The Washington herald., 1908-08-02


Thirty-foUrth street Christian Church. al
Mount Rainier, Prime George County,
Nd, Immediately adjacent 70 the District
Of Columbia. have been much perturbed
for weeks past and their meditations
upon things holy have been rudely shat
tered.
This condition Of affairs results from
the efforts Of the executive board Of the
church 70 obtain a pastor TO lead the
flock The board procured a pastor for
brief period But this era Of sanguine
expectation was short lived. and instead
OF promoting peace in the church bitter
ness and strife began shortly after the
arrival OF the minister. and threatened
10 cause a serious breach among the
members Of the congregation and the
executive board
Il was in the latter part OF June last
that the name OF Rev. o. D. Maple. then
located at Petersburg. Va. was suggested
as the man for the place A correspond
ence between the minister and the execu-
tive board was started. with the result
that Rev Maple preached a trial sermon
on Sunday. June q
4 Favorable Impression.
To say that he created a favorable i'm
preston would be putting it too modest
Is. The congregation was spellboUnd. and
from the beginning 10 the end Of the dis
course enthusiastic encomiums We're be
slowed upon the stranger Had a vote Of
the congregation been taken then and
there. the services Of Rev. Mr- Maple
would undoubtedly have been engaged.
There were some conservative members
OF the flock. however. VINO argued THAI
as the preacher was a stranger IN the
community. It would be well TO ind out
something Of his past ecclesiastical his
tory and his character. Immediately
after the service of June y a meeting Of
the governing body was held. and IL was
decided 20 employ the minister for a
period Of three months. at a salary Of
50 a month. provided he produced salts
factory references The proposition was
submitted 20 the congregation and the
boards action was unanimously sus-
tanned
The agreement stipulated that the new
pastor should assume charge on july J.
and his first sermon was preached on
July j. Meanwhile. Rev lIr- Maple had
handed the board the names Of several
persons who would advise them as 20 his
past work. and the clerk W W Ban
Durau-. communicated with them. The
preacher was frank enough 20 inform the
beard that he expected two Of the replies
10 le U1fZvo-able. and explained why he
expected they would be- Of this nature.
He said thar some anonymous letters had
been written in the West, rejecting upon
his character. and that he hoped when
the replies came they would assist the
p1st-ofice detective IN ferretiny out the
writer's of these letters
One of the rrst letters received by the
clerk was from a deacon Of the Christian
church ~ Marion. Ohio. where Rev Mr.
Maple had been En- charge in July. 1906
Condemned by Deacon.
IN brief. the deacon said he could not
recommend Rev. Maple Another letter
from pr. Freeman. al Cairo. III. an
officer OF the church there. was favor
able A woman member Of the conEre-
cation at Marion wrote that Rev. Manic
left there under c0upuIsion. and a letter
from Rev Byron c. Piatt. pastor Of the
church al Marion. was unfavorable Upon
receipt ot the letters a meeting Of the ex-
ecutive board was called and Rev Maple
was notified that he must sever his con
uectioE with the Mount Rainier Church
al once
The preacher claims he was invited TO
attend this meeting Rev Maple demand
e. q hearing before the congregation. and
on Sunday. July T. the church was
crowded % the doors with members Of
The congregation, anxious 10 hear what
lie might say in his own behalf. Previous
10 this meeting the fact that urfavora bic.
letters had been received concerning the
pastor had spread among the members.
and many openly criticised the board for
what they claimed 10 be an unfair hasty
action.
After the letters were read TO the con-
gregatiou- Rev Maple made a stirring ar-
peal for justice To cUUn1eTaCt the IN
favorable letters. he read testimonials of
the good work he had done IN other
places He explained that the uufavar-
able letters We're prompted as the result
OF his resignation in Marion This resig-
nation, lee said. was not compulsory. but
was due 20 the fact that the congregation
was indebted 60 him for back salary.
and that. In order 10 support his wife and
i've children, lie was obliged TO seek other
employment
At the conclusion Of the meeting. which
lasted about lIve hours the congregation
sustained the action Of the board IN ask
ing for Rev Naples resignation. although
there were some present who stiu be
heved he had been unfairly treated.
After he had been deposed Rev Map1e
obtained employment as d reporter in
Washington. and has since been residing
IN Mount Rainier
The fact that many OF the members Of
the congregation do not approve OF the
action Of the church Is evidenced By the
aiacrity with which he is taken into their
homes and entertained Rev Maple ex-
poets 10 leave for the West Tomorrow
but before going he promises 10 say
something concerning the matter that
VIII prove interesting 10 the people Of
Mount Rainier.
Gives Lecture To-day.
He has arranged 10 give a lecture I'm
Mount Mainier to-day. his subject being
Hunting for hypocrites.~ On the circular
announcing the fact of his departure he
says "Ffrst-class hypocrisy Is at p prem
ium to-day, frankness IS below par sin
cerity is sinful. honesty IS the best policy
>.n the long run. but the run is so long
AFgh. too"
y Maple says he has never been
ssated from a theological school and
post OF his labors have been along
ssric lines and in the lecture field.
ute accusations. he declares he
IS from the proprietor Of an IN
hotel that wiz prove his limo
rtetta Arrives at Ceiba.
larietta. under command of Com
Maxwell. arrived at Celba. Hon