Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-09
n CHURCH WAR IN MARYLAND.
Struggle for Possess ION Of n Chape,
TEE N. Z. CHURCH AGAINST TBE NJ X CnURcH
SplrTH

place. owing TO the contention OF two branches
OF The Methodist Church-the M. E. ana the
NJ T. South-for the possession OF Mckendree
Chapel, about mile below that plsca III isa
shs COY building at best, and now badly in need
OF repair, ,naNng been erected over 40 years AGO.
! Your correspondent having been informed ,ho,
mething outside the I'd nary religIons ssr,i.a
might be expected 10 take place there tnu uday
/ was at the seat OF war shortly after 10 O'Clock
tats morning. There were then about a dozen
vehicles In the grove near the chanel and
! groups OF Methodists scattered about ciscYs
/ sing the situation. while the sunday school
/ one door OF which was OPEN, and a deputy
sheriff, Mr. James Mitchell, on hand TO preserve
4 oroer. lt appears that although the building
was erected. and for years held, by trustees
! for the Methodist Episcopal church. yet ever
since the war IL had bC en- regarded rs an ap-
pontment on Marlboro circuit OF the Methodist
episcopal Church South, and most OF the at
tendahts being members or that connection
they felt sincere IN the belief thai the property
was theirs, under what is known as
'TBE CaPB MAY CONFERENCE
inc REPRESENTATIVES OF the two churches mu
luail3 agreed In this conference that In Tn
cases or churches on the border 10 the central
or which there were rival clsimants the ma
lorlly on lts members should decide TO which
| connection the church should belong The last
Methodist Episcopal or ''od side preacher who
BAD regular appointment here was Rev Mr.
PaTklnson. nearly twenty years ago. AS stated
| above, ministers OF the NJ. +. church soutb
bave since served the church preaching on al
ternate Sundays-Rev. David Thomas being
! The present minister. who hls oflclated there
| for year or more. Some few months ago the
congregation canvassed the subject OF a new
! location for the church, and put out
subscription papers 10 ascertain how much
money they could raise. and the papers soon
rooted up $500. lt was proposed 20 eract the
new building az or near MulltRen's station
about one and half miles northwest of the
present church, and II is said that this loca-
uon was the real cause OF the existing dIfli.
Guilty. AT any rate. about the time OF the
| March conferences one family OF three or four
| members withdrew their certificates from the
cnurch south because. IL is thought. the re-
mainder OF the neutrality-suspicious. forty-five I'm
number-were against them as 10 the location
OF the new church. 1t is said that this family
opened a conference with Rev. B. Peytoa
Brown, the presiding elder oil Washington Dts
tT1ct NJ. f. Church, which resulted IN this
chufch being added 10 South River circuit
Kew. MI. Haskell In charge. The fact that Rev
Mr. Haskell intended 10 take charge on April
10th having become known TO a majority OF the
memoers the church was found locked that
morning when the ''old side" preacher arrived
with some OF his friends. The wlthirawInv
family, IL Is alleged,
BROKE oPgN THE DOORS
and after brief services were held put new
locks on the doors an1 left. Before the npxt
preaching Sunday for Mr. Thomas Qhe SOUTH
ern NJ. +. preacher) his friends had got into the
church and another change or locks was made
and on The lIth ult. Rev. Mr.. Thomas preached
ON the 24th ult, Rev. Mr.. Haskell's regular
day, there was no preaching, In consequence of
his absence al a quarterly meeting at a1other
church In his circuit May lst DIR. Thomas
preached again, some OF MT. Haskell's friends
having sent word from Anne Arundel that he
would preach to-day, and that they would see
that he got into the church. This caused
considerable number OF Mr.. Tlomas' friends 10
| assemble at the church. some OF whom antici-
nated that Rev. MI. Brown would accompany
Mr.. Haskell.
REsoLUTE LADY MEMBER.
The Sunday school to-day was In charge OF
MI. w. j. Gortner, and there were about 25
pupils present About the organ were seated
nve young ladies and young man. Besides
those connected With the school. some ten or
twelve other persons were In the church. one
| door or the church was kept closed and several
gentlemen were seated On the steps. lady
| said 10 be one OF the withdrawing memoars
passed In at the open door, and directly after
wards her voice was heard demanding why
that door (pointing TO the other one) was closed?
00lng G up 10 tEe door she vigorously attacked it
aDd got it partly open. one OF the gentlemen
sitting Ia the door way, looking up, exclaimed,
my gracious, madam, j am a cripple Don Z
Is rna' ia cs9e 1p % rsn Tine rsse lady
10 come In this church and shall come in, at
| the same time peckonlng 10 her family, who
were seated In light wagon outside
Mr.. Mitchell, the deputy sheriff. Immediately
ran into the church, as did Others, and by alter
Late threats OF arrest and entreattes succeeded
In getting the angry lady TO sit down. She,
/ however kept talking IN an excited manner
| and the choir above, with organ accompanl. !.
/ ment, saDg.
"HoLD THE FORT.
THIS was sung with much spirit aud ha1 a
| peculiar significance The singers it was ob.
| served, at the words ''reinforcements now an.
pt airing" cast their eyes towards the door, on
inc woIos Hold the Fort" a peculiarly strange
emphasis was put, ana when ''see the mighty
host advancing" was sung some turned TO The
wincow nearest the road seemingly looking for
tne coming preacher AZ the reference TO
| ''triumphiDg DER the foe" eyes flashed towards
| the belligerent lady. The fourth stanZa Fierce
ano long tbe battle RACES" was sung so vigor-
ousiy that IT seemed that the choir was ready
10 90 Its part, help or no help. and as the words
''cheer, my comrades, cheer rolled out they
seemed to rejoice In holding the fort. During
the singing the lady referred TO above was en-
gagged IN conversation with the deputy sheriff
py ner side, but her voice was drowned by the
singing.
The superintendent then proceeded TO read a
chapter In the % Book OF Samuel, but the lady
again commenced to give her views OF the action
CT the Others and asserted that II Mr. Haskell
came he should come In. The superintendent.
looking up said: Madam will you please keen
quiet Mr.. Mitchell, order must be kept here.
This is religious meeting" IL deny It. said
the lady. There's no religion about IT. Mr.
Mitchell, placing his hand on the lady's
| shoulder said: sin the name of the state OF
Mary land, command the peace. Madam. you
must be quiet" Another gentleman here
turned 10 the lady, and she lowered her tone OF
voice, and the superintendent finished the chap.
/ ter and bis comments thereon.
REV. MIR. HASKELL REFUSED AD,nrTANCE TO TIE
CHURCH.
A neat family carriage driven up to q tree iD
| the grove attracted attention. ana some one re-
marking, There he is." (meaning Rev. Mr.
Easkelll rush 10 get seats IN the church was
| made by some. While Others went cut TO see
what would be done. The family OF Mr.. Has
keii's friends walked In the church. and some
one raised hymn In whi.h few voices ioined
The LADY above referred TO walked ont and
speaking 20 young man. received the answer,
ION, you go TO hi; i don't want nothing 70 do
with YOU" The reply was made, Nor i with
you. and the young man, as she walked away.
made soMe reference TO whlted sepulchre.
Mr.. J. 7. Walker had by this time accosted MIR.
Haskell, and commeLced the business by ask
Ing by what authority he assumed TO take
charge 4 this church, &C. Mr.. Haskell replied
| that the M. f. church neld the deed TO the
property, and therefor, the church was under
the jurisdiction or that denomination. Mr.,
walker admitted that the deed so read. but
claimed that the action OF the Cape May con-
ference gave them lthe southern churcn) the
property. Mr. Haskell remarked that In Vir-
g1nia II had been decided that the action OF the
advisory. Mr.. Walker.-"Well, we differ with
you. II the courts OF Maryland give us a de-
cision We will acquiesce In ft, but until IL is
nal we will hold the property" "Then," said
Mr.. Haskell. you refuse me admissIon?" Mr.
Walker.-''We DO as the representative fof the
M E. church" Mr.. Haskell then asked the
names OF the trustees who took this action.
and the following names were given: j. IT.
Walker, William Duckett, Benjamin Dlcketf
and Rufus Beall
Mr. Haskell remarked Then there is nothing
OF m N hf,f f. sfras "