Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-09
From tbecnoinnau Commercial, sib.l

ttOA 81 nc Gttcttot ~ 6o At8-
uldrs.n
From the Cincinnati Commercial, 6ih.l
For sometime past rumOrs OF dissen-
sions in the First Presbyterian Church,
on Fourth street, between Walnut and
! Main streets, have been ahOat, and as
the difficulty out Of which they grew as
sumed a political hue it helped TO give
the matter more nOtOriety than other
wise it might have attained.
1t appears that this church has been
( divided upon the great questions and is
sues that brought on the war, and for
four years agitated the entire country,
and that il was the unsettled differences
Of political opinion that brought about
the scene which we are about to relate.
IL appears that on Sunday morning
last, the Rev. DR.. Anderson, pastor IN
charge, announced that an election for
/ elders would take place in the basement
Of the church on Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock. Accordingly at that hour about
a hundred ladies and gentlemen, mem
bers of the church and congregation, as
sembled In the basement, and at 3 O'Clock
precisely, an old gentleman arose and
| nominated Judge Burgoyne for the Chair,
but that gentleman declined n begged
to nominate VIM. S. Smith. Several
voices cried "No," when some one called
Rev. DR.. Anderson to the chair. That
gentleman was sent for to an adjoining
| room, and proceeded to take the chair,
but Mr.. VIM. NJ. Cory protested against
the nomination.
Several ladies exclaimed: "Ju5t what
we expected"
Mr.. CORY IN PURSUIT OF HIS FIGHTS.
Mr.. Cory said be most emphatically
portested against DR.. Anderson taking
the Chair, and what was more, he could
not take it. He knew his rights, and
was going to have them. He was born
and raised in that church, and nc one,
no, sir, no one, should deprive him Of
them. He was baptized in that church,
and such a thing as q pastor acting as
Chairman was never heard Of; the Rev.
DR.. Wilson never did it; he had more
modesty.
Mr.. Cory reiterated his right TO be
heard, for quite a tumult had already
risen at his vehement protest against DR..
Anderson. That gentleman quietly gave
way for the time, and Mr.. Cory called
DR.. Thacker to the Chair. Several Ia
dies Kissed very distinctly, and feminine
voices a~rticulated "Copperhead." DR..
Thacker came forward and approached
the contested piece Of furniture, and Mr..
Corry's pale face lit up with smiles,
which faded out as soon as born, almost,
for several gentlemen rose to their feet
and rushed toward the stand, and a per-
feet fermentation ensued. The ladies
screamed, and the gentlemen used very
strong language. Thedin wa immense,
but high above it was the voice of Mr..
Cory crying for his rights, and ~reitera-
rfr- rE.4 a., vr-aa han4fVad in +haf ohrfrah
4 lady's voice exclaimed, Little good
it did you, you Internal Copperhead.n
Mr.. Cory paid no heed, but talked on.
Some one ran out for a policeman, and
just then the gentlemen had all man
aged to crowd together around the Chair.
There was some scufliing, but no blows.
THE POLICEMAN APPEARS
And asks whom he will arrest. Mr..
Cory dared them to attempt to put him
down by violence, and threatened if they
did so he'd make it the dearest thing
they ever did. DR.. Anderson ~e0unselad
peace and quiet, and begged TO be heard
for a few minutes. Mr.. Cory sat down,
and silence vas restored.
DIR. Anderson read from the rules OF
the church that no one but a cOmmuni-
cant had a vote for Elder, for it appeared
that the question at issue was upon the
right of suffrage of members; and here
1t becomes necessary to explain that for
some time past, and during the progress
of the war, certain officers of the church
were suspended in their functions be-
cause Of their reDel sympathies, and that
their friends now make an effort to re-
store them. The church, during this
time, has had but two Elders, and its in
crease called for the election Of three
more. Thus, the issue of yesterday was
between three gentlemen, who, to use
language of the meeting, comprised
THE "CoPPERHEAD" TICKET,
Whose names are DIR. Smith, James
Johnston and Mr.. Baird, As opposed TO
gentlemen who, upon the same au-
comprise
II REGULAR TICKET.
Their names are J. c. Culberton, VIM.
Phillips and c. c. Rogers.
The "Copperhead" ticket had for its
special champion Mr.. VIM. NJ. Cory.
He took the floor and kept it for a NOR
tai hour, and faced a battery Of fiercely
cleaning feminine eyes, before which
The stoutest heart might quail.
Ever and anon he fell behind a fortif-
:atiOn of books, and arming himself
with a ponderous and venerable tome,
would discharge in thunderous tones
whole chapters and pages of ecclesiastical
at his fair vueuIics, safsoienJ to
'ubmerge them, but all to no purpose;
hey stood fire, and Missed so sweetly, so
consistently and with such intrinsic indi-
of eternal endurance, that Mr..
lOrTy twO or three times absolutely
lecended to personal examinations
With his fair tOrmenters, who
n turn intimated that he was in arrears
or pew rent This peep behind the
Genes excited various effects and called
or various remarks and explanations.
4 general laugh was n effect; also, a
-ery free exchange of remarks, and cries
,f-"0h, dear, why don't somebody put
out, anyhow he has no business
Tor no right to be here" Eyes, 1 have,
na'am,n eXclaims Mr.. Cory, who over
leard the latter part of the remark, if
lot all Of it, land III show you that !
Some Of the gentlemen next "spoke
,ut in meetin'n about the pew rent,
when Mr.. Cory changed his base and
ried "Order." This was regarded as
-ery funny, and the grimness Of the
Gene was sOftened by a momentary sar-
smile at the distGTberis call for
MR. CORY LOSES HIS TEMPER.
Improbable as it may seem, it isneyer-
heless true, that Mr.. Cory lost his tenn
and was about to "reach forn an :
Id gentleman, when .he daughter of the
after rushed forward To take her fathers
,art, and Mr.. Cory resumed his aceus-
omed calm by shaking his long fore
at the old gentleman and telling :
lin: "Old man, your gray hairs pro- :
ect YOU"
Mr.. Phillips got the floor and read
ONE former church proceedings to show
hat nOne but COMMITMENTS had 3 right
o vote.
Gen. NJ. S. Wade followed inrthe same
Elm, and was interrupted by Mr.. Cory,
Who called upon a Mr.. Johnston forsome
-erbai or written proofs 10 the contrary.
ir. Johnston said something in a feeble
dice about the record to sustain Corry's
that a pewhOlder could vote
Or Elder, but when the document was
reduced it was found not only to con-
Nir. JOhnstnn's assertion, but
he proceedings were written in part by
lr. JOhnston's " hand. This was a
weet morsel for the regulars, and they
it,
OIL on III TROUBLED WATERS.
Mr.. Cory next raised the question of
be right OF DR.. Anderson to take the
hair, but Gen. Wade put a squelcher on
by reading the proceedings of a sim
ar meeting with Rev. 4. s. Wilson in q
he chair. {
DIR. Anderson, whose conduct and bear {
ne in the whole affair was calm and I
ieniied, said that he had no desire {
'hatever 10 take the ehair;. that he would a
ot take il, but that ne was clearaud con- Z
deut in hisright TO do SO. {
Nlr. Cory said in reply: "No, sir. you {
ave no right, sir, and you can't do it,
G
DR.. Anderson calmly but firmly nomi- t
ated Gen. Wade for chairhan. Zap
U
The ayes and noes were called, and the {
yes declared TO have it. Division called
result, ayes 81, noes 81. t
Gen. Wade took the chair, and Z
-iiiott Black was appointed secretary. I
DIR. THACKER PROTESTS. !
DIR. Ihacker arose and protested against 4
nomination. 50 did Mr.. CORY. The
hartman ordered the meeting to pro- Y
eed with business. DR.. Thacker said it
ould not; that he must be heard; he y
'as a ruler in the church, and that these t
r~oceedings were null and void. d
Several voices exclaimed, "Yes, you're Z
pretty ruler; you're a Copperhead, I
lats what you are.u .
DR.. Thacker tried to speak on, but he i
.ther had nothing else 10 say, or the q
like Maebeth's amen, stuck in his :
lrOat.