New Britain herald., 1927-01-17
CHARGES MADE IN
 NEGRO CHURCH ROW
Trustees Make Statement and Pastor Explains His Case

Protestant churches in general are concerned about conditions existing in the A. M. E. Zion church in which a controversy between two factions has resulted in an attempt to oust the minister.
 The controversy resulted in a hear ing before a ministerial committee representing the New England con. ference last week and concluded with a vote to reprimand the minister and a letter to Bishop w. L. Lee of Brooklyn asking for a final ruling.
 The meeting was in charge of Rev. S. W. Weller of Middletown. presid- ing elder. and was held in secret. the presiding elder and other deny ing that any important meeting was being held. After report in the Herald of the meeting, the following statement specifying the charges was issued by three of the trustees:
 we the undersigned. wish to cor rect the statements placed in your paper Thursday evening. We wish 10 call your attention to facts. There k no faction or discord. The prin- cipal charges brought against the minister, Rev. Mir. L. F. Aston is: conduct unbecoming a minister; banking the church's money in his own name without the consent Of the trustees and intemperance.
 The trial committee announced him guilty of banking the money in his own name, which will cause an immediate removal on receipt of the Bishop w. l.. Lee signature, which the trial committee will ascertain as carly as possible.
 "It was announced by them that Rev. Mir. L. r. Aston will act as temporary pastor until he receives fl notice. Charges found against the pastor by the Investigating commit tee on December [, 1926. while the Rev. A. J. Gorham acted as chair man are as follows: First, banking the church's money in his own name without consent of the trustees; sec ond, abusive language; third, intem- perance which he was found guilty of hy the trial. committee on We'd ne.day evening, January F. 1927.
 There was no election of officers of the trustee board in the absence of the pastor. Rev. MT. A. L. Aston. When these officers were elected the pastor was acting chairman of the board. ,orgs
 ..At that special meeting there were no rumors concerning any check cashed by E. L. Richardson for personal use. There were no efforts made to keep news from any reporter. The presiding elder, Rev. s. W. Weller. made statement concerning reporter seeking lnfor- nation about the happening which he refused to submit until the close of the meeting.
 Instead of an increase in the church there Is a decrease Of 70 per cent, The reduction of the mortgage is not credited to the present pas tor, Rev. Mir. F. L. Aston. It IS through the s3,o0O bequest by Mir Spencer Douglas that this outstand- ing mortgage has been reduced py s2,50O instead of $2,000.
 The back salary of the pastor IS not as stated"
 (Slgned). E. L.. Singleton, Jr Ii. NJ. Brewer. F. L. Richardson.
 Pastors Side of Story
 Discussing the charge of banking church money Rev. F. L. Aston, the pastor under fire, explained that the trustees had elected two treasurers and as the official head of the church it was his business he felt to hold onto the funds until the controversy could be strengthened out. He says he presided at meeting in which it was .voted to elect E. L. Singleton and oust E. l.. Richardson as treas urer. He refused to declare Single ton elected and at subsequent meeting held while he was in New York city. the trustees met and elected Singleton, an election the
 
 On the morning after the hearing I representative of the Herald tele- phoned the presiding elder. Rev. s. w. Weller at Middletown, reminding him of his promise of the preceding afternoon to tell the facts in the case. The reply was Tt was just a little private business and there ie no story in it. Pressed for a fur tller. statement. the presiding elder stated that H. W. Brewer of this city. chairman of the board of trus- tees, would tell the story. Mir. Brewer. who previously had denied knowing what the charges were, could not be reached the next day. residence was to the effect that he was in bed and would not get up be- fore noon. Further information gained at the Brewer home and by phone call 10 the parsonage was 10 the effect that tho presiding elder had given orders not to tell the newspapers.
 Mr. Brewer Is accused by the minister of unlawfully opening L. S. mail, the charge resulting from a registered letter delivered by mistake to Brewer and which the latter is alleged to have read before giving it to the pastor. T am going to sue him for s5.000," said the minister,
 Charges Were 15O"
 The Incident marked the third appearance of the out of town com mittee, according to statement made by Rev. F. L. Aston. The committee was called together, he states. on complaint of H. w.. Brewer.
 At the outset of the hearing last week the pastor says Chairman B. W. Swain of Boston ruled that the committee could not proceed legally h, tJ,.