Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-09-09
'fffGttiii |: Of Of ONCE ONCE
LEADING MINISTER
TRACED TO WOMAN
Formerly Got Big Salary From
Wealthy Flock, but Now Has
a Little Syrian
Mission,

ANCW ApRSAAS1AH ASAAh 1880 -
a large and fashionable Protestant
Episcopal church in Huntingdon, Pa,
with a big salary and a comfortable
home, to the office of II OF a small
Syrian-ATabic branch OF the Russian
Orthodox church in Brooklyn at a SAL
airy OF about $40 a ~month-that has
been tho rapid change in the ministry
of the Rev. DIR. Ingram n. w. Irvine,
one of the principals in the famous
Talbot-Irvine controversy, which did
not end until Bishop Ethelbert Talbot
of the Episcopal Diocese Of Central
Pennsylvania had twice been placed
under serious charges and DR.. Irvine
had been deposed.
The story of DIR. Iryine's small
financial recompense came out In sup
Elementary proceedings a few days
ago, the minister having alleged ina
bility to pay a judgment for $135 OBJ
tanned against him by a man who had
loaned him money three years ago.
DIR. Irvine is now living with his fam
fly in a very modest apartment at No.
141 West One Hundred and Ninth st.
The beginning of the troubles OF DR..
Irvine in the Protestant Episcopal
church date back nearly ten years,
and a woman appears through the
story as one of the chief fgures--a sort
OF Nemesis pursuing h minister.
The Rev. DR.. Irvine was rector OF
st. Johns church, the largest and most
fashionable church in Huntington, Pa,
when he vas deposed from the min
istry by Bishop Talbot in 1902. Mrs.
Emma d. Elliot was a wealthy and
prominent member of the church and
one of the foremost workers in all It's
charities and social life.
Woman Enters Scene.
on one Of his visits to Huntingdon
Bishop Talbot became acquainted with
Mrs. Elliott and thereafter was q fire.
quent visitor at her home, becoming
n close friend of both herself and her
husband. Some time after the bishop
became acquainted with Mrs. Elliott
the latter and DR.. Irvine had a sharp
dispute over church funds given by
Mrs. Elliott and which she charged
had been misapproprlated.
1t seems hat this dispute caused
each OF the principals to look up the
past line Of the other. Mrs. Elliott was
accused by the minister OF inspiring
the publication OF an article alleging
s~candalous behavior on his part with
women at Quincy, Ill, where he had
formerly been a rector. DR.. Irvine, On
the other hand. found that Mrs. Elliott
was thrice u divorcee, ami was tiien
~ WIZ vi "a hldh AO Aidd hINOLCC0
a former wife on the grounds not rec
ognized by the church.
The minister wrote a letter to Bishop
Talbot stating a hypothetical case
covered that OF Mrs. Elliott and
asked the bishop what course he should
pursue. Bishop Talbot replied to DR..
that I'm such case Il was his duty
10 refuse communion to the woman DR..
irvine followed the bishops advice and
Elliott was dropped from the
church.
Has Him Arrested.
Not long after this DR.. Irvine was
on Mrs. Elliott's charge that
he had forged a letter to Bishop Tai
bot, signing her name, and asking that
all controversy over her excommunica-
ton be dropped. DR.. Irvine was ac-
quilted on the trial, but Bishop Talbot
turned against him. and 1t was charged
that he wrote to Mrs. Elliott advising
her to prosecute the rector and promis-
ing her II she could convict him that
he would "unfrock the Shiny fellow"
Although DR.. Irvine was acquitted
OF the forgery charge, other charges
were brought against him. Bishop Tai
bot ordered an ecclesiastical court to
try the rector, and the bishop himself
read from the pulpit the order of de-
position from the ministry.
DR.. Irvine and 10 friends presented
charges against Bishop Talbot. but an
investigating committee by a vote Of
5 to 4 refused to put the bishop on
trial.
The matter would not down, how
ever. For nearly 1--WE years the contro-
versy ragged. Finally j. Pierpont Nor
gan took a hand n a new present.
ment against the bishop was placed In
the hands of Francis Lynde Statson,
MI. Morgan's personal counsel. Among
the charges against Bishop Talbot In
the new presentment was one of i'm
morality" 1t was said that the name
Of O fashionable society woman in
a Pennsylvania city was involved. Tho
charges were dismissed.
Joins Russian Church.
Thus defeated on every hand. DR..
Irvine came TO New York. In 1905 he
was ordained as a priest in the Holy
Orth. iox Eastern Catholic church by
Archbishop Tikhon. then head of the
Russian. Greek and Syrian Catholics
In New York. DIR. Irvine was made
canon of st. Nicholas cathedral.
DIR. Irvine refused to discuss the
story that he has a salary OF only $40
q month. AS to his controversy with
Bishop Talbot, that was no longer in
his mind, he said. The work OF DR..
Irvine is now among the Syrians and
Arabs OF BROOKLYN.
Il am working In a new field" said
DIR. Irvine. These Syrians and Arabs
who attend the church In Pacific street,
Brooklyn, have children who are grow
Ing up Americans, speaking the Eng
lish language. The worship al the or
thodox churches is In foreign lam
guages. My .ork is largely teaching
the children.
AS for the suit against me, I do not
rare to say a word. 1t should not have
been brought"