Church News

Detectives Seek Episcopal Minister

Warrant for Clergyman on Seven Criminal Charges1

With Rev. Samuel Neal Kent, rector of St. Mary's Protestant Episocpal church, Warwick, missing from his church since last Friday, Federal agents have appeared on the scene and say they have a warrant for his arrest on seven criminal charges. Waht the chrages are, the detectives refused to say. They stated, however, that the clergyman was "wanted by Uncle Sam - and wanted badly."

he is about 40 years of age, it is said, and unmarried.

Edwin Arnold, chief of the Department of Justice  operatives in this district, was in Reading on Friday looking for Edward Kent and said at the Hotel Penn, where he was registered, that he has a warrant for Kent's arrest, and that a duplicate is being held in the United States marshall's office in Philadlephia. He declined to disclose the nature of the charges upon which the warrant is based.

Rector and Vestrymen Cannot Agree

West Chester, Pa., March 25. The trouble in the Church of the Holy Trinity (Pretestant Episcopal ) will, it is believed, end in the resignation of the rector, Rev. John Bolton, who has been at the head of the vicarage for the past twenty-five years. The trouble culminated by the rector removing from the church the two rear rows of pews, which he said were only used by disorderly persons. This was done without the knowledge of the vestry and when these officials heard of it they passed a resolution ordering them back, the cost attending the work to be taken from the rector's salary. During the service last Sunday the rector asked the vestrymen to retire. In about two weeks the annual election of the vestry takes place. If the present board is elected his resignation will be asked for.1

  • 1. Bridgeton Evening News, 3/25/1890

Rector Bolton Enjoined

The Court Forbids Him to Sell the Old Church Bell

West Chester, April 17. The war in the Church of the Holy Trintiy as broken out afresh. Rector Bolton is controlled by an injunction which forbids him from disposing of the old bell which has hung in the belfry of the church for nearly half a century. Rector Bolton had sold the bell to the McShane Company, of Baltimore, who manufactured the new chime for the church, against the expressed wish of the vestry, and they in turn sold it to the vestry of St. John's P.E. Church at Concord, Delaware County.

The vestry of Holy Trinity knew nothing of the transaction until L. E. Buckley, a member of St. John's vestry, came to West Chester after the bell. He had been telephoned by Mr. Bolton to come, but the vestry interfered, and he was finally compelled to return without the bell.1

 

The Holy Trinty Church Quarrel

The Vestry of Holy Trinity to Issue an Indictment Against Rev. Mr. Bolton

West Chester, April 5. The vestry of the Church of the Holy Trinity  (Proetestant Episcopal) here have not rested quietly under the attack made upon them by Rector John Bolton in the pulpit two weeks ago. Thye have been working quietly, and tomorrow morning will distribute in the congregation in the church a printed statement that will whiten the heat of the trouble now rife there. This statement details accusations against Preacher Bolton which have been told in substance in the Inquirer, and makes impossible any reconciliation, which some of the members of the church were endeavoring to bring about.