Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-12
De MAND PROBE OF
CHARGES AGAINST
newark PASTOR
Rev. DR.. Lumbar, Accused by
Girl and Evangelist, Should
Be Tried, Says Deacon.
GOSSIP BUSY AT ALL
SERVICES IN CHURCHES
Officials of Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Church Blamed for AL
lowing NOtoriety.


The absorbing topic among a large
body of the church-going constituency
that attended both h morning ano
evening services yesterday was the re-
cent alleged scandal that threatens te
disrupt the pastoral status OF the Rev
w. T. s. Lumbar. of the Mt. Pleasant
Baptist Church, and dishonor the fall
naroe of a young woman member OF
his flock, who, the evangelist DR.. Pnii-
Inns. declares, loved her pastor NOT
only unwisely but too we'll"
In the vestibules of the mo
churches. irrespective Of their denomin
alton, little groups gathered together
and discussed pro and con this latest
norsel of church scandal, which is the
first that has affected the religious
status of Newark for many years.
The vehemence of the arguments and
shaking of heads, with an occasional
.I told you so,' or II do not believe a
word of it," at times threatened TO
shatter the cordial relations that ex-
listed among those taking part in the
discussions.
The Rev. DR.. Lumbar seemed to have
the winning end in many of the little
talks, as a large faction condemned
EVANGELIST Phillips for rushing into
print with what seemed to them to De
an unsupported story that reflected
most damagingly upo the morality or
a brother clergyman. Many there were
who, most unstintingiy, condemned the
young woman, who, after making such
an accusation, as alleged, would hide
herself and endeavor to have the victim
of her indiscretion face the charges
which she Is said to have made public
against him..
The consensus of opinion was that
the officials of the Mt. Pleasant Church
had shown an inconsistent front in
allowing their pastor to be exposed, so
to speak, in the pulpit Of the Prospect
Baptist Church, East Orange. and then,
after the scandal had been we'll
framed, to suddenly assume a reticent
front, for the purpose OF hoodwinking
the church constituency.
Mrs. Grundy's Busy sunday.
The tongue Of gossip. despite the fact
that yesterday was the Sabbath,
wagged most vigorously, and the fair
minded church-goers of the various
cocks demanded that a clean breast be
made of the whole affair, as the charges
were a reflection that seriously affected
the Protestant denomination in this
city.
Whether DIR. Lumbar resigns or not
from the Mt. Pleasant Church." said a
prominent Presbyterian deacon yester-
day, 1T is the duty of the church Of
fcers to prove his guilt or innocence to
the public. which has been so spec
Eacularly made aware of the fact that
something has been wrong in his pas
torate. To try to hide the facts, or TO
send the girl away who made the
charges, to prevent her from making
any statement which might clear up
the situation, after the publicity that
has been given the case, is not only
cowardly. but decidedly unchristian.
TN the beginning the whole matter
should have been threshed out within
the province of the official board room
and the decision rendered there.
ITO allow an outside r~evivalist or
religious coworker to make the charges
before the members of another con-
gregation, who had no personal inter
est in the matter, was a direct affront
to the flock of the Mt. Pleasant Church.
What object Mr.. Phillips had in thus
publicly exposing the alleged immo-
ralities of a brother pastor, without for
a moment considering the painful eff
feet 1t would have upon his innocent
wife has not as yet been made clear.
The cause of religion is not benefited
by such ~wide-range scandals, for it
enables the churchless scoffer to secure
fresh ammunition.
"If DIR. Lumbar and the girl are
guilty of the charges voiced by DIR.
Phillips then he has forfeited his right
not only to fill the local pulpit. but to
remain in the ministry, and the girl.
through the so-ter1ned spiritual con-
fession,' a new feature in the Protest
ant Church, has voluntarily put an I'M
p~ardonable social stain on her m
1y honor"
Thus far the local authorities have
taken no cognizance of the criminal
phases of the charges. 1t is not be-
lieved that they will take any action
unless something new develops.