The San Francisco call., 1896-04-16
Treasurer Reed Resigns Because
the Pastor Made a False
Statement,
HE ALWAYS GOT HIS SALARY.
A vestryman Says That the Pastor
Has Been Endorsed - Given
Leave Of Absence.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL.
O0S ProoIUou

Ill
908 Broadway, April 15.
The fashionable Episcopal Church OF
the Advent resents its pastors statements
that they have the dirtiest church he ever
saw and thai they do not pay him his
salary regularly. Many prominent fami-
lies worship at the handsome East Oak
land church, including J. J. Valentine
president of Wells, Fargo SS Co., and they
do not feel pleased at being told from the
pulpit that the "best thing to do with the
church carpet is to send it to Japan to
wipe out the black plague with" The
ladies, particularly, resent the charge that
their sewing circles are gossiping socials
A. J. Reed, the treasurer of the church
and one of the vestrymen, has resigned be-
cause he says the pastor stated that which
was not true.
81 have resigned as treasurer" said Mr..
Reed, "but shall remain q vestryman. I
know just how the finances of the church
have been run, and 1 know that Mr.. Law
has been paid every cent of his salary.
Every attempt is being made to cover up
this trouble temporarily, but it will not
down, and l expect it Will result in a
change of pastors. There is much to come
light, but the matter is not yet in such
to form that action can be taken. The
church certainly cannot hold together very
long under the present circumstances.
Mrs. William Frederickson, who has
been for eight years at the head of the ST.
Catherine Guild of the church, is very pro-
nounced in her opinions.
There is trouble in the church." she
said this afternoon, land it is growing
rapidly. fully two-thirds of the member
ship Is dlsgusted with the present condi-
ton OF affairs and is anxious to nave Mr.
Laws resignation, but be believes he has
right to dictate to every organization in
the church. In his statement at the
parish meeting recently he said he should
have; more salary, and that the church
could not force him to leave by refusing
him enough to live on, for he had no right
to leave bills unpaid. He should resign
when he sees that he is not wanted, in
stead OF hghung to hold his place. hope
the Bishop will take the matter up.
Il have been the head of the st. Gather
Inc Guild for over eight years and L have
now thirty-five mem bers who would have
left the church had not 1 kept them to-
gether. The Ladies Aid Society is ready
TO disband owing to his actions toward
It,. He attacks members from the
pu! pit, Tor he knows they cannot reply to
linn. l gave up my pew some time ago
owing to his actions, and many others
have held them together in the hopes he
would resign. We strongly object TO be-
ing called gossipers."
The Ladies' Aid Society met Yesterday
and the members were so incensed at the
remarks of the pastor that they would
have disbanded had it not been known
that the pastor was sending them a COM
plimentary letter.
Rev. Marshall Law said to-day that the
trouble arose from there being too many
bosses at the church.
Treasurer Reed is at the bottom of this
trouble" said the pastor. 'He is a very
small, flexible man and has no judgment.
IL |u ,@k Ii l..
OF the church, and the position gives him
some importance and he does not know
how to carry 1t. So far as any trouble l
had in Japan before coming here is con-
cerned, l may say that I had no more
trouble than any man would have during
three years school and missionary work
there. l fear nothing that may be
brought to the attention of the Bishop. If
had not clean record could not have
entered Bishop Nichols diocese. / do not
understand what some people mean. Some
of the ladies want to run the church,
and because they cannot do it they are
raising row. Reed is one of seven vestry-
men, and consequently has a vote, but he
does notcut much OF a figure in the vestry"
There are some dissatisfied ladies in the
church" said Vestryman Pope, "but they
are in the minority. The whole of the
vestry has been elected within the past
two weeks, and they have indorsed the
pastor and have agreed TO grant his request
for a two months leave of absence. We
now have money in the treasury for the
first time in ten years, and the membership
is increasing"
Treasurer Reeds position would seem to
be well supported by Mr.. Pope. 1t is only
week since the pastor complained of his
salary, and Reed declares the best proof
such statement is not true is the fact that
there is 5000 in the treasury.
BICYCLE EVENTS.