Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-03-06
THE REV. FLORENCE MCCARTHY
TROUBLES.

CLOSED CHURCH-MR. MCCARTHY IN
A WINDOW CONFIDENT IN HIS CAUSE,
He WILL FIGHT IT TO THE LAST
THE LADY MEMBERS TO STAND BY
HIM TO THE END-HE DON'T WANT
TO BE MURDERED In A CELLAR-HE
WILL ONLY ADMIT THAT He EATS
Too MUcH.
Nc, &C., &c.
The troubles between Rev. Florence Nc
earthly, OF the Union Baptist Church, at
Chicago, and his deacons seem to be culmi-
mating in stormy scenes. 1t will be re-
membered that TO some charges brought
against him, he replied ia the pulpit using
language which is claimed to be too in
decent for print, and ne WAS requested to
resign. Upon this request, however, the
congregation was divided, some want to
hear him an some don't. His deacons
have locked the church ans de ided to pre-
fer charges against him. A. Rev. MI
Mccarthy, ministered a wilhelm Staunton
and is well known here, we copy from the
Chicago papers some account Of his
troubles:
No sooner did the Mccarthy faction dis
cover that, under the astonishing provis.
ion Of the constitution which excludes
members OF the church from having any
say in its affairs if perchance they have not
fOl any reason SOeVer attended services
four times month for three months pre-
ceding the meeting, they were even in num-
bers with his opponents than their delight
revealed itself in applause; and every man,
woman, and child sticking close to their
colors, settlement Of the difficulties was
prevented.
TIE LAST THING OF NOTE
that. transpired before the adjournment,
which was only carried because the neces-
sity of going home some time could not be
controvprted, was the announcement by
Mr.. Mccarthy that he would preach in the
church every evening during the week, and
the reioinder by one of the deacons:
mo you Won't!'
The misunderstanding as to who had
conquered began right there. Feeling the
flush of victory, as ii swinging his battle
axe around his head in eXultation, it was
that Mr. Mccarthy sent the words clash
ing out into the air to be somewhat blunt
ed by contact with the deacon's shield.
In the midst of s!Y es we wills" and ''No
you wont's'' the Christian assembly dis
jOinted itself.
THE DEACoNs GATHERED TO CONSIDER
| the announcement of meetings, and after q
brief session decided to close the house fol
the week, giving up the Wednesday even
| ing prayer-meeting and all. That there
would be no services they announced to
| such as We're still present, and then went
| home to happy dreams, it may be.
When the deacons Of the Union Park
Baptist had slept off the dissipation Of the
previous night, and had their Nightmares
| driven away by a new day, they Glanced t6
| be in the mood for consultation, and man
| aged to talk over matters and things witt
one another before lunch-time. There was
no one regular meeting in an appointed
place, but a dozen irregular confabs al
around. The result was just as unani
nous. A committee was appointed to dc
the preliminary work. for the converting Of
] COUNCIL TO TRY afR. MCCARTHY
on the charges which another committee
was to put in shape, while third commit
| tee was to circulate call for the council
among the church members and get al
many names as possible signed to it.
THE CHARGES
were not yet quite in order though pretty
nearly made out They will be volumi
shadow upon Mr.. NIcCarthy's reputation
| and character till they are removed. They
will brand him as 81 liar, a hypocrite, a de
tanner Of character, a threatener OF life, al
obscene taker, and a most immoral ant
unprincipled man. They will he as strong
as language can make them, and the dea
| cons expect, of course. to prove them be
You'd a question. They say that Mr.. Nc
| Carthy has demanded charges without ceas
ing. Now he shall have them. and ennnlgqh
OF them. Il is hoped, however, that the
| council will be able to avoid entering into
the perusal of the darkest pages by finding
| the other 50 black us to render a conviction
on them inevitable. This is one side of it
| MI. Mccarthy would doubtless refuse tt
| have anything concealed. If he has done
| anything, he says he wants to know it.
The council will be held
ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON,
| in the Union Park Baptist church, unless
| there arises some unforeseen circumstance
| to prevent. The associations comprise the
churches at Elgin, Aurora, st. Charles
| Oak Park, Evanston, and the suburban
| towns generally.
| While the deacons were holding theil
| session there was something Of
| A SCENE
| in the immediate vicinity of the church
| edifce on the corner of Paulina and Wash.
| ington streets. Shortly after 7 O'Clock q
| considerable crowd of the most mixed char
acter, took possession of three points on
| the sidewalk-at the front and side Of the
| church and on the corner opposite. There
were few members Of the society, and
| many who were not. Boys whistled as they
do to encore a variety "star'; men fumed
because somebody didn't come to break in
| the church doors, and women shiyered as
| they huddled about the solitary street-lamr
| for warmth. The expressions of opinion
| were us varied as the mass was motley, the
| only feature being an entire absence OF re-
| ligiOus feeling There was much bitter
| ness, some wonder, much curiosity, traces
of contempt, and loud talking of what
s'I'd do"
MIR. MCCARTHY
ensconced himself in the house of Mr.. Bur-
tbs, opposite the church. From the front
window he took frequent observations
He was accompanied by J. W. Beach, Esq.
his lawyer, who came to take legal view
of the matter. Two trustees (Messrs.
Bingham and Burtis) were at hand. The
latter escaped active participation by retir-
ing with some sort Of indisposition. MI.
Bingham formed himself into the attack
ing party. He proceeded to the church
door with caution, having been Informed
by some EsWashingtonian" boys that they
had seen q body of armed men inside. His
raps were responded to by
THE SOLITARY SEXTON,
who was within, and who said he must beg
to be excused, but he really could not adj
nit the parties. Mr.. Bingham made his
plea Tin the name of the trustees" which
the lawyer deemed sufficiently strong; but
the sexton still said nay, and the church
| remained closed, 1t was cold out in the
air and the crowd was oettino imDatient