Broadway Post-Office City Express 2 Cts. Oval handstamp with slanted "Paid" on blue stampless cover to local street address, with Dec. 8, 1852 enclosure, Very Fine.

This letter was written by Dr. W.R Gordon with connection with the church and civil litigation involving John S Ebaugh.

Mr. Ebaugh was appointed pastor of a Reformed Dutch Church (RDC) ministry. As a result of a split Mr. Ebaugh ‘s members received the property. In 1846 this was reversed and Ebaugh received support from the RDC. As he lost members, he continued to report a large membership.
Mr. Gordon was on a committee appointed to investigate Ebaugh and found him uncooperative and that he misrepresented his church. The committee recommended that the RDC Classis try him and Ebaugh then filed a civil suit in the New York Supreme Court seeking $5000 for libel. Ebaugh was suspended on February 16th of 1852 by Classis, but ultimately restored.
Ebaugh published a pamphlet criticizing the proceedings and Dr. Gordon, who filed s complaint against Ebaugh in the fall Session of the Classis in October 1852.
The trial was adjourned on November 6 1852 when Ebaugh pleaded “not guilty” based on the argument that it was improper for the same people that had illegally suspended him to now try him in the case. The trial continued on December 13th, 1852 and this letter dated, December 8th, was an effort by Dr. Gordon to explain his statements that he had made with respect to Ebaugh’s pamphlet. Ater the trial, Ebaugh was again suspended and in 1853 the General Assembly sustained the suspension Ebaugh was restored a few years later and served as pastor of the 4th German church.