Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-16
HEAD OF GHRISTlANA CHURCH.


Resignation of tho Pastor. RBv. y. u. ShnnkH.
Accepted.
The Preshytniy Of Nav Onstlo. at IL
special meeting in Csntrnl Presbyterian
Church, Tuesday afternoon, accepted
tho resignation OF tina Rev. janice d.
Shanks. ID. d., as pastor OF tho load
Of Christiana Church, to take effect tho
last Sunday in August. Not tho least
interesting part OF the meeting was the
allegation that the accounts of tho
former treasurer Of Head Of Christiana
Church, Jonn Steele, showed shortage.
This special meeting was called TO
hear the report Of tho judicial com
mission to adjust the trouble in Olivet
Church and to hear CON misHionerH from
Head OF Christina Church with regard
TO the PASTORS resignation The Rev.
William Frederick Lewis OF Rodney
Street Church, moderator Of the Pres-
hytery, presided, and tina Rev. N. II.
Miller. u. D., OF Newark, waa atated
clerk. About 30 ministers and elders
were present
AS to the Olivet Church matter, in
volving tho standing OF some OF the
former memhers of that church, tho
judicial commission made partial
report and was continued.
The troubles in the Head OF Chris
tiaua Church occupied largo part of
the eeRsion. To understand the situH
tion. it may lie timely to set forth a
brief statement of the events which led
UP 10 the pastDr'g resignation. The
Roy. DR.. ShankB went there about four
years ago. According to tho Giory, the
books Of the church had not heen
audited for 90 years, and the now pastor
thought IL wall to have an audit. A
committee was appointed tu examine
tho accounts Of the treasurer, John
Steele, but for time the examination
could not be made.
The effect OF tho PASTORS steps in
looking for an audit caused trouble
between him and those who wVrR
friendly to Treasurer Steele, and this
trouhle grew until the meeting Of the
Preahytery ut Middletown, when the
following committee was named to in
yostigate tho affairs Of the church
The Rev. John MnElmoyls OF Elkton,
the Rev. $. lIeattie Wylie of New
Castle, the Rev j. ID. Shaw of Port
Dspnsit, ami Elders Duychinuk and
William NJ, Candy.
Whom the Presbytpry met in Dover.
last spring, this committee reported
that the hooks OF the Head OF Chris.
tiana Church were in bad shape; aud
that Steele owon the church about
81, 600 No charges were brought. ana
this report was not altogether satis.
factory TO the pastor, who thereupon
offered his resignation.
Tho Resignation was laid over for
consideration of the Preahytsry at
special meeting, that Of Tuesday, and
the congregation was cited to appear by
commissioners TO show cause why il
should not be- accepted and the pastoral
relations dissolved.
Those who appeared for tho rongre-
Cation were j. S. Good, q. ". Steele
and j. Il. johnson. They favored the
dissolution of tina pastoral relations
between Dr, Shauks and the church.
John >. Stewart, another member Of
the church, declared that DR.. Shanks
had been in the right, hut he felt that
it would be for the best interests of
the church TO close his passionate there
In the course of his remarks, Mr.
Stewart, who has succeeded John
Steele as treasurer OF the church, made
the assertion that Steele'A accounts
we're short $1,000 to $1,000, and that
he could prove that Steele owed tho
church $500. lie said that Steele had
at iirst refused to give up the books
Mr. Steele and DR.. Shanks were both
present al the meeting.
When Presbytery moved towards
some action in relation to the pastoral
relatione, there was good deal OF dis.
cuHsiou in ono way auh another, and it
was at times difficult to understand
Just what particular motiun or amend
ment was before the body. Finally the
following resolution was adonted
That this Presby tory has heard with
sorrow the request of the Rev, j. ID.
Shanka, ID. D., TO have tine pastoral
relations hetwoon the Head Of Chris.
tiana Church and himself dissolved;
that We yieli TO the request for the
dissolution with regret, said disaolu-
tion 10 take effect tho last Sunday in
August. "
Tho motion had included a recon.
incubation Of DR.. Shank's ability az a
preacher and his faithfulnuse as
pastor. but this was dropped at his
own request. lie said il the Lord did
not open way for him to preach be
rresbytery. Although the pastoral re-
lations will not be dissolved until the
last OF August, the pulpit Of ths
church may be supplied under some
arrangement allowing the doctor a va.
cation. lie expects to remove to Phila.
del1hia, some of his housuhold efTecte
being ready for shipment If not shipped. |
After an extondsd discussion as "a
the caro- of the church, it was decided
that it should bs Under the care of |
PresbyteIy until the next meeting of |
that body. This decision is to take |
effect when DR.. ShanRs concludes his |
pastorate.
In tho course of the nesting, tho
Rev. A. N. Keigwin. d. D., said be |
did not believe there was any in.
territorial design by Steele to ,lefraud |
the church. Just before the cluse Of
the meeting Mr.. Steele arqss in his
place and said, sDlemnly:
God is my judge that have turned
IN and accounted for every dollar Of
that money, to the best OF my knowl-
edRe and belief. /"
Ths session concluded with the bona
dictiuu by Moderator LOWS.
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The Condition Of Crops.
Hnrr "a.