New-York tribune., 1901-03-29
DIR. MOMENT SUSPENDED.
WELL-KNOWN BROOKLYN MINISTER
FOUND GUILTY OF MISCONDUCT
WITH YOUNG MARRIED WOMAN.

The Rev. DR. Alfred H. Moment, who was the
chairman of the Prosecuting Committee in the
trial of the Rev. George L. McCleland. formerly
pastor of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in
Flatbush. Brooklyn and who occupied that pull
pit for some time after Mr. McCleand left it. is
under suspension from the Brooklyn Presbytery
for conduct unbeconng a minister. The con-
duct consisted, according to the findings. in hav-
ing improper relations with a young married
woman connected with the Spring Street Presby-
teran Church. Manhattan. whom DR.. Moment
! baptized more than twenty years ago, when he
was acting pastor of that church.
Although the trial of DR.. Moment was in the
latter part of 1000 and he was suspended at the
December meeting of the Presbytery, the action
was so carefully guarded that it did not become
public until yesterday. At present DR.. Moment
is with friends near Scotch Plains, y. j., and it
is probable that he will never return to Brook
lyn.
DR.. Moment has not been regularly settled in
a Brooklyn pastorate for some years, but he
supplied several temporarily. He at one
time pastor OF the Westminster Presbyterian
Church. He was one of the leading members OF
the Brooklyn Presbytery. He came into public
notice more than year ago. when trouble arose
in the Emmanuel Church. Mr.. McCleland was
charged with making love to two women at once.
DR.. A H. Moment as chairman of the prose-
cutting committee, was the most active in press
ing the charges. Mr.. McClelland was acquitted.
Rumor then began to busy itself with DR.. Mo-
ment, and finally the stories became the subject
of investigation by the judicial Commission
of the Brooklyn Presbytery, specially appointed
for such purposes by the General Assembly at
it's last meeting. The commission is empowered
to take testimony and give verdict. Its pro-
Cedings are secret. The verdict alone is given
to the Presbytery, which then passes sentence.
The commission consists of the Rev. DR. David
Gregg, of the Lafayette Avenue Church; the
Rev Joseph D. Burren, of the Classon Avenue
Church. the Rev. n. W. Wells, jr. of the South
Third Street Church; the Rev. DIR. James B.
Dunn the Rev. Walter lockwood Ferris and
the following elders: John A NeXsen. Darwin X
James Virtus L. Haines and John ]. Tower.
Two charges were preferred against DR.. Mo-
ment-that OF conduct unbecOming a minister
and that of falsehoOd 1t is said that the com
mission received testimony from the mother or
the young woman with whom DR.. Moment was
alleged have acted indiscreetly, and that she
told OF the minister's alleged folly. There were
other witnesses, in addition to the letters which,
1t was alleged the minister had written TO the
young woman. The commission pronounced
Or. Moment guilty. He was suspended by the
Presbytery for six months, but it is said that he
will never be reinstated
After Mr. McClelland driven away from
the Emmanuel Church Dr. Moment began to sup
ply the pulpit. II the wish Of the more in
1Uentia members OF the congregation that he be
regularly installed as pastor A date for the in
staation set several times. and each time
was cancelled by the Presbytery. The congre-
cation did not know what wrong.
DR.. Moment is about ifty-fve years old He
has been widower for about fourteen years
and has one daughter. sixteen years old
DR.. Moment is at the home of Mr. Noon, a
mile beyond Scotch Plains and three and half
miles from Plainfield. N j. An attempt
made 10 see him last night but he had retired.
Mr.. Noon refused to awaken DIR. Moment.