Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-28
The Israel Church Row.

mission, but no action has been taken.
~
The Israel Church Row.
LIVELY MEETING AT THE ARMoRY LAST
The Bishops IN Council lvith the Cdurch-F4ti1c
Akmpt to Pdeifcdte the Church-The Decision
Of the Bishops Treated lvih COnteHpt-ShGrp
arrangement Of Bishop Campbell.
The council of bishops of the African Metho-
dist Episcopal church met at the Armory bull l.
ing last evening for the purpose of conveying to
their decision relative TO the controversy be-
tween that church and the bench of bishops
The nature of the controversy was explained in
yesterdays STAR. No one but reporters and
members of the congregation were admitted. At
a little after eight O'Clock Bishops PAYNE, Way-
man, Shorter, Ward, Campbell, and Brown,
Win Rev. Jacob Mitchell, pastor of the church,
TOOK seats on the platform. After singing,
prayer was offered by Bishop Ward. Bishop
Payne was elected chairman and VIM Myers
secretary. a discussion as to the order of BUSH
ness then followed, from which IL was plain to
be seen that the congregation were in a def
ant mood and in no humOr to be lectured nv
their religious supeIiors. Finally the reading
when Bishop Wayman said the council hal
agreed to ask
THREE QUESTIONS
or the church, and that upon the answers would
depend the councils decision. He then read
the first question as follows: "Do YOU regard
yourse Ives as members of the African Metho-
dist Episcopal Church?' Here brother in the
congregation arose and strenuousIy objected to
being catechised by the Bishops They were
tree men and this was dodge which he for one
would not submit TO. He grew quite excited
over the matter, but was finally induced to sit
down. Another brother took the same view
Let the Bishops submit all their questions and
the church would take them up and DISPOSE O.
them as suited them best This suggestion was
received with much applause and exclamation
OF "Thst's So" "That's what's the mattern
"EeSd all the questions, ""Out with ZEN. - Sc
Bishop Payne said one of the questions which it
would be easy TO answer was "Have you as a
church declared yourselves independent of the
jurisdiction Of the a. NJ. E. church," Here
several persons in the congregation said il was
untrue; that this church had never declared
itself independent. Rev. James Reed, who it
appears was suspended by the Baltimore con-
terence some time since, made
VIOLENT SPEECH AGAINST THE BISHOPS,
which was received with much applause by the
audience. He spoke of the original deed as
Of the church in not having it inserted. He de-
tailed his lab0rs in the cause OF Christ for
whom he had wrought nearly fifty years, and
what did they do with him. They sent him
home on cooling board-they killed him.
There are tyrants in this diocese" he said,
Here there was loud applause and exclamations
OF appreciation from all parts of the house.
When good order was restored q resolution was
1 tbs All a. sae olsn9P be
third question was asked, IL the church would
revoke its action declaring itself independent
but as the bishops appeared satisfied from the
representation made, that the church never
took any such action, il was withdrawn.
COMING TO THE POINT.
Bishop Wayman then read question number
two, asking II in the future the church would
conform to the discipline OF the African Metho.
dist Episcopal Church. He then read that as
one result Of this council Of Bishops, they had
decided to remove Rev. Jacob Mitchell as pas
tor OF the church and replace him by soma one
capable OF teaching. The reading Of this was
followed by loud shouts Of '.No." 'You can't
Va hf,ar
'Eou can't come any such game as that; we
know our rights" sc, Bishop Payne said they
were free men and women, and could do as they
pleased. Brother l.. A. Cornish moved that the
resolutions be laid on the table; carried unaui-
moUsly. a brother wanted to know OF Bishop
Payne who said the church had declared itself
independent, and Bishop replied, common
"Ihat's tea-table talks" sc. Brother Cornish,
by request, re ad from the minutes proceedings
Of meetings held relative to the new site aud
marks, intimatiDg that his church had been
bacly treated by the Bishops. Bishop Way
man here said, ''Will Brother Cornish please
tell me what his church wants. FOr the life OF
me L can't see."
GOING FOR BISHOP CAMPBELL.
Brother Cornish replied that there WAS strong
the troubles preside over the diocese he referred
10 Bishop Campbell. Cries of "He's the man."
GIVE US some one else; We don't want Camp
from printed pamphlet the remarks OF Bishop
Campbell at the Cumberland conference, re-
meeting on Israel church. He, for ene would
sustain their pastor, Mr.. Mitchell. GCries of
cor course we will !" "You amt going TO take
him away from US, not much,'' "WeIi stick TO
Mitchell" sc. Here Bishop Shorter arose and
respect. He, for one, must leave. The bishops
had done their duty, and nothing remained. He
begged the congregation to think over the mat
ter calmly and dispassionately. Brother Cor
nish.-"That's just what we've been doing for
two or three years" Bishop Shorter went on
TO comment on Brother Cornish's threat of
withdrawal, when the latter said, with consid-
personatinS me; you have done II long enough,
and you must stop. II leave the church 1
shall leave alone; 1 shall ask no one to go with
me-" Brother Stewart found fault because the
bishops occupied so much time; the congrega-
ton must have q chance.
TWO BISHOPS LEAVE WITH A BLESSING.
Blshcp Shorter then took his hat and left,
oless you, brothers and sisters, and make you
see right" Brother Stephenson made an ex-
clted speech, asking If men like himself and
oroteer Reed were 20 be slaughtered. Shouts
OF NO." "no." "We won't allow Won 20 be
hurt" Bishop Campbell, who had hitherto re-
aimed silent, asked whether the brother would
condemn man unheard. He desired 10 saw a
a number OF expressions OF dissent but AFTER q
good deal OF confusion il was agreed To hear
what he had 70 say.
BISHOP CAMPBELL's TALE
Bishop Campbell then went on to saw that he
had told the bishops as they would testify, that
the members Of Israel church were as good
African Methodists as he, only there was q little
fusion and all kinds Of derisiye remarks, such