The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-04-06
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

SLNSitlOleil SlllICh SOlllIlllLlCS SCit-
 corning Relations of Pastor Howe
 With the Church.
 An official statement was made to a Journal and Courier representative last Sunday by R. T. Grant, chairman of the committee of the Westville Congre- gational church, concerning the rela-
 tions which have existed for the past
 two years between Rev. O. w. Howe, pastor of the church., and the church
 society. MT. Grant showed letters in support of his statement.
 He said that on September 15 last a meeting of the church society was held and on recommendation by the com-
 mittee it was voted to accept MT. Howe's resignation as pastor provided such resignation was offered before Oc- tober 15, 1897. A note was sent to MT. Howe informing him of this action of the society. He called on a member of
 the committee after receiving his note and said that the result would be the same if the note was recalled and the following week communication was
 received from him, stating that he was looking for another field of labor and
 that until he found it he would work and pray for the Christian church with which he was still associated"
 The committee returned this communi- cation as unsatisfactory and the fol- lowing week another communication
 was received from MT. Howe stating
 that he would make a public presenta- tion of his resignation as pastor of the Westville Congregational church about December 1. No further communica-
 tion was received by the committee from MT. Howe until December 23, when letter was received stating the opinion of his attorney as to his legal
 relations to the church. whereupon a
 vote was passed at the annual church | meeting on December 27 to notify him that his relations with the church so-
 ciety would cease on or before April
 30, 1898.
 Mr. Howe became pastor of the
 church in May, 1884, The present
 church committee came into office Jan-
 uary 1, 1897, and at that time arranged with MT. Howe to stay the next year
 at salary of $1,3OO, with the under
 standing that if at the end of the year,
 the finances of the church were such
 as to warrant it, s20O more would be
 given to him, thus bringing his salary up to $1,500, the salary which he had | previously received. To this proposi- tion MT. Howe assented, according to | the statement by the above mentioned | member of the committee. At the end of the year 1897 the church was in l debt S475 and the additional S200 was | therefore not given to MT. Howe. The committeeman said that since January | 1, 1897, Mr. Howe had received his sal
 ary every two weeks and that the com
 mittee has his receipts in full up to | March 21; that to-day $50 would be due
 him, his salary in full to date, and
 would be paid, although he is under l suspension.
 The gentleman said that when the
 action referred to above was taken by
 the church in September last no inkling
 had been received of the affair which | led to MT. Howe's suspension few i days ago and which led to his trial for bastardy, but that the action was taken
 because of a general dissatisfaction l among the members of the congrega- | tion with MT Howe's conduct l Rev. H. F.. Peabody, assistant pastor | of the Church of the Redeemer, will l supply the pulpit of the Westville l church until about May 1, when it is expected regular pastor will be se- | cured.
 The following self-explanatory letter was received few days ago by A. J. Downes, clerk of the church, from an | Armenian in Melrose, Mass, who col | lected a considerable sum for Armenian
 sufferers. A member of the church committee stated last evening that the | sum mentioned in the letter was sent to the Armenian about three days ago. l The letter follows:
 Melrose, Mass, March 23 l A. J. Downs, Church Clerk:
 l Dear Sir: You are aware, I suppose,
 that your church was going to give l some money to the Armenian sufferers | about two years ago and the Rev. MT, | Howe told me that $65 was subscribed
 and more might be added I was so l assured of this and the suffering and l starvation was so appalling at home 1 that among other funds l raised I put l that amount from my own pocket and l sent it to do the most good where most l needed, but to this day I did not get
 any of the amount and last October when I was attending the meeting of l the board American Board of Mis- 1 sions) MT. Howe told me he would be | able to forward that amount before l the year was over, but I did not hear | from him, while I reminded him twice. He may be sick or away, but as I am in need of money for current expenses
 I would like to have the fund at once l if possible.
 1 Will you please talk it over with MT.
 Howe and let me have either the whole
 amount if ready or at least as much as | possible. It will be great relief to me i just at this time and I hope you will l be able to do so.
 | Hoping you are all well, give my re- 1 gards to MT. Howe and friends there. l Please let me have the word this week | if possible. I am
 Truly Yours,
 A. M. BOOL.