The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-31
THE ZION CHURCH UPROAR.
HOSTING A PASTOR INTO A Pulpit,
AND THE DEACON OUT.
The Coiored NJ. Y. Church Dinicuity-The
Pastors Side vindicated-Trustees Mis-
managing n SOciety-And Getting into

The Coiored NJ. X. Church Dinicuity-The
Pastors side vindicated-Trustees Mis-
managing n society-Aud Getting into
very Hot Water.
The row in the African Zion NJ. f. Church at
Blocker and West Tenth streets on Sunday, Is one
that had its origin in the senshness and stupidity of
the trustees in opposition 10 about 700 membere and
a mixed congregation OF over 1000 persons. The
Rev. WIN. Y. Butler, the most eloquent colored
preacher 10 the city Is the innocent cause OF It,. His
friends version OF the trouble is IA follows:
The book Of discipline contains a clause which au-
thorzes the Bishop, at the request Of the members
of church a majority OF them, TO return min
lister 10 such church the third year. Mr.. Butler Is
justly popular with his congregation, and they sent
a numerously signed petition and a delegation 70
wait upon Bishop Talbot at the last session or the
annual Conference and asked for his return for the
third year. As
the NINE TRUSTEES
had not been consulted they felt very jealous. Ac
cordingiy last Friday evening, when MIR. Butler en-.
tered his pulpit to conduct the usual services, Mr.
Samuel }. Howard, President, and Mr.. Jas. Pierce,
Treasurer, with the authority OF their associates
occupied tile pulpit, and would not allow Mr. Butler
to speak. When he attempted to do 40 he was pulled
back and Deacon Phillips was set up in his stead
Mr.. Butler thereupon quietly took a seat and allow
cd tue deacgn to proceed.
FRIGHTENING THE PASTOR.
On Saturday one Robert Corbitt. u lawyer, served
an unoniClal paper Mr. Butler evidently to
riahten him. cautioning him against taking any fur.
thcr steps to regain his pulpit. Mr. Butler declined
TO notice the paper, and Corbitt then went 10 the
Charles street police station and asked the sergeant
Sunday, as he anticipated riot When Mr. Butler
arrived at the house Of worship on Sunday morning
he found the place guarded by policemen, wro had
been employed by the trustees.
DEACON PHILLIPS
was again in the pulpit, guarded BY Messrs. How
ard and Pierce trustees, and Mr.. Butler took seat
in pew near the altar to avoid any confusion. He
| went to church again In the afternoon. and was
agan unable to ascend to the pulpit lie then lef'
| the body of the church and took seat in the gal
lery aud twoihrds OF the congregation quit tile
| church altogether.
| Between the afternoon and evening services,
| delegation OF church members called upon linn and
protection II he would 90 again in the evening He
| consented, and when he reached the church, he
found the door sill guarded by policemen, and Des-
con Phillips managing the service. The people were
| eoug from the church IN large numbers but seeing
him they returned. and, as he entered the clidco
| thnnre, was an ,so,1af; WIN NooHo,ous Su,i !ol
4" Butler, Bu,ler Mr. Hutler theu started to leav,
| 'orcibly carried oveI the altar rails and
LIFTED iNto rnE rJLrIT.
The same party then NJ surimaily lifted the old
deacon ouG Nr. Howard then attempted TO pul
| MIR Butler out OF the pu!pr but Mr.. B.'s friend:
| enthusiasm thai bat for MIR. Buffers counsel, th,
| deacon and trustees might have been hustled out o
| tue church lne police, seeing that the trustees
| Stood alone In their stubbornncss. gave the weight
Of their presence to the side Of the church. Al th
| juIeturc, Mr.. Howard ordered tie sexton 10
PIT THE LlGnrs OUT.
| The latter did so, aud LEFT nearly 20Ol people IL
| darkness. This action needs no comment Mr.
| Butler then announced that q meeting would b.
held in the church last evening TO decide this ques
| tion; but when they arrived there, the doors wer
| locked. by order OF the trustees. The meeting va
therefore postponed until Thursday evening Mean
| time q committee waited upOn the Bishop, and as
certained that. with his sanction and the authort
| Of tho Conference, Mr.. Butler had been sent 4
them; that they must now take care Of him, 70
that he (the Bishop would not send them anothe
minister this year, The trustees, seeing their error
are peniteut. and have expire ssed their willingness
to submit the question 90 vote of the male men
berS on Thursday evening. In 1884, IL is said iha
tie caurch Tree from debt, and had u rurplu
~ S26OOO in the treasury bur the ansuri huancia
rocy OF the trustees hiss consumed this surp
aud placed the church $1,000 IN debt