St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-17
An Unusual Spectacle Wit
messed by Scores Of Sun
day School Children.
More Trouble Engendered by
the Displacement Of Pas
tor Rel ertS.
Another Sensational Episode
in West Side Presby-
terrain Circles.

the direct outcome of it. None of the
women figured in the case except to
raise their voices in fright, when it has
been their wont to sing praises to God.
In short, the novel spectacle of an elder
trying to knock out a member of the
church, la Sullivan. was presented III
the Sunday school, and the gathering
was consequently broken up before the
children had reviewed their weekly in
structiOns from the Lesson Leaves"
At the usual hour yesterday morning
an audience somewhat larger than usual
gathered in the Westminster church to
hear Rev. NJ. ID. Edwards. of the Dayton
Avenue Presbyterian church. preach
and declare vacant the pulpit hereto
fore occupied by Rev. w. ID. Roberts.
The latter is the reverend gentleman
whose actions were recently discussed
by the preSbyteTy with The above result.
All the persons who had signed the pc
titiOn for Rev. Mr.. Roberts removal
were present with their friends. while a
! dozen or more of those who had stood
by their late pastor were present.
Among the latter was Elder L. Jeffer-
son. During the service everything
passed off nicely. There was no scene
and even any hard looks that may have
been anticipated were suspended, the
impression being that all feeling that
had been aroused by the recent trouble
WOULD NOW BE BURIED.
DR.. Edwards eloquent sermon on Be
attitudes tended to strengthen the idea.
The service closed shortly before II
O'Clock and, as usual, the children and
a number OfSthe ladies repaired to the
vestry where Sunday school is held.
The organ used in the church is also
used in the Sunday school. Immedi-
ately after the discourse William r.
Hawthorne, a brother of the lawyer,
and Joseph Sayles removed the instru-
ment. Both of these gentlemen were
members of the wing of the church that
brought about Mr.. Roberts removal,
Mr.. Sayles being the organist of the
church before the eruption, and, it is
claimed. still holds the place, never
having resigned. During his absence
from the church, and while he was in
Duluth, Mrs. Haskell. of the Baptist
church. has presided at the organ, and
did likewise during the morning service
yesterday.
When the organ had been taken into
the schOolrOom yesterday Mr.. Haw-
thorne said to Mr.. Sayles: Let us
practice few songs before the school
opens" Mr.. Sayles sat down on the
stool and began looking over a hymn
! book. Just then Elder Jefferson stepped
in the room. and as soon as he saw Mr..
Sayles at the organ his blood began to
| increase in temperature. He walked up
| to Mr.. Sayles and ordered him up from
the organ. Mr.. Sayles said: Il don't
see any harm in practicing a few songs"
"You have no business here. Get up
from that organ," said the elder, and
his eyes began to flash.
II am a member of this church." re-
piled Mr.. Sayles, land think l have a
! right to play this organ if want to-"
Mr.. Sayles turned around to the keys
and the ladies and children present be-
gan to look frightened.
The elder. however, was determined.
Caring neither for the place nor the
company, lie clutched Mr.. Sayles
around the neck and suddenly yanked
him backward off the stool.
Then there was a connection.
LADIES BEGAN TO SCREAM.
and rush to the door. The children
started to cry, while the men rushed up
to the organ, where Mr.. Sayles had at
tackled Elder jefferson. The latter's
head was in the formers embrace, and
Mr.. Sayles had drawn back his right
previous to smashing the elder in the
face when Mr.. Hawthorne interfered.
He caught Mr.. Sayles right in time to
save the elders cOuntenance, and SAID
For gracious sake don't strike him
here. Remember where you are"
''Well, Pm not going to be insulted
by any man, even if he is an elder of
| the church"
But he was persuaded to let the elder
out of his loving embrace. and the two
parted.
When quiet was restored Elder Burns,
who, with his children, was present,
gave it out that if his could not attend
the Sunday school without being COM
PEELED to witness fight he would send
them home, and he did. Other gen.
tlemen present remarked that if
they had to have a fight in
the Sunday school they had all
better go home. This was enough and
the children rushed out, glad to get
away from the room. The other per-
sons followed them, and the church
was closed. The affair was, of course,
a cause of general comment and regret
among the members of the church and
food for gossip among those who heard
about it. A reporter for the GLOBE
saw number of persons interested in
the afternoon. Mr.. Sayles gave the
facts of the affair substantially as above.
He said he was not trying to intrude on
the rights of Mr.. Haskell and only sat
down to play few times for Mr.. Haw-
thorne, as had been their custom when
he was a regular attendant of the
school.
Mr.. Hawthorne said it was at his re.
quest Mr.. SayleS sat down to the organ,
and ne thought Elder Jefferson's action
| IneXcuSable. He believed that if Mr.
Sayles had been insulted anywhere else
that he would have given the elder g
thrashing.
Elder jefferson stated that he did moi
consider Mr.. SayleS had any right to sit
down and furnish music. 1t was time
to open Sunday school, and Mrs. Haskell
was there to officiate at the organ as she
had been in the habit of doing. He die
not intend to raise a row, but simply
wanted Mr.. Sayles TO get up off the stool
There was no occasion for the trouble il
caused.
What effect the disturbance will have
on the church remains to be seen, but Il
| is Thought thai il will tend TO widen Tho