Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-03-19
ECHOES OF THE WAR.
A Church Fight Which Began
Early in 1868.
FIom Pittsburgh Com -Gazette.l

Early III 1908.
FIom Pittsburgh Com-Gazette.l
TARENTUM, PA, March 4-Rev. j.
FL. Timmons has been pastor of the e.
p Church, at this place for almost 25
years. To-day he is being tried by the
Preebytery of Allegheny on charges Of
drunkenness, lying, quarreling and con-
duct unbecomilg minister and a
Christian. A dozen or more of the
members have sworn that be is guilty
of one or more of the charges, and to
those unacquainted with the matter or
who do do not know the sterling worth
and character Of the maligned pastor,
the prospects of his ever resuming his
untarnished reputation before the world
looks very dark.
But let me tell the story. Had you
dropped off at this handsome little viii
lage Of camp meetings and church scan
dals this morning you must haye no.
ticed an unusual presence for week
day of country clad horses at the con-
veuient hitcLing posts in the vicinity
of the little yellow brick church in the
centre of the town Having come here
on rumor that Rev Timmons was
being tried for everything but his life,
was not surprised at finding crowds
of women and young girls going in the
same direction. The destination was
the little church where the trial was
going on. As usual, at Presbytery,
the ministers wele found engaged in
lively wrangle The dispute was
whether the competency and the credi-
bilitv of witness are the same, and
whether or not it is better to establish
the witness standing in the matter be-
fore or after going on the stand. The
members showed about the same
amount of proneness to speech making
as an average councilman. Rules were
made and overturned by appeals with
as little regard for the Moderator as if
he were only mayor in the exercise
of his veto power.
WHEN THE TROUBLE BEGAN.
A good brother sitting near me ven-
tured this information THE whole
matter is the result of the war" When
| looked up surprised, he said No,
| don't mean that we have Democrats
in our church, but let me explain. Rev
Mr.. Timmons is man of very decided
opinions and characteristics. He was
here when the slavery question began
to be agitated, and his advanced views
made him the mark of the shafts of the
opposition. Time healed that feeling
but not the gulf that had been created.
The question of temperance and the
proper methods of reform served for
dispute as dogged as that now waging
in the Old Home in Pittsburgh. That
too died out with the memory Of Mur-
Thy, and the subject of dancing, psalm
singing, and of attending camp meet
ipgs projected themselves into the
breach and have resulted, first, in Mr.
Timmon's resignation and in the pres
ent trial"
$50 that's how it began" said l,
show will it end ?"
"In Rev. Timmon's complete vindi-
cation For years Mr. L. took no sides
in the matter, but when it resolved it.
self into a contest of power in the con-
troll of the church building between the
trustees and the elders, be favored the
trustees. They came off victorious
and from then on the dividing line fell
between the 'Gabraith' aud the Tim
mons factions. The latter fight occur
red in April, 1892 The factions en-
larged and the trustees and two elders
joined with the pastor; the other elders
fought under the leadership of DR. Gal
braith and Elder Evans
Iu the fall of 1888 Mr.. Timmons re-
signed. The factions were 50 nearly
equal in strength that, with tho aid OF
a few of his old friends whom be pre-
vailed upon to vote with the opposition
his resignation was accepted.
rhE SCARLET LETTER.
"At that same meeting some one
without MIR. Timmon's consent offered
a resolution also requesting the elder
ship to resign. 1t was requested that
the same be carried up to the Presby-
terry. Rev Mr. Timmon's reputation,
as long standing ns the church ITSELF
soon procured for him an informal call
to the church at CHARTERS Cross Roads
While the matter was still unsettled.
some one presumably one OF the fac
tion opposing him at rarentum secur-
ed The publication of letter In the
Pttsburgh Com Gazeiit, ceiling htteh.
ton to the trouble here and charging
the pastor With drunkenness Furbear-
ahte tea-ibg 10 Ne d kittut, Mr. I'm
mons demanded bis nights ~ The hands
Oi the l'WsbSurN The i0ttsdeat0h
now ih p6eNss OlbNed 1be Gal
bBnb p0tA r0Nittd lbt tbAEe3 Won
mfp hAtd NAd d. OAIbNhh Ws,i.
mdAts0tdN Inn nov TmWdh3MAa
lt0bh m his OMQ AmdA Mwbi 6Jm
1900 m 1870 nt " Mann tiipIM
fimm5b6 t@NbtM TRNEN06a
.fN tiU N4aWtUN IA ma N|t tu.M VN