Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-06
KISSED BY HER PASTOR.

| duct unbecoming minister. Until that
time he is suspended from exercising
| ministerial functions. Such was the
conclusion arrived at after an all-day
session by the committee of clergy.
men appointed to examine the charges
preferred against Mr.. Decker. TIE
committee heard all the evidence in the
case. That which was given last We'd
nesday was repeated, and several new
witnesses took the stand, and at ten
o'clock unanimous verdict was found
on all points against the defendant
clergyman. Presiding Elder Ham
mond, of the Newark district, WIS pres
ident of the court.
The functions of the committee were
not to try Mr.. Decker, but to investi-
| gate the charges against him and de-
eide whether he should stand formal
trial before the conference. Its find
ing, therefore, was not final, but cor
responds with that of an examining
magistrate in a police court. 1t acts
however, as suspension of MIR. Decker
until his formal trial.
The charges against the clergyman
were preferred by William w. Sand
ford, Of $50 Market street. Specifically
they were to this effect That Mr..
Decker, although married man and a
minister of the gospel, was guilty Of
kissing q young woman member of his
church, of corresponding with, and, oD
frequent occasions, meeting her, or
writing disrespectful letters concerning
his wife, and of falsehood in continuing
these relations after promising they
should cease. No instance of vice was
cited against Mr.. Decker; what he was
accused of would be merely impru-
dence in a layman, but could not be
condoned in clergyman.
The girl in the case is said to be a
relative of Mr.. Sandford and member
of the congregation from which the YER
dict of the committee sewers Mr.. Deck
er. The clergyman never saw her un-
til he began preaching in the south
Market street church, to which he was
assigned by the annual conference in
April, 1894. In his labors in his new
field he was, as q matter OF course,
thrown much in her company even at
the outset, but not for some time was q
word breathed of their associations.
Mr.. Decker is twenty-eight years OF
age. In his work as pastor of the South
Market Street Church he threw all his
young energy and an unfagging zeal,
born of unquenchable enthusiasm. He
had eloquence at his command, pleas
ing address and a fine presence. His
inspiriting ways and cheerful counte
nance, allied to his handsome presence,
won him high favor in the congrega-
ton in short time.
For some months all went well in
the church. Mr.. Decker worked with
enthusiasm, and his work bore good
fruit. But, at last, notice was taken Of
his attentions to the young woman in
question, and gossip was set in circu
lation. He was much in her company,
and betrayed signs of infatuation. He
was apparently smitten, and his love,
so it is stated, was returned.
This did not go on long until the
whispering burst into open asser-
tions of impropriety. But that did
not arouse Mr.. Decker to his
ilnprudence. he continued seek
ing the society of the young woman,
and, it is is said, when he did not
she sought his. At last Mr.. Sandford,
who is an official of the church, took
him to task. He promised to discon-
tinue his imprudept conduct, but the
infatuation had fastened upon him too
tightly. He could not burst his fetters,
and his promise, it is said, was broken.
Eventually, suspended by the con-
gregation, Mr.. Decker went, it is be-
lieved, to Jersey City; then to Mt.
Tabor. From Mt. Tabor the woman
received letters signed "Sir Royal"
which her mother guessed were from
the unfortunate young man. The mat
ter had been brought to the attention
of the district conference, and finally
Presiding Elder Hammond appointed
| the committee of investigation.
The first hearing was last Wednes-
day at the Central NJ. E. Church. Rev.
C. Muller, of the Church Extension
Society, of Newark, appeared as prose
cutor on behalf of the church. Rev:
| Daniel Hallorsn, of Jersey City,and
Rev. P. S. Bascom, of Newark, were
counsel for the accnsed clergyman.
Besides Mr.. Sandford, the young wo-
man with whom Mr.. Decker was in-
fatuated, her mother and several other
witnesses testified to the clergyman s
indiscretions.
The young woman was not 10th to
give evidence against Mr.. Decker. She
said he had kissed her and paid hel
other attentions. Her mother testified
TO the letters she had received. AT the
hearing Tuesday all the witnesses in
support Of the charges were put to o
severe cross-examination, and several
witnesses testified in Mr.. Decker's
favor.
Mr.. Decker confessed his indiscre
tions. The line of defense was that he
was led off by the young woman. Af-
ter hearing all the evidence, the com
mittee found the following formal yer.
dict: eve. the committee, by unani
nous vote, find the charges aud speci
fications in the case of Everett D. Deck.
or sustained, and the same Everett D