The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-22

Is UNDER FIRE
Charges Are Filed Against the
Rev. J. [. LeiIich.
HIS REMOVAL IS ASKED FOR
EPISODE MAY HAVE BEEN TO
SHIELD HIMSELF.
! MOVEMENT is on foot Tor the head

A MOVEMENT is on foot for the head
II of Rev. j. L. Leilich. who accused
= 4 senator Reed Smoot Of polyganly'
The trouble has been brewing IN lllt
Methodist church for months and AIS1
took definite form last OCTOBER men 80 I,
petition was drawn up asking Tor li9
renooval This petition has been Tor
v-ar7a8 In the central conference OF
Pennsylvania which placed Mr.. Leillcll
I'm charge of the Methodist missions OF
Utah. A COPY has been forwarded Z"
Bishop Warren of Denver and blsnop
Fitzgerald, secretary Of the Doaru GA
bishops.
A COPY of the petition was also Iof-
Warded 10 Mr. LCiiich himself ABOUT
month ago with the hope that he would
resign the superintendency OF the I tan
missions when he found the opposiuoH
which had grown up against MS au-
ministration. Mr.. Leilich has not. 30
far as known, manifested his lnJehlloA
To- resign. but it Is believed that WAeh
the conference meets next week ne"
superintendent viii be appointed Tor the
Utah missions.
Adopts Methods Of Gar.
It is said that Mr.. Leilich's vigorous
and unyielding methods have occa-
STONED friction in his entire jurisdiction
and that the membership Of the UIah
missions has been steadily falling on
owing 20 his treatment of AFFAIRS ~
Is charged that he has been dictatorlal
and arbitrary and that he has managed
the affairs Of the church regardless OF
its laws. The Waterloo church il Is
said, has lost sixteen members ana lhe
Liberty Park church fourteen members
as the result of the friction for Whl-h
Mr. Leilich is responsible other
churches have also lost members.
One Of the most serious charges made
against him is that he has failed to call
a meeting of the district stewards 10
arportion the salaries Of the four pre-
siding elders. He made assessments IN
opposition to the district stewards and
by so doing fixed his own salary. IL ls
also charged that he has been aggres-
sive and dOmineering and that his 3e-
uOns have been those of man VINO
might feel that he was the whole Meth
Odist church.
Drove Holmes from Passionate.
A pastor Of one Of the local churches
said yesterday:
He has shown a disposition 20 be
ruler instead of a director. He has
manifested an aggressive attitude that
has proved exceedingly unpleasant az
times and he is always ready for dis
turbance Upon one occasion, al the
/ quarterly conference, Rev. Mr.. Park. a
man much older IN years that Mr..
7 Leilich and a man who is greatly re-
( spected. wanted TO put motion. Mr..
/ Leilich objected. bur Mr.. Park protested
and asked 20 be heard Mr. AelilcI
told him in sharp tones to sit down.
Q Last October We started the petition
making specific charges against Mr.. Lei
I Itch and sixteen of the strongest churches
On the state signed IL. We felt IL neCes-
sary for the good of the Methodist cause
IN Utah 10 take action to secure his re-
mOVal. A copy Of The petition was for
Warded TO Mr.. Leliich with the hope that
when he understood the situation and
saw that il was for the interest and well
fare of the church 90 have change that
he would resign. This he has not done
We entertain no hard feeling agains- Mr..
/ Lelhch. We are doing this in spirit OF
friendship and for the good OF the church.
Smoot Protest a Subterfuge.
AN impression obtains that this move
/ ferred against Reed SmOot by Mr. Lei
/ Itch. This is untrue. The movement was
started before Mr. Leilich drew an that
/ protest ] believe personally that Mr.
Lelich s. protest 90 Mr. SmOOt was q
/ gallery play ON Mr. Leilichs part 90 draw
attention from the present movement and
by this action 90 DO something which
would win him plaudits and reinstate him
. IN the good graces of the Utah missions
/ Affairs are az thar point where Meth
I 0dism lr this state cannot progress If Mr.
P Leilch remains az the head of the mis-
siOns. The feeling for his removal Is
I very strong and unless change occurs
! IL win lead 20 an open rupture. which vii
! prove disastrous 20 the church in thi.
4 state
] III IS due TO the influence of Mr. LeiHcI
/ that j. Archibald Holmes. now of
( this city. retired from the ministry. Mr.
/ Holmes was pastor Of the NJ. T.. church
Z at HeDeT CITY. and while there becam,
] acquainted with "a Young woman of tn'
4 Mormon faith. They went 20 Farming
I ton and were married Feb. 90. Soon after
I this event Mr. Leilicn Went 90 Hebel
Z CITY and sent for the young minister
/ Mr.. Holmes sent word by the messenger
I thar be- was stopping az the hotel. ant
/ that Mr. Leilich would have 20 come q
] the hotel it he wanted TO see him. Mr.
/ LeiliCh called and a heated argumen
I followed. which resulted in the younl
/ man writing out a resignation. which wa.
| handed to the presiding cider on the spp
with a request that 1t be accepted a
| once
M Holmes is quoted at the time a
I saying.
.He asked me questions which
Z thought were of mo- concern 20 him. AN,
/ / hand in my resignation"
Nr. Holmes brought his bride to TIM
/ city