The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-05
FISTS FLY IN A CHURCH
THE SECOND AFRICAN BAPTIST
CONGREGATION IN A ROW.

Between Pastor Ellis and His Des-
cons-A Church Conference Ends in a
War Of Words and Set-to Between
Rival Factions-The Cause OF tie
Trouble-A Fight on the Pastors
Rulings Taken Up by the Sisters OF
the church.
The congregation Of the Second African
Baptist church, on Gree square, got into
row last night, which might have termi-
mated in riot if Chief Green had not ar
rived with a squad of police in time 70
enforce order. People in the neighborhood
were alarmed by the shooting aad yelling
and called the police out
The Green's Square Baptist church has a
membership Of nearly 1900, and includes
many Of the elite of the colore1 populatiol.
Rev. Alexander Ellis has been pastor Of the
church for the last eight years. He has Il
great deal of influence among the colored
people, and until lately has been the head Of
all the doings of the church.
TROUBLE IN The AIR
Trouble has been brewing in the church
ever since last March, causet by dissatis.
faction over the past RS rulings, which has
grown until the congregation split INT w.
factions. One facti n supports the pastor
and is composed almost entirely OF women.
The other faction, which includes
majority Of the male members,
is on the other side This faction is led by
by the deacons and other officers Of the
church. Thew claim that Pastor Ellis has
become entirely too autOcratic IN his
rulings.
The division reached Its elimination last
night while a conference meeting was being
I.1A no
fray and the church was packed. The resi-
dents Of State and President streets il the
neighb rhood had full view Of the rather
animated proceeding from their houses.
THE CONGREGATION SPLIT.
The first business taken upiin the confer
ence was the adoption of minutes Of for
mer meeting, at which Rev. Ellis, it was
claimed, had everything his own way. The
anti-Elli4 faction opposed the adoption Of
the minutes and war OF words be-
gan. The pastor knew how % man
age a fractions body, and ruled
la Reed. The church is democratic in its
government. and theswomen have an equal
voice with the men, and the women sup
ported the pastor.
Matters were brought to a climax when
one Of the deacons presented resolution to
expel the pastor from the church. The
pastor put the resolution before the confer
ence. The ayes Of the d-acons and their
male followers could be heard for several
blocks. When the negative vote was taken,
the women yelled mo, nor The mOdera-
tor declared the motion lost.
A follower Of Rev. f Ills then offered a res
olution TO expel the deacons which was
Endorsed by the women with shrill cries of
''expel EN-. expe emp The women voted
for and the men against the motion, and the
moderator declared the deacons expelled.
THR POLICE CALEB orr
Pandemonium the broke loose, and the
cries of the congregation filed the air The
men shook their fists at the pastor and de-
nounced him, charging him with improper
conduct. This led TO blows and the two
factions began hammering each other.
A gentleman living in tie neighb lrhood,
fearing pistols would be used, ran 10 Chief
Green's house, short distance away, and,
informing him of the state Of affairs, urged
him 10 call out the police. Chief Green
started for the barracks, but, before reach
ing there, was met by runner
from the church, who begged him to
bring the police at once. The chief ordered
out the relief squad and double-quicked
them to the scene Of the disturb
auce. The men were getting the best of
things at the church, and when the report
of the approach Of the police was given the
cooler heads managed TO partially quiet the
row. As the police came up the pastor
vacated the church in favor Of the opposi-
ton and marched off at the head Of about
fifty sisters.
There was no fighting when the police
arrived, and no arrests were made, as
neither side requested It, and the police
were ignorant as 10 who were the offenders.
STORY OF TIE OUTBREAK.
A MORNING NEWS reporter arrived at
the barracks shortly after the detachment
of police went out and hurried after them
The antI-Ellis faction was in possession of
the church AID the square was filed with
groups Of excited members. The deacons
gave their version OF the trouble as follows:
The trouble began last March. Rev. Ellis,
who came here from B JstOn, they claim
has peculiar ideas Of Baptist polity and
parliamentary law. He is particularly
strong On the point that the pastor has the
right 70 call q conference for the trahsac-
ton Of church business at any time when
there is quorum present, which he holds to
be -. The church has over LOGO members
and the deacons objected to ''promiscuous'
conferences and the transaction of business
by an insignificant minority" They said
that on July s, after the Tuesday night
prayer meeting, the pastor called a confer
ence and had himself and two others elected
delegates TO the meeting OF the Baptis
Association in Glynn county, while the
conference had already been announced for
another date.
CARRIED TO THE ASSOCIATION.
At the regular church conference Friday
night following, the action Of the preceding
Tuesday night conference was reversed and
a committee was appointed to 20 to the
association and inform the body that tbs
church had sent no delegates, and would
not, on account of being unable to
bear the expense, being already heavily
in debt. Both sets Of appointees attended
the association meeting, where Rev. Ellis
and his associates were received as dele
gates.
The committee of dcacons laid the memo
rial Of their conference before the assoca
ton, but it was without effect, and the
association returned letter to the church
recommending it to settle its own differ
ences.
Last night was the first conference since
the association met, and the pastor undertook
to have the minutes Of the previous meeting
adopted. The deacons objected on thC
ground that the church had revoked the &C
tion Of the meeting, and that the minutes Of
the Friday night meeting, July II, we're the
only minutes to be adopted This brought
on discussion but the pastor ruled that il
was in order to adopt the minutes of meet
ing Of July s, ana declared them adopted
He also, according to the deacons' side OF
the trouble, declared all motions in his favor
carried, and, after expelliug the the dea