Evening journal., 1908-05-28
TROUBLES OF THE
REV. ELWOOD
IcOntinued From First Paxs.y

''why, what do you mean?" he
answered in evasion. his face bearing
a faint and forced expression of in
quiry.
well. then, IS it not true that you
have resigned from the pastorate Of
the church,"
"Air. McCreary, president of the ses-
sion board of the church. has had my
resignation in his possession for some
time My work here is done. In fact
it had been understood for a LONG time
that 1 was going to resign when the
church here was completed"
Upon leaving here will you remain
in the ministry"
'Why Qf course"
DO you know where your next pas
torate will be2'
That's a nice church they are build
stractedly, looking oul OF the window
in the parlor of his home"
'Have Nnu Rny idea when you will
leave Leavenworth?"
Il have little boy with the measles
Il might take them," he suggested.
The trend of his remarks were
evasive Of any declaration and through
it all he maintained his poise apparent
! ly without difficulty. There was moth
| ing about his bearing in the face of the
| announcement that nc had faced 20
| give the impression that he was any
thing more than abashed and perhaps
vexed bv the uncomfortable situation.
do you deny or admit that you have
ever written letters of sentimental
character to young woman in your
| church here?" was asked of him I'm
ally.
Il have absolutely nothing to say"
was his reply accented by a shrug of
his broad and shapely shoulders.
II was some months ago that the
Rev. Elwoods eye first rested on an
attractive girl in his congregation with
| perchance a glance Of more than ordi-
nary appreciation of her goodly ap-
/ pearance. That was the beginning.
How the affair progressed, only two
people know.
During the time in which DR.. John
son, an evangelist was holding SER
vice at the Presbyterian Church here.
he was approached by a woman Of
the congregation. who laid before him
letters written from the pastor of the
church. the Rev. y. A. Elwood. to her
| daughter They were amorous mis-
sives and quoted freely from scriptures.
The minister turned them over in an
interested way and noted with some
amusement the boyishness exuber-
ance of their verbage. Upon the ad-
vice of DR.. johnson. the mother start
ed to take up the matter with a
prominent member of the church. The
matter dropped without his becoming
fully aware of the true nature of the
letters and the people involved. When
through circumstance she recently
ascertained the real truth the affair
was promptly taken up with the or
ficers of the church. One of them
| called the minister before him and is
said to have confessed to the whole
affair.
Asked For Resignation.
The officers of the church and the
people intimately concerned held a
number of consultations and discus
sions together over the action to be
taken. The Rev Elwood is said to
have meekly acquiesced when asked for
his resignation.
At the meeting at o'clock yesterday
| afternoon the last action was taken IN
the acceptance of this resignation This
pulpit at the Presbyterian Church will
be filled Sunday by two ministers in
attendance at the Kansas City conven-
tion.
A few years ago the Rev. Elwood
l came to Leavenworth lecturing under
the auspices of a lyceum bureau. HIS
spoke atfthe First Presbyterian Church
and made good" His strong per-
sonality and fearlessness won for him
many admirers. At that time there
was talk of the Rev. w. N. Page leav-
ing the pulpit because of ill-health, ana
many of the congregation looked upon
the lecturer as a fitting successor to
the now deceased pastor emeritus. A
| trip East was made. 10 Wilmington,
h Del, where Rev. Elwood was the pas
\ tor of a church. BIZ some of tie
l churchs officials. Thera they heard
more of this young man, who had
unique but effective ways in filling the
seats in his church. He advertised
in the newspapers; using display adj
vertisements calling attention to his
sermons. He was at one time unable
to get church, so built one. He held
meetings in the Opera House there.
talked to the workingmer and was ac-
mired by all. The officers of the local
l church decided that Elwood was the
man they wanted and they got him.
Shortly after the arrival Of the new