The New York herald., 1876-10-02
RIOT IN A coLoRED CHURCH.

THE POLICE ExPRL THE FLOCK OF THE FLEET
STREET METHODIST CHURCH, BRooxLYN
The pent up wrath OF the colored worshppers OF tho
African Methodist church OF Fleet street, Brooklyn
:oand vent last night in an Angry and threatening .
serious result IL Will be remembered that in March
the pastor, Rev. jeremiah b. Murray. took occa.
lion TO remove Office sevcral refractory members
st. tho Board Of Church Trustees He subsequently
:aused the election OF brethren who sided
with his ideas of how things should be
lone The trustees who had been deposei
aeIl a meeting and claiming to represent n majority
" the congregation determined TO be masters the
niuation and to Gus, the pastor. They commanded
TO surrender the keys OF tho building to va
cate the promises Tie sisters of the congregation
and many OF the male members advised Mr. Murray 10
remain where he until the Court could be ap-
pcxied He took their advice and .hcld the tort
ving Tor month IN the church, and having his meals
brought 10 him regularly BY the sisters, who wcro
loud in sounding their praises OF tho shepherd,
The question TO The status OF the Board of
Trustees came up In The Supreme Court May last,
before Judge Gilbert, who decided IN favor OF tho
ground taken by The pastor Subsequently the African
Methodist Annual Conference reappoinled Brother
Murray to the pastorato OF the church This appoint
ncnt was at the time declared TO be M advised MS IL
Wound keep alive the disscnsion. since then the old
and the new Boards oil Trustees have continued
10 exercise Their functions, each party hav-
~
collections have been taken up and the money
has been withheld from payn tho church debt by the
old board Counter libel pending the Su-
preme Court between Mr.. Murray aud Thomas H.
Wilson, one accusing the other OF having used uc-
fnuiatofy language.
Last night after the sermon collections were taken
up as usual, but when The money was taken to the
place OF deposit, near the pulpit, Brother Wilson
clutch Tor both nles OF stamps ana pennies, and he
held the treasure IN a tight lrasp The pastor CON-
mandcd Wilson to 'hand back dat money! wilson
replied "Dat he would see hl,n damned hrsl.m
A crowd oil coored men gathered about the money
holder and shouted cncouraglngiy for hun 10 hold IT,
The brother harrangued the people violent ms
against the pastor, and the latter surrounded by the
women who screamed at the top ot Their yo.ces,
nounccd Wilson and the old trustees scene OF in
describablc confusion ensued and curses were freely
banded To and fro IN horrible confusion with hymns
which the sisters sang
Sergeant Cam, OF the FIRST precinct, and q squad OF
summoned 10 the sccue, as razors and brick
bats threatened 10 be brought early requ,s
bon by the male dsputants As the police entered the
door Olcef Collins stumbled over the inanlmatc iorm
portly negrcss VINO was overcome by excessive
Heious fervor and was being carried out by her
friends. shout OF JOY was sent up by
the PASTORS friends the police, with
drawn locusts beat their way up TO the pulpit and d
pocted by Mr. Murray caught Brother Wllson by the
collar OF the coat ana dst dire confusion and cries
Il ssHt 'em with a brck! took him OF the church
~ mob accom- panied wilson TO the station house
The congregation driven out OF the church. the
lights turned OF and quiet reigned at last in Fleet street
ehurch.
A the station house a complaint Of disorderly con-
duct In dlsiurbng religious service was preferred
asainst Wilson. wno locked up. subsequently,
however, Mr. Augustus Storrs, whose employ Wilson
ncts as man. made hts appearance and secured
1ho release OF hts servnnan unusual concession alter
charge has been formally preferred a. the station