Year: 1876

WHAT THE PARK AVENUE CHURCH DEAcoSs


HAVE TO SAY.


The following document is published by the deacons
Of the Park avenue church, in Brooklyn, as their an
swer to the defence Of Rev. Fred. Bell:-


We regret very much to have TO answer the wilfu
falsehoods contained in the statement of Rev. Fred
Bell, recently published, but We wish TO define our
position before the public in reference TO Mrs Morris
charge. Mr. ana Mrs Morris are members OF the Park
avenue church, received by and through Mr. Bell (;
therefore, they have rights we are bound 10 respect
and when Mr. Bell, IN an interview on January 81 1870
threatened some one with an action for Scandal ana
that too before II had become officially known TO the
church. Mr.. Morris forward and charged Dir. Bell,
upon the reception Of which Mr Bell claimed his ten
days to answer At the expiration of the Time he
refused to answer the charge and he was deposed io
the contempt with which he treated the church and
violation OF It's obligations with the odium OF tho
scandal upon him. HIS refusal to give us the oppOr-
tunity TO pass verdict on the put him In the
pleasant position OF having the hcrcueap task OF con-
vincing tho public jury OF his innocence


As Tor past character suppose that Mr. and Mrs.
Morris than he was himself, judging from
his own narrative given IN "Thc story OF My Life"
where he calls himself pugist, gambler, drunkard,
dcscrter OF his lamiy liar, and even worse tnan this
Now the question arises, What is he to-dayr minis
title; but charge him with lying and are ready 10
prove the allegation, and as he has trs thrown down
The gauntlet proceed 10 cnumerae what we cannot
call by any other names than lies-


FirsL-Ho Gays the charge was trumped up and was
sought to be used TO induce him TO remain IL church.
&c We unqualnedly and without reserve deny that II
ever used ever mentioned to induce him to
remain The first time 1t was mentioned In any meet
ing OF the church two days after his resignation
accepted and then he never asked 10y us) TO
stay IN the church, nor yet In the city.


Second -hr Bell to this day never requested nor
demanded that the trustees should investigate the
matter. Tho Informal inquiry referred 10 was gone
into before Mr. Bell knew Of the charge and that not
by tho trustees in their capacity such but by three
friends OF Mr. Bell, and they said there was doubt
and gave hun the benent OF that doubt


Now lor the change of date Mrs. Morris did not mt
the time OF this informal investigation positively or
crcumstanaly fix the date but referred to the friend
who was in the kitchen, aud ho alone is the one who
fixed that or any other date; also we never heard
that Mrs. Morris sister was in the house a the times
he is charged with making those improper proposals,
she the sister, has said, 81 wish had been there, and
would have split his skull open with an axe" We
again repeat as he says II the verdict OF tho mutual
friends OF giving HIM the benefit OF doubt exonerates
him We cannot see IT, And he slips in another lie and
says:-"This false charge held in terrorer over
my head" Tor what purpose this time he does not
state.


when he made known his purpose to leave none OF
the facts charged were known 10 a single individual
who heard HIM announce that purpose. And again
we assert positively II was never mentioned IN any
meeting until after his resignation accepted. How
inconss tent does such assertion his part appear
when such facts as tho following known From
one resignation which he had had prepared he read
this extract "l will agree TO stay II You will give
resignation was accepted he passed, in the
Academy of Music an oulogium upon us as church.
Verify his magnanimty knew no bounds when lie
could eulogize a church that held false charge ts
tsrrorem his head The ialsehood is apparent
that IL needs no further comment from us, so we viii
leave II there But We again assert that this, like all
his other communications reference TO this matter,
Is "A mixture OF truth and falsehood.


We have very reluctantly answered this last letter OF
Mr. Be's and would not have troubled the public
with this IL not that the public mIght construe
silence into acknowledgement OF the truth OF his
base and malicious lies But with this one
municatons TO tho press IN answer TO Fred. Bes let
cease and trust thai the public will tho wis
dom OF this step.


And as ior Sir. Boil, If his good name has been so
terribly rnduced he desires the public to believe IL
has would remind him that the civil courts tho
only tribunal before which he vndicate that name,
before that tribunal he produce all the evidence
he boasts Of having in his possession


We are, by direction and behalf OF the Park Ave-
nue Primitive Methodist church, your obedcnt SER
wants, HOWARD DAlSLEY, President,


CHARLES TAYLOR,


ARTHUR MAGOOVNEY, Secretary,
JAMES THATCHER,


JAMES COOK


SAMUEL =. BANHAN,


JOHN THATCHER,


DAVID DAlSLEY,