New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-03-19

To tie Editor ofMe Ntto National Era:
Each of our church organizations takes it
turn at the grindstone which sharpcns the
public appetite for sensation. The latest is
the following:
Trouble In a Coiored Church.
A meeting of the congregation of the First
COlOrcd BBptist Church of Cumminsyille was
convened last evening to take into considcra-
ton the unchristian conduct of four of the
male members, who were charged with "back-
biting' the minister in charge, Elder Peter
FOssctt. The Oflense of these ''unruly men,
bcrs" consisted in criticising the course pur-
sued by the minister in attending balls and
parties, and waiting upon white folks. In
the estimation Of the critics he should devote
his time and talents exclusively to the spread
OF the Gospel, and leave the sublunary affairs
OF white folks to their own management.
The meeting was called at the instigation
of the minister, who desired vindication of
his course upon the part of his flock. lie
called the congregation to order and stated
his grievances. lie complained that he had
been unduly criticised by Brothers John
Williams, Richard Johnson, John Robinson.
and William Umphrey, for waiting upon balls
and parties gotten up by the white folks, as
though it was any disgrace or beneath his
dignity as cOlOred minister to do so. After
eXpatiating upon the merits of the case, he
desired vote of the congregation, sepa-
rately, upon each Of the offending brethren.
who had set themselves as his religious UNI
pires. He got very much excited, and as a
precautionary measure, in order to prevent
the meeting from being broken up in a row.
Brother Berry went down to the police sta.
ton (Tenth District) to get 4 patrolman to
come up and keep an eye on the proceedings.
Officers Emery and Delaney responded, and
their presence at the church had a tendency
to prevent sundry listicuils and exhibitions
of raZers in the hands of inflriated indyid-
uals.
A vote was then taken by the excited con-
grcgatiOn upon the expulsion of the offending
brethren, which was done separately in each
case, and resulted in an overwhelming ma
.jOrity to sustain the minister, who stated
that he had been laboring among his flock
without pay for three years, except on one
occasion when an old pair of pantaloons was
hung up on Christmas tree for his benefit,
and he didn't think that was much compen-
sation for his services.
AS each one of the offenders was expelled
the congregation joined in prayer on Blended
knees.
On Sunday last ''layman" delivered the
following sermon, which deem worthy Of
general circulation, and therefore enclose tc
YOU
Elder Fossett's Troubles.
RIO the Editor Of the Commercially
The report of the trouble in Elder Fossett's
church gives to the public one glimpse of an
ugly skeleton, which the colored people have
carefully hidden in their closets, and which
having peeped from its place of concealment
l am disposed to drag for a few moments to
the light of day.
Nor is this the only community of colored
people which keeps this hidden horror. but
in every large city in this land the same state
Of affairs exist. A .monstrous evil, which
saps the foundation of virtue and ruins alike
the morals OF young and old, is passed oyel
in silence by the men among us who assume
to be the c0nservators of morality. lis ex.
istence and presence is ignored, and the
watchmen who should give warning of the
flood of vice which is covering colored society
with its destructive wave, are dumb.
The charge brought against Elder Fossett
by these "backbiting" brethren is not thai
he waits on "white folks" but that he waits
upon "balls.'
Now, l, for one, do not think there is any
harm IN dancing. A more harmless form o
amusement l cannot imagine; yet think
these brethren were right in bringing charges
against the Elder, and the church was wronc
in excluding them, and for this reason Eldel
Fossett believes and teaches that dancing is
sinful. He will discipline and exclude any
member OF his congregation who should
engage in tripping "the light fantastic toe
lie VIII not even enter church in which an
organ is played; how much more wicked
must be the tones of the ungodly fiddle, SC
provocative of mirth and dancinc. Vet Tho
Elder listens to it with complacency, while
performing his duties as a caterer. These
"backblters," for so the church by its actor
decides them to be; think that if dancing b.
a sin, then to assist even as a servant at ont
is sinful. The principle at issue is this: Ma,
man as servant participate in that which
his conscience regards as sin?
Inc coiored members, as a body, have de.
clded that he may. can recall the name o
but one man who has dared to think and t,
say otherwise, and he was soon sent adrift
These preachers do not seem capable of un
Outstanding the spirit which prompted tn,