Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-15


ing up to the windows at times. Then
the two summoned third deacon, and
all three waited for another hour. The
light finally went out, and Mcdonald
appeared in the back door of the
church. With him was Miss Wilcox
and she stepped out to the sidewalk
as the minister locked the door behind
him.
The Geacons came from the shelter
OF the church shed and confronted
their pastor.
what does this mean?" demanded
one.
why, how do you do, gentlemen,
I-I-that is-myself and Miss Wilcox
have been studying up some matters
tonight, and-surely you don't think
anything wrong Of us?"
With voices free from anger, yet
weighted down with disappointment
and grief, the three deacons told Nc
Donald what they thought. Then all
went back into the study and talked
until o'clock that morning.
Not once did Mcdonald admit any
thing wrong. The girl remained silent
throughout, only by her tears adding
! to the continued entreaty of Mcdonald
| that the matter be overlooked. Nc
Donald did admit that he had done
wrong IN acting so that the names of
himself and the girl would be coupled
| together, but he denied anything of
wrong intent.
He said he would publicly acknowl-
! edge to his congregation that he had
been indiscreet, and promised faith
fully to tramp the straight line of
moral conduct ever afterward If the
matter be overlooked. He admitted
his ''error,' and pleaded forgiveness.
| He pledged his ministerial word to he
as cool as the angels, and finally the
guilty pair departed, with the under
standing that nothing more would be
said of the matter if Mcdonald kept
| his word.
rendered His Resignation.
Instead of doing this, however, he
! continued to meet the young woman
This caused so much talk that in Jan
uary Mcdonald rendered his resigna-
| ton as pastor. This was done at a
prayer meeting of the church one
| Thursday evening, and many friends
of the pastor were present. The stories
about him had bitterly divided the
church, and a majority stood up vail
antly for the man whom they loved,
declaring openly that he should re-
main, whether right or wrong. The
resignation was read, and by a major
ity vote of those present, the church
refused to accept it. A week later Nc
Donald was forced by moral suasion"
to leave Bethel Baptist church, in spite
of this Upholding influence in the con-
gregaticn.
In spite of all that has been said
against him, in spite Of his discarding
of the ministry for the bar of saloon
in spite of the revelation of his true
character made in this city, many
people here still love the man, regard
him as a power for good in Cle world
with those Weaknesses inherent in
every man, but too strong in Nc
Donald to be overcome by the good in
him. Deacon Frielink has a warm
spot in his heart for the former pas
! tor.
He was a power for good" declared
the deacon. ''McDonald certainly did
wonders among the young men. There
are many in our congregation today
whom he led TO Jesus. They are good,
! pious Christian men and women, and
honor the church. Mcdonald worked
hard for the church and did a great
! deal of good. I can never explain the
rest. He never admitted anything
criminally wrong; but we knew. Now
we are trying to forget the evil and
remember the good. We are trying to
forget all about the trouble and build
the church up on eternal lines.
Whatever happens to Mcdonald;
whatever he does, may God have
| mercy on him!"
Miss Wilcox, the young woman in
the case, is a stunning blonde, with a
! fine figure. She was inexperienced
when she came to Kalamazoo from a
nearby village. Mcdonald himself is
a blonde of athletic build.
The Rev. Mr.. McDonald's saloon in
the Bronx is typical of it's class, and
is said to have been fitted up at a cost
of $4,000. The money for his latest
! venture, Mcdonald says, he did not
get from preaching, but from property
belonging to his wife and located in
| Syracuse. The permanent sign above
the saloon, which is Of the usual gilded
Gambrinus variety, bears the name Of
| Thomas ]. Mcclure, but that name is
only a Renaissance Of the former
management. Mcdonald bought the
saloon from Mcguire the day after he
rendered his resignation of the pas
torate OF the East Avenue church in
| Long Island City.
In the end of the main barroom a
| doorway leads to cOmmodious back
! sitting. DOM, which has a stone floor,
and it is fitted up neatly with tables.
chairs, and panel and fretwork Of
hard wood.
Above the doorway communicating
! between the two apartments hangs a
large crayon of a tiger couchant, over
which are crossed the sta-s and the
emerald flag of Ireland The tiger and
the flags, Mcdonald explained. are also
"reminiscences of the Mcguire era.
I'm going to change the name. -
said Mcdonald. My own politics is
of the other sort. I do not know yet
whether l shall call it the Lincoln o.