Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-04
The Bethel Church Troubles.

Bishop Brown in the CIty-His Conf
 dence that Right i'll PrevaiI-He Dis
 courses to the People at Masonic HalI
 Regarding he Recent Church Troubles.
 Bishop Brown, of Washington, D. C., whose episcopal district in the African Meth odist Episcopal church includes New Eng land, arrived in this city on Friday with the purpose, it is understood, of trying to heal the difficulties at present existing in the Bethel A. M. E. church on Sperry street. It will be remembered that the church being without a pastor and not willing to wait for the bishop to send them one mede an en- gagement with Rev. Mir. Johnson, of New Jersey, to serve them for three months. Mr. Johnson commenced his ministrations about Thanksgiving and his time will not expire un- til tho latter part of this month After Mir. Johnson wRs engaged Bishop Brown sent Rev. MT. Stansbur y and he was ejectsd from the pulpit by the trustees and in the City court the trustees were fined. Then fol- lowed g suit in the civil court before Judge Stoddard to get possession of the church, which was denied The Bishop was seen by a reporter of the COURIER yesterday at his temporary residence in this city. The Bishop is an intelligent, pleasant spoken gen. tIeman and conversed freely in regard to the matter. He said that he was thirty years in the itineraoy sand been eight years in the episcopacy of his church and he had never seen any trouble of the kind before. He said that since his arrival in New Haven he had endeavored to gain an interview with the trustees for the purpose of trying to settle the difficulties, but messages he had sent to them had not been replied to up to that time and nc notice had been taken of his re- quest in any way. Continuing the Bishop said he had no doubt but that he would get possession of the church at early day. He said he would leave the city to day, but would be within call so that if his ervices were needed he could arrive here in G very short time.
 At the mission hall in Webster street last evening there was very large audience many being compelled to stand during the services. After the usual opening exercises Bishop Brown addressed the large oongrega- tion present
 In his opening remarks he said that the struggles that nations have passed through and been raised up under God were Alexan- der the Great, Napoleon Bonapart. and George Washington, and in the religious world, Mar tin Luther, Zwipgle, Melancthon, John and Charles Wesley, Whitfield, Richard Allen, Daniel Coker, Peter Spencer and others
 
 dists were so great end unbearable that they were forced by the surrounding circum- stances and their own self-respect to secsde from the churches of their white breth- eren and worship with themselves It was struggle of years before an orgariza- ton of colored Methodists could worship God under their own vine ard fig tree with out molestation. Twenty nine years rolled away before African Methodism took the form of 8 conneetional organization. The bishop then referred to the laws governing the church and its various departments, in cluding the general conference, annual con- ference, quarterly conference and official board, bishops, pastors, &c. He referred in lucid terms to the duties of bishops, pastors, stewards, trustees and class leaders. Pro- ceeding he said: The African Methodist Episcopal church have taken in and are really like the government of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and the only difference is that they have not yet come to the point of that which is right. But they are csming. This is the reason why we have Q separate organization. I would like to see the white and colored Methodists united. In 1880 our church had over 400, 900 communicants and thousands of preachers and exhorters. We have two universities and about ten seminaries and colleges. We have founded these ourselves, except the aid we have received from a few men like Chief Justice Chase. who gave us $1O,OOO, and MT. Avery of Pittsburg, who gave us $1O, ,OO0, the interest of which goes l for the support of teachers. The Unitarians have helped us in donations of books. In addition we havea church organ, t'The Chris. ] tian Recorder, which circulates all over the United States, and in England we have also the Childs Recorder and many other papers, There have been large number of graduates | from our institutions of learning, hundreds l of students arc preparing for our pulpits and | thus we are moving on.
 Referring to the Bethel church troubles the bishop said that the course of conduct adopted by the trustees did not add to the reputation of the race The duties of the l trustees he said confined them strictly to the | tennporalities of the church and the members of the church could not legally authorize the ! trustees to employ preacher. This power rested solely in the bishop.
 In conclusion the bishop urged patience on | the part of the members, assuring them that l everything would come out right in the end and that their church would be restored to them in all it's entirety.
 When the bishop concluded Rev. Mir. l Stansbury made 8 few remarks. He gave the congregation to understand that he had come to stay until removed by the bishop or con l ference.
 MT. John W. Nichols had 8 number of very fine Plymouth Rock fowls on exhibition
 at the Madison Square Garden show. l A good name at home is tower of strength l abroad Ten times as much Hoods Sarsapa- ] rilla used in Lowell as of any other.