The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1858-11-11

OcuODeT, ~O
Row in a Church in New Bedford.
Satan Among the Saints--A Free Fight
"A Number ofMe> Sisters seriously IN
jured- Cracked Heads, Black Eyes, and
Bloody Noses. aleuo) 10 admeo ao.J
A few days since we recorded church
difficulty in the Calvinist Baptist church,
on Middle street. There was another
meeting on Monday evening, which
greatly exceeded in confusion and all
manner of noisy demonstrations the pre-
vious one. The origin of the difficulty
arose some FIVE or six months since be-
tween the pastor. Rev. VIM. Jackson,
and the trustees, a portion of the MEM
bers having charged the reverend gen.
tleman with having appropriated to him
self. without their knowledge or consent,
certain amounts Of funds belonging to the
church. which they allege took place
about two years since, but have not un :
til now brought the matter up for inves-
tigation. A council had previously been
held, and it was voted that the charges
were without foundation, and that the
pastor be retained. The decision, how
ever, was not satisfactory to the opposite
side, and last night being business
meeting, the friends and opponents met
in battle array, and most tumul-
tuous and exciting meeting was held.
AS soon as the members had all con-
vened, one man arose from his seat,
rushed to the secretary's table and seized
the records, and others proceeded to rem
der hlm aid, if any were required
The Secretary tried to regain them, but
was unable to do so. 1t now seemed as
though all Bedlam was let loose Some
were yelling at the top Of their voices,
some were running one way and some
another, and there was every indication
of general knock down. The pastor
endeavored to get into his possession one
Of the church records, which SO excited
Mrs. Nelson that she seized hold Of a
cricket, and with appraised hand, and
hair standing out like porcupine quilts,
attempted violent assault upon him,
which SO frightened him that he immedi.
ately took to his heels and was seen no
more. A member, while talking rapid
ly and incoherently. was upon the point
of emphasizing "big word" when his
arm came in contact with a shaded lamp,
breaking the glass, and scattering oil
upon the "new rig" of the secretary,
Mr.. Dunlap. Several persons fastened
to the secretary. while others came to
his assistance.
Blows were freely interchanged inside
the church, and one woman, Mrs. Cas-
tie, was " slapped" outside. Such ex-
pressions as "put him down." :" he shall
not stay" stand back, keep hands
off me-" who are you !" "to the devil
with ye," with no unfrequent cries of
murder murder p were heard in all
parts of the church. The members were
wrought up to the highest pitch Of anger
and excitement. Neither party would
listen for a moment to what the other
would say, but each one seemed bound
to carry the matter through on his " own
hook. The noise attracted the attention
Of neighbors aad passers by. Windows
were raised, and " what's the matter 90
was asked on all sides. Finally it was
deemed expedient to call the police
Some Of the parties got wind of it, and
slowly but reluctantly left. The police
came. but the curtain was falling,
and the last act in the drama is over.
During the melee an inoffensive, girl
was very seriously injured on her sides
and abdomen. She stated to her attend
ing physician that she received her bruis-
es in attempting to screen Richard John
son under seat from the peltings of four
burly, full sized pugilists. one Of whom
had got him, as the g fancy" have it, in
chancery." While she was doing this
she was pitched into by the. wife of VIM.
Bush and her four enraged daughters.
One Of the persons most severely pun
melled was James Rich. The minister,
it appears by the statement of the girl,
was either frightened. or his Christian
graces so much abounded that he ran
from the field of battle. s +
The women screamed, shouted, stamp
ed and gave vent to their feelings in such
frantic yells as to induce our reporter to
ask q member if any one Of the sisters
had tainted, to which meek, pious look
ing brother quietly said. "No. there is
too much devil in them to faint" ,a
34sga -->------>---O--->----- aamlu