The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-06
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Inc mlHl8DGE O&AACO - AAOr W -
ofWidow Bradbury.
Paterson, IN. - Letter, In New York Times.
The meeting in tine Willis-street Baptist
Church tonight, called specially to try and get
at the bottom facts in the Guirey-Bradbury
scandal, abruptly terminated in a most disgrace
full row. While Pastor Guirey was vociferously
shouting in his own defense, amid yells of APP
proval on one side and Kisses and groans on the
other, the widow Bradbury and her friends rose
en- massc and hurried from the room. Aside
from the church-goers who are in the habit OF
attending the circus" as this place OF worship
is called by the irreverently facetlous, the gen
eral feeling in the town is one OF intense disgust
The more respectable churches OF the same de-
nomination are ashamed at the way the Board
Of Deacons have behaved, and at the trivial
chickering's which have been forced into public
notice during the past three weeks.
AS this was a church meeting, which with the
Baptist denomination is supreme authority IN
ouarrels of this kind, no one but members were
allowed to enter the door. Two men, with more
ayoirdupois than good breeding, bluHed on all
others at the gate. They said that the Deacons
were afraid of the affair getting into the news
papers. AS all the authoritative information the
newspapers have got SO far came directly from
the Deacons, that sounded well. A half hour
before the meeting began gossIplovers began to
crowd the sidewalk in front of the church and
talk over the possible strength of both sides.
One woman said with apparent dissatisfaction
that she had come away from home without
washing the dishes for fear of being late. Young
men ODenIY caQVaSSGU lHc IdPHA4y ElOhAhS SAOWA
for Guirey supporters. About 400 people who
claimed to be on the church roll passed by the
men at the gate and packed themselves into the
lecture room of the church. At least one
were little girls in short dresses,
A sign above the blazing gas lamp at
the door babe all Welcome The Widow
Bradbury came in with a couple Of friends, took
no notice of a volley of contemptuous shifts, and
sat where she could see and hear everything that
went on. Pastor Guirey walked up the aisle
with a benign and forgiving smile for all, and
sat near the piano. His wife followed him later.
Some one attempted to start a hymn, but he
found that he was carrying on a solo perform
ance, and subsidized in the middle OF the nrst
verse.
It was evident to outsiders that there was q
stormy time inside, but the windows were kept
closed, and they could hear nothing. By and
by the heat became intolerable. and the win
dows were dropped. Then the shouting and
ouarreling could be heard across the street.
Passers-by stopped in amazement and asked
questions. Before long there were as many
listeners outside as there were in. The walls of
the room were hung with religious notices, most
of them put up during a big religious festival
last winter. This one was In plain sight OF all:
Love One Another"
A the time the windows were opened the pub
lished report Of the deacons declaring the par
sons charges against the widows character to be
mot sustained" was under discussion. Deacon
Wright claimed that it had been printed without
the authority of four Of the deacons who did not
indorse if, and who had requested that their sig
natures be stricken out. They had signed it
upon hearing only one side OF the case. They
could not get hold of the document to erase
their names, and were Disguised to find it in
print with their signatures attached. The war
OF words waged hot and heavy. The parson had
four of the deacons and the widow three. The
widows hackers were the best takers, and put
in an occasional word edgewise, which set the
women buzzing like a swarm of hornets. A
dignifed old gentleman in the rear of the room
got up.
This is shameful, " he said: Il came here to-
night rather inclined toward Nj. Guirey. | am
convinced now that he is a fraud
The person rose to his feet, and there were
cries of 'sOh!n .'Shame!n Hear him. etc. The
scene which followed would throw a noisy ward
caucus in the shade. Every speaker who at
tempted to make himself heard was silenced by
the yells and boots Of his opponents. The
women were as noisy as the men Young girls
screamed out words of approval for the parson.
The chairman was powerless to quen the row.
How did you get to be chairman, anyhow
some one shouted at him.
IT don't know whether my word is worth any
thing or not" said one deacon, but as a Chris
tan
'Oh-yah-C Christian" came from a score Of
Threats.
Another deacon went across the room to speak
to a friend. What are you sneaking over there
for, you old mutton heads" shouted somebody.
The tumult increased. The men stamped their
feet and women waved their fans. A large
DlEGuF6 Ol bU6 DdNtOE HiiICu nuuk OA Ii wall
Shook as though it would fall to the floor. Some
left the room. The crowd outside grew larger
and holder every minute. Some of them went
into the churchyard and pushed aside the blinds.
A Guirey deacon called a policeman to get them
out.
tfYo are needed inside more than you are out,
officer said a gentleman who was sitting on his
front door steps.
II know / am" was the reply, but / haven't
been called there yet
The chairman pounded away on a bell. and
finally gained comparative quiet. Parson Guirey
took immediate advantage of it and walked to
the edge of the platform. He is an understood
man, vigorous and determined, with long hair,
and brown, bushy whiskers. In a milk-and-
honey tone he implored his hearers to behave
themselves and listen to him. Il have kept my
seat tonight he said.
you have been up three times already
shouted a nearer.
The parson got mad, increased his lung power,
and insisted on having his say. Il have not
been given a fair chance" he said. II was
dragged like a culprit before the deacons when /
was not prepared for it This is scandalous. 1
am not used to being called a liar and a hypo-
critic. II
woman in the audience.
1t was some time before quiet was restored
again. The widow removed her black bonnet
and looked at the preacher, her eyes glowing
like balls of FIRE, but she held her tongue. Mr..
Guirey continued: II have been grossly insulted
in open meeting. My honor is at stake"
Sausage" yelled a voice.
.sSit down, you scoundrel, cried another.
The parson said that the action Of the deacons
In printing the report, or causing it to be printed
and not submitting it to the church was con
trary to the fundamental law of the Baptist
church government He did not propose to
abide by it. If the church insisted on approx
ing it he should call a council. His rights he
would have. A meeting of the board was not
legal without his presence anyway, and the
whole thing had been done behind his back. Mr..
Guirey talked for twenty minutes and then the
impatient audience stopped him. 1t was after 8
o'clock and not a thing had been done yet.
There was another row when some one got up
to defend Widow Bradbury's character. For a
time both sides stormed away at each other like
a lot of ishwomen. Then some one proposed