The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-15
FRAZER HITS
'TR|UMWRATE' IN
FIRST CHURCH
"Who Are They?" Is Question
Presbyterians in the City
Are Asking.

Presbyterians and clergymen of all
religious denominations in Newark are
anxious to know who the "triumvirate"
the Rev. DR.. David r. Frazer, who re-
Gently resigned as pastor of the old
First Presbyterian Church, after a
service of twenty-six years, has mem
toned in a public statement as work
ing to force him out of the church. DR..
street, Bloomfield, is incensed because
of stories hat have been circulated
about his personal habits.
DR.. Frazer's two married daughters,
Mrs. Russell w, Lewis n Mrs.
Rodgers Underwood. have withdrawn
from the church. Spaulding Frazer and
Mrs. Frazer have not attended the
church since DIR. Frazer's retirement.
DR.. and Mrs. L. Eugene HOLSTER, of
1S9 Clinton avenue, parents of the
younger Mrs. Frazer. have left the
church. together with James H.
Fletcher, of 121 New street, and Mr..
and Mrs. George Beattie, OF rs Mt.
Prospect avenue. Mr.. Fletcher sent a
letter to the session which created a
sensation.
One of the stories was that a leading
elder n trustee of the First Church
saw DR.. Frazer take a drink in n New
York restaurant after he had neI vous
p~rostration from too much work as
pastor. It has also been said that he
was forced" out of the pastorate of
the church. He denies this emphat-
ically, saying that the official boards
of the church acceded to his demands
as to the terms on which he would re-
tire as pastor, and that he did not
accept in any way the terms Of the
officers of the church.
What Mr.. Hams Says.
Edmont P. Hams, who has for
twenty years been a member and sec
rotary of the board of deacons of the
First Church, and is now president of
the board, said today:
In my opinion, the trouble has been
caused by dual office-holding in our
church, which l have always commended
is the curse of our church. For in
stance, the deacons and elders elect an
elder a trustee, and, Of course, he is
naturally under obligations to the men
who voted for him. AS a trustee he is
judge and jury.
in regard to the resignation of DR..
Frazer I will say that if the matter
had been brought before the joint board
of officers of the church for action,
without a previous caucus, there would
not have been any trouble But it Is a
fact that everything We nave been
called upon to act on has been cut and
dried before we of the joint board were
called to consider 1t.
Without blaming anybody, I will say
hat [ was not officially notified of the
first Joint meeting of the boards of
officers of the church at which the
retirement of DIR. Frazer was consid-
cred n also the terms on which he
should be retired. AS to the men who
circulated the stories about DIR. Frazer,
l have nothing to say. The 'triumvi-
rate as he has ermed them in a public !
statement, are known to the members
of the church, at least those who take
an active interest in all that pertains
to the church,"
DIR. Frazcr's statement.
Regarding the charges that he drank,
DR.. Frazer said:
Stories have been spread about me
"'iiof are uHerue, ana L nousnt HrSl
1t would be better to ignore them en-
tirely. l have lived in Newark for
twenty-six years, and the people of the
city know my habits. l will say that I
not a tippler, nor am | a teetotaller.
Some members of the church, however,,
have a good deal to say would
convict a man of drunkenness if he
took a single glass of beer. l am
neither a victim of drugs, nor am l an
imbeeile. | broke down some time ago
and was forced to so to Pennsylvania