Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-25
NEW CATTLE ME1HODISTS.
Angry Because tho Rev. Vaughn s. Collin
Was Eemoved from That City.

Angry tecRuss tho Rev. Vaughn s. Collins
Was Eemovod from That City.
In spite of tho fact that the members
Of the Official board OF the New Castle
Methodist Episcopal Church and tho
members of the congregation OF that
church petitioned tho Wilmington Con
ference for the return of the Rov.
Vaughn S. Collins as pastor, and that
Mr. Collins himself desired to return,
the Conference appointments announced
Tuesday showed that he was removed
TO tho Georgetown church. And the
appointments further showed that the
Rev. S. M. Morgan was sent from Nj.
Salem Church, this city, to succeed Mr..
Collins at New Castle.
The storm that arose in Now Castle
when the action of th. bishop and his
cabinet became known Tuesday evening
may he likepod 10 that heavy storm OF
ruin which visited this city that night.
When the members Of the New Castle
church aekod Mr. Collins to return
they meant that they wanted him to
return, and when he accepted their
call. they thought the thing was settled.
Tho Rev. Vaughn S. Collins has been
pastor of the New Castle church for
three years. and his ministrations there
have been very successful. He is liked
not only by his own congregation. but
By tho people generally, and especially
by the clergymen of other churches
there. His people are at loss to ac-
count Tor bis removal, as the time
limit would permit him TO stay there
two more yeare.
Soou after word of the change was re-
ceived at Now Castle tho stewards and
trustees Of the church held meeting
aud began to prepare a protest, ard a
petition for reconsideration of the
action. The feeling of the people ia
indicated by thu remarks OF one of the
trustees to the effect that they "had the
key 10 the church, Another member
declared that they had TO provide for
the minister and they wero going to
have something TO say in the matter.
And so IT was that while the people
OF st. Paul's Church in this city wero
joyfully celebrating the return OF their
pastor, the Rov. W. l.. S. Murray, ID.
d., for another year, the storm was
brewing in the minds Ct the official
board and other members of the New
Castle Church. And delegation of
them cuma to Wilmington to see Pre-.
siding Elder L. e. Barrett, whose
return to this district was likewise
being celebrated at st. Paul'e par
sonage. ur. Barrett wont from the
scene of Joy and gladness at No. 800
West Seventh street to his pwn resi-
dence, next door, to hear the emphatic
protest of the New Castle brethren, for
joy and gladness were not the senti-
mcnts which they expressed. The Rev.
Vaughn S. Collins was with the New
Custle brethren.
As a result of thu vigorous Interview.
Presiding Elder Barrett took an early
train for Philadelphia yesterday in
order, IL possible. to see Bishop Walden,
who went there Tuesday night on route
to Scranton, Pa. il change should
bs made from the present situation it
may be made by the bishops action or
by the notion of the presiding elders
Meanwhile the possible underlying
reason for the present situation forms
IN interesting chapter. Some of the
laymen of the church in this district
noe in II a scheme which depends upon
the future for its fruition. 1t will he
remembered that the Rev. j. d. O.
Hanna. pastor of Union Church, this
CITY, was talked of for presiding elder
Of the Salisbury district to succeed the
Rer. w. F. Corkran, ID. D.. who had
served for the full period of six years.
But Mr.. Hanna did not appear to want
the place. and is credited, 10 fact, with
having his eye upon the presiding
eldershiD OF Wilmington district TO
succeed tho Rev. DR.. Barrett next year,
when his six years of service will be
up. At that timo the programme is
understood to make Mr.. Barrett
pastor OF Union and Mr.. Hanna pre-.
siding elder.
AT any rate Mr.. Hanna and his
official board did stoutly oppose his
removal to the Salisbury district to be
presiding eldor and instead Walter e.
Avery was sent after one years. service
at Dover, to be presiding elder OF the
Salisbury district. Alfred Smith, the
retiring presiding elder of Easton dis
trict, was sent to Dover, and w. +.
Corkrau retired from the Salisbury dis
frict to become presiding elder of the
Easton district.
To return to the programme as to
Wilmington district for next year, the
story is that Mr.. Collins was looked
upon as a leading possibility for the
presiding elderehip. He would have
served New Castle church for four
scuo nh' "ouit udNb hluut STRONG
man for the place at tho head of the
district The Georgetown church just
built by tho retiring pastor, the Rov.
Charles A. Grise, stood in need of
strong man, and Mr.. Collins would
seem just tho man for that place. 1t
might have been that acting upon such
a suggestion as this it was decided
almost at the last moment to send him
there, but the effect of the action ia
practically TO remove MIR. Collins from
the contest for presiding elder of VIII
mington district. For after serving
Georgetown church year be will DO
more likely TO be returned to it than
otherwise. This will be Mr.. Hanua's
last year at Union SO that he will be 10
line to change places with Mr.. Barrett.
Tho New Castle people are not alone
In their indignation and disappoint-
ment. The Mt Salem and Port Deposit
people, for instance, had agreeu to ex-
change pastors, tho Rev. S. M. Morgan
to go from Mt. Salem to Port Deposit,
ami the Rev. Harvey W. Ewing to come
to NIT. Salon. The Mt Salsm people
get Mr. Ewing, but Mr.. Morgan goes
to New CASTLE instead of Port Deposit
and W. Q. Compton comes from Ches-
tertown to Fort Deposit.