The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
THE TIN PAN TODD CASE.
'EATH OF s. E. TODD RECALLS Il
FAMOUS CHURCH ROW.
1t Arose Over an Alleged Reduction of SEQ
in IA subscription for Repairs and the
Subsequent Purchase of Several Tin
Pans NV Mr. Todd-Tba I;tiy,tio,

1t Arose over an Alleged Reduction of SEQ
in IA Subscription for Repairs and the
Subsequent Purchase of Several Tin
Pans by MT. Todd-The Litigation.
The recent death OF Serene Edwards Todd. q
well-known writer on agricultural matters.
will recall to many OF the older Presbyterians
of this State n cause celebre OF that Church in
which Mr.. Todd was the central figure. The
matter was not important Of itself. involving
merely a dispute between a minister and one
Of his flock over $50. but before it was over
with it had gone to the Presbyterian General
Assembly twice and had almost resulted in an
open rupture in the Church and the secession
Of an important Synod. Through a side issue
Of the charges against Mr.. Todd the case was
known as the Tin Pan Todd case"
Just before the war the Rev. William Frank
lin came to the pulpit OF the Presbyterian
church in the little village Of Scipio. Cayuga
county. n. Y. The Treasurer Of the church and
one Of its chief upholders was Mr.. Todd. who
was a prosperous farmer In the neighborhood.
Besides running his farm. which he did
shrewdly and with much worldly profit. Mr..
Todd found time TO write for the agricultural
and weekly papers and to publish two or three
volumes. one of which. The Young Farmers
Manual" a book full Of valuable information.
well put. had a wide vogue and established the
reputation of its author. Thus. In a commu-
nifty Of well-to-do and!intelligent farm owners.
Mr.. Todd had come to be something of a
leader at the time when the Rev. Mr.. Franklin
assumed the duties of the Presbyterian min
istry In the little church at Scipio. Mr.. Frank
lin was a typical Presbyterian OF the old,
hard-headed. hard bitted type. a man Of In
telligence. stern piety. rigid adherence to the
strict letter OF the church law. and. withal. an
earnest seeker after trouble. particularly with
those whose belief differed from his.
There was an important difference OF belief
between himself and the Treasurer OF the
church. The minister. as became q com erva-
tive and a prop Of existent Institutions. upheld
slavery as a righteous institution and so con-
sistently that he was afterward called a cop
perhead by some Of the more radical OF his
flock. On the other hand. Mr.. Todd was hard
ly less than an abolitionist. Between the two
men there arose a decided bitterness. While
the two were still In a state of armed neutral
ity a subscription was started In the church for
certain necessary repairs. Near the head OF
the list appeared the name OF Serene Edwards
Todd and opposite to 1t a figure which the
Rev. Mr.. Franklin subsequently declared to
have been $50 and Mr.. Todd himself stoutly
maintained was $30. Whatever 1t was orig
inally when the list came to be handed in II
appeared as $50.
As Treasurer. Mr.. Todd had had possession
OF the list for some time previous to It's being
handed In. The Rev. Mr.. Franklin promptly
made charges OF altering the list against the
Treasurer. and suspended him. Great was the
indignation OF Mr.. Todd.
suspend me?" he cried: "a lineal descend
ant Of Jonathan Edwards and a man that's al
ways been orwa In the work of the church,
I'll appeal"
And appeal he did to the Presbytery of Ca
yuEa. which held a session at Auburn a few
weeks later. Meantime there had come TO the
Todd farm a peddler with various goods to
sell. including. an assortment OF tin pans.
several Of which Mr.. Todd bought. After using
them for a few days he declared that they were
defective and wouldn't hold water. and that
the pedjler. who was still In the neighborhood.
must return his money, This the man az fret
sw9re out a charge Of cheating against the
peddler who, being much alarmed at the pros
pect OF arrest. refunded. This matter came
TO the ears Of the Rev. Mr.. Franklin, who inter-
viewed the peddler and saw the pans He de-
clared that the tin was sound as need be and
that Mr.. Todd's action In the matter was SIM
ply q further eXemplitlcatlon of the dishonesty
which he had displayed In the matter OF the
subscription list, Moreover, he appended TO
his report on the suspension OF the church
Treasurer a full account OF the matter OF the
peddler for presentation TO the Presbytery at
the proper time. 1t wa this that gayo to the