The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-03-18
A Crushed Congregation.

Crushed Congregation.
Yesterday afternoon, when it was RAIN
ing heaviest, the knob of the door of
the Globe Democrat reportorial rooms
was turned cautiously, the door itself
quietly pushed in, and short. fat col
ored woman, with rubber circular over
her shoulders and a rubber hood upon
her head, followed it. She advanced
noiselessly to the middle room, and then
fixing her head at an inquisitiye angle,
remarked to one of the reporters:
81 don't know whether Use in the right
pew or not"
what pew are You looking for?"
asked savage little scribe turning snap
pishly upon the intruder.
wants to git some printin' done, y
was the womans response, moving rev.
erentiy toward the speaker.
"We don't print New Years cards or
tickets for raffies here" said the wrathy
scribe; sslook in the paper, and you'll
find where you can get 10, 900 of ,em run
off in ten minutes for 81. If you want s
circus poster to advertise strawberry
festival, go over to Charley Ware.
II JUS wants to git dis hyar publem-
cation put in de newspapers, dat's oil, :
and she handed the savage reporter the
following document:
This is to certify that Elder Young
came here to our city from California
during the first of the summer, begging
money for his church in California, and
collected finance from every colored
church in this city He stated that he
had to raise the sum of S12 so, and when
he had obtained the amount, he was
going back to California to pay the
debt. He went as far as Brooklyn, n.
Y, and begged what money he could
there, aud he came back from there to
st. Louis, and he got in with two of his
deacons, namely: Henry Jones and
Henry Brooks, and they have crushed
him in the First Baptist church for a
pastor where the church does not desire
him for a pastor; and it is disgrace for
the First Baptist church to receive
him as a pastor when he has not return
ed to his former church and paid the
debt; and this is plain enough TO see,
that he has lied, and the First Baptist
church does not want him aud I want
the public to know it. The only way
that he can get church in this city is
by bringing his contention credentials |.
He says that his wife will be up pretty
soon and she will bring them. We don't
want his wife to bring them. If we want
his contention we will send for them;
and if he brings his condention it will
cause the church to split entirely.
''Postscript-Ify you want further in
formation call to No. $40 Fifth street"
''You wrote this ?" the savage reporter
asked
eyes"
"And your name?'
Melissa Phillips, I'm nuss-a sick
nuss-by trade, and live at that num-
bah. !"
whats the matter with this new pas
tor-Mr. Young?"
"Well." said Melissa, s'he's the edu-
Gated man, but we's not educated and
don understan' his education, and dom
want to know anything about it. We
DON choose to be run by an educated
preacher, an we amt goin' to let 'em be
crushed in dere without maxim some
noise about it."
'tWhy don't you get up a mob and
make concerted attack or something of
that sort upon him?" suggested the saw
age reporter.
I'VE don want to bring the chu'ch
AtioO 0AoEktSO OJ oAOA oO1iA
Melissa said, and then she went on to ex-
plain that Mr.. Young had come here on
his way East from San Francisco to raise
$3.50 (printed in Melissa's note S12.50)
for some new church on the golden
slope. Two of the senior deacons of the
Almond-street church were struck by the
copiousness of his speech, and de-
termined to make him the pastor Two
senior deacons were arrayed against
him, and for Rev. Jefferson, the then in
cumbent. The one hundred men in the
congregation were also divided, but the
200 or more sisters were almost solid
for Mr.. Jefferson and paid little heed to
the colored Chrysostom. The question
of changing pastors was put to vote
and the result was against Young. His
admirers, however, organized little re-
turning board in the basement of the
church and counted Elder Young in
s'Dey say de women folks ain's got no
right to vote" said Melissa; "dat dey
ANTI got any voice-no nothin' to say in
de gov'rment of de church. But dey
counts TO Jest as much as a man in de
congregation, and eff dey don't do right
dey is put out of de church. jes' de samo
ez everybody else. Eff dis is so, why
amt dey right to hev voice. Dey only
say dis because dey want to crush Mr..
Young into de church; and want to say
right hyar, dat if dey do it dey1l bust up
de congregation.
Why didn't you send committee of
smallpox cases to welcome the new pas
tor?" the savage reporter suggested,
whereat Melissa grew indignant and
maies tically swept out of the office. A
reporter who met her outside had an
other talk with her, in which he learned
that some of the members of the congre-
cation jumped on Rev. Young the other
night and gave him a terrible beating.
The assault was made one night last
week. It was also learned that many
members have already deserted the
Almond street congregation, and the few
who remain are ready to fight or run
foot-race on the very slightest proyoca-
ton. st. Louis Globe Democrat.