The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-19
SEXTON FIGHTING PASTOR.
n PRETTY ROW Nv THE SEVENTH
PRESB YTERI1N CHURCH.

ueHton Black Ia Orthodox. Elderly, aud scotch
Pastor Wtids IL IounE-Hencc the ES-
standardization OF Hinch and n Petition
by Black for tho Removal OF the Pastor.
A contest for supremacy between pastor ana
sexton is the unusual struggle that is now en-
crossing attention in the Seventh Presbyterian
Church, at Broomo and Ridge streets, ono OF
tho few remaining Presbyterian churches
downtown that is self-sustaining. The pastor
IL the Rev. John T. Wilds. The sexton is u
voritable Aud Kirk Scot, by name +. Black.
Last week Mr.. Black went up to the New York
Presbytcry to present n petition asking for the
removal of Pastor Wilds and for u restoration
OF his own rights of communion with the
church, but he got TO the meeting place just
too late; tho meeting had adjourned. Tho
brethren who were still there read the petition
with eyebrows raised and hearts panied. Broth
or Black promised to be back in time on the
occasion of the Prcsbytery's next meeting, the
second Monday In December, and he said yester.
day that he should be there. DR.. f.. W. Thompson
OF 3O2 East Broadway holds himself In readi-
ness, together with numerous other persons, to
give the Presbytery the benefit OF his obser-
walton on tho way things have gone in the
Seventh Church since Mr.. Wiids became pas.
tor. DR.. Thompson and Mr.. Black were both
elders In tho church. Both claim to be such
yet. DR.. Thompson Is still entitled to com.
mune with the church, although his eldership
was taken from him. Mr.. Black was deprived,
a. he alleges, illegally and irrcgularly, Of both
, eldership and membership In the church.
"It's not much l can say about Mr.. Wilds or
tho trouble In the church." said Mr.. Black yes.
tcrday. although he communicated me; and
me an older in the house OF God these thirty
seven years. You see Mr.. Wilds impresses peo-
pie first as q young god. He makes lots Of
frieDda Mt the start. but somehow he doesn't
keep his friends. He came here a dozen years
ago. He had been q worker in the Florence
Mission in Bleecker street, laboring among the
ordained minister before we called him, and
yet, only last spring, he said in the pulpit that,
although he has been u minister for twelve
had been conyoried! What think, ye OF thatf,
"'Tain't the first time there's been difficulty
in this church since no came to be pastor. Sew
eral years ago he refused to take communion
from me, saying that he couldn't tako it from
my hands. l was senior elder, and as such
phould administer to the pastor; have a
letter which he wrote to the clerk of the ses-
s eet o 1sil of tho hee church S,n = b Sef %gtsf the mG n eRe' m \ @ = I
mo. I protested, and Mr.. wiids said that l
shiP' ifI asked shS w iSss'Q one or Replica Shsd II tRa tn the eG eeSco
Of the church would be conserved by my doing
but here was my bread and butler on: the one
hand. my duty TO my Master on the other. l
1 1tili sexton on fS Nj. w lid" resigned sig stIi the pa ano o e.
thinking. doubtless. his resignation would not
DO accepted. 1t was, and the matter went to
the Presbytery, and a committee came here
with the church. But his friends rallied to
his support and argued with the Prcsbytery,
and the Presbytery made him promise to be a
good boy and sent him back here. one of the
conditions being that he should apologize to
me tor what he'd said regarding me, which he
did in an open meeting, Of the session, and
thanked God that he had the grace. to do 1t.
But he had II in for me and accommodated me.
"What do you think has been done here
under this pastori The basement of the church
has been thr1wn open TO free and eqsys,' as they
eating here and doing just as they pleased,
playing games, romping, dancing in the session
room, the room where the Bible classes are
taught And the parson DO there In the midst
! caught 'em and | cleared the whole'lot of 'em
out, parson and all. or course. he never liked
that, And spoke against it all in CHURCH
meeting, and the trustees stopped opening the
basement to their FREQ and easys.
And do you know, not long ago Mr.. Wilde
said in o sermon to the whole congregations: i
can count on my one hand the friends I've got
in this church. The rest are Shiny, crawling
vipers. seeking to destroy my character. The
stencil Of them rises to my n~ostrils like stink
enough or hot enough for such as these On,
myt But 1t was scandalous, indecent. Oh, but
its all In the petition and charges We make, and
will all become public, suppose at the next
Mr.. Wilds said to a reporter last evening
that there was no petition for his removal as
pastor. That a person lat one time sexton. OF
the church and an elder, who was deposed be-
petition to the Presbytery restoration Of his
rights as q communicate In the church. THE
whole matter is Of no Importance said the
pastor; mot the slightest"