The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-27
kaA Anonymous Letter Causes
Trouble in Episcopal Church.
WOMEN AND PASTOR INVOLVED
Miss CoeArane Rscsh,c The Letter and
After Consulting Handwriting Expert
She Accused Mrs. Gaum.

New York. March 27.--Now the congre-
CATION OF the Rev. w. A. Wasson, rector
OF ST. Georges Protestant Episcopal
church, i'm Brooklyn, Is in tho throes Oh
excitement over an anonymous letter re-
ceIved by Miss Mary Cochrane one Oh
the most earnest workers In the church
and strong supporter of the pastor
which she suspects another earnest
church worker of writing
1t Is only little more than year ago
that there was trouble in the church.
which led TO an open revolt by some yes
trvnen and others At that time a petit
,ion was circulated asking Mr.. Wasson
10 resign.
MIR. WATSON did not resign, but two OF
his most active enemies did. There have
been rumblings beneath the surface since
then. however and the storm broke loose
yesterday.
AT the time OF the previous trouble one
| of the rector's warmest supporters was
! Miss Cochrane, secretary of the Parish
| Aid society.
Miss Cochrane is middle aged. and Is a
| teacher OF Latin I'm the GIFTS Hish
| school.
Now Miss Cochrane Is having trouble
with Mrs. c. l.. Gaum. and the whole
| church is agitated. Mrs. Gaum is treas
urer of the Parish Aid society. She has
been very successful in the teas, fairs
( and sociables given by the Aid society,
| and largely through her efforts the So
| ciety has made handsome profits.
she also was one OF the Rev. Mr.. Was
sons supporters, and until recently II
appears, her relations with the rector
| were pleasant.
Friends of Mrs. Gaum say Miss Coch-
| rane is Jealous OF the success which Mrs
Gaum is having. while others say tha'
| Mrs Gaum has taken decided STAND OF
the side OF the congregation. which is op'
posed TO Mr.. Wasson.
This opposition was brought TO a heae
when Miss Cochrane received an anony
mons letter a few weeks ago. The lettel
contained a violent attack upon her an'
denounced the general plan of work o
the church.
Miss Cochrane had her suspicious as &
| the author. She submitted the anonymou
| epistle TO Mr.. Kingsley. handwriting eN
merit She also showed 10 him some r.
ceipts for parish contributions made on
by the Parish Aid society treasurer, Mrs
Gaum.
MIR. Kingsley said that, in his opinion
the person who had written the anonS
nous letter and the person who ma
made out the receipts was tne same.
Miss Cochrane and Mrs. Gaum met at
meeting of the Parish Aid society fe'
days later. Miss Cochrane, i'm the pres
ence of four members OF the societ!
said TO Mrs. Gaum:
Il want TO give you a little friendly at
! vice Mrs Gaum. That little matter 4
the letter is between you and me, but
| find that you are making mischief
the church work i shall push the matte
! hard"
Mrs Gaum replied coldly. II don't kno
what YOU refer TO, Miss Cochrane, but
YOU have any complaint TO make again
me or anything TO push hard the sooi
$ er you push it hard the better. IL yo
: accuse me of any wrongdoing l want
. saw IL is false. absolutely false"
e Mrs Gaum wrote to the pastor askir
Y him TO call on her 10 discuss the matte
In reply. the rector wrote a letter, whi'
Mrs Gaum retains and which she hint'
Yesterday afternoon, may form the bas
for action in the courts. Mrs. Gaum d
clined to divulge the contents of this le
x | ter