St. Paul daily globe., 1891-07-19
ROW IN A CHURCH.
Christians Appear to BE at Skies
and Sevens.


At the corner of East Fourth and
Maple streets, Dayton's bluff, there
stands a little church, built of white
stone. known as st. Peters Episcopal
church. This church has history
which scarcely another church in the
state can boast of. In the year 1888 the
cornerstone was laid, and shortly after
ward the church was opened for service.
Everything seemed to be peaceful in
the parish. Afer it had been opened
and officers elected, the vestry met and
selected-against the wish of a number
of parishoners-Rev Samuel Mills as
rector, he being then missionary in
charge of the church. Immediately after
the preSentment of the living to Mr..
Mills, the difficulties now existing in
the parish began. The church was
then indebted $500. Attached to the
church were men whose names gave the
parish standing and insured success.
Among these were James j. Jellett, L.
r. Kearney, Charles IL. Stevenson and
j. NJ. Smith Smith IL Farwell.) Differ
ences arose between the vestry and the
rector of the parish with the result that
every one OF the gentlemen named sey-
cred their connection with the church,
for other people to fill the vacancies ex-
listing i'll thesvestry. Other persons took
up the labors left undOne by the former
members. The. vestry, however, soon
again became divided, and designations
were rendered and accepted. Again
fresh people were sought for.
In or about October. 1890, several new
people were secured, and the church
seemed again to be in fair way to
prosperity. The ladies were to be seen
trampiug the city canvassing for sub
scriptiOnS. Efforts innumerable have
been made to raise money since the new
vestry was formed. An appeal was
launched in November, 1890. asking for
subscriptions towards liQuidating the
debt, but the same was comparative
failure, as every one looked upon it as a
"hOuse divided against Itself" Credit
ors, getting tired of the delay, COM
menced proceedings for the recovery of
their debts and execution was levied
against the church. The same was re-
turned to the sheriff unsatisfed. Peti-
tiOnS were presented TO the rector signed
by parishiOners and creditors asking
that a parish meeting be called to dis
cuss the affairs of the parish, but the
rector. acting upon the advice of some
OF the veStry, refused to call any meet
ing. After hard struggle the veStry were
unable to pay the running expenses
of the parish. At the Easter vestry held
In March last compromise was offered
whereby certain pariShiOners would join
the vestry and agree to do so upon GER
tain conditions. This again was met
with a flat refusal. At the election in
March last +. F. Price, assistant city at
torney, was elected senior warden, and
with the vestry started out to make
gallant struggle to free the church from
its floating liabilities, and as result an
appeal sigued by the bishops of the
diocese and the whole Of the clergy of
the city was circulated few weeks ago,
asking subscriptions. Immediately
upon this being sent out the rector again
ran counter to the warden. the result
being that several designations were
rendered and many pledges to the
church were withdrawn. About $50 or
mole families, members of the Episco-
pal church, reside in the parish, but not
more than twenty families attend
the services of the church with
any regularity, while about ft-
teen families attend regularly the
services of st. Paul's church. 1t seems
sad to see a church dedicated for the
purpose of public worship so sparsely
attended by its own parishlOners, and
one is compelled to ask where the fault
lies, whether it is in the management of
the church, the fault of the rector or of
the officers of the church. 1t cannot
for one moment be said that the whole
of the SecederS from the church can be
wrong, whilst the rector is always i'll
the right, and it seems high time that
some action should be taken to ascertain
the cause Of all the trouble, and, if pos
sible, put an end to what is fast becom-
ing disgrace TO the Episcopal church
in this state.