Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-03
FOUGHT LIKE HYENAS
Sensational Scene at a Methodist
Church Prayer Meeting.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS FALL OUT.
They Proceed to Tangle Each Other Up in
Beautiful Style.
ONE COMBATlNT LOSES HIS WHISPERS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsrAToH.,

You are party or - liars, Snouteu
one of the participants in fight at meet
ing of the Methodist congregation here on
Friday evening. The church is young,
limited to very small membership, mainly
probationary. but militant to degree. The
society was organized last November with
Amos Abbott, bookkeeper for Westervelt
Brothers, Hackensack, and B. B. Barkman,
Mrs. Abbott became President of the
Ladies' Aid Society, and, with her hus-
band, displayed considerable activity in
church work, B. w. Wilbur, a builder in
Jersey City, and Charles Mansfield, car
penter in New York, are also on the list OF
members and active workers.
Being too poor to build church, the So
ciety rented Republican Hall, and secured
the services of c. E. Schenck, student in
Drew Theological Seminary. to fill the pull
pit. Seven weeks ago Mr.. and Mrs. Abbott
conceived the purpose of securing an organ,
and they say it was understood that they
should purchase the instrument because Mr..
Abbott could get arge discounts.
Jealousy Invades the Flock.
The Abbotts have an idea that other men,
bers of the congregation became jealous OF
them at this point, which feeling was man
ifested in the action Of Mrs. Wilbur and
Mrs. John Breakey and Mrs. j. II. Hender-
son, who forestalled the Abbotts by pur-
chasing an organ, Mr.. Wilbur contributing
$50 to the fund. This organ was the acid
that curdled the milk of meekness in the
church. From the sound of its first notes of
harmony in Republican Hall spirit of
Nf Al,<,a oh
One Sunday morning Mrs. Abbott saw
the 1O-year-oid heir of the WIlburs locking
the musical instrument and told him not to
do so, whereupon Master Wilbur is accused
OF saying to her. "Oh, you smut up" This
episode led to a vivid scene between Mrs.
Abbott and Mr.. Wilbur after the evening
service, when Mrs. Mansfield, small lady
with large powers of expression, went to the
rescue Of Mrs. Abbott, and made the occa-
sion interesting for the Wilburs. The fires
of contention were then permitted to sub
side, although the embers never died.
Rough and Tumble Fight.
The question of building church next
shook the stability of the society. The Alb
bolts wanted to remain in Republican Hall.
Presiding Elder Lowery sided with the
Wilbur factionsS The Abbotts refused at
first to have anything further to do with the
church, but few days ago they returned to
it. 1t was on Friday evening that the con.
tention eliminated in rough and tumble
fight during which one Of the brethren,
whose voice couldn't be clearly distinguish
ed in the heat of the conflict, yelled out:
"You are party Of liars"
The Wilbur faction had declared that the
Ladies' Aid Society was disbanded and
its effects transferred to the Ridgefeld Park
NJ. Z. Church. Mrs. Abbott denied this,
and Mrs. Mansfield, who is janitor of Re-
publican Hall, had reused to unlock the
building for the Friday evening prayer
meeting. Mr.. Wilbur had the lock picked
and took possession, with several others,
who gathered to pray.
A Prayer Meeting Conflict
Mr.. Mansfield is not so large man as
Mr.. Wilbur, but when he heard what had
been done he hastened to the hall and at
tempted forcibly to eject Mr.. Wilbur. The
scene that ensued was one rarely witnessed
at prayer meeting. Mr.. Wilbur seized
Mr.. Mansfield by his chin whisker, and the
two Christian brothers were soon rolling
over the floor in fierce struggle for mastery.
The sisters screamed and wept; the brethren
few around In dismay, chairs were sent Ay-
ing, and the noise OF the conflict attracted
passers.
Captain f. c. McCready, who is Presl-
dent of the Republican Club, attempted to
separate the combatants, but his strength
was fruitless until Mr.. Wilbur had scraped
the chin of Mr.. Mansfield and destroyed the
symmetry of his whisker. The handful of
hair was scattered over the floor, and the
glarine men were on the point of renewing
the fight, but the pleadings of friends pre-
vailed.
Warrants Sworn Out.
Mr.. Mansfield picked up his ruined hat
and started for Justice Voorhis, from whom
he got warrant against Mr.. Wilbur for
breaking and entering and for assault and
battery. Meantime the disordered hall was
put to rights and the prayer meeting pro-
ceeded, after which Mr.. Wilbur went to
Justice Voorhis and got a warrant against
Mr.. Mansfield tor assault and battery.
Mr.. Abbott says that the Wilburs and the
Breakeys are the cause of all the trouble In
the church; that they want to boss the
whole business, and because they can't do
so are ready to make or break the society,
according to their desire. II have done
more for the church than anybody" said
Mr.. Abbott, "and now this affair has
broken me all up. 1 am as nervous as cat,
and feel sick"
1t is believed that Presiding Elder
Lowery will suspend the two pugilistic
brethren.