The San Francisco call., 1897-09-08
DIR. WALK MAY
NOT RETURN
Rumors That Trinity
Church Will Soon Be
Pastorless.
There Has Been a Little Rift
Within the Lutte for Some
Time.
And Now the Rector Is Granted a
Holiday That May Be In
definite.

There is a rumor to the effect that when
Rev. George Edward Walk, rector OF Trim
itv Episcopal Church, gees East on his
coming vacation he will sever forever his
connection with the Oldest Episcopal con-
gregation in this City.
The vestrymen and prominent m m
bers of the congregation, who have known
for some time that there was q little rift
| within the lutte, all refuse 10 discuss the
question. The vestrymen say that their
official position seals their lips, and those
mem bers of the congregation who are in
| the confidence of the vestry declare that
anything they would say would be un'
official, and, therefore, valueless.
"Mr. Walk has been granted two
months vacation. He intends to go 10
Kansas City with his family. Further
than that l can say nothing" said Major
Hooper, the senior warden, when ques-
| toned on the subject.
Major Hooper refused either to affirm
or deny the rumor that the two months
holiday was really congo of indefinite
intention. 1T is a subject prefer not &c
discuss" ne said.
Walter E. Deane, the junior warden,
was as reticent as his senior in office.
'Ail am at liberty to say" he said, lis
that Mr.. Walk has been granted a two
months holiday. Regarding the rumor
that he will not return l prefer to express
no opinion"
Other members of the vestry were
equally reticent. They felt that their Of
hcial position sealed their lips, so they
said.
LAS member Of the vestry can make
no statement whatever" said Grant Boyd.
''Mr. Walk has been granted two
months vacation; there my oommunica-
tion on the subject must end"
Montgomery Gadley, an ex-vestryman
and an active member of the congrega.
| tion, declared that holding no official po-
sition ne aid not feel at liberty 10 make
| official statements. Anything concern.
| ing the rector is family matter belong
| ing 10 the church and has no interest for
the general public" he said. and several
other mem bers of the congregation spoke
| to the same effect.
1t is pretty generally understood that
all has not been smooth sailing for Rev.
George Edward Walk for some time.
! inst what the trouble is the vestry and
the bers of the congregation in their
| confidence are anxious not TO make pu bic.
Mr.. Walk is genial, Jovial man. who
has many friends, both IN and out OF the
con sregation.
He has plenty of intellectually, so his
pari. hioners say. breaches good sermons
and looks every inch priest; but, in
spite Of all these qualifications ior he part
OF rector TO one of the largest and richest
churches in town, there has been grow
ing feeling lately that change would be
for the good of both pastor and flock.
Rumor says that al the last vestrv meet
ing this change was resolved on. Mr.. Walk,
who has lie bored for i've years at Trinity
Church, had applied some time ago for a
two months holiday. He was given to
understand after the last n eeing, so the
story runs, that he might have the vaca-
ton, and that If it prolonged itself in
definitely no murmurs would coma from
the Yestry of Trinity Church.
In order not to iniure the rector's
chances OF securing another guod living il
was TO be tacitiy understood that Mr..
Walk was merely going away on q holi-
day. While making no affirmations, not
| one OF the mem bers OF the vestry who
vas seen yesterday denied that the holi-
day would be considerably longer than its
ostensibIe length.
When Mr.. Walk first assumed the cure
of Trinity Churcn some objections were
made 10 his having come into Episco.
| ralianism from another denomination.
He was formerly one of the sect known as
Christians. The objection does not ap-
pear to have been lasting, however, for
rumor does not in any way couple Mr..
Walks former tenets with his extended
| leave OF absence.