The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-16
Temporary Derangement
of Rev. F. H. Decker.
His Efforts for NO-LicenSe and
the Unfortunate Results.
A Strange Service at the North
Congregational Church

Kew. Frank III. Decker, pastor of the
North Congregational Church. announced
at the opening of his service last Sunday
morning that there would be several
radical changes and that il the congrega-
tion wasn't very much surprised he
would be. This and several other equally
strange statements from the pulpit made
IL very evident to his friends In the pews
that Mr.. Decker was not quite himself,
SO he was induced to omit the evening
service and on Tuesday he, with his wife
and two little children started for New
Jersey for rest. The chairman of the
executive committee of the church, Mr..
Emanuel Eastwood, has telegraphed the
pastor to take months vacationAnd' in
the meantime his pulpit will be supplied
by Rev. Mr.. Walker, assistant pastor at
the Central Congregational Church.
There Is, however, most encouraging
feature OF the unfortunate affair and
that Is Mr. Decker's arrangement was
only temporary and caused solely by
overwork. Word has been received this
week from Mrs. Decker at New Jersey
that her husband Is fully recovered and
only needs rest 1t was good news for
the parish, because there is not more
popular and more earnest pastor In the
city than Rev. Frank III. Decker.
The sub jcct of his sermon last Sunday
forenoon was "Heaven Unlocked, 'but he
wandered far from his theme and never
once referred to his text after announcing
1t. One of his parishoners said that 1t
was the strangest service she ever at
tended. The preacher was very weak and
unable to stand erect and instead
OF his usual high-pitched voice
the wondering listeners heard
fiection from beginning TO end. Mr..
Decker realized the difference himself and
appreciated the fact that others must, for
he said, "Y ou think that i am insane and
don't know what am about, but / was
never better physically or mentally IN my
life. See how calm and quiet my voice
is, There Is no nervousness now--l have
new revelation and inspiration from the
Lord" This idea of new revelation
seemed TO be Mr.. Decker's particular de-
lusion. He iutimated that be was no
longer interested in what his salary was
or whether he had one or not and when
the boxes were passed he stated that
everything contributed was to go direct
to the treasury OF the Lord. The order
in which the hymns were announced ana
the prayers offered was so changed about
that the congregation was kept in state
of suspense to what would come next
and long before The benediction the off,
GERS of the society determined that MIR.
Decker must not occupy the pulpit in the
evening.
1t was not easy, however, for them to
convince him that ii was for his own
good. His evening subject wss EXACTLY
what and where hell is and who are
there" {" and he was determined TO deliver
the discourse. TO his friends he eaid
after the morning service, 1.-THE Master
has commanded me to preach and no one
shall stand between me and my Masters
work. am well ana there isn't one OF
You that doesn't need rest more than
do" But finally they prevailed AID there
was no evening sermon.
Overwork was the cause of the tempo
rary trouble. The fact that 5000 votes
were cast in this city for no-license on
the first day OF last month was due to the
untiring efforts CT Mr.. Decker more than
to any other one cause. He personally
assumed all the drudgery of the local tenn
perance movement which commenced
nearly two months before the election
and consisted of daily efforts 10 secure
signatures 10 the petitions and con-
slant round of mass meetings up 10 the
eve of voting. All of this MIR. Decker at
tended TO in addition to his many church
duties and at the time bis family, his
friends in the church and bis associates
in the campaign work warned him that
his zeal would he too much for bis
health. Unfortunately that prophecy has
been proved TO have been correct. But
the case is not n serious one nnd IL Is
only matter Of few weeks before the
overworkod clergyman will be restored
10 health, and resume his work In the
parish where he Is respected for his earn
estness and ability and admired for his
generosity and kindly interest in all that
concerns the welfare OF his people.