Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-31


had another priest q friend q some
relative Of others hom they wished
10 have here / demanded that they
show me the rules and regulations
governing the Greek community OF
s.. George. to show where and how
they had the right TO ask my resigna-
ton I pointed one Section Il u
these rules and regulations. which
provides that Ia case fl IS desired 70
change q priest, or should ne die or
leave his obligation. the matter must
he taken up with the high officers OF
tse church in Athens, Greece, or IT
the priest did not DO 70 his work or
properly attend 10 his duties or should
oxercharge for services rendered. then
the majority OF the members Of the
congregation must put the matter 10
vote. and If two-thirds majority are
In favor OF 0Usting the priest they
must send the returns Of the election,
together with g certified copy Of the
charges. to the high officials at Athens.
A verdict viii then be rendered by the
high officials and Il they decide against
him the priest viii then be notified by
them 10 remove to another place or
10 hand in his resignation When
another priest is sent the priest in
charge will then leave, but he is not
to leave under any circumstances un-
I'll the other priest arrives.
Seeing that they could not force
my resignation, on March 3, without
comforting with members of the con
gregatIon and asking their advice as
to what should be done, the officers Of
our church secrete1y communicated
with one George Coin Of Athens,
Greece, q nephew Of James Coin Of
the tri-cittes, and a cousin 10 the Coin
brother Of the trf-cities They urged
him to attempt 10 influence the high
officers at Athens to remove me.
About June 10 another meeting Of
the officers Of our church was held in
Turner hall I was there and asked
the officers If they had communicated
with George Coin at Athens asking
him TO intercede TO have me removed.
All Of them denied having done so.
7 showed them the postof7ce receipt
from Athens. which had come 70 me
/ by mistake. They were dumbfOunded
and did not know what to say.
Appeals to Officers.
President Foufas said he was very
sorry for what had occurred and asked
that 7 let the matter drop at that
time. saying it would be taken up at
another meeting that would be called
especially for that purpose. After the
meeting / met John NOpulus, partner
in the Western Fruit 4 Candy com
pany Of Davenport, who claimed to be
d personal friend of mine. I asked
him about the letter that had been
sent to George Coin at Athens and
he denied having had anything to do
with it.
THE next day I met William St0-
pouIous, groceryman on First street.
East Moline. one OF the trustees Of
the church, and asked him about the
letter. He acknowledged that he had
signed it together with the rest Of
the trustees He said he was very
sorry about what had happened and
declared he had signed the letter be
cause he was urged to by Gust Pep
eroganis. treasurer Of the church He
said he would send in his resignation
as trustee the next day. He has never
done SO, but he has stopped coming to
church. AS a trustee he is duty bound
TO come to church every Sunday.
Seeing that our affairs were getting
into such a state sent q letter to
the high officers of the Greek orthodox
church at Athens. Greece That let
ter was signed by 1.703 Greek members
of our church in the tri-cities. The
letter stated that the people who had
signed it were grateful 10 their priest
for the work he had done among their
sick. their dying and their poor. 1t al
so advised the high officers of the
church at Athens that the people Of
the church did not want the priest re
moved.
Damages are Brought,
After this the officers OF our
church, having failed to obtain any
satisfaction from the high officers at
Athens, took the matter up with the
Greek ambassador to the United States
at Washington, D. C.. and also with
the Greek consul at Chicago They
soon received replies from both these
officials saying that they had nothing
to do with me or with the church and
that if they wanted anything done
they must take it up with the high Off
Gals at Athens.
Having failed TO do anything with
the ambassador, consul or church
officials al Athens. the 1ts5 ara Of the
church here persuaded Mrs. Valte
George, wife or Tony George, one Of
this trustees, proprietor of the Peoples
Panatorium on Fourth avenue. to bring
suit for SANDER against me, asking
$4,000 damages They persuaded her
to charge I had slanderad her reputa-
ton and her character, so that the
people of my congregation would turn
against me and that I would get so
discouraged that I would pack up and
leave
These people claim that they still
have eight or ten more charges to
bring against me and that they viii
succeed in making me leave because
they want to provide a place as priest
for their friend.