The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-01
Pastor and Majority Of Congregation
Will Form q New Church.
WIssWAESsER CASE RECALLED
Rev. August Lanee Sewers Ms Pnstorate
and win Organize Now COngrsea.
ton Barring and McSwecney's
Detective Firm COucsrnod.

aoSaou " tue ppdVu VI tTuStcSs iaSt
evening: John I.entes. who was
organist OF the church choir and SUI
of the Sunday school. re-
signed yesterday morning. and both
have been accepted.
The congregation consists OF about 450
and the church property
Is valued at $4,000. The church Is one
of the most imposing In Scranton. built
Of granite block; a new parsonage Is
now almost completed. and II Is eN-
pected will be ready for occupancy In
two weeks. Altogether II Is very In
fiuential congregation. one which any
clergyman might feel proud to be the
pastor OF,
Rev. Mr.. I.ange came immediately
after the flight of Wisswaesser' He Is
a Young man OF commanding appear
ance and possessed OF a brilliant edu-
cation; he Is a son-in-law OF Rev, w.
Hausser. d. D.. of Bloomfield Theologi-
cal seminary. n. J.
His resignation. in Its full signitic-
ance. implies that majority OF the
Hickory street congregation VIII 80
with him, and a new congregation. In
iependent of any Fresbytery or synod
will ba formed. He will preach In
some hall. Fruehsn's. on Cedar avenue.
very probably. next sunday, and that
will mark the beginning OF the new
epoch,
What Led TO His Resignation.
The general impression is that GER
tain contingent OF the parish worked
so directly counter to his pastora'e. De
cans. they retained u friendliness for
that he concluded 10 De-
take himself 10 another field. But the
,nposition from Wisswiesser's friends
10 him was So futile that II had ho'hins
10 do directly with his resignation
His resignation came indirectly from
the action against Peter Hartman IN
,hs limited States court for alleged OBJ
scene letter writing.
When Wisswaesser, not long ago re-
turned TO the city in as sudden s'yie
as he took himself of. rumors went OUT
that he would be reinstated as pastor
n. the Hickory street church, ana ReE'
Mr. Lange would be sent away
meeting was held of practically al! OF
,r.. members OF the church, and reso-
Ir,ion unfolding Mr.. Lanse passea
,Ions with one denouncins Wfsswles-
ser. ~,
Peter Hartman was present al the
meeting. but took no action IN the pro-
caedings. remaining silent as an on
locker in one OF the rear pews. Inc
na s,or received obscene letters through
the mails ant Hartman was at the time
accused Of the crime.
kir.t Became Responsible.
Rsrrirs & McSweeney's detective
=, ,r.rcv v,as given the job Of discover
ine the identity Of the author. and ex-
S,reet Commissioner Philip Kirst. who
IS president Of the board OF trustees
became security for the payment 10
Barring & McSweeney OF the expense OF
the detective work.
On Saturday, July 6, Rev. Mr.. Lanse
received a letter from Mr.. kirst' en-
closing the bill for Ss1 rendered by the
detective firm. Receiving the bill en-
closed in a letter from Mr.. Kirst an
gered him, inasmuch as he thought II
was curt treatment. for he felt tnat
Mr.. K!rst might visit him or send for
him. So on Sunday, July Z, he called
a meeting Of the board Of trustees and
a sked for his salary In advance, In or
der that he might pay the bill forth
with. The trustees are Alos Rudler,
william Maus, August Lengler, Philip
Kirst, John Hahn, and Charles Lensier.
Only half Of them were present. the
first three, and they had no power to
draw an order without the sanction OF
Mr.. Kirst, the president Of the board
But that evening four Of the trustees
called at his home and said Mr.. kirst
would pay the bill II the pastor would
a seign a months salary to him. He re-
fused and that caused the opening
breach.
Another Point In the Case.
The second point In the case was a
more serious one. On Thursday. July
II. the regular monthly meeting OF the
school was held. The pastor
was out on a sick call. but his wife was
at the meeting. A messenger boy came
to the door with telegram from her
father. DR.. Hausser. Of Bloomfield sem
mary, requesting her husband to 30 to
him at once, and giving no explana-
ton.
Mr.. Lentes advised Rev. Mr.. Lange
to send query and ask II his presence
were required In haste. 1t not being
thought advisable by Mr.. Lentes that
the pastor should go without finding out
the nature OF affairs at Bloomfield: per-
haps II he went down he might be kept
away from service on Sunday.
To his telegram the pastor received a
reply urging to come speedily and lose
no time. On Friday night he left for
Bloomfield. The next day. Saturday.
two OF the congregation wanted chill
dren baptized. and there was baptism
also for Sunday. This intelligence was
by telegraph to Rev. Mr..
Lange. and ne sent back word to en-
gage substitute. Mr.. Lentes at once
vert to Rev. EDWARD Lang. pastor OF
st. Pauls Evangelical church, OF Pros
pect avenue and Beech street, making
with him to attend to the
tyaptisms and officiate at the morning
services.
The Elders We're Angry.
However, the pastor wls able to
leave Bloomfield sooner than he antici-
pated, arriving home at 2.30 that Sun
day morning, which dispensed with the
necessity Of asking Rev Edward Lang
to take his place temporarily.
n