St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-08
MCIND0E FALLS.
Resignation of Pastor rlc0owan.

There is considerable interest mann
tested in the village over the resignation
oil Rev. Alexander S, MCGOWAN, pastor
of the Congregational church, which took
place under peculiar and somewhat COM
pulsory circumstances.
The Congregational is the only church
in the village, and is, therefore, quite
prosperous. In the spring of 1894 Rev.
A. 5. MCGOWAN preached here two Sun
DAYS as a candidate. He delivered able
and interesting sermons, pleased the peo-
pie and was engaged as permanent
supply. He is Scottish and represented
that he had just come from Scotland,
also that his wife was in Philadelphia
Mrs. MCGOWAN joined him after he had
been here short time. For year and
eight months Mr.. MCGOWAN has supplied
the church pulpit, preaching excellent
sermons, drawing good audiences, the
church being occasionally crowded, and
giving excellent satisfaction. There was
not suspicion but what everything w as
as it ought to be. He conducted himself
in a manner becoming a minister and
grew more and more popular with the
people So we'll did he preach and fill his
position that the good people OF Mcln-
does sometimes wondered how they hap
pened to be so fortunate as to secure
him, considering that all the salary they
could afford to pay him was $3.50.
A month or two ago -umor quietly
travelled around that Mr.. MCGOWAN was
not Just as he represented himself to be.
1t was sad that he had not just come
from Scotland when he came to McIn-
does, that his name was not MCGOWAN
and even that he was not properly or
daned minister. The rumor gained
strength, the deaconS and church officers
were aroused and commenced to investi.
gate. IA lady lecturer travelling through
the state and who spoke here, thought
she recognized him as a former preacher
down in Maine.
Investigation shows quite plainly that
he was expelled from the Cumberland
Mills, Me-, association after occupying a
pulpit at Cornish, Me-, for several years
Indeed, it is said that he came from there
here instead of from Scotland, as he rep
resented. Also that that is where he
went to bring his wife here, instead OF to
Philadelphia. 1t is also said that while
in Cornish he vas known as Dave Martin
The reason given for this is that he was
making claim for an Inheritance. These
things naturally created some sensation
in the village as they became generally
known. Last week the deacons anc
church officers had a meeting and decided
to request Mr.. MCGOWAN to hand in hi.
resignation, which he did as follows;
Dear Brethren:- offer my resigna ton a,
pastor of this church to take effect today.
| do this to accept q large field of labor.
thank YOU for all your kindness and synpa
thy to myself and family for the past tive
years May God bless and guide you for
| evermore, Yonr pastor.
a. $. McGowAN.
Sunday Deacon w. H. Glchrist sup
pied the pulpit, reading sermon.
Mr.. MCGOWAN said that he woulC
leave town Monday, but Thursday h,
was still here. Just what the large delt
OF labor referred to in the resignation is
is not known, though he may have SOM
objective point in view.
The above facts being pretty well es
tablished, the question naturally arises
Has Mr.. MCGOWAN been supplying her
Tor nearly two years, performing mar
rage ceremonies, etc, without being ;
regularly ordained minister? II he has
what effect will it have upon the mar
rages? Does it make them illegal an,
will there have to be another marriag
after the couples have supposed that the.