The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-10
Liberty Grove. Dec. 7th 1885.
Editor of the MIDLAND JOURNAL,

| the troubles at the Porter's Grove Church, lone
of the appointments of the Row landville Circuit.
| NJ. P. church, beg leave to be allowed throug h
| the columns of your Journal. to submit to an i'm
partial public the actions of the Quarterly Confer
ence, (the official body of the Circuit relative to
| said troubles.
On last Saturday afternoon TIE Conference was
legally organized at the Bethesda Church with tho
| following Representatives present. Harmony,
| (RowlAndviIe) six-Bethesda, six-Poriers Grove,
four. statement was made by the pastor, Rev.
r. T. Smith OF the part he had taken in the af-
fair His repeated protests against the recogni-
| ton of person calling himself Rev, Barriger.
The repeated requests for him to go tc the church
and put stop to the goings The notice he
| had received of the riot which caused the arrest
| of number OF persons. OF his presence at the
trial and his effort to protect the purity and hon
or of the NJ. P. Church and of the cause Of true
religion. The pastor also reported that he had
complied with the instructions OF the Conference
held November 27th 1886 LIST. That he had sd
dressed o letter to Mr.. Barriger notifying him
that the official Board united with him in protest
| ing against Mr.. Barrger occupying the pulpit or
officiating in any of the churches of this charge
| End. When he found that Mr.. B. in defiance OF
Preacher Conference and the laws of the church
|
| and place the case in the hands of Mr.. Albert
Constable. 3rd. In accordance with the instruct
ions of the Quarterly Conference. he went to Port
| er's Grove Church on Friday night, where he wit
messed the most shameful and dsgraceful conduct
| he had ever witnessed in his life. The trustees
| surrendered the church to him; and they to geth-
I er with some of the members assisted him in try
ing to clear the house, in order that the business
| which the Quarterly Conference had ordered Nigh
be attended too. But that the confusion was turn
| ed almost in to riot. Men and women jumping
| over the benches promenading the asles and talk
| in loud and boisterous manner until the church
| seemed to be turned into pandemonium. Mr..
| Barriger with hat on his head) surrounded by
| company of males and females laughing and talk
| ing while he tMr. Smith) and the trustees were
pleading with the people to retire. Finding it i'm
possible to carry out the instructions of the Con-
| ference, he requested that the lights be put out
| and left for home.
| After the statement of the pastor, several wit
nesses-not members of the tnference-w who we're
| present at Porter's Grove on Friday night, testi
fed to the correctness of Mr., Smiths statement.
The trustees of Porters Grove also acknow1ed ged
| that fair statement ha6 been given. That they
did all in their power to put Mr.. Smith in possess
ion of the church. but found it impossible to
| troll the people. The Conference then went Into @
general discussion of the subject. The church
laws-The duties of trustees and the duties and
prerogaives of the pastor. were read. Also the
deed OF the Porter's Grows Church. The trust
clause of the deed reads as follows ITO have and
to hold the said lot in fee simple to- and unto the
said trustees and their successors for the purpose
and use of erection thereon a church under and
according to the discipline, rules and regulations
Of the Maryland Annual Conference OF the Metho.
dist Protestant Church, to be used and held for
other purpose. and any violations of the above to
create forfeiture of the above grant" After fur
Their discussion the following resolutions were
adopted:
LIST. Resolved. That deeply deplore the pres.
ent state of affairs at the Porters Grove Church
and that We heartily endorse our pastor, in whom
we nave every confidence. in his repeated efforts
to put stop to the so called revival meeting at
that appointment. The above resolu ton had one
negative vote-one of the representatives from
Porter's Grove Church
| End Resolved. That we. the Quarterly Confer
ence of this Circuit. hold Mr.. Barriger, together
with few disafected members aud meddlers, re-
sponsible for the shameful and dissraceful con
| duct which took place at the Porter's Grove ap-
| pointment last night and that it deserves the se
verest condemnation Of all true Christians. This
resolution was adopted without a dissenting vote.
3rd. Res. That the statement in the last issue but
one of the MIDLAND JOURNAL, that MIR. Smith has
neglected the Porter's Grove Church since last
| May is incorrect. The facts being as follows:
which appears in the minutes of the first session
of this Conference year. Porter's Grove Church
refused to pay her obligations for last year and
| would not consent to submit to the vote OF the
| majority in the plan of appointments for the pres
| ent year. Therefore Porters Grove Church
was by unanimous vote left with
out preaching for the present. This be-
sister, tThis resolution adopted by unaui-
nous standing vote) The Conference then decid-
ed that Mr. Barriger could not preach nor take any
part in the services at Porters Grove, or any of
the Churches OF the Clecuit, and the trustees of
Porter's Grove Church were called upon to answer
II they wonld abide by the law of the NJ. p Church
and the ecisions OF this Conference. Whereupon
each one pledged himself to do all in his power to
prevent Mr.. B. from preaching or taking any part
in the services of the ur h, and if he persisted
doing so, they would 10 X up the church and
assist the pastor and conference in prosecuting
him Tor disturbing the services Of the the church
The following resolution was then adopted by n
Using nj animous vote.
Resolved. If Mr.. Barriger should attempt to dis
regard the actions of this Conference and
respect the authority OF the pastor and trustees
Then our pastor be and is hereby instructed to au.
thorize Mr.. Albert Constable to prosecute him to