Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-07
FORMER GREEN MOUNTAIN PAS.
TOR CENTER OF DISRUPTION
IN CHURCH ROW.
ELDERS ACCUSE HIM
OF BEING INDlscREET
All But Two Members Of Church SEES
sion Resign Following Sessions Elk.
oneration Of Rev. Mr.. Mason-Former
Green Mountain Pastor Defiant But
Later Resigns Long Beach Charge.

Following charges which were filed
against Rev. o. H. l.. Mason, a former
pastor Of the Green Mountain Congre-
gational church, Rev. Mr.. Mason has
resigned his pastorate Of the Presby-
terrain church of Long Beach, Cal. He
has gone to Los Angeles and it is said
that he will go to Winnipeg, Can,
to take d charge.
| AS a result Of 1he split in the church
over the case, all but two of the elders
have resigned, and the charges made
! by the trustees have been made public.
The following dispatch from Long
Beach tells of the recent developments
of the church and pastors troubles:
| Long Beach, Cal.-Contrary to ex-
pectations, the acceptance yesterday by
| the Los Angeles presbytery of the
resignation of Rev. O. H. l. Mason as
pastor Of the First Presbyterian
! church, did not end the affair. The
defiant stand taken by DR.. Mason
against the desire Of the elders to have
| him pass quietly out Of church life
| in Long Beach, coupled with the action
| of the presbytery in extending the
| terminat;oc of his connection with the
| church to Oct. I, and Dr.. Mason's an
nouncement that he would occupy the
| pulpit at both services Sunday, did not
please the elders who have been oppos-
/. ing him, and as result the church
has only two members Of its session
| left. Prof. James D. Graham and Prof.
David Burcham.
Other Elders Resign.
| Elders McDermont and George Mar
| shall resigned some weeks ago to take
membership in a new Presbyterian
church. Elders W. Patton Wilson and
| Albert johnson resigned a week ago.
following the sessions acquiescence in
! a series of resolutions generating DR..
| Mason and recommending him to the
best wishes of any church to which he
might be called, and six Of the remain
| ing elders sent the following terse
! letter to the trustees Of the church.
| 1--WE the undersigned members Of the
session of the First Presbyterian
church. feeling that from the first we
have acted as conscientiously and
wisely as we were able and under
standing that we have not in our &C.
ton met with the approval Of the pres
bytery and great many OF the con-
gregation, herewith hand you our
designations, to take effect at once.
"a. T. Covert. John NJ. Forsythe. w.
| L. Dickerson, John NJ. Edgar, c. F.
| Iredell, S. D. Wilson.
| All these are old-time members Of
the church and have been elders for
several years. Every one is prom
inent in business and professional life
and actively identified with the church
interests of the city.
The Elders Statement.
Snlarting under the imputation that
the attack upon DR.. Mason was based
solely upon rumors andssactuated by
malice in concerted attempt to ruin
his character. members Of the session
made public a statement Of the facts
as they came to them. The statement
was prepared the latter part Of july
and is signed by nine members Of the
sessions: DR.. A. T. Covert. Alder,
Johnson, A McDermott, George H
Marshall, John NJ. Forsythe. C. F. Ire
dell. W. L. Dickerson, w. p. Wilson
and S. D. Wilson
| The statement sets out a long &C.
count Of alleged indiscretle1s ~ Rev
MIN ason, par icularly N his conduc,
with young.<vomen of his congrega-
ton. One Of the charges contained II
the statement was that Rev. Mr.. Mas
on had accompanied a young lady tc
a Los Angeles restaurant where wine
was ordered for the lady an6
lemonade with something stronger ir
it, for Rev. Mr.. Mason
The statement continues that Dr.
Mason confessed to the elders that he
had done wrong and was willing t;
suffer-" An instance of his being init
mate with another young lady of his
congregation was brought to the elders
by the young lady. who. the statemen,
says. signed written statement Of this
case. The statement adds that wher
the trustees first approached DR.. Mas
on on the subject of this charge tina
he appeared nor to remember about tilt
incident, but that later nerpractically
admitted it.
Rev. Mr.. Mason was chaplain Of tn;
Forty ninth Iowa regiment during The
| Spanish American war. Later he wa!
/ pastor of the Presbyterian church a
Boone.