Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-02
CHURCH SCANDAL
STIRS MACON
SOCIETY
Investigation Made of Alleged In
timacy Between Choir Leader
and Church Worker.

MACON, July 2.-Church people
here are greatly agitated to-day over
the investigation by the executive
committee OF the First Christian
Church into the alleged intimacy Of
two OF Its most prominent members
Professor Frank NJ. Charlton, leader
OF the choir, and Mrs. Marvin Lee
Lester secretary Of the Ladies' Aid
Society.
The alleged improper conduct as
charged by two neighbors Of Mrs.
Lester Mrs. J. w jenkins and Mrs.
Alma Armstrong is said to have oc-
CURED on the night Of June 5, when a
telephone conversation between the
professor and Mrs. Lester was over
heard by Mrs. jenkins, 1t is alleged
According to Mrs jenkins, who is
on the same telephone line with Mrs.
Lester, Professor Charlton asked Mrs.
Lester If Mr. Lester were in.
Pair Watch for Professor.
| Upon the reply Of Mrs Lester that
he was not in, Mrs. Jenkins says Pro-
fessor Charlton said: How about
coming around, them"
Mrs jenkins claims she called Mrs.
| Armstrong over and together the two
watched for Professor Charltons ar
! rival He came to the corner of the
Lester house. she claims, and then
went back and turned up the alley,
| where he started to enter the Lester
! side gate Mrs. Jenkins says she
screamed burglar" and called Mrs.
Lester who replied that there wasn't
any burglar there, and cut OF.
Nothing further was heard of the
burglary until June 81. when The
Macon News published an anonymous
story Of the affair using the names
A, b, G.. Copies OF the paper were
then mailed anonymously to Mr.. Les
ter and Mrs Charlton. and the church
investigation followed on SATURDAY
last, when certain OF the parties were
summoned to appear
Four Elders Make Inquiry.
Members Of the committee, COM
posed OF four elders Of the church
Lenoir NJ. Erwin, Orrin Erwin. II. W
Roper and a. NJ Smith said TODAY
| that the investigation proha bly, would
| be completed the latter part Of this
week The committee will then re
port its findings in open meeting tc
1 the church congregation which Will
vote on the guilt of the parties CON
cerued.
| II proved guilty, members of the
committee say, both Professor Charl
ton and Mrs Lester VIII be ousted
from the church on the other hand
If proved not guilty. the parties viii
be indicated in open meeting and
the church cleared of-The charges
which have been placed against two
Of its most prominent members.
Will Be No Whitewash.
! Lenoir NJ Erwin. member of the
investigating committee and United
States Commissioner here. and Rev
Leroy NJ. Anderson. pastor OF the
church. declared to-day that there
/ would be no whitewash e the AFFAIR.
Il that the charges were being sifted Ia
II the bottom. and the real truth would
be brought out in open meeting, a is
| customary I'm the Christian Church.
If the parties are guilty as
II charged" said Rev Mr.. Anderson
Il they will be dealt with accordingly
Il but II they are not guilty Of the CHARGES
the church WITH protect them. In
neither case, however. will this be
! done secretly, for the laws Of our
church provide for action by the con
gregation as whole in such cases.
Wanted Names Published.
There Will he no whitewash. and
Il II any publication of the matter is
made l demand that the names Of
the parties. the name Of the church
and the pastor be used"
Mr.. Erwin, who is taking an ac-
tive part in the investigation. made
the same statements in substance
\ He said both sides OF the matter were
being investigated fully. and no stone
would be left unturned to bring out
l the true facts In the case.
II Professor Charlton and Mrs Les
/ ter DENY the charges vigorously. ard
/ in this they are supported by Mr.. Les
ter and Mrs. Charlton. Each declares
that a f"N investigation Of the mat
| ter is courted.
Libel Suits Threatened.
| Mr.. Lester said Tuesday night he
! would consult with his attorney
/ Claud Estes. Wednesday. to consider
] filing suit against the parties whc
/ have made the charges against hi,
| wife for malicious SANDER
8 IL IL.