Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-07-31
Accused Rector
Asks Indulgence
On Wife's Charge


Rev. A. Peter Tulip, who resigned last
week from the pastorate OF Christ
Episcopal Church because his wife
sued for divorce, has written letter
to the vestrymen and members of the
church in which he says that he re-
signed in order to be better able to
fight the divorce action. The letter
was sent from Onteora Park in the
CatskillS.
The former rector desires, he states,
to have the church escape the stigma
due to its head being charged with
an offense involving moral turpitude.
He asserts his innocence and asks the
congregation to withhold judgment
until the courts decide the case.
Mrs. Tulips accusations, it is said,
are based on letter alleged to have
been written by the rector to young
woman member of his congregation in
which reference was made to trip to
South Norwalk, Conn.
The following letter has been sent
to the vestry of Christ Church, Hack
ensack, by Rev. Mr.. TULIP:
"New York City,
Gully "a, 1915
"To the Vestry and Congregation
of Christ Church, Hackensack, N. j.
"While attending my duties at On
teora Park, in the State of New York,
l received communication from an
attorney appraising me that my wife
was about to institute divorce pro-
ceedings on the statutory grounds of
adultery. On receiving said commune
cation, l Immediately sent in my res
ignation as rector of Christ Church,
Hackensack, N. j., to the vestry
thereof.
"The reason for my action in re-
signing my rectorship was, that in
my mind, l could better defend such
contemplated action as a private citi-
zen than as priest of the church;
and that the church and the congre-
cation would then escape any stigma
due to its rector being charged with
an offense involving moral turpitude.
"Since sending to the aforesaid
vestry my resignation, have con-
suited with friends, including men,
bers of the vestry, and having stated
my position to them sufficiently to
convince them that l am absolutely
innocent of any of the acts or actions
charged against me, l respectfully in
form said vestry, as we'll as the men,
bers of my congregation, that l shall
defend any action in the divorce that
may be brought against me. owe
this to the vestry, the congregation,
as we'll as to myself.
81 respectfully request the congre-
cation to withhold any judgment that
they may have formed in this regret
table matter until such time as the
courts of the State of New Jersey
have properly adjudicated the matter
in issue.
again assuring you of my inno-
cence of the scandalous charges con-
tanned in the public prints, as we'll
as that disseminated in public rumor,
l remain, with deep respect,
Faithfully yours,
"(Signed) A. Peter Tulip"
The attorney referred to in Rector
Tulips letter is William B. Mackay,
jr., and the rector replied to the let
ter, stating that "some mistake has
been made"
Mrs. Tulip is said to be basing her
suit on sensational letter written
by the rector to young woman of
his church, which was found by her
mother and given to Mrs. Tulip in the
presence of the rector, and also on
trip made by Rector Tulip to South
Norwalk, Conn.,, on the alleged pre-
text of delivering lecture on Bal
lington Booth. The young woman in
question was visiting an aunt at
South Norwalk at this time.
A relative of Mrs. Tulip claims to
have seen the rector's handwriting
on hotel register in the disguise
of "a. Thomas, New York." and that
the rector doesn't deny the implica-
ton.
1t is understood the vestrymen of
Christ Church will meet at once to
consider tho letter of tho ractor