New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-12
LOCKED OUT RECTOR
BREACHES ON LAWN
Brooklyn Clergyman Prompt to
Act on Finding Church Closed
by the vestry.
NIGHT PRAYERS BY LANTERN
Friends of the Rev. DR.. William
N. Ackley Say Bishop Bur
CESS Sides with Him
in Fight.

With his back to the doors Of his
church. which had been locked against
him by the vestrymen, the Rev Dr.
William y. ACkley, rector of st. An
drev's Protestant Episcopal Church,
Fourth avenue and .tlth street. South
Brooklyn. held three OF the four regular
services yesterday while members of his
congregation stood around him on the
lawn. He conducted the services in the
usual way, changing them in no man
ner save to leave out the sermon at the
1913 o'clock service because of the heat
DR.. Ackley was forced to perform his
duties as rector outside the church edl-
five because when he arrived yesterday
for the first service at 8 o'clock in the
morning he found notice posted by the
wardens and vestrymen informing the
members of the congregation that he
as no longer in charge. About two
hundred men and women were gathered
and talking about the notice when the
rector arrived. They expressed their
sympathy. Unable to grasp the mean
ing of the notice, DR.. ACkley drew his
keys from a pocket and tried the church
doors They were not only locked but
had been fitted with new locks. thus eff
fectually barring the minister from
gaining an entrance
DR.. Ackley asked the men and women
to return for the 1915 o'clock service,
and they did. Standing in the open air,
with the sun beating down on his bare
head, the rector. who is nearly seventy
wears old. conducted the service. He
stopped long enough to permit mem
her of the congregation to bring chairs
for an old couple who were too feeble to
stand Near the close of the service
over three hundred men and women
sang A hymn When it was finished
with few exceptions they shook hands
with the rector and assured him that
they were with him
At 80 o'clock over two hundred chill
dren gathered for Sunday school with
their teachers OeCitations were held on
the steps and on the sidewalk. while
crowds of persons living in the neighhor-
hood looked on. There was talk of COM
peling the vestrymen to open the doors.
but not one of the nine men were in
sight.
Or. Ackley appeared again last night
for prayers. over which he ofT1ciated by
lantern light. Nearly all the members
OF the congregation were present, and
most of them promised to stand by their
rector against the vestrymen-
The charges against DR.. Ackley have
been made public. 1t is held by the
vestrymen and wardens that he is too
old to be of further good to the church.
He is called inefficient and is accused
Of such disregard of his duties that a
debt of $1,000, which was on the church
when he took charge sixteen years ago,
is not yet paid. The Vestrymen also
say that he is overbearing with them.
Members of the congregation declared
last night that Bishop Burgess is with
DR. Ackley. They said that it was on
the advice of the Bishop that the clergy
man appeared for all the four services
yesterday.
Friends of the rector said that the
action of the vestrymen in posting a
notice discharging DIR. Ackley is illegal.
They say that not even the Bishop can
relieve the minister of his pastoral Of
fee until a board of three vestrymen and
two lavmen have heard the allegations
and have brought him to trial.
DR. Ackley would not talk last night,
pleading that his counsel had directed
him not to do so. 1t is known that he
visited each of the Wardens and vestry-
men Yesterday in an effort to get the
KEYS of the church.