The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-16
PASTOR ENGLAND TO GET OUT
. Jersey MINISTER WHO HELD
BOGUS ID. ID. DEGREE.

ia Announces His Intention TO Resign,
As There Are Factions In His Church
"A suspended Member Not Allowed
TO Put His Cont ribution on the Plate.
WASHINGTON, n, j.. March l5.-The Rev
r B. England pastor Of the First Presby-
terrain Church and one OF several New JeT-
.ev clergymen who were made d. D.'s at
,so a head by "the National University Of
chicago gave his congregation notice
to-day that he intended to resign.
A statement published last week describe,
ing the troubles between Mr.. England and
mart Of his congregation led many to be-
iieve that some official action would be
taken to-day and the church was filed.
Immediately after the sermon Mr.. Eng
land announced that, as had been arranged,
A congregational meeting would be held
10 elect two elders. Elder Godfrey moved
that the election he postponed for one week
and this action was taken
The pastor then read a statement from
the session which repudiated response
bility for an article that recently appeared
in a New York paper and denounced the
charges as false. The statement continues:
The session. knowing the persistent and
well-known parties with which the pastor
has had to contend and believing that q
change in the pastorate would be beneficial
both for the church and himself, especially
as his health is breaking under the strain
advised him in a kind and brotherly spirit
that it was best for him to resign.
The pastor received the advice OF the session
in the same kind and Christian spirit In which
it was given and stated that he had already
made up his mind to give UP the work, as his
nervous system seemed to be giving away
The session Furthermore disciaims any
sympathy whatever with Henry Johnston.
S Be The Of the q ssS ,n dem
os article. In his bitter persecution Of the
pastor
Intimately for the past nine years and have
never seen anything In his manner. actions
or conversation unbecomins Christian gem
leman.
The statement was signed by R. NJ. Ellen
berger S. p. Bowers. K c. Godfrey, A. ].
Bigler and s. T. Bowman.
The reading of the statement was fol-
lowed by the clapping Of hands
sion's statement. sat in the gallery, while
the statement was being read. The col
lector refused him the privilege Of drop
ping coin on the plate as it was passed.
Mr.. England read the following state
ment OF his resignation:
ask Presbytery at its next meeting to release
me, from the pastoral charge Of this church
and to cite the congregation to appear by
their commissioners to show cause why the
Presbytery shall not acce pt the resignation.
! have seriously eonte mplated taxing this
only at the earnest solicitation of many.
many friends that have refrained from doing
so ] now find my health breaking under
the constant strain and do not feet able
longer to carry the responsibilities Of the
church
The Rev Elias B. England is the preacher
who got up in his pulpit at Washington.
n. j.. on Sept. IS. 1901, to defend his bogus
degree Of ID, D., for which he had paid $50
or 40 to a concern in Chicago. The alma
mater had deskroom in Chicago Office
building and taught theology by mail.
The head OF the Chicago plant was F, W.
Harkin. When first called upon to explain
England said that he had been deceived
and that he had mistaken the name "Har-
kin for Harper" and had really never
noticed the word National