The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-01
Mr.. PARISH TO BE TRIED
CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
COUNCIL HELD TO BE LEGAL
Minister Wants Reporters ut Session
Next Tuesday-TroubIe Started
over Choir.

The council Of the Central Indiana Bap-
fist Association will meet Tuesday morning
to hear the evidence in the prosecution Of
Frederick G.. Parish, pastor Of the South
street Baptist Church, charged with mis-
treating his wife and with conduct ill-ftting
a preacher of the gospel. The council met
yesterday morning. but adjourned for a
week in consideration that no specific
charges had been filed against Mr.. Parish
and he, therefore. had no opportunity 10
collect evidence for his defense. He refused
TO recognize the right Of the council to try
his case unless this right were ceded to
him. and the council upheld his contention.
There are fifteen member churches in the
association and each was expected TO send
two delegates to the council. But twenty
five delegates were present. There were no
delegates from Haughville, West Indianapo-
lis or Acton. 1t was rumored that these
churches had refused to send delegates. The
auditorium Of the church was full when the
council convened, the case being OF particu-
lar interest to the South Side. The hum Of
whispered gossip filed the place. w. T.
Stott, president Of FRANKLIN College, was
elected moderator Of the council. The first
point TO be decided was whether or not the
council had been regularly called. Before the
discussion began, IL was concluded that the
council should retire to a rear room. The
audience was left to itself for an hour.
When the delegates returned IL was an
nounced that they had decided the council
had been regularly called. 1t was then that
Mr.. Parish's friends announced he would
not recognize the council unless he were
furnished with a written statement Of the
specirc charges against him and were given
a week to prepare for the trial. He did not
know, his friends said, what alleged offense
he was TO be tried for. This was felt to be
fair and the council adjourned tor a week.
When 1t reconvenes it will hear the wit
nesses in the case and will refer the testi-
mony gathered to the church, with a recon-
mendation, possibly.
One bent on inquiry. late yesterday after
noon, called at the home of Evan III. Bon
nam, No. SIT Fletcher avenue, who has talk
en- an active part in the Parish case. The
inquirer found a circle of eight or ten wom-
en- and two men in session. Before he had
an opportunity TO ask any questions il was
made known to him that Mrs. Parish was
present by several of the women exclaiming
quickly that they would advise her to make
no statement TO a newspaper reporter. Mrs.
Farish declared: Il will not be interviewed
in any sense"
The inquirer said he had nc design on Mrs.
farishs personal knowledge of the church
trouble. and only wanted to discover. IL he
might where Mr.. Parish could be found.
The reply came that that was hardly the
place TO expect to find Mr.. Parish.
Mrs. Parish's attorney was asked whether
pr DOT she would appear against her hus-
Dand. He replied that she would testify
against him. If we are allowed to go into
MS DHSt record - n cof1 yea Ill -. -
long for the council to decide the case"
.. a; Dynes talked TO the Journal as Mr..
Sarlsns personal representative. Mr.. Parish,
ne said, was satisfied to let the council in
vestigate the charges against him, and
would make no further contention as to the
irregularity of the call for the council il
a written statement of the charges against
him were furnished to him within the
week. he opposed the rule Of the council
thal newspaper reporters should not be adj
mitted 10 Its sessions. He was innocent and
sought that the investigation should be
public 1t was a public matter. His prose-
cutors were the ones who desired that the
inquiry be secret. He could refute attempts
to blemish his past record.
Both Mr.. Parish and the young woman
fair are innocent" said Mr.. Dynes. MIR.
Parish was not more intimately acquainted
with her than with the other young women
OF MS congregation. 1t Is true that he met
her at a summer resort last summer. She
was there with friends. Mrs. Parish had
gone TO the East on a visit. Mr.. Parish was
1911 CoG a AtN Jul GAId OlllN I1N
a few words OF conversation with the young
woman in question and the friends who were
with her. / do not know what the trouble
between Mr.. Parish and his wife is. 1t is
charged that he Slapped her face and drove
her away from horne. That is false, so far
as / know. The young woman in question
has been prosecuted by the faction opposed
to Mr.. Parish. 1t is a fact this faction en-
ployed detectives to watch Mr.. Parish and
the young woman"
"What is the true cause OF this trouble?''
Mr.. Dynes was asked.
1T is just this he replied. Mr.. Parish
believed that the choir, which was large,
was overshadowing the rest OF the service
and he reduced 1t to a quartet. This caused
a factional bitterness and the. charges
against him Is the outcome"
rs that the reason this young woman
has been connected with the case?"
Yes. that is absolutely the only reason"
IF Mr.. Parish be exonerated of the
charges what will be the result 2"
There are l5 members of the church in
the faction against Mr.. Parish and 90 men,
bers in his faction, but among the opposing
faction are many members who pay little
into the church. If Mr.. Parish be indicated
we will stand by him and he will continue
as pastor of the church. OF course, il is
TO be expected that the other faction will
leave the church. Mr.. Parish has built up
the church congregation in the year ne has
been here and has done a great deal to raise
the debt. His friends are determined that
he shall have a fair trial and will attempt
to have 1t an open one"