The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-15
A BELLICOSE CONGREGATION.
The Harlem Baptist Church
by the Ears"
Arr ests and Counter Arrests-A Congregation
That Owns ''Three Valuable Lots on Fifth
Avenue"-Saints in tho Hands Of
the Philistines-The Lucas and
the Burr Factions

An internecine war Is now raging between the
r,enabra dtSecta of what was once the goody
congregation Of the Baptist church OF 125th street.
The congregation have recently met and wor-
shipped in q hall over the Harlem Market known
as Harlem Market Hall, between Third and Fourth
avenues. In years gone by the congregation got
rich; they became owners of three valuable lots Cd
Fifth avenue, and up to two years ago all went as
merry as q marriage bell and the congregation
was generally considered q very happy family.
Two years ago the members of-the congregation
fell out. The pious worshippers who owned 'three
lots on Fifth avenue" became
DIVIDED INTO FACTIONS.
On one side gentleman named Burr was pro.
claimed leader mem CON- and the then pastor Of the
church, q Mr.. Lucas, was the recognized head Of
the forces on the other side. The war was begun
by the outlying skirmishers on both sides, and at
last came q pitched battle, the result Of which
was that Mr.. Burr was excluded from the
church. The second pitched battle resulted in the
retirement OF Mr.. Lucas from the pastorship OF the
church some months ago, Since then the fires Of
discomfort slumbered until last Tuesday night,
when grim-visaged war again proclaimed his
presence, and since that q lively fusilade, which
would do credit to any rival congregations in the
town, has been kept up on both sides, and the re-
suit OF this last battle will not be known for some
days 10 come Thus is briefly summed up the his
tory of the great fight in the congregation OF the
Harlem Baptist church, who own "three valuable
lots on Fifth avenue.n
On last Tuesday evening the FIRST gun Of this last
pitched battle, which has not yet ended was fired
ut the church door. There was meeting Of the
congregation who own "three valuable lots on
Fifth avenue" at the church, for, as it is claimed
the TRANSACTION is purely private business it Is not
said whether this private business touched the
"three valuable lots on Fifth avenue" or whether
it was for the settlement Of corner lots in the world
to come for the members Of the congregation. Mr..
Stephen Ii. Burr and Mr.. Josephus K Hills, Mr..
william Easterbrook and Mr.. Benjamin F. Huggett.
IL is to be presumed, thought that the debate
was over the tangible lots on Filth avenue,
as they no doubt would locate O few blocks or
sphere. They applied for admission to the church.
They were met at the door by Mr.; Henry , 3.
Douglas and "a, MI Turre: hessrs; Burr Hiiis
."Bnrr." or "antiLIcas faction and Messrs.
anti-Burr faction MeSsrs. Douglas and Turrell
said that the Jour gentlemen who belonged TO the
"anti.Lucas faction' could not come in. They say
that the meeting was for the transaction Of prt-
vate business of the church, and they had no BUSH
ness there.
The "outs" insisted on getting In, and finally
police. on the complaint Of Mr.. Douglas, Mr.. 10
sephus X. Hills and Mr., Stephen H. Burr were
u
boring station house and Locked up for portion Of
the night on the charge 81 disturbing meeting
Complaint Of Mr. Turrell Messrs William L. Easter.
brook aYd Benjamin Nugget were installed in
ENTER POLICE JUSTICE M'orADE.
Next morning the four gentlemen who claim to
be members OF the congregation who own three
Police Justice McQuade, at the Harlem Police
Court, and by Thursday all complaints had been
Withdrawn and the cases were severally dismissed
by the Justice. Messrs Douglas and rurrell be.
leved that the case was ended and that they would
hear no more of the matter.
ENTER Mr.. JuDsON JARVIS.
Late on Saturday evening two warrants were
sherl7s Clerk OF Arrests, issued by Judge Daniels,
OF the Superior Court ordering him to take into
te 81 M w henry b. GSsa inc
BILE lots on Fiith avenue The complainants In the
suit are Messrs. Josephus. X. Hills ana stephen
case The papers in these cases set forth that the
defendant mad caused, in one case on the sth and
ciousy; that they were both confined In police
gave the required bail to the police sergeant on duty
Tor their appearancs y police court next morn
ment they did appear in police court before John
McQuade, q Police Justice OF the city and county Of
did discharge and dismiss them from custody, and
that the charge upon which they were arrested by
the police at the instance OF the defendant as L.
alleged, was for
which was called together for the purpose OF re-
ligious worship. Both afIidavits stated that the
compliments had been previously injured in their
person and character by this arrest and mprsOn-
ment, for which both compliments asked the ssm
Mr.. Judson Jarvis sent word to Mr. Douglas yes
teman came down to the sherins ONCE yesterday
afternoon aud surrendered himself. The required
bali was promptly furnished to Mr.. Jarvis and
Fifth avsnde. LETT the ONCE looking as i weight
%ss Mr. 'n normed By the lawyers en
for the plaintis that Mr.. Turre, tile other defend
warrant out for hts arrest. Late on Saturday
night Mr.. Jarvis went to Mr.. Turrels house and
TO GO to jail. lie was taken immediaieg to Lud.
low Street Jai, where he still lies, having posi-.
f Srss s ss o ae %
davits in the case OF Mr.. Douglas.
MR. TURRELL'S STATEMENT.
HERALD reporter visited Ludlow street Jail at
late hoar last night and through the courtesy Of
Warden Tracy had conversation with Mr.. Tur-
rel who Is lodged in cell No. 49, He said he was
very glad that q HERALD reporter had called. lie
then freely told the reporter the history Of the
the beginning, adding that Mr.. Lucas had resigned
the pastorship of the church some time since, and
Of Tuesday night was private. he said. and they
had no right to be there, but. he continued, they
ssr asked s%s SSr ss 81 sae 'hur'S
down dow o. the i'm Of April and We own three vaIu-
Mr.. Turrell, In reply to further questions OF the
reporter, stated that the Burr faction amounted to
thirty men, and "the regular members Of the
church TO $50 men Of good standing In
society" He says that he has been ADVISED
by his counsel not to give bail. MIR. Jarvis, he said
was deceived when he was told that he intended
to ny. He hcayd that be was going to be arrested
na o Tine He
that he withdrew the complaint against Mr.. Hug
gett on Wednesday, but on Thursday withdrew
the complaint against Mr. Easterbrook, with the
distinct understanding that no action was to be
taken against him on return.
So stands the Baptist church war to-day.