National Republican., 1877-07-09
BURNING A CHURCH.
A NEW WAY TO SETTLE DISPUTES
IN A CONGREGATION.

A Dissatisfied Church Member Sets Fire "a
Church-And Leaves the worshipers
without Shclter-sunday Services Amid
the Ruins.
The Second (colored) Baptist church, on
Third street, between II and northwest, was
partially destroyed by fire early yesterday
morning. A few minutes before o'clock q
man on the street discovered that the building
was on fro. The neighborhood was quickly
alarmed, and an entrance was gained by forcing
in the front door. The flames had then gained
considerable hcadway. An alarm of fire was
turned In from box 10, and the fire department
wore soon at work upon the building. The
roof was destroyed by the fire, leaving the
brick walls standing without shelter. The
church melodeon and the benches or seats
were carried out Of the building and saved.
The damage is estimated at 81 800. There Is
strong evidence that the building was set afrc.
When the door was first opened burning
lamp WIS found on the floor In one Of the
aislos A little loft over the choir gallery,
used for storing the books Of the choir, was on
fire, and there was also fire at the rear end of
the church. II Is supposed that some dissatis-
fed member or members Of the church set fire
to IL. The troubles In the congregation Of the
church have recently had considerable pub
licity. There were two factions, one Of them
composed Of the original trustees and their
adhcrcnts, headed by George Fitzhugh, and
the other composed of newer set Of trustees,
headed by the pastor of the church, Rev. Mad
ison II. Gaskins.
Last Friday Judge Wylic, in the Equity
Court, settled the troubles, practically, by or
dering tho now trustees, who had taken pos
session of the church property, to surrender to
Fitzhughs trustees, who were to hold the
church for the congregation. Gaskin's party
were cnjoined from interfering with the
tr,tet Er;1a,, i.ht hua
meeting at the church, In which the decree Of
the court was discussed, but the meeting was
adjourned until next Wednesday night before
any action was taken. The presumption is
that some Of the members OF the defeated
party, unwilling to surrender the church to
the original trustees, thought that the best
way to settle the dispute was to burn tho
building down. At any rate, the fire was
kindled by an incendary, and, as the feeling
among some of the members has been high, the
probability that the incendiarv was q member
Of the church is very great.
The key Of the church is in the possession
Of the trustees, and II Is supposed that the in
cendiary gained admittance to the church by
climbing through the window. The mystery
| is being investigated and the offender may be
detected. The burning Of the church created
considerable excitement among the colored
people of the city yesterday. The congrega-
| tiOn OF the church is very large and quite
evenly divided on church questions. Services
were held in the church yesterday, as the con-
grcgation had no other place In which to meet.
At FIVE O'Clock in the morning, four hours after
the fire, an carly prayer meeting was held.
The seats were put back in their places in the
church, and the congregation suffered little
Inconvenience. The church was roo6ess, and
the worshippers were shaded only by q few
pieces Of burnt and scorched timber that still
remained. All OF the regular services were
held during the day, and the attendance was
unusually large. In the afternoon there was
a baptism service. Notice was given by the
trustees that until the church is repaired SER
vice will be held in Lyceum hall, on E street
between Eleventh and Twelfth.