The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-02
REV. DIR. DOUGLAS AND TRINITY

l SlGI BY lllcLil Wtllc6 LGLlGI " SlSlh Vi
the Church-May Contain His Resig-
| nation.
| 1t was yesterday reported that the
Rev, DR.. George w. Douglas had ten
dered his resignation as rector of Trim
ity parish, but the same cannot be ver-
flied and the true facts of the matter
will not be known before tonight,
when the vestry of the church will
meet. AS far as is now known, on last
Thursday Rev. DR.. Douglas wrote a let
ter to the clerk of the parish, Edward
c. Beecher. 1t reached Mr.. Beecher on
Friday aftrnoon and was addressed to
him as clerk of the parish and has not
as yet been opened but it is understood
by some Of the members of the parish
that it is a tender of the rector's resig-
nation as rector Of the parish. One of
the close friends of the family who
heard it repeated it to two or three
people in this city, the news was car
ried to the several clubs and then to
the newspapers. This is given by
prominent and influential member of
the parish as the manner in which the
report started and from the same
source the following substantially is
obtained:
Several reasons for such a step by
DR.. Douglas have been advanced, but
the most plausible one is that the
trouble if such it may be termed, dates
back to the time of the substitution of
the Rev. Mr.. 'Bispham as second Gu
rate of the parish, for the Rev. Mr..
Macbeth, which took place about eight
months after Rev. DR.. Douglas took
charge of the work of the parish. 1t is
said that Rev. Mr.. Macbeth, while here
won a great many friends in the par
ish by his genial and affable manner,
and that his dismissal caused some
members of the church to be displeas-
ed and especially two wardens who
have since opposed DIR. Douglass in
many of his efforts and severely criti-
cised his methods. 1t might be well to
say that previous to 1877 the Episcopal
churches of the state were conducted
each by society which was organized
Luz luG government OIL lU6 AOuSTGSd-
tional churches. In the meeting of
these societies the preacher had no
voice. He could attend them but could
advise nothing and had absolutely 70
power as to the appointment of his as
sistants or the regulation of any other
matters of the church. In 1877 an act
was passed by the legislature which
placed the Episcopal churches of the
state under the general canons and
gave among other things the rector of
a parish power to select his own assist
ants. The Rev. DR.. HARDWOOD had been
rector of Trinity church for many
years and he took no active interest in
the business doings of the vestry. In
November, 1896, Rev. Dr. Douglas was
called from Washington, D. c., to sue
coed Rev. DIR. Harwood. 1t was at that
time said that the thing that Trinity
parish most wanted was a first class
pulpit orator, and they secured such a
man in DR.. Douglas.
DR.. Douglas believed that Trinity, be-
ing large and influential parish, locat-
ed in the center of the city was able to
accomplish a great deal of good and
that it was not simply to provide
train of richly furnished drawing
room cars in which to carry people to
heaven. In accord with this plan DR..
Douglas appointed Mr.. Bispham to sue
coed Mr.. Macbeth as curate and also to
take charge of the music of the church.
The music under the direction of the
latter has been greatly improved and
beside this he is said to have proved
himself a very capable curate. DR..
Douglas has been the principal back of
the local branch of the United States
Church army, which organization is
doing an immense amount of good in
the city He has also adopted the plan
of having deaconesses, several of
whom are doing good among the poor
of the city. The attendance at the SER
vices of the church has also greatly
increased since his coming into the par
ish. 1t is known that the two wardens
of the parish still think that Rev. Mr.
Macbeth should not have been dispens-
ed with, and at the recent election of
wardens and vestrymen it was SO
manoeuvered that the majority of the
body were unfavorable to DR.. Douglas
with their votes while they still claimed
to be admirers of the reverend gentle
men and his work.
The letter above spoken of will in all
probably be opened at the vestry
meeting to be held tonight, but accord
ing. to section of the general canons
! of the church, passed since 1877, the
election or resignation of a rector or
the subject of his salary shall not be
within the power of the vestry and
must be passed upon by special vote
of the parish. One weeks notice must
be given before this meeting can be
held and it will in all probability take
place within the next fortnight.
Mingled surprise and regret were in
the air at the services Of the church
yesterday and it was heard on all sides
that Dr. Douglas should If possible, be
induced to withdraw his resignation.
He at present is at his summer home at
Tuxedo Park with his wife, who has
been ill for some time.
ATHLETIC BOUTS.
George Siddons, who will meet all