Evening star., 1949-03-04
MeIish Looks for Aid
OF Parish in Fighting
Bishops Custer Order
by the Asseeiotsd Press

NEW YORK, Mar. 4.-Refying
orders of his bishop, a Protestant
Episcopal rector today looked to
his congregation to support him
in seeking to retain the pulpit he
has occupied for As years.
The case of the Rev. DR.. John
Howard Melish, rector of Holy
Trinity Church in Brooklyn, is
slaetd to be the key topic OF a
meeting of parish members Mon
day night.
The 74-year- rector, whose
removal was ordered by Bishop
James P. de Wolfe of the Diocese
of Long Island, says he intends to
stay at his post "as long as my
congregation desires me to stay"
Several clergymen defended the
rectorS stand.
Custer Ordered by Bishop.
His removal was ordered by the
bishop because DR.. Mellsh re-
fused to interfere in the nom
church activities of his son. the
Rev. William Howard Melish, who
is the assistant rector.
The son is chairman of the Ma
tional Council of American-SoVlet
Friendship, a group called subver-
sive by Attorney General Clark.
DR.. Melish yesterday termed
the bishops order violation OF
Protestant Episcopal law and said
four Episcopal bishops throughout
the country had offered him their
support.
There were reports the case may
be made an issue before the de-
nominations General Triennial
Convention, scheduled to open
September 26 in San Francisco,
If it is not settled before then.
Normal church procedures al
low no appeal over the bishops
decision, it was said.
"Ominous Action" Charged.
The Rev. John Paul Jones,
president of the Brooklyn division
of the Protestant Council of New
York City, last night termed the
bishops order IAN ominouS action
which must not be unchal-
lenged."
II cannot stomach the SNUG and
pious assumptions of the bishop"
Mr.. Jones, a Presbyterian, said.
Mr.. Jones said there is no ques-
ton about the right of a con-
gregation to dismiss" its rector.
but for bishop and vestry mani
festly out of touch with the feel
ings and desires of the congrega-
ton to remove a rector is quite
another matter"
A committee organized to sup
port DR.. Melish claims 10 per
cent Of the congregation wants
him to remain, and 1t has opposed
the action Of the church vsstry
which requested his custer by the
bishop.
The parish meeting Monday is
slated to consider q proposal to
remove the vestrymen who voted
for the custer recommendation.
Church Struggle Seen.
DR.. Melish claimed the bishops
action marked inception of a
struggle over democracy and
freedom Of speech in the church"
AT this period in my life" he
said. II could easily have resigned
before this controversy became
public - but to have done so in
the face of the issues involved
would have violated the deepest
principles of my ministry and have
constituted desertion Of my people
who want me and my son to stay"
DR.. Melish said many church.
men. including four Episcopal
bishops, offered to testify in his
behalf. The four he named are
the Rt. Rev. William Scarlet,
Bishop Of Missouri; the Rt. Rev.
William Appleton Lawrence,
Bishop of Western Massachusetts,;
the Rt. Rev. Donald B. Aldrich,
former Bishop Of Michigan and
now dean of the chapel at Prince
ton University, and the Rt. Rev
Theodore r. Ludlow, suffragan
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