Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-02
FIGHTING BRETHREN.
SCAkOAL0US ROW AT A PRAYER
MEETING.
The Church Members at Acton, Ind, on
Their MuscIe-A Regular Knock
Down and 0ragOut Fight
Full Particulars.

ACTON, IND., August lit is not Oft
en- a peaccable church meeting is turned
into tirst-cass row and a regular
knock-do En and dragout fight, but our
community has recently been regaled
by such an extraordinary occurrence.
The affair occurred several nights ago,
but to avoid scandal it was hushed up
as carefully possible, and has not as yet
found its way into print. 1t is, howev-
er, too good to keep, and, having by de-
grees siited out the full particulars from
eye-witnesses. your correspondent has
determined to let the public know how
our religious people "dwell together in
unity
On the night in question the congre-
CATION OF the Methodist Church assem-
bled at the usual place OF worship in
this town to hold prayer meeting.
Brother Jonas Hamlin, Superinten-
dent Of the Sunday School, othciated
with his accustomed dignity, and at the
conclusion OF services closed the meet
ing with an unusually unctious and
long g-winded prayer. Thereupon arose
Brother John II. Weaver, who an
nounced that Rev. Mr.. Cook, the pastor,
would hold Il basket-picnic next Sab
bath, and that it was his desire
that all the Methodist Church
members should bc in attendance.
This apparently innocent annouce-
ment proved 10 be vcritable bomb
shell in the camp and produced an in
stant explosion. 1t seems that Mr..
Hamlin was at daggers' points with the
pastor and Weaver, and that their
quarrcls had spit the members into
warning factions, which have continued
in state militant for many months.
So Brother llamlin utterly disdaincd
the notice from Weaver about the
basket picnic, and curtly proclaimed
that the members would meet at the
regular place of worship and not at the
camp grounds, as the minister desired.
This was the signal for hostilitics.
Weaver and liamlin commenced TO dis
CuSS the subject very angrlly, growing
louder, more bOisterOus and threatening
as the war o. words proceeded. Hamlin
tattler and made another serious charge
against him. This brought the lie direct
from Brother Weaver, but the statement
being repeated, Hamlin struck his
opponent iii the face As the latter
did not strike back, IIamlin was en-
cOuraged by the timidity OF his
enemy to attack with renewed vigor,
and beat him with great vigor until he
pleaded for quarter. At this juncture
another religious brother, Mr.. Charles
Golden, undertook to act as peace-maker,
bu. instead OF receiving his advances
kindly, Weaver sent him whirling back
ward, like a stone from catspnlt, over
several seats, until he landed in badly
domoralized condition in the "amcn
corner" Golden was fain to retreat in
good order, and, being left to the mercy
uf the enemy, Hamlin was pounded and
choked by Weaver until they were
finally separated.
During all this exciting episode the
church was crowded with Mortified
brethren and frightened, screaming sis
ters. The horror of the latter was
greatly increased by the sudden appear
ancc upon the scene of neighbOr, who,
aroused from his sleep by the din,
rushed into the crowd en- deShdbWe. with
Il costume but little fuller than that OF
the Georgia Colonel with the collar and
pair Of spurs. The upShot of the whole
business was that ailidavitS were filed
against Weaver for assault and battery.
Having pleaded guilty, he was duly
fined by Squire Porter, but this failed
to satisfy public sentiment. Since the
particulars leaked out the excitement
over the affair has been intense, and
even church members admit that so
srandalous an occurrence deserves the
scvcrest apprehension and full exposure
10y the public press.