The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-30
CONFLICT IN CARIBOU.
Because the High School Teacher Oficl-
ated in the Pulpit,
Bangor Commercially

Caribou, April 2s.-The arrangement of
High School, was attended by truly re-
markable and all embracing agitation. Car
ibou, that is to say, certain element in
Caribou, generally takes lively interest in
school affairs. A year ago that same inter-
est started a swirl in the high school. The
swirl developed into a whirlpool and the
principal was engulfed.
MI. Hill was engaged in this gentleman s
place. The young man halls from Maiden,
Mass. He is bright, alert. companionable
and during the year has taken an active
part in the villages social life besides run
ming the school in very satisfactory fash
ion.
But Mr.. Hill volunteered to read service
in the pastorless Episcopal church in Carl
bou, and the trouble thereupon commenced.
You see, Mr. Hills aim in life is to become
an Episcopal clergyman. Later he proposes
to enter sectarian school and fit himself
for his life work In view of those two cir
cumstances he decided that as layman he
might read service every Sunday in the Car
ibou church for the mutual improvement of
himself and the parishioners.
The parishioners liked the arrangement.
The Caribou school board didn't. Nor did
other parties in the village.
Directors argued that Mr.. Hill was en-
gagged and paid to teach in the high school.
They said no church society had n right to
borrow him to fill the position of a pastor.
The church replied that Mr.. Hill was not
paid for his Sunday accommodation; that
he merely read the service as Iayman. He
wanted the practice. The parishione rs
wanted the service. How did that arrange
ment concern the school? asked they.
Some people in Caribou said they failed to
see what business the school board had to
NEEDLE in a meeting of that sort anyway
Other prominent gentlemen differed. They
demanded that the school board call MI. Hill
out on the front seat and read the riot act
to him. Accordingly the board appointed
a meeting and summoned the prime ipal
Matters looked so critical for the principal
that his friends now took the field in his be-
half. Caribou divided. Directly and indi-
rectly the churches were dragged in and the
borrowed minister episode thr ,atene d
to trouble UNCONVENTIONAL ears with very
bellicose friction.
Here is the personality of the Caribou
school board DR.. W. E. Sincock, Methodist:
R. A. Shaw, Baptist; Mrs. Florence C. Por-
te-, Universalist. At the meeting DR.. Sink
cock was spokesman. He informed the
principal that before he could be re- engaged
it would De well to come to some understand
ing legarding certain matters. Then it was
pretty plainly intimated to Mr.. Hill, on be-
half Of the board and certain citizens that
he must choose between the Caribou high
school and the Episcopal church. The fact
that he spent none of his valuable time in
writing sermons but that he merely read
the service gratuitously failed to go far
toward modifying the sentiment against
him.
From another source the matter of consis-
tency was fntrodu ced. 1t was asserted that
the principal played whist, bowled, nay
even smoked cigarettes, and that therefore
it was due Carl bou as a community to ad-
wise him not to officiate in church until he
had been more perfectly consecrated. MI.
Hills friends failed to see what right the
school board had to interfere in matter of
this sort. They said so, and very audibly
too. When a rumor got abroad that the
board was inclined to let Mr.. Hill go, mat
tiers grew bit hystericaI.
One large section of Caribou grouped be-
hind the principal. They bridled at the ra-
king over his person al habits were receiv-
ing. Others commenced the investigation
a leading cillzen satirically suggested that
in looking over the principals habits the
interested citizens had overlooked one item