Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-15
LOCKED our OF CHURCH
EPIsODE OF THE BAP-
TIST BATTLE.
Members Of the Delaware
Avenue baptist Church Cooling
Their rect ON the Curbstone Under
the silent stars.


From Every Evening Of THURSDAY
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church ha
been berrioaded at all Its entrances, an
last night was under the surveillance Q
three officers Of the law, who wer
detailed Rt the request Of the president Q
the board Of trustees to do picket duty Il
front Of the building and prevent an in
vAsion Of the sanctuary. The cal
for = meeting laat evening osten
sibly for the purpose of psssinl
resolutions complimentary to Chsndlsl
0Rkes, a young theological student VIII,
went to Lewisburg to day, drew together
200 or 800 people. The call was directed
to the clerk and the meeting fixed for tn.
lecture room last evening. Upon arriving
at the church 1t was discovered that tn.
clerk had not only refused TO entertain
the formal cali, but the trustees
had looked ARd barricaded ali
the doors and In response TO their re-
quest, police sergeant aud :wo pstrol.
men were detailed to prevent any
attempt on the part Of the assembled
church members to enter the building.
The officers Of the law evidently re.
gHrded the matter as q great joke,
and, as II in apology for their presence,
read to two or three members OF the
church, letter FROM the president Of she
board Of trustees, asking the mayor to
detail = squad Of officers TO guard the
church. The officers did not make their
presence In any way offensive, but
Withdrew = short distance and watched
with some interest, the indignant
throng. A careful examination Of
the church doors revealed the
fact that they had been strongly barri-
caded, and also that the bankrupt trus-
tees had raised sufficient funds 70 have
new looks put upon all the doors. After
awaiting . few minutes beyond the hour
fixed for the call, and understanding
that the church would not be opened foI
the meeting, James J. Walker, q deacon,
was selected 40 president Of the assem-
blsge. He took q position upon . curb
stone elevation and briefly addressed the
crowd, announcing that, owing 10
the arbitrary action Of the trustees they
would not be allowed In the church. Con-
sequently the projected meeting would Of
necessity be abandoned. He stated that
the gathering was simply called to recon-
mend Chandler 0Rkes to the faculty Of
Lewisburg, PAT, University, and this they
heartily did, as we'll as 10 endorse the
oourse he had taken In the church. The
endorsement was to have been made in
the following series Of resolutions, which
were prepared for presentation:
WHEREAS, Our Brother Chandler oakes is
about to enter upon course of theological
studies at Lewisburgh College, and
WHEREAS, Our brother by his earnest
Christian zeal, upright work, unfageinR
energy and tireless devotion TO this church,
especially to its mission work at Mcdowell.
vile and elsewhere, has endeared himself
through many years Of labor and trial to this
church, therefore be it
Resolued, That we part with our Brother
Oakes with feelings of profound regret and
sorrow, but that we assure him Of our earn
est prayers and heartfelt sympathy through
the trials he has lately passed, in the loss OF
q father and sister and the severance of these
church relations, but at the same time we
most earnestly rejoice in the step he has
taken to more fully equip himself for the SER
vice Of the Master.
Resosued, That we most heartily commend
him to the president, faculty and members Of
Lewisburgh theological College as brother
worthy in every way of their confidence and
Resoiued, That a copy of these preambles
and resolutions be sent to Brother Oakes and
that they also be entered ON the minutes Of
the church.
WILMINGTON, DEL, January 7th, 1885.
The sssem bled members Of the oonQre.
CATION felt outraged at the refusal OF per
mission to enter the church, and they
we're atill more inoensed that the trus.
lees should have called for police inter.
ference. Iu view OF the action Of RYAN
Helist Needhsm's bsckers, last evening in
bsrricading the church IT. is probable that
that the fight will be inaugurated with
Inoreased intensity. The feeling runs
veiy high against the evangelists to day,
and their action has undoubtedly brought
many non participants In the oongreRA
lion to the ranks Of Mr.. Haldeman's
friends. Inasmuoh As Mr.. oakes ia edu,
,ated by the Baptist Publication Society
In PhilAdelphia, the refusal to
grant permission to hold q meeting to
commend him, briDgs the trustees in
iirect opposition to this powerful orgsni
sstion.
What action the trustees propose tax.
ng In the matter is not known, but there
ire various rumors AfloAt this morning
their movements. The one
accepted most generally by Mr..
aaldemAn's friends, Is to the effect that
project ia on foot to sell the church. The
rustees believe they oan. realize about
s2O, 600 above the existing debts upon the
,huroh, and with this cash an ornate frame
'hurch can be erected. The report fur
her goes that 1t is to be an independent
'aptist church and that Evangelist Need
lam Is to be the pastor. The probability
Il the truth Of this statement Is strength
med by the fact that Mr.. Needham still
emains In the city beyond the time he
lss announced to join Moody in Rich.
nond, Va.
Another fact which lends confirmation
o the rumor is that the trustees have
leld several private meetinRs'and decline
o state to any one the object OF the gath |
rings or what business is brought up for
iscussion. One Of these star chamber |
ounoils was held last night, but no
mount Of inquiry will reveal the nature
4 the business discussed.
Panooast Allen, one OF the deAoons who |
ndorses the looking up Of the church |
asst evening, stated to an RvKRY EVENING
eporter this morning that he would state
or the public that II might rest assured |
bat the officers Of the church have NO
lesire TO legislate but for its best In. |
srests, and that they have no other
'bjsct in view.
A prominent member Of the evangelist's |
action stated that the call for the meet
ng last evening was irregular and NOT In
accordance with the church rules. Under
lis Interpretation only . majority OF the |
BOARD Of deacons can call . meeting at
his time, the members being debsrred
there Is no Sunday service |
o announce II. As the matter now
tands, II this Interpretation be correct
he friends Of Mr.. Haldeman have no
means Of calling any meeting until the
expiration Of the 30 days OF the closing
oefiod. When asked " there was any
objection to last nights projected meet
DR being held In the church, the mem
Der replied that 1t was not called regu.
arly. In response to the inquiry II there
,sd been any objection to waving the
nreRularity, he answered. that even / Gan
'fioial) have no right in the church, 1t
vas closed by majority Of the people.
rhe interviewed member declined TO
,firm or contradict the rumor concerning
he reported sale OF the church. Regard
ng the secret sessions Of the trustees he
vould not speak, but admitted that such
meetings had been held, and that one
lAd been held last evening.
Secrecy is undoubtedly the policy Of the
,vAngelists and they maintain q studied
silence. They have undoubtedly full
understanding upon maintaining the
'triotest secrecy. Trustee T. a. Mcclure,
who attended last nights private:: session,
vas found behind his fab stall In
The Eighth street market. He was
-unning q jack plane over q piece Of
Dosrd, and when questioned by an RvRRY