The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-01-24
Burton.

enough to allow me to reply through your
columns to articles published in your pa
per, issues of 3D. and nth, under the head
of Burton News, stating that that quiet
| town and vicinity was somewhat stirred up
over Sunday School matters, saying that
| they were having nice Union Sunday
| School, but that the MP. people had called
a meeting to organize school of their own,
which looked like split, with contention to
| follow. Now let me say that so far as q
| Union Sabbath School is concerned, we
| never had enc except In name and IL any
one doubts this assertion let him consult
| Webster as to the meaning of the word, and
then decide whether or not there was q
''uniOn" between the two denominations in
Sabbath School. Anyone acquainted with
the way in which the school was conducted
would certainly say not. One year ago
when the school elected their superinten-
| dent some of the leading men of the ME-.
church said they must have certain man
| for that Office or some OF their members
would leave the school, although the MP.
people insisted upon man of their own
choice, as the M. f. people had virtually run
the school for number of ,ears. That
looked like union. The Nj. P.'s were de-
feated; most of them declared they would
not attend the school during the year and
part of them kept their word by staying
away, consequently the NJ f. people called
it ''nice' Union Sabbath School and no
doubt it was a nice school for them, but the
M. p. folks could not see it in that way.
Now we don't believe in throwing mud or
finding fault with our dear ME- brethren,
and we rise simply to explain for ourselves
the situation of things. AS ''Bub," signing
himself as such, has predicted, contention
has followed and consequently a split i'm the
Sabbath School Tho M naopla nrUa nj
ed school of their own, electing the follow
ing officers: Supt., Rev. ID. 5. Cramer;
Asst. Supt., William Wright; Secretary,
Mrs. G. Il. Mason; Treas, f. w. Mason;
Organist, Miss Nellie Cramer On account
of the forenoon service aI6 the conference
meeting, fixed their hour at 1890, p. m.
Some of the M. f. people stated-al.hough
they preferred a Union Sabbath school
that they calculated to attend the M. T..
school, but failed to do sO on the contrary
went out and organized school of their
own i'm the school house near the church.
still calling it Union Sabbath School. l.
do not know who they have united with
whether it Is with the outside world or
whether they have found member of some
other church to unite with them. Perhaps
they could explain all about that, but one
thing is certain the M. E. people will have
their own way or it won't be union long.
In your issue of January nth ''NeighbOr's
Boy" tries to explain the situation. He
says the M. +. people were locked out of the
church by the MP. people, who had no
right to do so whatever, as the church was
built by popular subscription, with q writ
ten agreement that the church should be
open to any and all denominations when
not in use by the NJ. p. people. Now let
me say in reply that the MP. people never
promised any denomination regular ap-
pointment in their church. On the contrary
the MI people know perfectly well that aJ
the time it was dedicated five or six of the
leading men of the M. Z. church offered to
give S25 each towards paying off the church
debt If the Mp. officials would give them q
written agreement nsuring them regular
appointment i'm the church once I'm two
weeks, and that their offer was refused, the
Mp. people stating that members of other
denominations might ask the same privilege
which could not be granted, consequently
the Nj. +. people refused to pay anything at
that time, but since then have paid about
S27. The M. p. people have been generous
enough to allow the NJ. E. people to occupy
their pulpit once in two weeks for the last
six OF seven years without any c0mpensa-
tion whatever. So far as the building OF
the church by popular subscription is con-
has members who have paid more toward
building the church individually than all
the Nj. +. people and the citizens of Burton
combined. TO be sure we solicited sub
scriptions. The NJ. +. people signed about
500, some of which has not been paid yet.
They have paid up to date a little over 800
towards building church that cost nearly
81 700. and after using it six or seven years
for nothing are offended because they can
not have their own way in it. "Oh, con-
sistency, thou art a jewell Now Neigh
bor's Boy says the people outside of the
church felt as though the NJ. =. society had
no right to lock any society out of the
church, and goes OH to illustrate the build
ing of the church by paradox, saying "A
loving father of Burton built sled for his
children" etc. Now the fact is the loving
father of Burton never built church and
i'm our opinion would not have had q church
edfice in which to worship to-day had not
the NJ u. people built one for them. The
NJ. +. people and the citizens of Burton
ought to rise up and call us blessed instead
of Singing mud at us as they 90. do not
blame the citizens of Burton outside of the
Nj. f. church so much, as the NJ. +. people
have been running from house to house tell
ing their pitiful stories and urging people to
| Join i'm with them i'm their Sabbath School,
while the Mp. people have taken a straight
forward course and tried to do what was
right. In conclusion let me say that we
have many more truths to tell but will for
bear for the present. Nj. L. G.