Le Mars Daily Sentinel: Friday, October 1, 1926

OUST PASTOR FROM CHURCH
Rev. John Hill Charged With Bigamy, Perjury and Wrongful Divorce
VIOLATED MORAL LAW
Former Minister of Merrill Church is Unfrocked

Official ejection of Rev. John E. Hill, former Merrill, Ia.,
pastor, who is charged with bigamy and violation of the moral law of the
church, was ordered Wednesday afternoon in a motion passed by the select
committee, composed of 15 ministers from the Northwest Iowa Methodist
Episcopal conference. The surrender of Rev. Mr. Hill's parchments also was
ordered.

The final motion, which was passed unanimously by the select
committee, follows: "We hereby expel said John E. Hill from the ministry
and membership of the Methodist Episcopal church and instruct the secretary
of our conference to notify him of this action and demand the surrender of
his parchments."

Ousted on Three Counts

The action of the 15 ministers from the conference was based on
the following charges and specifications, each of which was sustained
unanimously by the select committee:

"We hereby charge John E. Hill with violation of the moral law,
said charge based on the following specifications:

"1. That said John E. Hill, divorced his wife, Anna E. Hill, on
grounds not recognized as lawful by the Bible nor the discipline of the
Methodist Episcopal church.

"2. That in the light of the decision of the supreme court of
the state of Iowa, John E. Hill has continued to live in bigamous relations
with Lillian E. Stinton.

"3. That said John E. Hill morally perjured himself on
September 26, 1925, in his sworn statement to the county clerk of Charles
Mix county, S.D., in that he declared that he could lawfully be joined in
marriage to Lillian E. Stinton."

Represented by Counsel

The select committee, appointed by the conference, was
authorized by the discipline of the church, with full power to consider and
determine the case. Ministers who were appointed on the committee were:
Rev. Mark (one full line is unable to be read; it continues two lines down)
Correctionville, Ia.; Rev. D.M. Watson, Schaller, Ia.; Rev. B.L. Weaver,
Rock Branch, Ia.; Rev. Joseph Pickersgill, Alden, Ia.; Rev. J.G. Waterman,
Manson, Ia.; Rev. W.A. Wilkinson, Dayton, Ia.; Rev. C.H. VanMetre, Garner,
Ia.; Rev. G.M. Squires, Titonka, Ia.; Rev. R.T. Chipperfield, Estherville,
Ia.; Rev. M.L. Sunderlin, Emmetsburg, Ia.; Rev. J.W. LaGrone, Hawarden, Ia.;
Rev. J.H. Edge, Spirit Lake, Ia.; Rev. W.L. Breaw, Primghar, Ia.; and Rev.
O.M. Bond, Storm Lake, Ia.

Counsel for the church and for John Hill also was appointed by
the conference for the trial. Rev. C.H. Kamphoefner, pastor of Whitfield
Methodist Episcopal church, was appointed counsel for the church. G.T.
Notson, also of Sioux City, was appointed counsel for the accused pastor.

CHURCH ACTION PLEASES
Mrs. John Hill Would Have Her Husband Arrested

Warmly commending the action of the northwest Iowa Methodist
church conference in ousting Rev. John E. Hill, the much married parson,
from the ministry Wednesday afternoon, Mrs. Hill, his wife, stated that
action should have been taken long ago, according to the Sioux City Journal.

"It was a disgrace to the church to have my husband a member of
the ministry," declared Mrs. Hill. "The church, like myself, must bear the
shame of John while he travels around the country in company with a woman
not his wife and is, as far as I know, living a carefree and happy life."

Mrs. Hill stated that she had no idea where her husband was at
the present time. She declared that if she did know she would have him
arrested for bigamy, perjury, and contempt of court.

The former pastor of the Merrill Methodist Episcopal church
married Mrs. Lillian Stinton, pretty Merrill widow, shortly after he had
been granted a divorce in district court on a cross petition. His marriage
took place in less than the year, which by law is required to elapse before
a second marriage, in order to make sure that there will be no reversal of
the case in the supreme court. Mrs. Hill appealed her case and obtained
such a reversal.

By that time the former pastor with two wives had left the
country with his second wife and has not been seen since. Before starting a
divorce action, Mrs. Hill had brought suit against Mrs. Lillian Stinton for
alienation of her husband's affection, but lost her case.

SENEY:  (Special Correspondence)

Harvey Buss is the proud possessor of a new Chevrolet sedan car.

A number of our people attended the fair at Sioux City last week.

The Ladies Aid society will meet at the home of Mrs. R. A. Hawkins on
October 6.

Henry Conner, of Moville, visited with his mother, Mrs. Wm. Conner, here
Sunday.

Mrs. Iona Clark spent the day Friday with her sister, Mrs. A. Witt, in
LeMars.

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Osborn and children and Stephen Osborn motored to Hawarden
last Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. James Cronin are the proud parents of a baby girl born
Thursday, September 23.

Mr. and Mrs. J. F. March, son George, of Akron, were guests at the home of
Mrs. E. March Sunday.

Mrs. Otto Knop was taken to the Community hospital in LeMars on Wednesday
for treatments.

Miss Myrtle Holster, of Vermillion, S.D., was called home by the death of
her grandmother, Mrs. A. Holster in LeMars.

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Donlin, daughters, Elaine and Esther, of Merrill, were
Sunday dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Criswell.

Earl Buss, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Buss, had the misfortune to break his
arm at school one day last week. He is recovering from the effects.

The Elgin Farm Bureau met at the hall on Tuesday evening.  A talk was given
by Agent Coddington and a short program and lunch was given.

The W.H.M.S. will have a pantry sale at Long's Grocery store on Saturday,
October 2.  All members are requested to supply something to be sold.  Those
wishing to send have it at Mrs. Clark's by 10 o'clock.

Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Reeves had for Sunday dinner guests Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
Reeves, Mr. and Mrs. John Lancaster, daughter, Ina and grandson, Vernon
Lancaster.

Mrs. A. Jeffers accompanied Mr. and Mrs. C. Hendrickson, of Alton, to LeMars
to visit Lois, who is taking training in the Sacred Heart hospital.

Rev. and Mrs. L. E. Wardle left Tuesday for Sioux City to attend the
Methodist annual conference which is in session this week.

Axel Petersen had two cars of cattle on the Sioux City market Tuesday.

W. J. Reeves lost a valuable horse by blood poisoning as a result of being
cut in the fence during the high water.  John Lancaster, Jr., lost a horse
Tuesday in a similar way.

MERRILL:  (Special Correspondence)

Clarence Kale motored to Spencer, Tuesday.

Marie Weidauer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Weidauer, living north of
Merrill, was struck by an Orange City car last Saturday evening and was
thrown about twenty feet.  Two of her teeth were knocked out and her face
was somewhat bruised.

A birthday party was given last Friday night in honor of Miss Frieda Schmidt
at her home.  About fifty were present.  The evening was spent by playing
games.  At the close of the evening a delicious luncheon was served by Mrs.
Henry Schmid and Mrs. Will Tullis.  The party closed at a late hour,
everyone reporting a good time.

Misses Clara Gardner and Bessie Easton gave a birthday dinner Sunday in
honor of Miss Freda Schmidt's sixteenth birthday at the home of Miss Clara
Gardner.  Those present were Freda Schmid, Bessie Easton, Clara Gardner,
Mearl Lake, Jim Tucker, Floyd Eidel and Clarence Tucker.