New-York tribune., 1920-12-10
Lord Sent Message to Re-
turn Home, Is Densel's
Explanation, and Wife
and Family Believe 1t
Faces Flock and
May Be Forgiven
Miss Hannenburg Retires
to Parents Home; Pas
sale Congregation Split

The Rev. Cornelius Densel, former
pastor os the First Netherlands Re-
formed Church, of Passaic, N. J.. and
! president Of the Netherlands Church
Ill America. and Miss trina Hannen-
berg, cno'r girl, who disappeared when
the dominic went away November -.
returned to Passaic Wednesday night.
The pastor asked forgiveness on the
grounds that God sent him home. !"
and the girl hid silently in the home
OF her father and mother, who were
leading members of the church.
The clergyman's family--a wife and
eight children-have forgiven him, to
all outward appearances. Whether his
flock will be as lenient is a matter for
the consistory Of the church to decide.
There seemed to be considcrab bic
difference Of opinion yesterday as to
what stand to take regarding the for
mer pastors dramatic return while
forty men members Of the church were
meeting to decide whether to send to
Holland Tor preac cher to replace the
absent clergyman. Ii any action was
taken at the meeting which was in
corrupted by the appearance of Mr..
Densel and two of his sons the mem
bers of the consistcry We're successful
in keeping it secret
Ex-Pastor May Be Retained
CT
there was some grounds for believing
there is a possibility that the consis-
tory finally will vote to retain the
preacher it it can be shown that he
was not altogether at fault.
When Mr.. Densal and the choir girl
disappeared Mrs. Densel said:
I'll MY husband cannot come back
through the Lords dictation do not
want him at all. But he will come
back"
After he returned shortly after sun
down Wednesday Mrs Densel said:
my husband is back and I an, ver,,
glad to have him home again"
Yesterday morning Benjamin Dcnsel
handed out state ment which had been
typewriter by his brother, Richard.
Richard and Cornelius, another brother,
had accompanied their father TO the
consistory meeting. The statement fol-
lows:
Last Monday evening the congrega-
ton met to select new pastor. There
vas slight difference Of opinion, and
it was decided to hold consistory
meeting last night. To this meeting
those who held differences Of opinion
were asked to come and state them to
the consistory. My father, my brother
Cornelius and myself went to the meet
ing. As my father camc in the forty
odd men present seemed much sur
prised.
Densel Asks Forgiveness
IN Dutch language, my father
made statement. Its English transla-
ton is about as follows: 4 do not
come to you as your pastor or as a
member OF the congregation, but
simply as \ stranger, and hope that
you will forgive the mistake made in
resigning from the church so abruptly
Speaking for my family, my fathers
explanation for his Disappearance is
satisfactory to MY mother and to u.s."
To this statement Benjamin added
the following later at the parsonage:
"God brought my father home.
Mother is very happy, and she has for
given my father"
That, as far as the public is con-
cerned, is how the family feels toward
Henry Drost, the secretary of the
consistory, with whom the clergyman
left his resignation when he disap-
peared on the day the choir girl left
Passaic, said:
~ l we're he ! would be ashamed to
return"
1t was said to-day that when Mr..
Dcnsel reached The consistory meeting
and sought admittance Mr.. Drost
slammed the door in his face. The
pastor was in tears when he raped
on the door where the meeting was