The New York herald., 1921-09-21
PLEADED TO QUIET HIM
Good Thing foc Calvary if
He Were Called Elsewhere,
Says Banker.
NO MOVE 70 GUST PASTOR
Announcement in Present Fu-
rore to Be Made From Pull
pit Probably Tonight.

Charges OF untruthfulness, politely
referred to as "lapses OF memory
were passed yesterday between the
Rev. DR.. John Roach Straton, pastor
of Calvary Baptist Church, and leaders
of the church faction which opposes
the pastors methods.
Prominent among the 200 mem
bers of the church who no longer at
tend services there are George Leask,
banker, with offices at SO William
street: w. H. Trabue of 32 West
Eighty-third street and the Rev. DR..
John D. Calvert, one of the editors of
the Examiner, a religious publication.
In reply to their charges that "sa-
lacious sensationalisn" had made the
church place to which they no longer
could take their wives and children DR..
Straton cited the report Of the board
of trustees, printed last spring, which
upheld his pulpit methods and his busi-
ness administration.
The present outburst Of criticism
against DIR. Straton has been precpi-
tated by the Rev. DIR. Robert s. Mac
Arthur. pastor of the church for forty
one years, in requesting that his name
no longer be used as pastor emeritus
In connection with It's activities.
Tells of All Night Meeting.
DR.. Straton on Monday night had said
lie was meeting with success and that
tho congregation was with him. To this
Mr.. Leask said
When he says that no criticism has
been directed at him from the congrega-
ton DR.. Straton is suffering from a loss
of memory. Why, after one OF his par
ticularly sensational sermons last year
--one which dealt with women's dress
! was one of Ave members who held n
conference with Dr. Straton at the home
OF one of the members The conference
lasted until the early morning hours.
and protest was made against his meth
ods in general and against that sermon
in particular.
II never had have said that DIR.
Strston would be asked to resign.
simply said / thought 1t would be a good
thing for Calvary Baptist Church II the
Lord called him elsewhere"
Dr. Straton. asked about the all night
conference. said he remembered it. He
described the conference as IAN attempt
BY this faction to dominate my message
and browbeat me-" He recalled the
case OF the Rev DR.. Joseph W. Kemp.
his predecessor. who Is now head of the
Metropolitan Tabernacle, In West 104th
street. and said:
This faction is trying to destroy me
like they destroyed DR.. Kemp. Their
efforts were defeated last spring. We
have a happy and prosperous family
"A t,tYt
newspapers by those who oppose me
we're false and have been proved to be
false. The whole thing It too ridiculous.
! am planning to make n statement from
,he pulpit, probably Sunday night but
! will not discuss II further now"
No Movement to Oust Him.
1t is regarded as probable. however.
that DR.. Straton will make statement
tonight following a conference with
;he deacons. He has asked them TO
meet him in his study at 7 o'clock.
before the regular Wednesday night
prayer meeting. While those opposed
TO DIR. Straton constitute a good sized
faction. and they do not attend church
AZ Calvary, they still belong to the
church and II is denied they intend to
withdraw their memberships. 1t also Is
denied there is n crystallized movement
on foot to oust DIR. Straton. One man
explained that, while the opposition to
Dir. Straton Is strong. test vote prob
ably would result in the pastors favor.
Grant Allen. State superintendent Of
the Anti-Blue Law League of America,
Inc. of 160 West Forty-fifth street,
made public n letter he has sent to
Dr. Straton demanding that he resign
because of methods which have been
used to degrade the church. filling II
with seekers of sensation and amuse-
ment rather than those in search OF
spiritual help and consolation" He
added
I'VE speak in the interests OF our
members. among whom are churchmen
OF every denomination and among whom
are members of your own church. We
speak in the name Of a clean and con-
structive church work In which we
hrrnly believe. w speak for clean cut,
honest citizenship, free from cant and
hypoerisy.