Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-03-23
REV. HAoIs ExHoNoRATED.
Letter From Rev. Carl ]. Hener, oi
Sherwood.

Letter From Rev. Carl ]. Hener, oi
Sherwood.
SHERWOOD, Washington county, Or.
To the citizens Of Salem, Or.
Having been informed that the
trouble between the Rev. II. Hagist,
Of Christ German Evangelical Luth-
eran church, OF Salem Or, and sew
eral members Of said church has be-
come almost the prevalent topic of
discussion among the people Of Salem,
the undersigned, who, upon the spec
ial request OF all parties concerned,
has investigated the state OF affairs
existing In the church above named,
though loath TO speak Of ecclesiastical
troubles In a secular paper, consider
II his duty, nevertheless, 20 do so, In
this case, in order to clear the limo
cent Of the odium that has been cast
upon his name and character.
BE IL said. first OF all. whenever
troubles OF any kind arise ia a church
they ought not 10 be made public, I'M
less such a publication really becomes
necessary, since a congregation is, as
IL were, a family, and its troubles,
ought TO be. settled in the fam
lily and should not be brought before
the public that Is not at all concerned
In the matter. IL seems, however,
the enemies OF the Rev. Hagist have
taken great pains to'preach upon the
housetops what they have heard in
the ear aud by so doing they have
given evidence OF very little self-re-
spect and have,i in the opinion of every
respectable person, brougt reproach
upon themselves
Concerninlng the complaints rem
dered against the Rev. HaRlst, be il
remembered that they have not been
advanced by the entire congregation
that that gentleman is serving, but
by several members only. The other
members find no fault whatever with
their pastor, but are very sincerely
supporting him In his ministerial
work. Aud OF all the charges brought
against the pastor not one could be
sustained; each aud every one had TO
be withdrawn, on the ground that
there was absolutely no proof whatso-
ever 90 substantlate them. On the
contrary, the Investigation by the
undersigned, which wa carried on In
seven meetings OF the congregation
held from the Sd 10 the 18th Inst, has
brought 10 light that the Rev. Hagist
has been very conscientious in all his
pastoral doiags aud has, Ia no wise,
given cause OF Just complaint. The
testimony OF the plaintiffs themselves
has, In several instances, dlsproved
the charges advanced. Moreover, by
their own testimony the plaintiffs
have proved, beyond a doubt, that
they alone are the eause OF all the
troubles existing In their church, that
they, aud by no means their pastor,
have been exerting all their energies
toward the ruin OF the congregation
OF which they are members, aud the
welfare II which they ought to have
at heart
IL may here he added that the
plaintiffs discontinued the meeting
set Tor the Investigation OF the trou.
hles exisling Ia the congregation, as
sooa as they found that they could not
hold their ground, but were obliged
10 retreat step by step, withdrawing
changes, none OF which they
could prove,
The minutes Of the seven meetings
referred 10 will bear the un-
derslgned oat on an he has here said.
Re Il, therefore, here publicly
stated aud certified that the Rev. H..