprano was causing much adverse
comment, whicH would result in much
injury 10 the church. At the same time
one of tire trustees interviewed Miss
Groves, and explained that a continuance
of the rendezvous at the rear of the church
would unquest tiOr ably mean the loss of
her situation. The member of session was
considerably taken aback. when Mr..
, Nicholas, with some asperity, said: 'Slr,
the young lady is my ffancee."
That settled it. Apart from the interest
which unmarried pastor always in
spires in the minds of the female part Of
his flock aud the decreasing enthusiasm
: when he marrles there were not few
mem bers of the church who held that the
marriage of pastor with paid singer in
the choir was practically mesalliance.
Again. while the session knew that Mr..
Nicholas was separated from his wife. the
congregation at large was not aware that
! he had been divorced. The fact that Miss
Groves was of another failh also initiated
against satisfactory adjustment of the
/, difficulties of the situation.
1t was finally concluded that it would he
J unwise for the relations between Mr..
J Nich las and the church to be maintained.
10 silence all gossip and to Obviate the
possibility of faciional differences in the
congregation, it was intimated to Mr..
Nicholas that II he presented his resigna-
Ti0n no obstacle would be interpOsed TO
: | prevent its acceptance. TIE clergym an
did as he was advised and closed his Off
clal connection with the First Presbyterian
Church,
Contrary to the expectations of the
church officials. however, Mr. Nicholas
withdrawal did not Immediately restore
harmony. There were some in the church
who did not hesitate to state that The as
sistant pastor had been treated somewhat
cavilierIy. The divorce question cut big
figure in the discussions, and not few
sided With Mr. Nicholas on that issue.
Then Mr.. Nicholas conceived the idea Of
establishing a new church in the western
part of the city. he suggested that large
territory in that district was without
Presbyterian I'd fee, and he concluded
that, in addition TO the suburban residents,
a go0dy number of his friends in the
First church would follow him to the new
religious organization.
TO avoid the appearance of endeavOring
to undermine the parent congreg cation, Mr..
Nicholas went to DR.. Mackenzie, before
whom he laid his plan.
"All right, said the senior divine, go
} ahead. Ii you can secure sufficient num-
Der to form a congregation | shall give
you all the assistance in my power"
When is was learned, however, that the
location of Mr. Nicholas new church was
to be as far out as Central avenue, some of
those who had promised to go west with
, the pastor weakened In their resolutions
A lot had been selected. but such limited
financial support was guaranteed that Mr..
: Nicholas, who had secured an option on
3 the roperty, did not take advantage of
the opportunity offered.
About this time DIR. Alexander of New
2 York met MIR. Nicholas at the Palace Hotel.
The former had just returned from the
Hawaiian Islands. AID be told Mr.. Nicholas
about a rich church in Honolulu, which is
now without pastor The congregation
of Presbyterians is we'll organized, ana DR..
Alexander advised Mr.. Nicholas to GO
! down to the islands and present himself
as candidate for the vacancy. On Satur-
] day morning Mr.. Nicholas made up his
; mind TO act Oh this advice. Accordingly.
on the same afternoon, he started In search
OF parish. In the meanwhile his mar
rage with Miss Groves will be deferred.
|