The New York herald., 1879-02-02
CHRISTIANS AT WAR.
WHAT CAME OF THE RIVALRY OF A rrous COB

WHAT CAME OF THE RIVALRY OF A PIoUs COB
BLER AND A coLoRED PAEsoN.
The trouble in the African Methodist Church at
Amityvle. L. l.. which was referred to in yester-
days HERALD. the exclusive subject OF talk IN
the village yesterday. Pastor Ackworth had not re-
turned last night and he is to preach at Bay shore
to-day, there will be immediate resumption OF
active hostilities. Thomas Burton. lay preacher.
was found by a HEnALD reporter in his cabin ada
cent to the church. surrounded by lot Of old boots
and Shoes lasts and scraps of leather co5blng boot
large enough for Barnum giant He said that he
al trustee OF the church. and the pastor had to
preach at Bay Shore well as at AInityville, he
alternated with him. walking and from Bay shore,
distance OF twentyfour miles. The pastor took
sudden dislike to him. and. without notice to him,
appointed the school teacher at Bay Shore. Amos
Doxsey TO preach in his absence and on one of the
cold Sundays Burton had his twenty -four mile tramp
for nothing. The colored part of the congregation
insisted upon his giving short exhortation ana he
did for about AN hour. When the pedagogue could
not hn the Office the pastor of the Con-
gregationa Church did so. and Mr.. Burton was Der.
manently excluded He disliked the pastor for this
unkind treatment. He disagrees with some of his
people about the fondness of OF the sisters
their pastor. and asserts fact that he tried to
shine up to several of them only to be lifted and
he does not believe that there was sister i'll the
place who would have married him. Brother
Squires, with whom the pastor boarded for forty
three cents day would not have him for son-in-
law on any condition.
TROUBLE.
In the Amityville church. one night in January
the pastor. whose privilege it to single out the
elect to pray and exhort, asked brother Burton to
pray and he refused Immediately the pastor pre-
ferred charge OF ungodness against him, and the
official Board convened to try him. The pastor
insisted on being the judge the OCCASION and the
brethren obJectng disagreement resuted and the
whole matter was tabled. Both sides appealed to
Bishop Payne, who characterized pastors course
according TO brother Burton, 'smaadmnstratiou'
Charges OF incompetency were preferred against the
pastor. and Bishop Payne came ON from Maryland to
determine the matter Brother Burton charges the
pastor illiterate. He could not distinguish be.
tween the terms division and diversion" He in
troduced the Apostles Greed regularly into the
vice. and insisted that it should be recited in the
school, which was very dstasteful to them and in
consistent his part as he was continually attacking
Catholicty and the creed in Brother Burton's opn-
ion. was complete recognition of the saving quail
ty of that faith. Burton insists that the pastor did
the the a church into ridcaIe. and, what Was
worse than ALL persisted in his erroneous
course after being cautioned. On several oc-
casions during service the members called him to
order and were told to keep quiet leave. The
ror of which Barton says the pastor guilty,
saying that He descended up to heaven" The
brethren were all willing to make reasonable allow
apce for the pastors scholarly deficiencies consider
ing that he had been slave and had not had the OPP
portunity of educating himself He came from Vir-
ginis to Amtyville, where he known as Leather
berry.
THE PASTORS MARRIAGE
Brother Burton says that the pastor Tilted young
lady in Bay Shore when he married the girl in New
York. He persuade the worldly minded people
to give him reception in Ketchains Hall, and tho
thing was advertised to be grand affair with DIR.
Preston and Judge Capen orators. The Doctor
disappointed them, but the Judge did not. and the
affair very tame most of the church people hav-
ing refused to participate. There was ice cream aud
cake in abundance. petition asking the Bishop to
remove the pastor was signed by twenty of the
thirty five members. for the reason that he
consider himself above his flock after he had
twice dined at the house Of the Rev. II. Fimer. of
the Methodist Church. He hired house in the aris
tocratic section Of the village among the white peo
pie, and the proceeds of the reception to fur.
nish it; but the owner. wilet Skidmore, cancelled
the agreement. and he had to content himself with
humble lodgings In Mr. Squires' house. This man
is Shinnecock Indian and his wife is of the
Montauk tribe. The Bishop told them to pay him
of and he would send them another preacher, but
has failed to do The pastor and the official
due, he claiming $40 and they Offering 81 II. The
Board concluded to dismiss him ut once and notified
Mr. Squires that they would not be responsible for
his board bill any longer.
SUNDAY SERMON.
On Sunday morning Brother Burton made fire in
the church and put the key in his pocket. People
who went TO the church for the regular service
told that there would be no preaching before the
Shore arrived ut eleven o'clock and admitted.
Brother Burton and another entered and to
the church was packed, word having gone
out that Mr.. Ackworth would not be per-
m1tted TO preach. he reached the church
with his lady friend. but detained for time
outside. Entering at half past eight he warmed him
self and started up the aisle for the pulpit but
Samuel q. Miller and Titus Jackson stopped him
abruptly and after exchange of words he tried to
force passage. but Miller pushed him back, and he
in turn showed Miller Between Jackson and Miller
he forced back as far the stove and by this
time the congregation greatly excited. Fair
play there" and 'One at timc!" was shouted from
the middle of the room. The pastors lady friend
pried in between him and his antagonists,
whispered him. and he followed to her seat.
Brother Burton assembled the pulpit and explained
that the trustees simply standing their
rights. They had not been treated fairly and the
church had been decided to the Conference they
could do with it they liked and would Mr.. Ack-
worth had advertised himself to preach special
on "The Woman Healed and that the people
might not be disappointed Mr. Burton said he would
preach from the same text, and did.
The trustees are determined to exclude Mr.. Ack-
worth from the pulpit They were paying him 800
a year and boarding him. and the church ut Bay
Shore paid him $50. He is likely to continue at Bay
Shore but Burton has serious doubts about 1t. he
considers that the people there would rather have
him (Burton) preach to them. The whole affair
seems to be one of jealousy between them
DALTON'S WIVES.