The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-16
MINISTER OF The GOSPEL
FELL FROM HIGH CALLING
Rev. (. :. Preston, Formerly OF Vest
Va, Recently Of The Park.

Ed-s NeCeEIly VI ne E2rH.
The following stsry regarding the ac-
tons OF a minister Of the gospel who is
well known at Mt. Lake Park, where
he conducted the Allegany House last
summer, appeared Monday morning in
the Clarksburg Daily News:
The old saying that the devil like the
poor is always with us has again been
proven true by report which comes
from Enterprise A minister Of the
Southern Methodist church, " no preach
ed there and at Glen Falls has gone and
with him went considerable money not
his. The only thing he left behind is
some very bad debts and his creditors
would enjoy the opportunity Of having a
settlement.
Rev. E. J. Preston last year was on
the BOothsville circuit. His churches
were Glen Falls, Enterprise, this coun-
ty; BOothsyille, Marion county; and
Tappan, Lawler Chapel and Rose Hill.
Taylor county. He was a very pleasing
and affable man. He made friends
among all classes of people and was
considered one Of the most brilliant
ministers Of the church. He was well
educated and took high ranks in the de-
nomination.
But he fell, He listened to tn
tempter. He partook of the forbidden
fruit. He tasted sin and liked it. Then
he wronged his friends and went away,
carrying their money under false pre-
lenses. When he arrived upon his new
field this patron saint, by his pleasing
manner and seeming devotion to the
cause of christianity, soon won the
hearts of his people. They trusted him
and believed he was a man who was
deeply interested in their spiritual vel
fare.
After he had thoroughly intrenched
himself he began his crooFed work. At
Enterprise che represented to Mrs.
Sturm, widow, ard John Hardesty that
he needed money to purchase a home at
Mt, Lake Park; that he decided not to
accept work for 1903, but would pur-
chase this home and spend the year
writing books on christianity. Mrs.
Sturm the report goes, loaned him
81, 200, believing that only a short time
would elapse until he would pay the
debt. John2Hardesty made him loan
of $500 and James -LawHs became his
surety.
| Not:satisfed with these loans he went
do Tappan to further prosecute his
work. He approached Rev. w. W.
James Of that church and secured his
endorsement on q note of 500 given to
Nathan Mcdonald, of near Bridgeport.
In negotiating this loan he told a pitiful
story of his father losing much valuable
property during the Civil war and to
present the matter to the government
he needed another 500. After securing
these loans he notified his churches
that he would not accept charge this
year, but would devote his time to writ
ing books. At the expiration of the
year he left and his whereabouts
We're unknown for several weeks. His
creditors became uneasy and began an
investigation, Finally he was located
in New York city preaching for another
denomination. Whether or not any eff
forts will be made to bring him to JUS
tice is unknown so far, but it is belev-
ed that some action will be taken. This
affair is deeply regretted by the church
at large, as everybody had implicit con-
fidence in the impostor.