Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-02-15
A ROW IN A CHURCH.
Kisses. Cat.Calls, Confusion, Three
Cheers and Tiger.

New York, January Sl.-With a
strong effort to make himself heard
above the noise of the meeting i'm The
Rev. DIR. Newman's church tonight.
veteran New York politician said:
"l've seen IA good many disorderly no.
litical primaries but never saw any.
thing like this.n
The M citing had been called for the
purpose of electing superintendent OF
the Sunday-school, clerk of the
church, and 1.-THE transaction of such
othei business as may regularly come
before said meeting" The church is
diveded against itself. It's pastor, the
Rev. DR.. Newman, has never been in
stalled, and is member of the Meth
odist church. He has peen the pastor
two years, and large portion of the
membership, headed by DR.. J. w.
Ranney, is anxious to have him sever
his connection with the organization.
There are many politicians in the con-
gregation. They followed Gen. Grant,
who follow ed DR.. Newman.
Tonight both sides seem to have
thought of everything needed TO in.
fiuence votes and secure proceedings
likely to result as they wished them
to. The opening of the meeting was
like touching Il match TO gunpowder.
DR.. Ranney called the meeting to or
der, and his friend. Mr. Peter Dewitt,
nominated another friend, III. NJ.
Cummings, for chairman, and DR..
Newman 8 other friend, j. +. Maston,
as an amendment. There was roar
of ayes and roar Of noes, and DIR.
Rauney decided that the amendment
was lost. At this several shouted
mo" The noes have it, the noes
have it,"
The wrangle that followed lasted an
hour. The Newman party were great.
ly in the majority, and Missed and
groaned continually. The women were
divided, and their cries of ooh, my!'
and of "Shamew and of as it possible
we are in church?' occasionally rose
above the comparative lulls in the dis
order.
Mr.. Foster, for DIR. Newman, wanted
Mr.. Mcdonald substituted for the can
didate for the chair. Mr.. Dewitt
agreed at first, and then changed his
mind, and spoke of Outsiders forcing
somebody on this meeting as chair.
mas" Mr.. Foster insisted that every.
thing would go on smoothly and fairly
il Mr.. Mcdonald took the chair. DIR.
Ranney said that one-half of those
who had voted thus far were not mem.
hers OF the church.
Dr. Newman's followers would not
produce the church roll. Mr.. Cum
mings wanted to know why the best
senior deacon, DIR. Ranney, act as
Ii. 10. CT.
that's why" said Brother Foster.
He has already decided against one
vote, and II man that will do that is
not a proper chairman. If Brother
Cummings wants To he 50 fair, why
d ,u't he put the pastor in the chairY'
Uproarious cheers and applause
greeted this question. The hurrahs
were capped with a 'tigah" that re He'd
its volume of sound through a run
ming series of "hi-yi's," 'yahs,' and
street calls.
The chairman solemnly announced
that it was not proper for them to stay
in meeting any longer, revealing To
the world such state of affairs rs was
then presented All was hubbub and
confusion. The veteran politician
stepped into the library, out of sight
of the assembly and Rugged himself
Dr. Newman had come in and was sit
ting far forward, with face as expires
sionless as clock dial.
With ieers and ironical ooh, yes"
the church folks received DIR. Ran
ney's statement that he believed "we
are all lovers of Him whom we all try
To serve,n aud that it was mot right
for outsiders to come in and kick up
this dis urbance
Presently Mr. Foster proposed that
Mr.. Mcdonald be put in the chair and
he WAS elected with shout that shook
the building, and applauded with
cheers, hand-clapping, stamping OF
feet, and yells. MIR. Mcdonald said II
he was called upon to preside he would
do it, and do it without fear or favor.
DR.. Ramsey said he not yet resigned.
He was both hi>sed and cheered He
seemed confused as to what he had
said, and denied that he had dissolved
the meeting, Again he called church
council to investigate and straighten
the affairs of the church.
Mr. Seymour Yelled for the sense OF
the meeting and asked all in favor OF
DIR. Newman S remaining to so signify.
DR.. Newman got three cheers and II
tiger, followed by hand.cla piping,
stamping and cries of "Hi vi" There
was an underurrent Of Kissing be-
meath this explosion. Dr.. Rahney,
finding an instant of quiet after this
demonstration, adjourned the meeting
subject 20 the call of the board oil