New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16
MR. RARTHOLOW CENSURED.
rAxrN TO TASK FOR RUSHING INTO
PRINT" BY A COMMITTEE.

PUBLICATION OF HIS DECLINAT1oN OF ih~
CALI. TO THE SIXTH AVENUE METHOD
1sr CHURCH CAUSES TRoUBIE-THE
PASTOR ENTIRELY BI.AMEIEss
The many friends Of the Rev. Ohio F. Bartho-
low OF the Fleet Street Methodist Ep'scopai
Church were astounded yesterday to ma III III
evening paper a long letter signed by COM
m,t,ee Of the Sixth Avenue Methodist Church
censuring Mr. Bartholow for rushing ih'o
print" with his decnation of call extended
% him nv the SIxth-ave church. The letter OF
cansure refers TO statement INSPIRED by
Mr. Bartholow in a certain SUNDAY P"p'''
meaning last Sundays Tribune.
Accompanying the publication. some time ago.
OF the news that Mr.. Bartholow had accep'eo
a call TO the Sixth-ave. church was the asse'~
ton that Mr.. Bartholow was pledged 20 puiu a
new church. At once Mr.. Bartholow began u
receive letters from contractors ana church III
tiers asking him TO consider proposltiohs' e'o'
Mr. Bartholow thought the subject over anu
believing that the new church feature oi "
pastorate with the Sixth-ave. church "ouiu
prove a drawback to the usual work OF he'n
od!st minister. he drote TO the committee le''ei
,sx,ne them to release him from his acceptance
OF the call In speaking of the pastors reason
for declining the call the committee or the
cburch-William Irvine John J. Holden h. u
Kern and c. l. Winant-issued public letter Oh
censure which says among other things:
We have great confidence In Methodist min
listers and do not believe that announcer can ne
found in the New-York East conference ' ha
ever served a church as Mr. Barthoiow mas
served MS We cannot understand why he
should have rushed hastily into sunday paper
70 reflect on us Nobody had accused him OK
a,ything We had given him unanimous lhVl-
tation to our pastOrate. and think that d! so 40.
ing we had paid him the highest compliment
of which we were capable. and surely We "eie
entitled TO brotherly treatment IN return.
II win not do for Mr.. Bartholow to deny the
authorship or inspiration OF the newspape. az
ticle for II carries on its race the piaiiIess ~
dence of having been dictated by him. for VINO
hut he knew OF a letter having been sent 10 'he
Sixth-ave. church announcing the Wl'huraWai
Of his previous acceptance anu WHY o, ia ~
knew that no answer had been received 10
that communication? His letter Of withdrawal
was laid before our Board on FRIDAY evening
January !. and on the following Sunday morn
Ing before the church had any time ~ iePi''
the offensive article appeared ,.
we were unanimous and hearty in our invita-
ton TO Mr. Barthoow because We mao s,c roe.
nastor Had he declined that invitation, ne
would only have exercised his legitimate right
But he accepted It, and IN our 3uuseIt Va "a" bs
bound by II until honOrably released HAD ne
asked the church to release MIN. ana awaited
our answer we would have done so. but now
that ne has released himsef ana mas gwen tne
fact to the newspapers. we accept the SITUATION
As II was The Tribunes announcement OF Mt
Bartholow's change Of plan that caused all the
trouble 1t may be we'll enough TO say that MT
Partholow had nothing 10 do with inspiring the
article. $500.
Tribune reporter learned Of the letter OF
declination in a perfectly straightforward man
ner and went to see Mr.. Bartholow 10 verify 1t.
Mr. Barthoow much surprised that any one
knew Of his letter Of declination. and had little
10 say He is entirely innocent In the analr'
and the committees attack on him Is mistake
Mr. Bartholow is likely to ask for an inVestiga-
ton Of the committees grounds OF censure ana
20 demand an apology from the committee.