The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-10
PASTOR MODIPIES his STORY.
REV. q. II. MACDONALD NOW SAYS
ONLY TWO TEMPTED HIM.
One n These says Minister Il . Liar and
viii Try To Make Him Retract-lt Is
Said That the Preacher. Who Has
Money. VIII 90 Into Liquor business.

The Rev George X Mac Donald, who
resigned the pastorGta of the East Avenue
Baptist Church. Long Island city. on Sun
day night. because. a. he said in his fare
we'll sermon, members Of the church had
falsely accused him Of wine drinking in
violation Of the covenant Of the church, is
going Ia leave the ministry altogether and
engage in business
Il shall remain right in Long Island
City" he said Yesterday, and engage in
mercantile business"
The pastor would not say what that
business was. but several of his conGrega-
ton said that he was going into the liquor
business
Among those who take il for granted that
the Rev. Mr. Macdonald has lef, the min
istry To run "A saloon are Mrs j. &. Mutt Of
Eleventh street. Long Island City, and DIR.
W j Burnett # 1877 Third street. DR.
Burnett l. president Of the Long Island
City Savings Bank and was the Rev. Mr.
MacDonald- first entertainer in Long
Island city when the pastor went there a.
n candidate ynar and a half ago
In his attempt to vindiCate himself the
clergyman told his congregation from the
pulpit that th" first wine he ever drank
wa at the home of DR. Burnett where he
was "A guest AT dinner.
Dr. Burnett said last night. without mine
ing matters a. all, that the pastor lied
and would have to rotract DR.. Burnett
went Ia Mr MaCDonad's nome last night
To demand rctracrion, hut got no answer to
his ring How'll go again.
In his farewell sermon Mr.. Macdonald
gave tine impression that Inc hal been tempt
ed To drink 10y almost everybody in the
church a. he made pastoral calls. The
words Of hi pulpit address on that point
a. printed IN me SrS yesterday and con-
frrned by tie pastor were
ia" first v.uc ever tasted was tasted
AZ The home OF one 81 those who triduc"
me. When mad" OF" OF my hrst N.su,
to a u"ubrr OF I'll" congregation ! was ted
To- tIk" NIn". Oth'r u"..b'rs Of tins church
Induced M" 10 drIuN tn"r vine. Almost
witnout exception .hN VISITS to the n,.muors
oi thtS church NV Owed the drinking OF wine.
bat mic taIhIug - ii SIS reporter yt.,.
teriay afternoon at the home of Mrs
Soldering, one of the church members,
the pastor narrowed his drink down to two
Tho sympathy Of the heIghborhuoi ana
the church members Seems To De with MIR
Mac Donald and her chill she wa :
referred TO Yesterday a. q broken hearted
woman.
reporter called at the Ma Donald house.
263 Mott avenue, yesterday Mrs Macdonald
when asked VINO was friend y to the minister
and would be willing To tell about the case.
Mr. Macdonald mentioned Mrs. Soldering
Mrs. MacDou III also said that her hus-
band was out of town and would not be
hone uutIl G,t" III thu q, oilug his was
about 3 O'Clpck N tine afternoon.
The reporter went direct To Mrs Solder
lings house IN the same block and after
about fifteen minutes the Rev Mr. Macdonald
came in Before ue arm ed Mrs Solder
ling -. his ,f tine slfTt IA
mere l., 40 lIu,i ia these s'oIlrH aLoLt
our pastor. Mr.. Ma Donald Is ii lovely
minister, the best We ever ma and he
very powerful in the pulpit. A month ago
he went TO Maiden, Mass 10 take art In a
revival and III tie week that he was there
got twciIty.eight young people Ia Join the
church. In wear he has brok, all records
for our church by getting twenty-oLe 10
join. Tie night | joined seven Were b.p-
tied Tie church was packed that Light,
but only 81 ~ was found Ia the @, lection
We know of one rich member who put in
s. himself. Nobody has ever found out
where 20 rest Of that money went. Instead
of falsely accusing our minister some folks
would bettrr find out where the money
Crookelne-S il.
Just then the pastor came into Mrs
Seidriling'- sitting room. He didn't -cem
to bc worried and said that he vast.
Fa revised hi- sermon eS platt at ion byl,ayiug
hat >" had had only two drinks in fs life
Ii began with "A story of his simple boy
hood I'm Nova Scotia
when was lad, he said. my mother
Used TO prcserv" berries every fall and make
a syrup from them Tie following summer
she would thin ii and III. it Oh ice for cool
drink There was re- fermentation. Well,
! thought I was drinking the same thing az
DR.. Burnett, but il was caret.
Il wa there TO dir.nsr and the red wire
was OH the table and drank it, as said, IN
my sermon. That was NY first drink
Dr. Burnett is the president Of tho bank
NY second ard last drink was At tho home
Of Mr.. Smedlcy on Eleventh street, who is
also banker J. al clarc' there for dinner
But I've quit the ministry. I am not
dependent on tt nm going into business
right here in Long Island CITY. Mr. David
Morrison will tell YOU that don't drink
| have been To hanqu.'S with him where
have been urged to take wine, and have
refused.
When tho reporter called in. DR. Burnett,
tho physician, seemed glad Of tho oppor-
tunitv 10 deny tho statements which the
monster had made publicly
IF M Macdonald said that no had
wine hero" said Dr mrnc't. he led
I am not a member 81 his church. but when
ho first cam" bore | was asked 10 enter
tain him. and | consented. W" had rod
wine on the dinner table. principally for
the benefit Of member Of tho family who
was ill., Mr. MacDorah did not touch
II He excused himself bv saving that
ne had he r. trouble and could not drink
wine. ! am going to call on the minister
with one of the elders of his church and
demand Of him a r"traCtion Of the state
mont that ho drank wine NJ nv table
Nr NacDonald'- statement that he had
wine AZ Mr. Sm"dl"y'- home was not de-
MED only II was -auicrno instead Of claret
At the homo of David Morrison to whom
Mr.. Macdonald referred III" reporter for
the truth. Mrs Morrison said:
1T j. tru" that Mr. Macdonald has al
wav- refused win" at our dinner"
Tn" former clergyman il IS years old
He began preaching in Nova Scotia when
he was 20 He was af'crward graduated
al the University Of Chicago. Before
coming to Long Island City he preached
In Kalamazoo, Mich, and in Syracuse y Y
His salary At IA" Fast Avenue BAPTIST
Church has been 81 200. The church still
owes him something. But Mr.. Macdonald
evidently j. not in need Of money with
which to engage in hi sn"rcahtlo venture
He was in one of the local banks a dav or
30 ago with ENTHUSIASTICALLY bill
which he wanted to hav" changed