Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-26
FIGHTING FOR A CHURCH.
United Brethren Who are Disunited II
. Church Quarrel.

Suits for assault and battery filed in the
court OF Franklin county, Pa, have brought to
light some Of the details Of long and bitter
contest between rival factions Of the United
Brethren church Of Greencastle, and also OF 9
hamlet called Clay's HILL which eliminated
last Sunday in a bloody fght in the church
building at Greencastle This borough is
quiet one, lying on the Cumberland Valley
railroad, half way between Chambersburg and
Hagerstown. The place has an excellent old
frame church, in which the United Brethren
have been worshiping for long time. The
congregation numbers some hundred odd and
until the last few months everything seems to
have gone along smoothly. Finally the United
Brethren became disunited over some trivial
matter and the result was that they went into
the faction business, and the liberals and the
radicals" were the outcome. Rev. Mr.. Keiter
affairs Of the radicals and the Rev. Mr..
Schliechter was selected to perform similar
offices for the liberals.
Several weeks ago the radicals secured pos
session Of the keys to the church building and
since that time there has been lively contest
on the part Of the liberals to secure them.
Peaceful methods failed utterly, SO moral sua-
sion was dropped, and one week ago a consulta-
ton was held by the liberals to devise ways
and means of securing the structure. 1t was
finally decided that as possession means about
nine points in law they should enter the church
and remain there until service was over, thus
secure control and keep their antagonists from
holding services. Saturday night eight iber-
ais, all grown men, removed the sash strips OF
one Of the windows and crawled in. They had
brought no lanterns for fear of being detected,
so they decided to wait until daylight and then
barricade the doors and thus keep out the
radicals, who had the keys. Liberals were to be
allowed entrance through the window. After
the excitement of breaking into the church
had subsidized the members went to sleep, ex-
pecting to awaken at daylight and block the
doors.
BLACK EYES AND BLEEDING NOSES
They slept 30 soundly ON the wooden pews
that when an advance guard of the radicals ap-
peared on the scene at s o'clock they were still
asleep. The radicals-about fifteen of them
unlocked the doors and entered. They were
astounded for moment and one man made
such noise that the sleepers were awakened.
snort and bitter parley was held, ending IN
the radicals ordering the liberals out of the
church Finally two radicals caught hold of
the arms OF liberal and showed him toward a
door. Then came a struggle which lasted fully
nfteen minutes. Both sides were making their
hnal contest and they fought for all there was
IN II. The liberals were outnumbered, but
they fought bravely and we'll Several were
knocked down and the radicals were literally
thrown bodily out through the open doors.
Almost every man engaged in the tussle was
damaged more or less and there were more
than dozen blackened eyes and bleeding
noses, while bruised faces and bodies and torn
clothes were numerous. Now the court is asked
to decide who is who and what is what" The
radicals are sued for assault and battery and
the liberals are sued for malicious mischief.
At Clay Hill the liberals are the victors. The
radicals called a meeting on Sunday week, but
when MIR. Peter Nichlas of Chambersburg went
there to say encouraging words to his followers
and tell them Of the victory won from the OPP
position at Greencastle he found that the lib
erals had securely barricaded all the doors and
windows of the church building. He had his
flock with him and there was many an ill word
suppressed. The radicals were submissive and
made no effort to gain an entrance. Following
their leader, they repaired to the house of a
nelghboring farmer, where, from the porch,
MIR. Nichlas led the service without being in
terrupted.
The outcome of the trouble cannot be con-
Jectured and each faction Is awaiting the de-
cision Of the court