The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-15
kANsAN IN TROUBLE.
Rev. Ed #. Trefz. Formerly of Atch-
ison, Disappears From Binghamton-

A dispatch from BinghamtOn, n
Y, says; THE Rev Edward F. Trefz,
who came from the First Congrega-
tional church of Omaha two years
and today sent his resignation from
the home of his father in Ohio. Rev
Mr.. Trefz has not been successful in
his work here, and relations with his
flock have become strained He is
said to have contracted over $4,000 in
debts here. Worry over these mas
caused him to neglect his work, and,
after a conference with the trustees OF
the church he decided to leave the
city which he did Wednesday,. taking
his wife and her mother with him.
His sister-in-law. Mrs W. F. Ward, is
still in town, but refuses TO talk
Trefz's present address is known only
to the church trustees Trefz created
q furore when he first came here. but
It did not last, and of late the services
had been poorly attended because of
his many strange statements He has
declared from the pulpit that only one
decent work of fiction has been print
ed in seventeen years. that all news
papers are dishonest, and that only
two magazines are fit to read; that
Christ danced, played cards and
drank. Many think that Trefz is
slightly demented The church trus-
tees say the only reason for his sud
den departure is encouragement over
his poor work. At the morning ser
vice at the First Congregational
Trefz Will be presented. Since Trefz'S
sudden departure from the city many
stories have been circulated to explain
his actions. So far as can be learned
there is nothing to reflect on mis-
morals. The only authoritative rea-
sons that have been assigned for his
actions are the fact that he is deeply
in debt and that he and his church
members feel that his work here was
practically a failure. Mr.. and Mrs
Trefz had planned for a dinner party
at their house on the night of the
afternoon that they left suddenly
They did not even inform their invited
guests. 1t was at first announced that
jill health and extreme nerVOusn ess
was the cause, and that Mr.. Trefz had
gone away for a rest. An officer of
the church said; so far as we can
learn. he has paid for practically
nothing since he came here; bills of
$500 for coal; about $500 for gro
ceries; $50 at one meat market and
even his drug and laundry unpaid
bills show his financial method
What he has done with his money is
what puzzles US. We paid him $4,000
q year and gave him the use Of the
parsonage. and paid his electric light
and telephone bills No one can give
any explanation of what he has done
with his salary Although no evidence
of 1t has been discovered. the opinion
most freely expressed is that he has
lost it in bucket shop gambling. Both
Mr. Trefz and many members of his
church have felt that his ministerial
work here has been very unsa tisfac-
tory. While his sermons have been
rhetorical models, people have thought
that they were without feeling and
sincerity His extreme views and re-
markable sta tements on religious sub
5ects have displeased many of the
church members, who considered him
too sporty for a minister. Another
thing was that Mr. Trefz was not in
citned to perform the regular pastoral
work of the church, spending much of
his time in playing cards or billiards
at the club. None of these things had
come to the surface until the past
week. but they have been talked over
among the members and officers of the
church, and Mr.. Trefz became aware