Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-10-07
An Konorcd Name Under a Great
~ Cloud.

r. StOEus
A great calamity has fallen upon tho
church in Colorado. 1t affects the Meth
odist Episcopal church primarily but in
directly touches every branch OF the
christian church.
A preacher who stood high as man
and n minister is in disgrace. A man
who for decade has done most excel
lent work rs preacher and II pastor has
ling incidents tend to weaken our conf
dence in humanity.
Last week Rev. J. II. Gill, tho newly
appointed pastor for Rocky Ford, was
cited for trial Mt his late pastorate, Aspen.
He was charged with gross immortality
with being unfaithful to a loving and
attractive wife and maintaining illicit
relations with young lady member OF
his church. Mr.. Gill left Rocky Ford
ostensibly for tho purpose OF going to
Aspen to defend himself from what he
termed slanderous charge. Bat he did
not appear at tho trial, sending tele-
lie be allowed to Withdraw under charges.
The evidence at the trial was OF most
damaging character and no mitigating
circumstances could be found by Rev.
j. II. Wood who was appointed to con-
duct the defence and who did so to his
utmost ability. Much to the sorrow OF
the brethren who conducted the trial
they were compelled to decide that Mr..
Gill was guilty and suspended him from
tho ministry until the next session OF
conference.
Mr.. Gill is also charged with selling
furniture belonging to the parsonage
church note and appropriating the same
| to his own use. But these latter charges
have not been proven and may not be
| true.
Men of impure life are pleased that a
minister has fallen. They will make
use Of the sad incident rs justification
for their own lives.
A minister is Justly condemned for n
lapse from virtue but it is well to remem-
Der that every man is under the same
obligation to live moral life that a
preacher is.
This is the most disgraceful incident
on the records OF the Colorado confer
ence. Mr.. Gill has stood high in the
conference and deservedly SO by reason
OF excellent work done in number OF
charges. The ministerial calling gives
man advantages in resisting those temp
tations which come to him the same as
to other men, but the help that should
come through that spirituality which
should always characterize the profess
sion is not always utilized. When a
minister falls it is not because OF his
calling but in spite OF it.
The sympathies OF the church and the
community go out to the stricken wife
in this the saddest and most hnmiliating
circumstance that could affect her life.
Mrs. Gill, with true wifely devotion,
expresses tho utmost confidence in the
faithfulness OF her husband. In a letter
written to her from Pueblo, the day lie
left Rocky Ford, he writes as follows:
al have been giving this whole wretch
ed affair some hard thinking since got
ting OH the train at Rocky Ford and have
decided, much as you may condemn me,
that the best and only way for me is to
withdraw from tho church and ministry
rather than stand trial where tho web oil
circumstantial evidence ls so strong,
TINT while l might clear myself (ns
should fully expect to do OF the main
charged should not be able to extricate
myself from suspicion from the fact OF
high misprudence and unninistcrial con.
duct. Again, il you will call to mind the
character OF the girl YOU will remember
that she will shrink from no falsehood.
A minister never RECEIVERS from such q
charge. could never preach again and
I think tho whole matter can best be
hushed mp md less real injury done to
the church / have served by my with
drawal and disappearance than by drag.
ging the awful stencil before the nostrils
of the public to the bitter end, as you
know would il commenced the fight
at all. need say nothing to convince
you OF my innocence. know that
nothing could shake your trust in asser-
tions I have already made"
The daily papers quickly spread the
news that tho Rocky Ford church was
without pastor and before week hnd
passed Presiding Elder RAIDER had II
applications from preachers who desired
to come to Rocky Ford. He visited
Rocky Ford and conferred with the oili-
cial board Saturday last but was not able
to say definitely who would be selected
| to succeed Mr.. Gill.