New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-06
Washington Heights M. t.
Members Feared New
Row at Service.
DR.. PRICE VICTIM OF
PLOT, FRIENDS SAY
Law Trouble TO Women Spurned
by Pastor-Recall Friction
Over Choir Head.

Fearing that Jane Est. the industrial
Workers OF the World agitator. would re-
peat al the Washington Heights Me'hodst
F,piscoral Church the disturbance she
created on Saturday q; the trial or the
cburch's rector. the Rev. Jacob + Price,
a detective was placed on guard yestor-
Ssv morning before the service began.
The sleuth had nothing TO DO. II MISS
EST was on hand she did not become
active enough TO excite attention. and the
service went of as smoothly as mad any
Of the others prior to the charges against
the pastor 10y several women.
Combating the accusations against Mr..
Price. two Of the trustees of his church
declared Yesterday that the minister had
really been "hounded" by the women
instead of forcing his attentions on them
and that the clergymans refusal 10 give
them encouragement so Infatuated them
that they decided 10 have vengeance by
bringing charges aSainst him.
The defence Of Dr Price was outlined
YESTERDAY for The Tribune by Walter
comfort president Of the board OF
trustees
II will he shown. said Mr. Comfort
That the charges were part of a plot TO
Gust DR. Price from the church IN re-
taliation FOR his supposed iustrumentahty
in bringing about the dropp.nS of Charles
belmont as leader Of the church choir.
As to the kissing charges themselves
ne said. 20 would be- shown that not only
was DR.. Price innocent Of even so mum
as inoiscretions but that whatever I'M
proper conduct had occurred had been IN
the form Of advances made TO Dr. Price
by certain women, and that they had
been repulsed. Piqued at this he SAID
their minds had been further worked
i,pon bv those interested i'm the spite plot
against their minister until they had
been brought TO twisted and exaggerated
versions of what had really occurred.
When the whole truth Of the situation
is placed before the trial court sara
Mr.. Comfort 81 do not think there VIII
he any doubt that Mr. Price will be en-
tirelv exonerated When these charges
we're first circulated. the board of trus-
toes investigated them. and was almost
unanimous i'm his favor. The only one
who was not i'm his favor heard only
one side OF the gossip.
Tho trouble over the choir leader Del
mont. came last April or May. His con-
tract was not renewed by the music
committee. and Or. Price was blamed for
this. belmont threatened to sue. and II
should be remembered that Mr.. Dore,
who is pushing the present charges
against DR. Price was belmont couh-
sci Ii was finally decided to pay Del
mont 500. one third Of his yearly salary,
and the matter was dropped
There vas faction, however, that
WAS determined to force DR.. Price out
They went around among certain women
in the congregation and talked 10 them,
until They got them into such state OF
mind that they were ready 10 say the
things they have.
Or Price asked that the gossip be IN
vestieated and We did so. He told his
version of the incidents. and after IN
vestisation. We accepted 1t without reser-
yatiou.
III should he emembered. also. that
a great many OF the things said against
him were merely hearsay. and they be-
came exaggerated by much repeating.
Or. Prices congregation has full con-
fdence i'm him. When he appears before
the court tomorrow he will, / believe.
tell substantially the same story he tod
Us. and there viii be witnesses 10 back
I'D what he SAYS. There will he other
points I'm his defence which [ am not at
liberty 10 discuss now.
All this talk about an effort 10 white
wash him by the court is nonsense They
are making q careful investigation. When
was before The court the members were
alert and eager Tor every point and
showed an earnest desire 10 get AT me
truth
Another 70 express confidence I'm Or.
Price wa +. b. Treat. one Of the found
CTS Of the church. and member Of the
board Of trustees. He has known DIT
Price for twenty years. and testified be-
fore the court that he knew Of nothing
derogatorv 20 him in that time
.Of course the whole thing was in
Ypired in retaliation and as a result Of
the trouble in the choir last year MI
Treat said There were a number who
we're determined 10 force Dr.. Price out
They let II be known that unless he left
the church they would bring forward
charges.
address al last nights session Of the an
uyal conference. which was conducted by
- committee % the Epworth League in
commemoration OF it's twenty fifth ami
,ersarv. His name remained on the pro-
erau,me. but no announcement or men
ton was made as 10 his absence.
Before the meeting member Of the
committee explained that the accused
minister had not been barred from MAX
ing the address IL was admitted though.
that the situation had been matter OF
embarrassment both 70 the committee
and Dr. Price. and that an agreement
had been made the day previous that Dr.
Price would not appear
Dr. Price did not preach 70 his own con
gregauon in the Washington Heights
Methodist Episcopal Church yesterday.
His pulpit Was occupied by the Rev. Or.
q 4. Mcdonald. Of Newburgh.
Dr. Reisner. Of Grace Methodist Epis-
--oral Church. Goo his sermon Yesterday
made the following reference 70 the
charges against Or. Price
MANY human devils are secretly hoping
mat Dr Price viii be found guilty Of
lnciscrefion. They think this viii help
excuse their own viiencsS. The veal o.
rome Of his prosecutors seems 20 be born
81 retaliation and hate.
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4 TT