The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-04-26
That Church Trouble.

Lie WhlSh SiCV oue VI Ss"S
recent conference OF the German
Evangelical association has extended
to the Ottawa church, and before q
settlement is made there will, I'M
doubtedly, be hot fight.
The German Evangelical associa-
tion is founded on the same principles
as the Methodist church., and there
are about ninety members In the Ot-
tawa congregation. A board OF trus-
tees, consisting of e. Claus, Henry
Woehler and Peter Gambler attends TO
y the financial affairs OF the church ana
are recognized as the representatives
OF the people and the head or the
congregation. Thursday week they
received letter from Bishop }. D..
Escher, of Chicago, which stated that
Rev. WOeher was to take charge OF the
church and that Rev. Philip Zahn
must no longer be recognized as pas
tor. or course this caused a hub
hub and now the German Evangelicals
are debating on the probable outcome
of the step taken by the bishop.
Rev. Zahn was removed simply be-
cause he did not attend the Illinois
conference at Chicago last week. At
that time it was decided that all min
listers absenting themselves from the
conference should be expelled from
the church. There are two factions
in the tield-the Eschers and anti
Eschers. The first are followers OF
Bishop Escher, and the latter support
Bishop Schums.
Rev. Zahn has been pastor for one
year and gained many friends among
the congregation. The congregation
is about evenly divided in this matter.
Some are inclined to obey the
mandates of Bishop Fischer, and
Others think that Rev. Zahn
should be retained. The trustees
will lock the doors and Rev.
Zahn will not be|allOwed to preach to-
day. The church will be open for a
Sunday-school meeting and prayer
meeting, however.
Rev. Philip Zahn was very persis-
tent in his efforts to preach to the con.
gregation Of the German Evangelical
church on Sunday morning, but the
trustees stood their ground firmly and
refused to give him admittance TO the
pulpit. The doors were locked, the
trustees taking the key and Rev Zahn
was told that he could not enter the
building. From $3.50 to 1890 o'clock
CldSSCS iCIilCu, Due
the prayer meeting was omitted.
A large number of people were as
sembled at the church and they
formed in groups and talked the stu
alton over. Some wanted Rev. Zahn
to preach irrespective of the orders of
Bishop fischer. and others took sides
with the trustees and held that the
head of the church must be Obeyed.
Tho tructaaS infnrmpn Row I9hn'S
friends that the bishop had instructed
them not to recognize the depOsed
pastor and they proposed to comply
with the order When the conference
held last week had decided to depose
all ministers who had absented them
selves from the meeting, Rev. Zahn
informed the trustees that he would
not force himself into the church, but
would quietly abide by the dicision
and retire. The trustees stated that
they were much annoyed Sunday when
Rev. Zahn asked to be allowed to
preach.
Rev. Albert WOehr. the newly-ap-
pointed pastor, will probably be here
during the week and will preach next
Sunday. Rev. Zahn has host OF
friends here, who are opposed to the
action of the bishop and, no doubt,
there will be hot controversy before
the matter is finally settled. The out
come of the dissensiOn will in all prob
ability be the withdrawal of a large
number from the church. The trustees
are now on top, but the week may
bring a different state of affairs.
Rev. Zahn succeeded in making a
few remarks and explaining the
position in which he was placed. At
one time the noise in the church was
so great that it looked as if there
would be free fight, but the majority
finally got their passions under con-
troll and quiet was restored. The Rev.
Zahn has certificate showing the
authority given him to serve as pastor.
1t is as follows:
Resolved, That the trustees OF the
church and parsonage of Ottawa Mis-
sion, and the trustees OF all other
churches and church property under
the control and jurisdiction OF the
Illinois conference of the Evangelical
Association of North America, are
hereby directed to let into possession
Of said church building or parsonage
of such church the preacher sent to
such church by this conference now in
session at the Emanuel Evangelical
chnrch, corner of Sheffield avenue and
Mariana street, Chicago, ILL.,, and
that the preacher so assigned to said
church be permitted to preach and
hold religious worship therein, in &C
cordance with the customs of such
church.
To the Trustees of the Church and Par
sonage on Otta1ca Mission of the Illinois
: Conference of the Evangelical Associo-
tim of North Ame1ica:
You are hereby notified that Rev.
Phil. Zahn has been appointed as
preacher in charge of Ottawa Mission
and that you will recognize him as
such preacher.
ID. b. BYERs, Pres.
MARTIN STAMM, Sec'y.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, April 16, 1890"
Editor of Ottawa FREE TRADER:
. DEAR SIR:-I have read the state