Pastor Matthews Ordered to Leave

New York, 1895

Woodhaven and Ozone Park News.

The elders of the Pilgrim Congregational church at Brooklyn Hills have ordered the pastor, Francis Matthews, to leave the church. They charged him with spreading stories about the church, and demanded his resignation. Mr. Matthews is a lay preacher and has not yet been ordained. He was charged with making his sermons personal and not preaching the gospel. Other more serious complaints were made against the minister. Mr. Matthews remained silent, and his wife defended him. The elders, not being able to reply to the woman, left the church after ordering the pastor to send in his resignation. Mr. Mathews says the charges against him are false, and that he will remain. He defies the church officials.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, May 24, 1895, p. 8.