The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-07
TROUBLE IN The CHURCH
Brother Richards Carries His Political
Isthods Into the Sanctuary.
An Effort Made to Have Rev. }. j.
McAnister Removed From n
Passionate OF the Mountain
View Methodist Church.

by the standards Special Wire.
BUTTE, July 6.-Much feeling has arisen
in the Mountain View NJ. Z. church and
among a~ppreciative people in Butte gen.
orally over the possibility OF the removal
of the present pastor Of the church, Rev.
J., j. McAllister. A rumor Of an effort I'm
certain quarters 10 obtain the removal OF
that clergyman has been on the streets
for several days, and as the rumor began
10 bear the appearance of fact, not only
great surprise but much Indignation was
expressed among citizens generally.
Rev. Mr.. McAllister came To the
Mountain View churchtwo years ago next
month and during his term as pastor his
record has not been excelled. IL Is owing
90 the splendid success with which MIR.
McAllister has met i'm his charge al the
church both spiritually and materially,
that so much surprise II felt That any
attempt should he made la remove him.
II Is learned however, that the endeavor
10 make "a change has progressed so Tar
thai IL is practically settled that the
present pastor must go unless such senti-
ment is aroused as that Bishop vincent
will he induced Ia change the programme
as now fixed in this conference. The con-
ference will mectJuly ~. IL is understood
that for some time j. l.. Richards, one OF
lllt lfTpItltiitut VI nv
and superintendent Of the Sunday school,
has been doing his utmost 10 secure Rev.
Mr.. McAllister's removal, n has So in
nuenced the presiding elder that a change
has been decided on, So far as IL can he
decided on without the authority Of Bishop
Vincent.
Ii Is, however, n fact patent 10 those in
the church that the large majority of the
members are earnestly DESTROYS Of the re-
tention of the present pastor. A few side
with Mr.. Richards IN the matter, but the
general sentiment, as Is expressed ~ a
humble of good members, is that the
withdrawal of Mr.. McAllistcr will be a
very serious blow 10 the prosperity of the
church..
What the secret of Mr.. Richards oppo-
sition may he is not generally known. MIR.
McAllister refuses 10 make any statement
in regard 10 the affair and MIR. Richards
left yesterday for the East. One Of the
members of the church, who desired that
his name should not he used, said:
"The exact cause of Mr. Richards OPP
position / do not know. Probably il Is
something only known in full Ia the pas
tor and Mr.. Rickards. ] suspect, how
ever. that the pastor is too outspoken In
the pulpit to suit some. MIR. Nc
Allister is a man Of strong convictions
and IN not afraid tn express his
conviction freely. ! suspect that he has
Mt some time expressed himself SO freely
fl ftktfd " III itttf tiAtttffr tilatt IL
Richards has taken umbrage. Another
possible source of difference is that the
pastor thinks for himself, while Mr.. Rick
ards insists ON running the church as well
as everything else Ia suit himself. The
same high hand that Mr.. Richards uses
in political matters he would like To use
in the church. hut Mr.. McAllister would
not he "A party TO this.
"Anotber trouble, ! fancy, has been
that Mr.. McAllister, although himself "A
strong republican, has too much respect
for the democratic members Of his church
TO take. politics into the pulpit. This, I
understand, does not please Mr.. Richards.
who thinks the church should be run in
the interests Of the republican party.
"These are possible causes of Mr..
Richards opposition. ! do not think that
the suit brought 10y the San Francisco
church against Mr.. Richards has any
thing tai do with the matter. ID seems 10
me that in this matter the sentiment of
the entire congregation should lie taken
into consideration. The conference will
make "A serious mistake IL il listens la one
man rather than Ia nearly the whole re-
maindcr of the congregation. The mcm-
bcrs of the church want Mr.. McAllistcr
and So do the citizens generally. for
mo man in Butte il regarded with
greater respect 10y the community. The
remova OF the present pastor would, in
my opinion. bc a blow To the church from
which IL would not recover for years. The
church has progressed more in two years
under Mr. McAllister than il had for
eight years previously"
The action that will he taken by Bishop
Vincent In this matter will he awaited
with great interest 10y very many people
in Butte.