The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-22
PASTOR WIDDEMER, VICTOR
now THE AsBURY PhRK MINISTER
ROUTED MS ACCUSERS.

History of q Remarkable Church Meeting.
which BeEan Amid Angry Thunder and
Ended with n Peaceful Moon shining,
and of the Incidents Tint Led Up to It.
We'll. all l can say as to that is, that II they
was real Christians they'd a had their heads
bowed durn prayer n they wouldn't a seon
the pastor a peekin' through his fingers at Liz
Eie. II he did 1t, as they say which don't be-
lieve he did"
such was the solemn Judgment OF Mrs Petty.
the mother OF Miss Lizzie Petty. whose service
OF one month as amanuensis to the Rev. How
ard T. Widdemer. pastor Of tho First Congre-
Rational Church OF Asbury Park. split tho con-
Gregation and threatened to drive the pastor
out. as he put It. a wanderer." Mr. Widdomer
was accused OF kissing Lizzie Petty; OF being
unduly fond OF her; OF peekinR at her through
his hands while he prayed. and OF doing other
undigniled things in church to show his re-
gard for her. These were the offlcial acousa-
tons There we're others unofficial that need
not BIO mentioned.
The Sun told yesterday morning OF final vim
dication OF tho pastor by q vote Of the church.
which later adopted resolution of confidence
and OF sympathy for his family. but the bitter
feelings are still there. and all day Yesterday
the Church Committee went around shaking
their heads and dropping thoughts that were
80 hard that they threatened to break the paw
ing stones when they struck. 1t was l o'clock
In the morning before the business OF the very
remarkable congregational meeting at which
the pastor was indicated was concluded.
and only the final verdict could be sent to
the papers In time for publication. Mrs.
Pettys solemn judgment was expressed to
The SUN reporter before the meeting began
and. In the presence OF the peachy cheek ed
and brght-eyed Miss Lizzie. who spoke up:
The idea Of me. young girl. the idea-the
idea Of anybody thinking OF me running
Ill IA. 4
guess p
"L-i-z-z-i-e." said her mother. warninRly.
"L-i-z-z-i-er
Well don't care mamma I've Just kept
quiet long enough. now. They've talked and
talked and talked and said the meanest things
about me and that o-l-d ian. and I've Just had
to keep still and take it and I'm not going to
do it any longer. The idea OF me-
"L-iz-z-i-e." said Mrs. Petty again. and
there was just tremor OF the young woman's
upper lip and just q suspicion Of pout You
really couldn't blame Miss Lizzie much. She
is only 10 years old. and Just as pretty as
picture. 1t was quite provoking and quite
shocking to have the things said about her and
not to be able to say word in reply.
My Lizzie" said Mrs. Petty. deliberately.
is a truthful girl. She never told ME a lie in
her life. and l know she amt lied to me this
time. and I'm going to stand by her"
"Hlmf No. Stree" said Mrs. Petty. Not
that there's any truth In anything that's been
said. It's all lies and gossip but it's through
him that all this troubles come. Maybe twas
unconscious but twas through him."
The reporters visit to the house was for the
purpose OF learning what the trouble was all
about. for while Asbury Park was all wrought
up about it to the extent that people In the
windows In stores called to people in the street
fo know. A re- n M in nd
Arc you goin' t. stand by him ?" there didn't
seem to be anybody who could tell any
more than that Pastor Widdemer was accused
OF "golngs on that war t Chrstianlike and that
want in keeping with his character as the
pastor OF Christian Church." and further. 1t
want the first time he was accused. either"
AS one OF the deacons put it to THE Sun re-
porter. The Lord must love Pastor Wlddemer
powerful. He chasteneth him so much"
Pastor Widdemer was an Episcopal clergy
man. Then he was q Presbyterian. then a
Congregationalist. then Presbyterian. and
then Congregatlonalist again. 1t need only
be said here that whenever he has been
! "chastened." as tho deacon put 1t. he has been
indicated. as he was on this occasion. and his
record is perfectly clear. 1t was as Presby-
terrain that Pastor Widdemer came to Asbury
Park. He was powerful preacher. There
was a split in his church. as there often is In
the churches OF powerful preachers. and the
Congregational Church of which he is now
the pastor, grew from the split. As he
s6arGhsisi q As s Park ss,py
ANTS. The members Of the church committee
ntrbuors to the fund that made st The sG new
o was In 6s s csss
ne Sunday school, Edith Petty now Mrs
Tr' to be- s best inc eh ePPr T@ai
&nGn Lizzie 20 got a. LITTLE older she Joined The
other mem Der. They were ali altos. was aA
The reader viii probably admit that thu NO fur
iIe Gauss OF ali he trouble. and the talk win
M Petty fn M MsS 1ds nay sa Pf rs Petty
said NJ. T R:sF ssor. tn,
#s L s1 si she said N .sd s T1s
Petty, Let others say it." Again the susp
Edith was in tho choir" said Mrs. Petty
R Edh a lett ea fs Wa
:, Lizzie sat together, and the pastor said tina
Mrs WakeIey would sometimes say things
papers. interrupted Miss Izzie, ?uo n mine fM
Lust wish 20 yoa'd print her name everywher'
Lizzie stopped % ssfh" sag a' ddesE e eafe '
30"
LAS was saying" resumed Mrs Petty "th,
pastor said Mrs Wakeley would sometimes "a,
things to Lizzie that would make her laugh
during service, and it disturbed the service
% when Edith offered to come back the paste
had her sit between them"
Her voice is Just" = said Miss Lizzie.
"Lizzie." said Mrs. Petty. emphasizing thu
last syllable.
Well, mamma, it Is, Do you remomb Der tina
, solo she sang? Why. it-t-everybody" -
"I-i-z.Z-i-e. will you stop taking?" de
nanlpl
Miss Lizzie bcbhed her head and moved he
lips. completing the sentence inaudby Mrs
Petty went on:
This separating them seemed to max,
Mrs Wakely angry. and when little later Mr.
Widdemer's eyesight began to fail and h,
asked II Lizzie couldn't come to his study TIVE
pr three days week and help him by writing
didn't see any harm in it. neither did he
father and" -
And there wasn't any," said Miss Lizzie
Only a lot OF busy bodies" -
Mrs Petty fixed her eyes on her dauRhte
and said with increased emphasis: " Liz