The Washington times., 1894-06-18
ST. LUKE CHURCH TROUBLES.
Brought About By the UnfriendIy Action
Of Deposed Clique of Churchmsn
Who Resigned Years Ago.

Of . Deposed Clique of Churchmsn
Who Resigned Years Ago.
The slight discordant sentiment In the St.
Luke Protestant Episcopal church was not.
It is claimed by the pastor. Rev. Alex Crum-
NELL, q result Of difficulty between pastor
and congregation. but was brought about by
tho unfriendly action of deposed clique Of the
churchmen whose resignation was enforced
few years ago.
Some years since the vestrymen in the
church were set at odds with the people, and
the first action resulted In the removal OF this
board. Since that time they have been vexing
the good people Of DR.. Crummells' flock and
have been attempting to dissolve the accord
OF the pastor with his people. When DR..
Crummell announced that he would preach
sermon yesterday as celebrating the twenty
first anniversary Of his connection with that
church, the other colored churchmen Of this
denomination considered 1t good time to
get In some effective work. They sue
ceeded In circulating the rumor that DR..
Crummell was going to resign, and that
bis sction was forced by DR.. Paut and the
people OF his flock.
Several days ago Dr.. Crummell was retired
from the active missionary work Of the
church, and this probably gave rise to the
statement that he had resigned from the pas
torate. His resignation was accompanied by
the following resolution from the vestrymen:
"Resolved, That in view Of the increasing age
and inhrmities OF Rev. Alexander CrummelL,
full services during the past twenty years in this
diocese, that an appropriation in the way Of a
pension be made TO him from the missionary
fund"
The money for the work, however, was to
continue until the month Of December. There
was considerable crookedness, Mr. Crummell
says, less than year ago. One Of the church.
men who had been compelled to abandon st.
Luke's called upon Mr.. Crummell one even
ing and saying that he represented 100 people
from st. Mary's and st. Luke's churches, who
desired the resignation of Mr.. Crummell, and
that II their request was not conceded to they
would leave their parishes and build new
church for their express accommodation. This
was answered by Mr.. Crummell the following
Sunday in an open letter, read before his con-
gregation. denouncing the action and calling
to question the character OF the man who
made the claims.
A meeting Of the congregation Of ST. Luke's
church was Immediately afterwards held, and
the general purpose Of the flock was unan-
imously to retain Mr.. Crummell. The ves-
trymen also warmly supported their pastor,
and further, in the event that resignation
should be offered, they implored Bishop
Paret not to consent to his Withdrawal
Several members OF the church were seen
last night and they were loud in their praise
and commendation OF the guidance OF their
present pastor, and said that there was perfect
unanimity between pastor and people. They
feared a resignation from their pastor and ex-
pressed regret that he wants to leave in De-
cember.
1t is generally understood that DR.. Crum-
NELL will resign next December, as he has al
ready completed a fity-two years ministerial
aarvipQ and thinks that ba bad has tar a+a
his work on account of old age.
The vestrymen at present are Jefferson
Thomas, Louis Alexander, wardens VIM. La
valette. Charles Collins. Major F. G. Revels,
]. L. Aston, Arthur Collier, julius Van Brack-
els, Clarence Compton. and Charles II. Lane.