Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-29
The .sruoliness Meetings.,

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AGITATION IN METHODIST CIRCIEs-DECTDEDA ACTION
OF THE PREACHERS MEETING.
The 'holiness meeting" OF last Sunday, an ac-
count OF which was published in THE STAR of
Monday. was the theme of good deal OF con-
versation among our Methodist readers and at
the preachers meeting Monday morning the
subject was discussed at some length. Rev. Mr..
Gardner, the pastor of Ryland Chapel who was
to have been arrested had he attempted to have
conducted the meeting at windsor place on Sun
day afternoon. was called on Monday evening
by reporter OF THE STAR, but he declined to be
interviewed on the subject on account OF the
rules OF the association. and because even IL the
rules permitted 1t, the action of the meeting in
his opinion, make 1t indicate for him to divulge
the proceedings.
ORIGIN OF THE HOLINESS MEETINGS.
Inc meetings had been held at Windsor Place
for about 10 years up to about year ago. when
Miss Windsor Sister Kitty became i'll and the
meetings were removed to the Metropolitan
board of that church. When Miss Windsor re-
covered. she asked the leader, Rev. w. NJ. Fergu
son, to return the meetings to her house, but he
declined. Then she applied to her pastor, Rev.
Mr.. Gardner, of Ryland Chapel saying that she
was without religious privileges, and her request
was granted, or condition that the pastor should
have charge. Meetings were then held, con-
Quoted by Mr. L. C. White, and meetings were
also held at the same hour at the Metropolitan
church. At one OF the latter meetings some
months since, some parties made some alleged
indscreet remarks, attacking ministers, &C.
and the result was that the official board OF the
church closed its doors against the meetings
Then some OF the attendants returned to the
South Washington meetings. but it was not long
before there was further dissatisfaction. On one
occasion one of the up town brethren instead
giving his own personal experience, like the
others, spoke for Is minutes, and in the course
of his sermon or lecture referred to Jupiter
Mars and Saturn and some of the old heather
characters.
THE PASTOR CALLED HIM TO ORDER,
ana then the music was started. Then the
sisters Windsor asked Mr.. Gardner to withdraw
from the meetings, on the request of the diSaf-
fected. Mr.. Gardner declined, on the ground
that he had right, under the discipline, to at
tend and control the meetings, and said he
would do so as long as they continued under his
charge. They then said that they would have
no more meetings, and Mr.. Gardner proposed 50
to announce on Sunday last. Mr.. G.'S friends
state that he was much surprised ON reading the
advertised notice in Saturdays STAR, especially
as the WndsOrs had as late as 4 O'Clock Informed
Two OF his congregation that they had no knOWl
edge of meeting to be held there 1t is claimed
that the anfmus of the action towards Mr.. Gard
ner Is found In the fact that some months since
in the preachers meeting he denounced the
FRAUDULENT PROFESSIONS BY IRRESPONSIBLE
PERSONS
at these holiness meetings; and while defending
the propriety OF holding special meetings for the
promotion of holiness, If properly conducted. he
remarked, it is said, that all the trouble to the
church came from class Of religious vaga-
bonds and ecclesiastical JrampS, whose charac-
tiers would not bear investigation in their home
| anu W HO THRUST themselves upon UltHSe
meetings with the most eXtravagant professions
of sanctfty." 1t will be seen from these re-
marks that he endorses the views of the church
but he claims that the purity of the church and
the cause of Christian holiness demands that
the pastor should carefully guard these meet
1pgS against practices that diShOnOr the church,
and protect them from imposition on the part Of
would not warrant the professions they make
ACTION OF THE PREACHERS MEETING.
=, AS stated above, the subject was discussed at
the preachers meeting Monday. The conduct
of Mr.. Ferguson in calling in an officer to ar
rest Mr.. Gardner chad he appeared was COM
mented on in not very complimentary terms.
There were several resolutions offered and dis
cuSSed, and three were adopted. The first, Of
fefed by Mr.. Brown, presiding elder OF Washing
ton district, declared that Mr.. Ferguson had
done wrong In interfering with the affairs OF
Ryland chapel by introducing meeting to be
led by himself at the same place and time ap-
pointed by the pastor OF Ryland church. The
second, offered by Rev. Dr. NaylOr requested
Mr.. Ferguson to enter no pastoral charge for
the purpose OF holding any religious meeting
without the consent OF the pastor first obtained
The third, offered by Rev. DIR. Lanahan, covered
the broad ground covered already by the discip-
line of the NJ. L. church, that no member OF the
NJ. E. church. without the consent of the pastor
OF the churches, had any right to hold any re-
hg1ouS meeting in connection with such charges.
The meeting was full one and the vote unan-
1mous. The opinion was expressed that the
time had come to speak out, when agitators on
the specia! holiness line had invaded pastoral
charges with policemen to take hold of the pas
tors If they entered the meeting to object or
otherwise interfere.
GREE METHODIST CHURCH,
MeSSrS. Fafrchfld, Proctor, D0lan, and Cav
anaugh, who have been quite prominent in the
holiness meetings for some time, it is understood,
have taken their certificates from their respective
churches and formed what they called the 'sFree
Methodist Church" and it is not unlikely that,
If Messrs. Ferguson & Co. should determine to
hold meetings at SISTER Kitty's," that some Of
them at least will withdraw and join Dolan &
Co. This course can be pursued by the laity
without much trouble; but MI. Ferguson being
these meetings again the preachers association
will prefer charges against him under the dis
cplfne OF the church and try him. AS yet the
course Rev. Mr. Gardner will pursue as to the
Sisters Windsor has not yet been determined
nor is it known what action they or Mr.. Fergu-
n1uill tnl- in hon