Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-09
Council Bluffs
PASTOR sues FOR DAMAGES
Rev. C. S. Lyle of Logan Asks SIS.
900 of Brethren in Ministry.
FOLLOWS ON CHURCH INQUIRY
As Soon as Board of Pastors Hsd
Exoaerated Logan Man, He
Starts Action I'm state
Courts.

Claiming ln2t tne Complainant anu
TWO witnesses In q church trial had mis-
represented and slandered him, all Of
whom are fellow ciergymen in the same
church, Rev. c. $. Lyle. pastor OF the
Methodist church at Logan, la. yester-
dag began suits against each OF them
for sS.coo. asking judgments aggregat-
ing $500 The defendants are Rev.
y. S. Bicknell. now o superannuated
Methodist clergyman residing at Loving
TN. H.: Rev. b. r. Shippp. pastor Of
the church at Paris. ILL.,. and Rev. A. B.
Davis, in charge OF the Methodist church
at Glencoe. Okl. Service In the suits
was obtained on all OF the parties I'M
nediately after the decision was an
nounced generating Pastor Lyle from
the charges made against him
The suits grew out Of church trial
held In the Broadway Methodist church
In this city on "Wednesday. and date back
TO some trouble that occurred between
Preacher Lyle and his congregation at
Loyington and which related TO alleged
financial Irregularities that were after
wards satisfactorily adjusted. The in
cident. or unpleasantness occurred in
1910, while Mr.. Davis was occupying the
pulpit of the church at Logan. Follow
Ing the settlement the two pastors ex-
gan and Mr.. Davis going to the Illinois
town. and later changing his location
and going to Oklahoma. II was after
Mr.. Davis went to Loyington that the
correspondence occurred which led 10 the
formal charges which were inquired Into
81 the ecclesiastical court here.
The charges were contained In letters
chiefly written by Rev. MIR. Bickneil to
Rev. C. L. Baxter. who occupies the
official position OF district supenntend-
ent or presiding elder, over the territory
of southwestern Iowa, including Logan.
and were meant. tits said, 10 affect the
standing OF the Logan pastor. The court
was composed of Rev. Mr.. Baxter. acting
as presiding officer; Rev. A. W. Harmed,
pastor of the Trinity Methodist church:
Rev. J. L. Matheney. pastor Of the Fifth
Avenue Methodist church: Rev. Mr..
Graves of the Epworth charge. all OF this
city; Rev. W. N. Graves Of tho Glenwood
church. and Rev. NJ. NJ. Gable Of Des
Moines.
After all OF the testimony was In It
required only about twenty minutes for
the ecclesiastical court to reach its de-
cIslon generating the accused pastor.
The testimony all showed that whatever
trouble there had been had been fully
settled between Rev. Mr.. Lyle and his
congregation The clefgymen who heard
the case we're sitting as a board OF In
quiry rather than really as court and
had no power TO dispose Of the case other
than by recommendation, their report In
either case Of cxoneration or the reverse
being merely TO the general conference.
Rev. Mr. Lyle bases his suit on the
allegation that the reports circulated
were for the purpose OF injuring hiu
and were slanderous and untrue.
The heavy demand for damages pre-
sents something Of an anomaly, for the
Rev. Mr.. BicknelL who is an aged minis
ter. living upon a small stipend allowed
him by the conference. Is said to be un-
able TO pay even a small amount. and
the usual amount Of pay accorded clergy
men hardly affords grounds for the pre-
that the other two defendants
could pay the snug little sum Of 15oo
without considerable financial embarrass.
ment. The defendants were considerably
wrought up over the finding Of the court
and the service OF the suit and said they
would appeal from the findings and fight
the civil suit with genuine enthusiasm.
The hearing at the church was conducted
with as little publicity as possible. and
that II was forthcoming was not gen
orally known even among the members
Of the broadway church. The big suits
win have to be tried In the district court
here unless the defendants. two Of whom
reside in other states. choose to have II
to the federal court It was
freely predicted in church circles last
evening, however. that the suits would
be dismissed after naturer elaboration.
for the alleged charges. as well as the
alleged injury. are not Of a character
to be accounted serious from worldly
point OF view.